This practice describes a certification procedure for test equipment used to measure a longitudinal surface elevation profile of highways based on an inertial reference system that is mounted on a host vehicle. The minimum requirements stipulated herein are intended to focus on the need for accurate and repeatable profile measurements during construction. It is also applicable to certifying the performance of profiler systems utilized in network data collection.

This practice describes minimum performance requirements for inertial profiling systems to be used for quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) of surface roughness on Owner-Agency paving projects where a profile-based roughness construction specification is applicable. The same approach should be utilized for network data collection systems; however, different performance criteria may be employed.

The filtering methods and threshold values recommended in this document were established to ensure adequate determination of the International Roughness Index (IRI) and the profile features that affect it. An Owner-Agency planning to use an index other than the IRI should filter the profile and set thresholds accordingly. In particular, replace the preprocessor filter in Step 3, Appendix X.1 with a filter that corresponds to the relevant waveband for the alternative index.

This standard was formerly designated as provisional standard PP 49.