Joint use of GPR, IRT and TLS techniques for the integral damage detection in paving

In order to preserve the condition of infrastructure and guarantee its usability, the availability of inspection techniques is essential, provided these are able to determine the condition of the infrastructure causing minimum disturbance and post-inspection consequences. Non-destructive techniques present characteristics to reach all these requisites, especially regarding time minimization. With the objective of reaching maximum data extent and accuracy, this paper proposes the joint use and interpretation of three techniques: ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for the detection of inner pathologies, infrared thermography (IRT) for the evaluation of the state of the subsurface of the structure, and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) for the accurate measurement of geometry and detection of external defects. Each technique acquires data of different nature and different parts of the infrastructure, in such way that their interpretation in an integrated way allows for the accurate detection of superficial and inner pathologies, as well as their location and measurement of dimensions. The joint application of the techniques mentioned has been tested in a road next to the sea, composed by different fill materials placed in order to increase the extent of land towards the water, and deteriorated by the use and the erosion provoked by seawater.