If damage occurs, the video tape helps us to restore these areas to their original condition prior to construction. Video taping streets allows us to collect a great deal of valuable information without a time consuming mapping process. Consider a street's youth, for example. When a pavement is new, it is really very resilient, taking the bump and grind of garbage and delivery trucks, the squealing tires of the neighbor's teenagers, and the seasonal abuse of rain, snow, heat and cold, without showing much sign of wear. With the passage of time, the effects of traffic and weather begin to show.
Cracks begin to appear and the pavement starts to ravel around the edges.
Here and there, parts of the street may even sag a bit. In spite of all that, the street is still in pretty good condition. The existing cracks become wider and potholes begin to appear. Water from the rain and snow will seep through these cracks and holes, weakening the gravel base and soil beneath the asphalt. Soon, the weak and aging pavement will no longer be able to stand up to the traffic and weather and the street will fail.