Maintaining safe, durable, and comfortable road networks is a cornerstone of modern transport infrastructure in India. Parameters such as skid resistance and riding quality form the backbone of pavement performance evaluation. According to the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), these metrics directly influence road safety, user comfort, and long-term asset sustainability.
With the rapid emergence of AI-powered road assessment technologies, the way engineers verify these critical parameters is undergoing a profound transformation. Today's digital tools make compliance faster, more accurate, and more transparent—proving that, in road maintenance, "a stitch in time saves nine."
India's expanding roadway network faces high traffic loads, climatic impacts, and accelerated wear. Traditional pavement inspection methods—largely manual and periodic—often fall short in identifying early-stage deterioration. This creates gaps in safety, continuity, and serviceability.
In particular, loss of skid resistance and poor riding quality can significantly elevate accident risk, increase vehicle operating costs, and reduce overall user satisfaction. With road safety remaining a national priority, ensuring IRC compliance has never been more important.
Key challenges include:
Skid Resistance: The First Line of Safety
Skid resistance represents a pavement's capability to prevent vehicle skidding under wet or dry conditions. It directly influences braking distance, cornering stability, and crash likelihood. Low skid resistance—caused by aggregate polishing, contamination, or surface wear—creates hazardous driving conditions.
The consequences of inadequate skid resistance include:
Riding Quality: User Comfort and Vehicle Health
Riding quality is quantified primarily through the International Roughness Index (IRI). A smoother surface translates to better comfort, reduced fuel consumption, and fewer vehicle repairs. As the saying goes, "smooth roads lead to smooth journeys."
Poor riding quality not only frustrates road users but also signals deeper structural issues that must be addressed promptly. High IRI values correlate with:
3.1 How Skid Resistance Works
Skid resistance is generated by the interaction between vehicle tyres and pavement surface texture:
3.2 Factors Affecting Skid Resistance
3.3 Measurement Methods
4.1 What Is IRI?
The International Roughness Index (IRI) is the standard metric for pavement roughness, measured in millimetres per kilometre (mm/km). It represents the accumulated suspension motion of a standard vehicle traversing the pavement.
4.2 How IRI Is Measured
4.3 IRI Thresholds Under IRC
Road CategoryGood (mm/km)Fair (mm/km)Poor (mm/km)National Highways< 1,8001,800 - 2,400> 2,400State Highways< 1,8001,800 - 2,600> 2,600Urban Roads< 1,8001,800 - 2,600> 2,600
Note: Thresholds may vary by specific project requirements
Skid Resistance Standards
The IRC recognizes several validated testing methods, including:
Minimum skid resistance thresholds are prescribed depending on road category:
Falling below these limits raises significant safety concerns requiring immediate intervention.
Riding Quality Standards
IRC mandates IRI-based roughness measurement for national highways, state highways, and urban roads. Typical benchmarks include:
These criteria ensure that pavements deliver predictable performance and safe driving conditions throughout their service life.
6.1 AI-Driven Skid Resistance Analysis
The Pavement Condition Intelligence Agent uses vision-based models, surface texture analytics, and machine-learning algorithms to:
This eliminates human subjectivity and accelerates decision-making.
6.2 Automated Riding Quality Assessment
By combining smartphone-based sensors, vehicle-mounted devices, and deep-learning models, the Pavement Condition Intelligence Agent:
No more waiting for periodic surveys—real-time pavement intelligence is now possible.
6.3 Predictive Pavement Deterioration Modelling
Leveraging progression models and historical data through the Pavement Condition Intelligence Agent, the system forecasts:
This proactive approach embodies the rule of good asset management: "Fix small problems before they fix you."
6.4 Transparent Road Safety Audits
The Road Safety Audit Agent enables AI-enabled safety audits that integrate:
This multi-layered evaluation ensures that authorities obtain holistic and actionable insights.
6.5 Traffic Integration
The Traffic Analysis Agent correlates:
7.1 For Safety
7.2 For Asset Management
7.3 For Users
7.4 For Compliance
Even with established IRC standards, agencies often encounter:
8.1 Inconsistent Manual Measurements
Skid resistance and IRI measurements vary between operators and equipment.
AI Solution: Standardised, repeatable measurements through RoadVision AI.
8.2 High Manpower Requirements
Manual surveys require skilled personnel for limited coverage.
AI Solution: Automated surveys reduce personnel requirements by up to 80%.
8.3 Limited Coverage
Physical surveys sample only a fraction of the network.
AI Solution: Continuous monitoring covers 100% of roads.
8.4 Delayed Response
Data processing delays postpone interventions.
AI Solution: Real-time analysis enables immediate action.
8.5 Lack of Auditable Digital Records
Paper records limit historical analysis and trend detection.
AI Solution: Digital records through the Roadside Assets Inventory Agent enable trend analysis.
These limitations slow down interventions and can compromise compliance.
9.1 Accident Reduction
9.2 Vehicle Operating Costs
9.3 Asset Life Extension
Ensuring skid resistance and riding quality as prescribed by the IRC is non-negotiable for India's mobility and safety goals. With AI-powered pavement testing and inspection technologies through the Pavement Condition Intelligence Agent, Road Safety Audit Agent, and Traffic Analysis Agent, agencies now have precision tools that can detect issues early, forecast deterioration, and maintain full compliance with national standards.
The platform's ability to:
transforms how pavement performance is verified across India's vast road network.
RoadVision AI is leading this revolution by offering automated, scalable, and data-driven road monitoring solutions. For authorities and planners seeking to modernise their asset management practices, the message is clear: "The road to the future is paved with intelligence."
To explore how RoadVision AI can transform your road monitoring ecosystem, book a demo with RoadVision AI today and experience the next generation of IRC-compliant pavement evaluation.
Q1. What is the minimum skid resistance requirement as per IRC?
IRC requires pavements to maintain adequate skid resistance levels using standard tests like BPN to ensure vehicle safety under wet and dry conditions.
Q2. How does the IRC measure the riding quality of roads?
Riding quality is measured using the International Roughness Index (IRI) or Bump Integrator tests, with defined maximum permissible values depending on road type.
Q3. Can AI replace traditional skid resistance and riding quality tests?
AI does not replace but enhances traditional methods, offering automated, large-scale, and real-time verification aligned with IRC standards.
The Autonomous Road Engineer
AI that is transforming road infrastructure, from reactive to predictive.
