Feb/March 2007

Even without the racy swooshes of colour on this picture, we think you'd find the vehicle rather interesting. It is said to have cost a million pounds, and when you hear what's in it you can understand why.

Its purpose is to map road surfaces in minute detail - picking up information on geometry, surface profile, surface texture, edge deterioration and cracks - and there's no point in doing any of that unless the records are pinpoint accurate.

The vehicle therefore has what is described as military-specification GPS tracking, offering the kind of precision that requires permission from the US military, who run the GPS satellite network. Allied with this, the vehicle uses ground-penetrating radar and advanced surface laser scanning.

It's operated by a company called Data Collection, and uses technology from Canadian developer Roadware. The base vehicle, as you can see, is a Mercedes-Benz.

Everyone should benefit, since the data goes to the Highways Agency, which uses it to plan road maintenance expenditure more effectively.