Practical remote survey applications for improved geotechnical asset management on England's strategic road network

Highways England operates, maintains and improves England’s strategic road network (SRN). The SRN is supported by 50,000 geotechnical assets comprising embankments, cuttings and natural slopes. Delays and congestion on the SRN have significant economic impacts. Therefore, well maintained geotechnical assets, through proactive monitoring, are key to a safe, serviceable and smooth running network. Geotechnical asset condition, assessed through visual inspection, is costly, time consuming and can impact on safety. This paper assesses the application of remote survey techniques for monitoring geotechnical assets on the SRN using several pilot studies. Techniques investigated include LiDAR, InSAR, hyperspectral imaging and aerial photography. Combinations of techniques show promise for geotechnical asset management, with some being limited in their potential application. Conclusions presented will provide Highways England and others understanding of which remote survey techniques provide greatest practicality, benefit and cost effectiveness for day-to-day management of geotechnical assets and ultimately ensure a more resilient and safer road network.