Mapping urban road infrastructure using remotely sensed images

Comprehensive and accurate information on the conditions of the road infrastructure is essential for effective management and planning of the road network, especially in cities facing serious traffic congestion problems, as in the city of Istanbul, Turkey. One of the most important services of the local authorities is the rehabilitation of road surfaces. Asphalt resurfacing is carried out to renew the road surface and restore its resistance to weathered and traffic worn pavements. Today, the determination of pavement surface conditions is usually carried out through visual inspections by the experts and interpretation of in situ photographs/videos. In this study, an investigation has been made to understand the spectral behaviour of the asphalt in terms of its contents and age, also to discover the feasibility of using widely available satellite sensors in the determination of road surface conditions. Two datasets in the study area from D‐100 road and TEM highway were used to examine asphalt road aging and deterioration. The changes to the conditions of the roads were detected using multispectral IKONOS images and ground spectral measurements for asphalt samples were obtained using an Analytical Spectral Devices full range (ASD FR) instrument in a laboratory environment. It was found that the road deformations mainly occur in areas where vehicles reduce or increase their speeds suddenly. Road sections just before toll booths and junctions are found to be more prone to deformations. IKONOS images can be effectively used to determine the condition of the asphalt pixels.