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Evapotransipration by vegetation cover is an important component of the water budget and energy balance in any ecosystem. A key to more improved water management therefore lies in improving our understanding of evapotranspiration, the process that drives water use by plants. Estimations of the turbulent fluxes are required for various applications in micrometeorology, hydrology, environmental studies and agriculture. Numerous methods for estimation of turbulent fluxes have been developed and tested. Direct measurements of fluxes are usually achieved by the eddy covariance (EC) method, which is considered as the most reliable. However, the application of the EC method is often problematic. The necessary sensors for wind, temperature and humidity must respond very fast (resolution of 10 Hz or better) and at the same time must not show noticeable drift. This makes them delicate, expensive and difficult to calibrate among other problems associated with the method. Due to their ability to integrate atmospheric processes along a path length that may range between a few hundred metres to a few kilometres, optical methods based on the analysis of scintillation appear to be an alternative and possible supplement to classical micrometeorological methods such as the EC method, which may provide local fluxes typically at the scale of 100 m. The use of the scintillometry technique in surface flux measurements is therefore gaining in popularity. The accuracy of the measurements obtained by one method is judged by comparison of the measurements obtained by those of another method considered as the standard. For turbulent flux measurements, the EC method is taken as the standard method for the determination of sensible heat fluxes. This research presents the measurement of sensible heat fluxes using the surface layer scintillometer (SLS). The SLS system used has a dual-beam and a recommended path length of between 50 and 250 m. The method was tested against the EC method for different Bowen ratio (f3) values, as required by the theory, under different atmospheric stability conditions, as well as for different wind directions relative to the SLS beam path and slanting beam path orientation. Also presented is an analysis of the different forms of the Monin-Obukhov Similarity (MOST) functions used in micrometeorology and suggested by various authors, done by comparing the resulting sensible heat flux measured by the SLS method with the ones calculated through an iterative determination of the Monin-Obukhov parameters. A comparison of the structure function parameter of temperature (Ci ) corrected for fJ and those measured (using SLS) was carried out, with the results showing very good correspondence between the corrected and uncorrected ci values, indicating that not correcting for fJ for SLS measured ci does not result in significant error in the resulting ci values, and hence sensible heat flux estimates. A comparison of the sensible heat flux Fh obtained using EC and SLS methods for fJ < 0.6 and fJ > 0.6 followed and the results also show good correspondence between the values obtained using the EC and SLS methods, although the agreement is slightly improved for cases when fJ > 0.6. A sensitivity analysis indicates that both the ECand SLS-measurements of Fh are influenced by fJ values. A sensitivity analysis on the influence of fJ on Fh measurements by both the EC and SLS methods further indicates that the influence of fJ on Fh measurements is not large enough to warrant correcting Fh measurements for fJ . The F" measurements by the EC method appears to be influenced more by fJ especially for fJ values less than 0.74. A comparison of the various methods for computing the empirical similarity functions used by MOST was also carried out and the results show a significant difference in the Fh computed following the various methods suggested by different researchers. As for the agreement between the EC and SLS methods determination of Fh for the different atmospheric stability conditions, there seems to be a better agreement in the Fh measurements as noted by correlation coefficients closer to 1 and greater tvalues obtained during unstable atmospheric conditions in the colder months of June and August while reduced agreement in the values is recorded in the warmer summer period from November to December. Also noted is a slight difference in the EC measurements compared to the SLS measurement of F". The difference in the measurements is noticed for unstable atmospheric conditions. Also noted is that EC and SLS measurements of Fh differ slightly when the atmospheric condition is nearneutral. However the agreement between the Fh values measured by the two measurement methods is still good. was set up in an inclined position, with the receiver set at 0.68 m above the ground level and transmitter at 1.68 m, resulting in an effective height difference of 1.00 m. There was generally good agreement in the 2-min measurements of F" by the two methods for the SLS set up in inclined position, with the 30-min data resulting in even better agreements. The findings confirm that the SLS set up does not impair its performance in measuring sensible heat fluxes. This also shows that the SLS would also work well in non-ideal (heterogeneous) conditions which the inclined optical beam path mimics. For those days when wind direction was mainly approximately perpendicular to the beam, the F" values obtained by SLS and EC methods are more in agreement than when the wind direction was either irregular or parallel to the SLS beam path. Wind speed also seems to influence the F" estimates by the two methods since the agreement in the Fh values obtained by the two methods is greater when wind speed is higher compared to times of the day when the wind speed is reduced. The atmospheric stability influences the peak position of footprint with the peak footprint position being further from the measurement point when the atmospheric stability condition is closer to stable as denoted by the Obukhov length of -5 and closer to the measurement point for convectively unstable atmospheric conditions as shown by the Obukhov length of -30. Also shown is that a larger fetch is required when the atmosphere is convectively unstable as indicated by the contours plotted on top of the footprint plots. In general, there seems to be very good agreement in the sensible heat flux values obtained by the two methods, especially since SLS offers areal-averaged sensible heat flux measurements compared to the EC method which basically provides a point measurement. The SLS method therefore offers a better alternative for obtaining sensible heat flux from larger and heterogeneous area - although to a limit of250 m since beyond 250 m, the method suffers from a saturation problem. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

Increased pressure on the available limited water resources for agricultural production has a significant impact on sugarcane production. Routine monitoring of evaporation with reliable accuracy is essential for irrigation scheduling, for more efficient use of the available water resources and for management purposes. An indirect method for estimating evaporation involves measuring the sensible heat flux (H) from which latent energy flux and hence total evaporation can be calculated, as a residual using the shortened energy balance from measurements of net irradiance and soil heat flux. Various methods for measuring H may include Bowen ratio energy balance, eddy covariance (EC), flux variance (FV), optical scintillation, surface renewal (SR) and temperature variance (TV). Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, in terms of method theoretical assumptions, accuracy, complexity, cost, fetch requirements and power consumption. The TV and SR methods are inexpensive and reasonably simple with a reduced power requirement compared to other methods since they require high frequency air temperature data which is obtained by using an unshielded naturally-ventilated type-E fine-wire thermocouple at a single point above the canopy surface. The TV method is based on the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory (MOST) and uses the mean and standard deviation of the air temperature for each averaging period. Currently, there are two TV methods used for estimating sensible heat flux (HTV) at sub-hourly time intervals, one includes adjustment for stability, and a second that includes adjustment for air temperature skewness. Another method used to estimate sensible heat flux from the mean and standard deviation of air temperature is based on MOST and uses spatial second-order air temperature structure function. For the TV method adjusted for stability and the method based on MOST that uses a spatial second-order air temperature structure function, the Monin-Obukhov atmospheric stability parameter () is needed. The parameter  can be estimated from EC measurements or alternatively estimated independently using an iteration process using horizontal wind speed measurements. The TV method including adjustment for air temperature skewness requires the mean and standard deviation of the air temperature and air temperature skewness for each averaging time period as the only input. The SR method is based on the coherent structure concept. Currently, there are various SR models method for estimating sensible heat flux. These include an ideal SR analysis model method based on an air temperature structure function analysis, the SR analysis model with a finite micro-front period, combined SR with K-theory and combined SR model method based on MOST. The ideal SR analysis model based on an air temperature structure function analysis should be calibrated to determine the SR weighting factor (). The other SR approaches require additional measurements such as crop height and horizontal wind speed measurements. In all of the SR approaches, air temperature time lags are used when calculating the air temperature structure functions. In this study, the performance of TV and SR methods were evaluated for estimation of sensible heat and latent energy fluxes at different heights for air temperature time lags of 0.4 and 0.8 s for daytime unstable conditions against EC above a sugarcane canopy at the Baynesfield Estate in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. For all methods, latent energy flux (LE) and hence evaporation was estimated as a residual from the shortened energy balance equation using H estimates and net irradiance and soil heat flux density measurements. The ideal SR analysis model method based on an air temperature structure function analysis approach was calibrated and validated against the EC method above the sugarcane canopy using non-overlapping data sets for daytime unstable conditions during 2008. During the calibration period, the SR weighting factor was determined for each height and air temperature time lag. The magnitude of ranged from 0.66 to 0.55 for all measurement heights and an air temperature time lag of 0.8 s. The value increased with a decrease in measurement height and an increase in air temperature time lag. For the validation data set, the SR sensible heat flux (HSR) estimates corresponded well with EC sensible heat flux (HEC) for all heights and both air temperature time lags. The agreement between HSR and HEC improved with a decrease in measurement height for the air temperature time lag of 0.8 s. The best HSR vs HEC comparisons were obtained at a height of 0.20 m above the crop canopy using = 0.66 for an air temperature time lag of 0.8 s. The residual estimates of latent energy flux by SR and EC methods were in good agreement. The LESR at a height of 0.20 m above the canopy yielded the best comparisons with LEEC estimated as a residual. The performance of the TV method, including adjustment for stability, and / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

The demand for the world’s increasingly scarce water supply is rising rapidly, challenging its availability for agriculture and other environmental uses, especially in water scarce countries, such as South Africa, with mean annual rainfall is well below the world’s average. The implementation of effective and sustainable water resources management strategies is then imperative, to meet these increasingly growing demands for water. Accurate assessment of evaporation is therefore crucial in agriculture and water resources management. Evaporation may be estimated using different micrometeorological methods, such as eddy covariance (EC), Bowen ratio energy balance (BR), surface renewal (SR), flux variance (FV), and surface layer scintillometry (SLS) methods. Despite the availability of different methods for estimating evaporation, each method has advantages and disadvantages, in terms of accuracy, simplicity, spatial representation, robustness, fetch, and cost. Invoking the shortened surface energy balance equation for which advection and stored canopy heat fluxes are neglected, the measurement of net irradiance, soil heat flux, and sensible heat flux allows the latent energy flux and hence the total evaporation amount to be estimated. The SR method for estimating sensible heat, latent energy, and other scalars has the advantage over other micrometeorological methods since it requires only measurement of the scalar of interest at one point. The SR analysis for estimating sensible heat flux from canopies involves high frequency air temperature measurements (typically 2 to 10 Hz) using 25 to 75 ìm diameter fine-wire thermocouples. The SR method is based on the idea that parcel of air near a surface is renewed by an air parcel from above. The SR method uses the square, cube, and fifth order of two consecutive air temperature differences from different time lags to determine sensible heat flux. Currently, there are three SR analysis approaches: an ideal SR analysis model based on structure function analysis; an SR analysis model with finite micro-front period; and an empirical SR analysis model based on similarity theory. The SR method based on structure function analysis must be calibrated against another standard method, such as the eddy covariance method to determine a weighting factor á which accounts for unequal heating of air parcels below the air temperature sensor height. The SR analysis model based on the finite micro-front time and the empirical SR analysis model based on similarity theory need the additional measurement of wind speed to estimate friction velocity. The weighting factor á depends on measurement height, canopy structure, thermocouple size, and the structure function air temperature lag. For this study, á for various canopy surfaces is determined by plotting the SR sensible heat flux SR H against eddy covariance EC H estimates with a linear fit forced through the origin. This study presents the use of the SR method, previously untested in South Africa, to estimate sensible heat flux density over a variety of surfaces: grassland; Triffid weed (Chromolaena odorata); Outeniqua Yellow wood (Podocarpus Falcatus) forest; heterogeneous surface (Jatropha curcas); and open water surface. The sensible heat flux estimates from the SR method are compared with measurements of sensible heat flux obtained using eddy covariance, Bowen ratio, flux variance, and surface layer scintillometer methods, to investigate the accuracy of the estimates. For all methods used except the Bowen ratio method, evaporation is estimated as a residual using the shortened energy balance from the measured sensible heat and from the additional measurements of net irradiance and soil heat flux density. Sensible heat flux SR H estimated using the SR analysis method based on air temperature structure functions at a height of 0.5 m above a grass canopy with a time lag r = 0.5 s, and á =1 showed very good agreement with the eddy covariance EC H , surface layer scintillometer SLS H , and Bowen ratio BR H estimates. The half-hourly latent energy flux estimates obtained using the SR method SR ë E at 0.5 m above the grass canopy for a time lag r = 0.5 s also showed very good agreement with EC ë E and SLS ë E . The 20-minute averages of SR ë E compared well with Bowen ratio BR ë E estimates. Sensible heat and latent energy fluxes over an alien invasive plant, Triffid weed (C. odorata) were estimated using SR , EC , FV and SLS methods. The performance of the three SR analysis approaches were evaluated for unstable conditions using four time lags r = 0.1, 0.4, 0.5, and 1.0 s. The best results were obtained using the empirical SR method with regression slopes of 0.89 and root mean square error (RMSE) values less than 30 W m-2 at measurement height z = 2.85 and 3.60 m above the soil surface for time lag r = 1.0 s. Half-hourly SR H estimates using r = 1.0 s showed very good agreement with the FV and SLS estimates. The SR latent energy flux, estimated as a residual of the energy balance ë ESR , using time lag r = 1.0 s provided good estimates of EC ë E , FV ë E , and SLS ë E for z = 2.85 and 3.60 m. The performance of the three SR analysis approaches for estimating sensible heat flux above an Outeniqua Yellow wood stand, were evaluated for stable and unstable conditions. Under stable conditions, the SR analysis approach using the micro-front time produced more accurate estimates of SR H than the other two SR analysis approaches. For unstable conditions, the SR analysis approach based on structure functions, corrected for á using EC comparisons produced superior estimates of SR H . An average value of 0.60 is found for á for this study for measurements made in the roughness sublayer. The SR latent energy flux density estimates SR ë E using SR H based on structure function analysis gave very good estimates compared with eddy covariance ( EC ë E ) estimates, with slopes near 1.0 and RMSE values in the range of 30 W m-2. The SR ë E estimates computed using the SR analysis approach using the micro-front time also gave good estimates comparable to EC ë E . The SR and EC methods were used to estimate long-term sensible heat and latent energy flux over a fetch-limited heterogeneous surface (J. curcas). The results show that it is possible to estimate long-term sensible heat and latent energy fluxes using the SR and EC methods over J. curcas. Continuous measurements of canopy height and leaf area index measurements are needed to determine á . The weighting factor á was approximately 1 for placement heights between 0.2 and 0.6 m above the Jatropha tree canopy. The daily sensible heat and latent energy flux estimates using the SR analysis gave excellent estimates of daily EC sensible heat and latent energy fluxes. Measurements of sensible heat and estimates of the latent energy fluxes were made for a small reservoir, using the SR and EC methods. The SR sensible heat flux SR H estimates were evaluated using two air temperature time lags r = 0.4 and 0.8 s at 1.0, 1.3, 1.9, 2.5 m above the water surface. An average á value of 0.175 for time lag r = 0.4 s and 0.188 for r = 0.8 s was obtained. The SR H and EC H estimates were small (-40 to 40 W m-2). The heat stored in water was larger in magnitude (-200 to 200 W m-2) compared to the sensible heat flux. The SR and EC latent energy fluxes were almost the same in magnitude as the available energy, due to the small values of the sensible heat fluxes. The daily evaporation rate ranged between 2.0 and 3.5 mm during the measurement period. The SR method can be used for routine estimation of sensible heat and latent energy fluxes with a reliable accuracy, over a variety of surfaces: short canopies, tall canopies, heterogeneous surface, and open water surface, if the weighting factor á is determined. Alternatively, the SR method can be used to estimate sensible heat flux which is exempt from calibration using the other two SR analysis approaches, with additional measurement of wind speed for estimating friction velocity iteratively. The advantages of the SR method over other micrometeorological methods are the relatively low cost, easy installation and maintenance, relatively low cost for replicate measurements. These investigations may pave the way for the creation of evaporation stations from which real-time and sub-hourly estimates of total evaporation may be obtained relatively inexpensively. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

A 2-D CFD / FEM model to simulate thermal stresses in a turbine blade has been set up using the software FLUENT and FIDAP. The model was validated against the data of Bohn et. al. (1995) and was used to simulate 5 test cases. The numerical model was set up for a single Mark II nozzle guide vane (NGV) and utilised the appropriate boundary conditions for the surrounding flow field. A commercially available software code, FLUENT, was used to resolve the flow field, and heat transfer to the blade. The resulting surface temperature profile was then plotted and used as the boundary conditions in FIDAP (a commercial FEM code) to resolve the temperature and stress profile in the blade. An additional solver within FLUENT essentially superimposes an additional flow field as a result of the NGV vibration in the flow field. The pressure, temperature and heat transfer coefficient distribution, from FLUENT, were compared to those from Bohn et. al. (1995). The model predicted the distributions trends correctly, with an average over-prediction for temperature, of 10 % on the suction side and 6 % on the pressure side. This was restricted to the region from leading edge to 40 % chord on both sides of the blade. The blade temperature and equivalent stress contour trends were also correctly predicted by FIDAP. The blade temperature was over-predicted by and average of 1.7 %, while the equivalent stress magnitude was under-predicted by a worst case of 43 %, but the locations of maximum stress were correctly predicted. The reason for the differences between the stresses predicted by FLUENT / FIDAP and the data given in Bohn et. al. (1995), is believed to be the results of the temperature dependence of the material properties for the blade (ASTM 310 stainless steel), used in the two studies, not being identical. The reasoning behind this argument is because the distribution trends and contour variation, predicted by the model, compared favourably with the data of Bohn et. aI., and only the equivalent stress magnitude differed significantly. This completed the validation of the FLUENT / FIDAP model. The model was used to simulate test cases where temperature (i.e. turbine inlet temperature or TIT), at the model inlet (Le. the pressure inlet boundary in FLUENT), was set up to be time varying. Four simplified cases, viz single shock, multiple shocks, simplified cycle and multiple cycles, and a complex cycle (a mission profile) were simulated. The mission profile represented typical gas turbine operational data. The simulation results showed that stress was proportional to TIT. Changes in TIT were seen at a later time in the stress curve, due to conduction through the blade. Steep TIT changes, such as the shock loads, affected stress later than gentler TIT changes - the simplified and multiple cycles. These trends were consistently seen in the complex cycle. The maximum equivalent stress was plotted against TIT to try and develop a loose law that gives maximum equivalent stress as a function of TIT. A 4th order polynomial was fitted through the maxima and minima of the maximum equivalent stress plot, which gave the maximum and minimum stress as a function of TIT. This function was used calculate the maximum and minimum and mean equivalent stress using the TIT data for the mission profile. Thus, the FLUENT I FIDAP model was successfully validated, used to simulated the test cases and a law relating the equivalent stress as a function of TIT was developed. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

The Loop Heat Pipe (LHP) is a passive, two-phase heat transfer device used, most commonly, for thermal management of aerospace and aeronautical electronic equipment. A unique feature is a porous wick which generates the necessary capillary action required to maintain circulation between the heat source and the heat exchanger. What differentiates LHP devices from traditional heat pipes, which also work through the use of a wick structure, is the constrained locality of the wick, placed solely in the evaporator, which leaves the remainder of the piping throughout the device as hollow. This provides the LHP with a number of advantages, such as the ability to transport heat over long distances, operate in adverse gravitational positions and to tolerate numerous bends in the transport lines. It is also self-priming due to the use of a compensation chamber which passively provides the wick with constant liquid access. These advantages make LHPs popular in aerospace and aeronautical applications, but there is growing interest in their deployment for terrestrial thermal management systems. This research had two aims. Firstly, to create and validate a robust mathematical model of the steady-state operation of an LHP for terrestrial high heat flux electronics. Secondly, to construct an experimental LHP, including a sintered porous wick, which could be used to validate the model and demonstrate the aforementioned heat exchange and gravity resistant characteristics. The porous wick was sintered with properties of 60% porosity, 6.77x10-13 m2 permeability and an average pore radius of 1μm. Ammonia was the chosen working fluid and the LHP functioned as expected during horizontal testing, albeit at higher temperatures than anticipated. For safety reasons the experimental LHP could not be operated past 18 bar, which translated into a maximum saturated vapour temperature of 45°C. The heat load range extended to 60 W, 50 W and 110 W for horizontal, gravity-adverse and gravity-assisted operation respectively. Because of certain simplifying assumptions in the model, the experimental results deviated somewhat from predicted values at low heat loads. Model accuracy improved as the heat load increased. The experimental LHP behaved as expected for 5° and 10° gravity-assisted and gravity-adverse conditions, as well as for transport line variation, in which performance was assessed while the total tubing length was increased from 2.5 m to 4 m. Overall, the construction of the LHP, particularly of the porous wick, its operation and the modeling of the constant conductance mode of operation proved to be successful. The variable conductance mode of operation was not accurately modeled, nor was expected behaviour in the elevation testing encountered, although the reasons for these results are suggested. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

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Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements (JPCP) are some the most popular forms of concrete pavement that are used in the state of Georgia. Each year the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) inspects and surveys their highways to determine what condition the pavement is in and if any rehabilitation is required to maintain the integrity of the highway. These annual surveys include the JPCP and the key concrete pavement characteristics that are used to determine the condition of the JPCP are the faulting at the joints and the roughness of the section. Since it is well known that concrete will exhibit slight movement when subjected to thermal variations it is possible that the these minor movements could have an impact on the measured slab properties used to rate the JPCP section. The focus of this research is to develop a methodology to use three dimensional technologies to capture JPCP surface data under a variety of thermal conditions, to develop a procedure to collect and analyze concrete temperature data, to develop a method to analyze the surface data and how to correlate all of the data that was collected. Three test sites were chosen that covered a total of 6 test sections that were composed of 25 slabs and 26 joints each. This provided a total of 150 slabs and 156 joints that were used for analysis. A single slab was selected as a test specimen to install thermal logging devices into so that the temperature distributions through the slab could be investigated. Three positions were monitored to determine if the position that the temperature gradient was measured was critical. It was found that the temperature followed a similar trend for all of the positions with the profiles being slightly shifted from each other. It was also concluded that the temperature in the bottom of the slab was approximately the same as the temperature in the base. It was discovered that the maximum positive temperature gradient occurred simultaneously with the maximum ambient air temperature and the maximum surface temperature. The results showed that the surface temperature followed a trend similar to the ambient air temperature. However the surface temperature was greater throughout the day. The faulting analysis results indicated that out of the 156 joints inspected only 15 showed a variation in the average faulting that was greater than the 0.5 mm (0.02 in) accuracy of the sensors used to collect the JPCP surface data. Further investigation revealed that there was no clear trend between the temperature change and the average faulting variation. It was concluded that if there was a change in the average faulting due to temperature it is smaller than what can be depicted by the sensing vehicle and it is less than the 1 mm (0.04 in) measurement accuracy that is specified in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) R36-04 specification which governs the accuracy requirements for automated faulting measurement methods. The International Roughness Index (IRI) was the method used to measure the roughness on each test site for each data collection run. This resulted in 336 IRI values that were inspected to determine whether there was an impact from the temperature variations. The IRI results showed that the roughness of the test sections did vary through the day. After it was found that the IRI did vary through the day the IRI distributions were compared to the temperature distribution and 7 out of the 12 distributions studied showed a weak correlation between the temperature and the IRI. The amount of variation in the IRI was not quantified because the exact accuracy of the IRI values attained from the sensing vehicle was unknown. However it was attempted to validate the system and determine the accuracy but one of the validation test sections showed disappointing results while the other two showed promising results. Further research is required to fully evaluate the sensing vehicles ability and accuracy when measuring the IRI. A procedure was also developed to extract the longitudinal and transverse curvature of the concrete pavement slabs. Three test slabs were selected at one of the test sites and curvature results were generated using the developed procedure. The curvature results were visually and quantitatively assessed. The visual analysis indicated that the curvature profiles measured by the 3D line lasers did change throughout the data collection, but the patterns did not follow what was expected and a correlation could not be created with the temperature. The quantitative results for the longitudinal curvature revealed that one of the slabs did show a pattern that followed the temperature changes during the data collection, but it did show as much as 4.65 mm (0.183 in) of change between consecutive data collection runs. The longitudinal curvature results for the other two slabs did not show a trend and exhibited unlikely changes in the curvature measured between consecutive data collection runs, which in some instances the deviation was as much as 12.09 mm (0.480 in). For the transverse curvature one of the slabs indicated that the curvature did not change during the data collection, while the other two showed sudden changes as high as 2.16 mm (0.085 in) between consecutive data collection runs. The developed procedure is only preliminary and needs to be further evaluated and refined for it to be able to adequately measure the curvature of as slab. The results also need to be verified using actual measured ground truth curvatures to determine the validity of using the developed procedure and the 3D line laser data to measure the curvature of concrete slabs. Once the procedure is proven to produce reliable results it should be compared to other curvature computation methods, such as those that utilize road profilers or LIDARs, to determine which method is the best.