Q: How often should we assess our network?

We recommend 6 assessments per year , and the reasoning is tied to how each asset deteriorates: Pavement condition — twice per year (spring and fall). Winter freeze-thaw creates potholes and accelerates cracking, while summer heat drives different failure modes (rutting, bleeding). Two assessments a year catch both cycles before they compound. Pavement markings — twice per year. Markings degrade much faster than pavement and are the highest-impact safety asset you own. Catching faded lines on arterials before the winter reflectivity season is critical. Traffic signs — once or twice per year. Signs fade, get hit, get twisted. Annual is the minimum for MUTCD retroreflectivity compliance; twice is better. Roadway assets — once per year. Guardrails, drainage, ADA ramps, and similar assets change more slowly but still need an annual inventory refresh. Because Road Triage's per-assessment cost is a small fraction of a traditional pavement survey, most municipalities can run all 6 assessments annually for less than the cost of a single traditional assessment.

Question 1

What is Road Triage?

Accepted Answer

Road Triage is an AI-powered roadway assessment platform that uses computer vision and machine learning to deliver accurate, frequent, and cost-effective infrastructure condition data. It detects 19 ASTM D6433 distress types, inventories signs, markings, and assets, and scores pavement condition using five validated methodologies.

Question 2

How much does Road Triage cost?

Accepted Answer

Pricing is fully a la carte — each assessment type (pavement condition, pavement markings, traffic signs, roadway assets) is purchased separately. Costs scale with network size and how often you want the network assessed. Contact us for a customized quote tailored to your network miles and the specific assessments you need.

Question 3

How does data collection work?

Accepted Answer

A pre-configured smartphone is mounted in any fleet vehicle — passenger car or light-duty truck. The driver presses Start and drives their normal routes. The phone captures high-resolution images approximately every 20 feet with GPS data. No specialized training or equipment is needed. Data uploads automatically via Wi-Fi overnight.

Question 4

How does Road Triage compare in cost to traditional methods?

Accepted Answer

Traditional pavement surveys are labor-intensive and typically happen only once every 3–5 years because of the time and cost involved. Road Triage delivers comparable network-level data at a small fraction of that cost, making multiple assessments per year practical instead of one every few years. The real savings come from catching problems while they're still inexpensive to fix — deferred pavement damage compounds quickly.

Question 5

What equipment do I need?

Accepted Answer

A Road Triage Datalogger Kit (approximately one per 100 centerline miles). The kit includes a pre-configured Google Pixel smartphone in locked kiosk mode with a vehicle mount. That is all you need — no LiDAR vans, no specialized vehicles, no survey crews. Contact us for equipment pricing.

Question 6

How often should we assess our network?

Accepted Answer

We recommend 6 assessments per year, and the reasoning is tied to how each asset deteriorates:

Pavement condition — twice per year (spring and fall). Winter freeze-thaw creates potholes and accelerates cracking, while summer heat drives different failure modes (rutting, bleeding). Two assessments a year catch both cycles before they compound.

Pavement markings — twice per year. Markings degrade much faster than pavement and are the highest-impact safety asset you own. Catching faded lines on arterials before the winter reflectivity season is critical.

Traffic signs — once or twice per year. Signs fade, get hit, get twisted. Annual is the minimum for MUTCD retroreflectivity compliance; twice is better.

Roadway assets — once per year. Guardrails, drainage, ADA ramps, and similar assets change more slowly but still need an annual inventory refresh.

Because Road Triage's per-assessment cost is a small fraction of a traditional pavement survey, most municipalities can run all 6 assessments annually for less than the cost of a single traditional assessment.

Question 7

How quickly do I get results?

Accepted Answer

After data collection, images are uploaded overnight via Wi-Fi and processed through the Road Triage Perception Engine — our proprietary AI pipeline. Results are delivered to the Road Triage Helm (our web-based dashboard) where you can view maps, analytics, and export data in 13+ formats.

Question 8

Are there volume discounts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Agencies running multiple assessments per year or committing to multi-year programs receive preferred rates. Contact us for a quote based on your specific plan.

Question 9

What types of roads can be assessed?

Accepted Answer

Road Triage assesses paved, public motor vehicle roadways. Data collection uses passenger cars or light-duty trucks during daylight hours without active precipitation. Newly annexed or modified roads automatically appear in the next assessment cycle.

Question 10

Can we start with one assessment and add more later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many agencies start with a single pavement condition assessment to validate the data and establish a baseline, then add other assessment types over time. Because the vehicle has already collected the imagery during that initial drive, you can add pavement markings, traffic signs, or roadway assets retroactively against the same collected data — no need to re-drive your network. That makes expanding coverage far simpler and cheaper than it would be with traditional methods.

Question 11

How many AI models are involved?

Accepted Answer

Road Triage uses 20+ AI, computer vision, and machine learning models working in concert within the Road Triage Perception Engine (RTPE) — our proprietary pipeline. The RTPE includes distress detection and classification, crack measurement and width analysis, perspective correction, multi-stage verification, and five standards-based scoring engines. The specific models and architectures are proprietary.

Question 12

We're an engineering firm — how does Road Triage fit our services?

Accepted Answer

Engineering firms are among our most valued partners. Your team — or your client's fleet — drives the roads with the Road Triage data collection kit. Road Triage then handles the heavy lift: processing the imagery through our AI pipeline to classify and measure every distress, scoring the network, and delivering clean, standards-aligned data. That frees your engineers to focus on the work your clients actually hire you for: analysis, rehabilitation strategy, funding recommendations, design, and stamped deliverables. Firms use Road Triage to expand the networks they can assess, deliver faster turnarounds, and offer clients more frequent condition updates at a price point that fits municipal budgets. Contact us to discuss partnership structures.

Question 13

What distress types does Road Triage detect?

Accepted Answer

Road Triage detects 17 distress types across four categories:

Cracking — Fatigue (Alligator) Cracking, Longitudinal Cracking, Lateral / Transverse Cracking, Edge Cracking, Block Cracking, and Slippage Cracking.

Cracking (Sealed) — Fatigue Cracking (Sealed), Longitudinal Cracking (Sealed), Lateral Cracking (Sealed), and Block Cracking (Sealed). Sealed variants are classified independently because they indicate a prior maintenance treatment.

Surface Defects — Potholes, Edge Drop-Off, Raveling, and Bleeding / Flushing.

Surface Deformation — Rutting, Shoving, and Patches and Repairs. Classification follows ASTM D6433 terminology and severity levels (Low, Medium, High), with crack widths quantified per AASHTO R 55.

Question 14

What scoring methodologies are used?

Accepted Answer

Five validated scoring methodologies, all fed by a unified detection and measurement pipeline: RT-PCI (Pavement Condition Index, 0-100, built on ASTM D6433 with corrected deduct value procedure), RT-PASER (Surface Evaluation and Rating, 1-10, adapted from Wisconsin DOT method), RT-CCI (Cracking Condition Index, 0-100, built on ASTM E3303 aperture-weighted crack indices), RT-PCR (Pavement Condition Rating, 0-100, built on Ohio DOT DSE fixed deduction tables), and RT-SDI (Surface Distress Index, 0-100, built on FHWA SDI weighted category scoring). Every distress is classified per ASTM E1778 terminology, measured via the Road Triage Perception Engine, and crack widths analyzed per ASTM E3303 and AASHTO R 55. All five apply to both asphalt and concrete pavements.

Question 15

How accurate is smartphone-based collection compared to LiDAR?

Accepted Answer

Road Triage provides the condition data municipalities need for effective pavement management at a fraction of the cost. While LiDAR vans offer millimeter-level precision, most municipal decisions do not require that level of detail. Road Triage delivers actionable, standards-based scores that are consistent, objective, and defensible.

Question 16

What is the Road Triage Helm?

Accepted Answer

The Helm is our web-based mapping and analytics platform where all assessment results are visualized. It provides interactive maps with 11+ visualization types, change detection between assessment cycles, AI-powered natural language queries, federal and state data overlays, and export capabilities in 13+ formats including GeoJSON, Shapefile, and DXF. The Helm presents comprehensive condition data — your team applies it to make informed infrastructure decisions.

Question 17

What four assessment types are available?

Accepted Answer

Pavement Condition (19 distress types, 5 scoring methods), Traffic Signs (12 categories encompassing 66+ distinct sign types, with change detection), Pavement Markings (8+ types with condition ratings), and Roadway Assets (signals, drainage, utilities, guardrails, ADA compliance). Each assessment type is available individually — purchase the ones your agency needs.

Question 18

Who owns the assessment data?

Accepted Answer

You retain full, shared ownership of all data and exported outputs. If your subscription ends, you keep all previously exported data. Road Triage retains a copy of imagery for model training and improvement, which is deleted after a defined retention period.

Question 19

How is privacy protected during data collection?

Accepted Answer

All imagery is privacy-filtered before delivery — faces and license plates are automatically blurred. Data collection phones operate in locked kiosk mode. Wi-Fi credentials remain on the device and are not transmitted to our servers.

Question 20

What export formats are supported?

Accepted Answer

The Helm supports 13+ export formats: PDF, Excel, CSV, GeoJSON, GeoJSON Lines, Shapefile, KML/KMZ, GeoPackage, DXF (AutoCAD), HTML, JSON, XML, SQLite, and JSONL. Custom field ordering and templates are available, with optional FTP delivery.

Question 21

Can Road Triage data integrate with our existing GIS systems?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Export in GeoJSON, Shapefile, GeoPackage, KML, or DXF format for direct import into ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth, AutoCAD, or any standards-compliant GIS platform. Field mapping is configurable to match your existing schema.

Question 22

What standards does Road Triage follow?

Accepted Answer

Road Triage scoring is modeled after ASTM D6433 (PCI), Wisconsin DOT PASER methodology, and Ohio DOT DSE method (PCR). Enterprise Tier users with SSI profiler integration receive FHWA-certified IRI data and ASTM E950 compliance. Road Triage supports FHWA Road to Zero and Every Day Counts programs.

Question 23

Can Road Triage data support FEMA disaster documentation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pre-storm and post-storm assessments establish baselines and identify concentrated damage for FEMA disaster documentation. The Helm overlays FEMA flood zone data and can generate FEMA-compliant infrastructure reports.

Question 24

Does Road Triage support federal funding applications?

Accepted Answer

Road Triage data aligns with FHWA requirements and can support federal funding applications by providing objective, standards-based condition data. The platform overlays HPMS traffic data, FARS crash records, and other federal datasets for comprehensive grant documentation.

Question 25

How does Road Triage measure crack severity and distress dimensions?

Accepted Answer

Road Triage does not rely on a single image. The Perception Engine observes every distress across multiple frames as the survey vehicle passes — the same crack may appear in 5 to 15 consecutive images from varying distances and angles. This multi-observation approach builds a measurement profile for each distress, cross-validates between frames, and identifies the optimal observation distance. Distress dimensions are derived from pixel-precise AI segmentation masks, not bounding box approximations. Each pixel maps to a known ground area through AI-powered camera calibration that automatically calibrates after data collection using reference objects in the survey imagery — no specialized setup by drivers. Crack widths are classified into Low, Medium, and High severity per ASTM D6433 and AASHTO R 55. Every measurement carries an internal confidence score, and uncertain classifications are flagged for quality review.

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