We will work safely or not at all
National Highways asked us to carry out a series of specialised Laser and Topographical Surveys, in September 2022, as part of our ongoing contract with the client.
The task was to measure headroom clearances of four motorway bridges, and crosscheck them against the design and guidance manual for roads and bridges (CD127 cross-sections and headrooms).
Three of the sites were located along the M2 between Rainham and Faversham in Kent, with the final site located on the A27 near Brighton.
We employed several different surveying methods to deliver the data.
We first used a mobile mapping approach to capture levels of all highway features, including drainage, carriageway levels, road markings, VRS, and kerb lines. We surveyed the approaching 100m area to each structure, as well as 100m past the structure, in both carriageway directions, to assist with future carriageway design.
The structures and highways were surveyed using a vehicle-mounted laser scanner, eliminating the need for Traffic Management.
Then, a static Laser Scan Survey was then carried out under Traffic Management using an IPV and Lane 1 / Hardshoulder lane closures.
The Laser Scan Survey consisted of headroom measurements being captured at each lane demarcation; rib lines, lane dividers and more, as well as the boundary between the hard shoulder and any kerb lines, VRS or soft verge.
Two control stations were installed at each bridge, with various scans taken approximately 25m distance from the structure on either side to create a Point Cloud of the whole structure.
Road markings were also surveyed from each set up using a total station to provide ground control for the Mobile Mapping element.
Using the Point Cloud generated from the Laser Scan data, measurements were taken under both the approach and departure edges of the bridges at the lowest edge of the bridge structure. The Structure Free Zone (SFZ) as defined in CD127 was also included, which consisted of the hard strips and verges between the carriageway, and bridge pier or wall. Measurements were taken in both carriageway directions, perpendicular to the carriageway.
The outputs for our client consisted of:
