Skip to main content

Using cellphones to measures road defects

A novel system is now available that allows a smartphone to be used to measure road defects. Developed by Grimmer Software, the RoadBump Android application can be used to measure the roughness of a road. This tool can provide estimates of International Roughness Index (IRI) in metric or standard units, without requiring high-cost laser profilers.
August 19, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
A novel system is now available that allows a smartphone to be used to measure road defects. Developed by Grimmer Software, the RoadBump Android application can be used to measure the roughness of a road.

This tool can provide estimates of International Roughness Index (IRI) in metric or standard units, without requiring high-cost laser profilers.

RoadBump uses an Android device's GPS and accelerometer to measure the roughness of a road. It displays a map of the road that was measured, and allows you to zoom in to measure any part of the travelled path. RoadBump produces estimated IRI and Present Serviceability Rating (PSR) graphs. An accelerometer graph shows individual bumps, dips and waves.

The firm said that this tool is easy to use. Activating the unit and driving along the road at normal speed is sufficient to gather road data. A network connection is not required. The unit can be used when travelling at speeds from 32 to 100km/h and is said to have been extensively tested to ensure its accuracy.

Related Content

  • Infrastructure stays strong on the road to recovery
    July 1, 2021
    After more than a year of uncertainty, the road industry is coming back stronger than ever before thanks to new ways of working and increased investment – because building new infrastructure lays the foundation for a more resilient and economically robust world.
  • Road Markings to reduce fatal wrong-way driving
    October 31, 2012
    The latest road marking systems have been used to reduce potentially fatal wrong-way driving and promote the recent EURO 2012 football tournament in Poland and Ukraine. Guy Woodford reports According to statistics quoted by leading road marking firm Geveko, a total of 1,753 people were killed in the United States in wrong-way driving accidents from1996-2000. Wrong-way driving is also a significant issue across Europe and other parts of the world. Work to combat the potentially lethal activity took place re
  • Road recycling
    September 27, 2023
    Easier to operate, thanks to the increasing use of GPS, and greener to run because of biofuels are two of the more innovative technologies being integrated into machine design by major road recycling equipment manufacturers.
  • New wheeled loaders are coming to market
    August 10, 2021
    Several improved wheeled loader models are now being offered by major manufacturers