Communication Performance Evaluation of SBC-Toserver Data Transfer in a Road Management System

This study introduces and evaluates the performance of an innovative Road Management System (RMS) designed to efficiently monitor pavement distress conditions. The system utilizes a Single Board Computer (SBC) as an edge device to collect image and pavement distress data (in JSON format), which is then securely transferred to a central server. The core contribution of this research lies in the implementation of the Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) as a lightweight and secure data transfer method, enabling further data management and analysis, such as Surface Distress Index (SDI) computation, on the server side. System performance was evaluated under both static and dynamic conditions at distances ranging from 5 to 25 meters. The test results indicate that increases in distance and the SBC's movement speed significantly degrade data transfer throughput and stability. Specifically, static tests demonstrated stable transmission up to 20 meters, while dynamic tests revealed a more pronounced performance decline, particularly as the SBC moved away from the server. Our key findings establish the feasibility of SCP as a secure and efficient data transfer protocol for infrastructure monitoring applications. The practical contribution of this research is a cost-effective, easily deployable, and scalable solution for road monitoring, particularly in remote areas or facilities with unstable network connectivity. This system provides accurate and timely data, supporting better decision-making for pavement maintenance.