A data collection software program suited field survey workflows is developed and run on the field
computer. Traditional paper survey form is eliminated. For example, the pavement distress survey is
completed in this manner, GPS determines the location and the quantity (length or area) of the pavement
distresses simultaneously, and the data are collected directly into digital format and are never transcribed
from field notes. All the useful information of the distresses is collected which may be discarded in the
paper inspection sheets. This method decreased the time necessary to complete each unit inspection. After
the investigation, the raw survey data is downloaded from the field computer to the office computer.
Combined with base station data, differential correction is then applied to the data to improve its accuracy.