Recognition of Road Surface Conditions With a 82–98 GHz Total Power Dual-Polarized Radiometer on a Vehicle

This paper presents field-measurements of road surfaces in different conditions using a dual-polarised radiometer installed on a moving vehicle. The radiometer measures the surfaces emissivity in both vertical and horizontal polarisations between 82 - 93 GHz, with a 47° angle of incidence. The tested surfaces include dry and wet asphalt, asphalt covered with thin/thick ice and packed/unpacked snow patches. The measured surface emissivity varies between the surfaces (dry, snow, liquid water, or ice) because of differences in the dielectric properties of the materials and roughness’s. Using field measurements, we compare the emissivity of the surfaces and show that the corresponding emissivity of each road condition is distinct and well-defined. Polarimetric radiometer measurements can thus be used to identify road-surface conditions in outdoor environment.