The Department of Public Works has made a significant investment for the maintenance of the country's road network, putting into operation the Multifunctional Pavement Inspection System, with the aim of improving the safety and comfort of road users.

The system, which presents an innovation in the inspection of motorways, allows the timely and accurate measurement of the quality characteristics of the road surface, without the need for road closures or any interruption to traffic.

"F" visited the site of the special vehicle, which was supplied to the Republic of Cyprus by Arrb Systems Australia, through a subsidiary company in Sweden and its cost together with the five-year maintenance exceeded €1 million. He spoke with the system operation team, which is housed in the Central Laboratory of the Department of Public Works and consists of the First Executive Engineer, Thekla Kadi-Eleftheriou, the Executive Engineer, Minas Tapakis, the First Technical Engineer, Panagiota Kadi and the experimenter Konstantinos Iacovou.

The Multifunctional System is equipped with lasers, cameras, sensors, computers and GPS for recording and analyzing data in real time. The main measurements carried out include the smoothness of the road, which is related to the comfort of drivers and the protection of vehicles from wear, the macrotexture of the asphalt pavement which is an indicator for measuring slipperiness at high speeds, the surface damage of the road surface (cracks, potholes) and the photographing of the road network and its equipment, such as signs, safety barriers and handrails.

The system has been operational since September 2023 and valuable data have already been collected for the road network of Cyprus. The evaluation of measurements is based on the International Roughness Index (IRI), which measures the smoothness of the road. This index is used worldwide to assess road quality and the Department of Public Works uses it to determine priorities for road reconstruction and maintenance.

The data is recorded in sections of 100 meters for each lane of the road. All data is transferred to computers for analysis and evaluation, while the results are used to prioritize motorway maintenance and reconstruction.

The inspection system is not only limited to recording the smoothness of the road, but also includes measuring the macrotexture of the asphalt surface, which is an indicator of road safety, since it is related to the adhesion of the wheels to the road surface. At the same time, the photographs taken are linked to their geographical location, creating a huge electronic database for the road network of Cyprus.

One of the most important steps is the introduction of strict specifications in maintenance contracts, which define the limits of road surface smoothness during reconstruction works. The implementation of these specifications ensures the continuous improvement of the road network, with the first maintenance concerning the A1 (Nicosia – Limassol) and A9 (Nicosia – Dénia) motorways expected to start soon.

The creation of this database and its continuous renewal, with new measurements taken every year, will allow the monitoring and evaluation of the quality of works and characteristics of the road network. This investment reflects the commitment of the Department of Public Works and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works to the continuous upgrading of the road network of Cyprus and the enhancement of the safety and comfort of its users.