Sensors for Monitoring Asphalt Pavements Image Credit: Zhao jiankang/Shutterstock.com The potential degradation of asphalt pavements results in expensive construction work and can be a serious safety concern for those traveling on affected roads. Although regular maintenance is often performed on paved roads, an urgent need for a precise pavement monitoring system remains. As a result, several smart sensor networks have been developed to monitor asphalt pavements' structural health in real-time. An Introduction to Pavements Historically, unpaved roads consisting of a mixture of gravels and stones were used by people for movement, transportation, hunting, and other activities. Since these traditional roads are unable to provide the high speed and safe surface required by pedestrians and vehicles, paved roads were developed to overcome these concerns.