Ashghal goes hi-tech in its efforts to monitor condition of Qatar’s roads
In order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the road network across the country, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has implemented hi-tech computer systems to make comprehensive assessment of all its road networks, Qatar Tribune reported.
According to Ashghal, comprehensive monitoring of road networks signifies the transition from standard maintenance procedures to pro-active maintenance.
Ashghal said it embarked on a long-term strategic project to monitor all roads and undertake an inventory of these infrastructures in January, 2013.
The initiative included assessing the conditions for paving of streets, to determine the areas in need of maintenance as well as sidewalks, lighting poles, traffic lights and signage.
The project utilised hi-tech methods to carry out surveys for necessary information about roads.
Equipment used in this process included advanced 360 degree camera systems, which were used to conduct a detailed survey of roads and sidewalks according to procedures and tests designed to measure the road's carrying capacity, the roughness of the surface and the cracks in the surface.
The road network in Qatar was classified according to the Network Referencing System.
The project collected information on about 18,400km of roads and 67 square kilometres of paved surfaces.
Ashghal's Road Maintenance Department is working to update this database using Geographic Information Systems.
Periodic inspections are being undertaken to ensure that the data is up to date and detect problem areas so that maintenance work can start at the earliest.
Courtesy: Qatar-tribune.com
