Carinthia uses digital scans to assess road conditions

Carinthia is digitally surveying its 2,800 kilometres of state roads to decide which sections need repairs first, ORF reported. The network also includes 2,000 bridges, and the state spends tens of millions of euros on repairs each year.

A specialist vehicle from Germany was in Karnburg, in the municipality of Maria Saal, on Monday. Cameras and a laser system scanned and measured every square metre of road surface. The data will help the state assess road conditions and identify maintenance needs.

The vehicle can cover 60 to 80 kilometres a day, depending on the weather. Surveying the full network is expected to take 40 days. Work is due to begin this year, with the data expected to be available and analysed by June next year.

The results will inform a road-condition register and the state’s road construction programme for 2028 to 2033. Officials said the information would help them target repairs and allocate funding more effectively. Roads typically have a service life of about 30 to 60 years, said managing director Volker Jakobi.

The survey and analysis will cost the state 300,000 euros. More than 50 road construction projects are currently under way, and 17 were brought forward after the state received an additional 12 million euros. The money was repaid by a construction cartel following illegal price agreements, on top of the 46 million euros in the regular budget.