Evaluation of the condition of slab-paved pedestrian pavements based on analysis of geodetic surveys

Abstract

The 3D geometric characteristics and the quality of two slab-paved pedestrian pavements of high and poor quality of material and craftsmanship, respectively, surfaced with concrete slabs, were studied using geodetic measurements. A total station and mini reflectors were used to record the coordinates of the corners of all concrete slabs. The residual coordinates between a best-fit plane and the two slab-paved surfaces were then statistically analysed, and the offsets and the 3D tilting of each slab were estimated and compared. It was found that even small (e.g. < 0.5°–1° tilting) deviations from the standard values of the high-quality pedestrian pavement lead to constructions that can be classified as defective, even by a visual inspection. Hence, the proposed methodology permits a quantitative estimation of the geometric characteristics, and could even define specifications for the geometric quality of, at a first step, slab-paved pedestrian pavements.

Keywords:

• quality control
• pedestrian
• pavement
• paving slab
• geodetic survey

Acknowledgements

This paper benefitted from the comments of three anonymous reviewers.