Read Before Use: ORCA products are data and analytical tools. Every deliverable has defined accuracy characteristics documented below and included with each project delivery. Users are responsible for understanding these limitations before making decisions or commitments based on ORCA data. Accuracy documentation specific to your project is provided with every deliverable.
1. Accuracy by Product
ORCA offers multiple distinct products, each with different data sources, methodologies, and accuracy characteristics. The table below summarizes expected accuracy levels. Per-delivery accuracy documentation is included with every project.
ORCA Product Accuracy Summary — Documented Per Delivery
| Product |
Accuracy Level |
Primary Limitation |
Documented |
| PASER Road Condition Assessment |
High
±1 PASER point vs. field survey, ~85–92% segment agreement |
Surface-visible distress only; canopy/shadow obstruction |
Included |
| Aerial Quantity Takeoff (SY / SQ FT) |
High
±3–5% on open segments; ±8–10% near obstructions |
Pavement edge obscured by vegetation or parked vehicles |
Included |
| Road Width Measurement |
High
Typically ±1–2 ft on clear segments |
Curb-to-curb edges partially obscured; imagery resolution limits |
Included |
| Segment Length / Centerline |
Very High
±0.5–1% based on GIS centerline data |
Depends on accuracy of source centerline data |
Included |
| Material Quantity Estimates (HMA tonnage, tack coat) |
Estimate
Derived from SY; accuracy depends on assumed depth/density |
Requires contractor-confirmed lift thickness and mix density |
Included |
| Contractor Marketing / Prospect Lists |
Reference Data
Contacts verified at time of research; subject to change |
Personnel turnover; contact info may become stale over time |
Included |
| Pavement Condition Scores for Private / HOA Roads |
High
Same methodology as municipal assessment; same accuracy range |
No formal PASER standard for private roads; ratings are advisory |
Included |
Per-Delivery Documentation: Every ORCA project delivery includes a written accuracy statement covering: imagery date and source, resolution, confidence level by segment, known obstruction flags, and any segments that received manual PE review. This documentation is part of the deliverable package — not a separate request.
2. Per-Product Limitations
PASER ratings are assigned based on AI analysis of surface-visible pavement distress in high-resolution aerial imagery, reviewed by a licensed PE. Accuracy characteristics:
- Agreement with field survey: Validated against field-measured PASER ratings with approximately 85–92% segment agreement within ±1 rating point. Performance varies by imagery quality and segment type.
- Surface only: Ratings reflect surface distress visible from overhead. Subsurface structural conditions, IRI/roughness, friction, base failure not associated with visible surface cracking, and conditions obscured by vegetation or vehicles are not captured.
- Imagery date applies: The condition rating reflects the pavement state at the time of imagery capture. Conditions may have changed. Imagery date is reported in every deliverable.
- Low-confidence flagging: Segments where imagery quality, canopy cover, or other factors reduce confidence are flagged in deliverables. Flagged segments should receive field verification before being used in high-stakes decisions.
- Appropriate uses: Network-level pavement management, capital program prioritization, WISLR/ICIP submissions, grant applications, budget estimation, contractor scope definition.
- Verify before major rehabilitation design: For individual reconstruction projects, major rehabilitation contracts, or any project where an incorrect scope would carry significant cost consequences, supplemental field inspection by a qualified engineer is recommended.
Surface area measurements are derived from high-resolution aerial imagery using georeferenced pavement edge detection and validated centerline data. Accuracy characteristics:
- Open segments (clear imagery): Typically ±3–5% on curb-to-curb width measurements; ±0.5–1% on centerline length derived from GIS data.
- Obstructed segments: Where pavement edges are partially hidden by vehicles, tree canopy, or structures, width estimates carry ±8–10% uncertainty. Obstructed segments are flagged in deliverables.
- Not a survey: ORCA quantity data is derived from aerial imagery and GIS, not from a licensed land survey. For formal contract documents, right-of-way determinations, or legal descriptions, a licensed surveyor's measurements are required.
- Field verification for large bids: For projects over $100,000 in contract value, ORCA recommends field verification of critical dimensions — particularly widths on flagged or obstructed segments — before final bid submission.
- Material estimates are applied calculations: Tonnage and volume estimates are calculated by applying standard conversion factors to measured SY quantities. They assume user-specified lift thickness and mix density. Errors in assumed values propagate through all derived estimates.
All quantity deliverables include a segment-level flag indicating measurement confidence (Clear / Partial Obstruction / Low Confidence).
Marketing contact lists are compiled from public records, municipal directories, state agency databases, and verified commercial sources. Accuracy characteristics:
- Verified at delivery: Contact names, titles, phone numbers, and email addresses are verified at the time of research. Lists note the verification date.
- Subject to change: Municipal personnel, HOA management company assignments, and commercial property management contacts change over time. ORCA is not responsible for contacts that become stale after the delivery date.
- Road condition scores for prospects are estimates: Condition urgency scores assigned to municipalities on prospect lists are based on ORCA's assessment data or publicly available pavement condition reports. They are provided as relative prioritization guidance, not precise condition measurements for those properties.
- Not a solicitation guarantee: Inclusion on a prospect list indicates pavement condition data suggests potential work — it does not guarantee a contract opportunity exists, that a budget has been allocated, or that the owner is actively seeking bids.
- For marketing use only: Contact lists are provided for the purchaser's internal sales and marketing use. Resale or redistribution is not permitted.
ORCA applies the same aerial AI methodology to private roads, HOA community lanes, and commercial pavement as it does to municipal roads. Specific considerations:
- No formal standard for private roads: The PASER system was developed for public roads. ORCA applies equivalent distress identification methodology to private pavement and reports condition scores using the same 1–10 scale for consistency. These scores are advisory rather than compliance ratings.
- Ownership verification: ORCA does not verify road ownership before performing assessments. Clients are responsible for ensuring they have appropriate authority to commission an assessment of the subject pavement.
- Same accuracy range: Image quality, obstruction flags, and confidence levels apply equally to private road assessments as to municipal networks.
3. What ORCA Sees — and What It Doesn't
Surface indicators captured
- Longitudinal, transverse, block, and alligator cracking patterns — density and severity
- Surface weathering, raveling, and aggregate loss
- Patching extent and visible patch condition
- Edge cracking and pavement edge deterioration
- General surface texture degradation
- Drainage ponding indicators and cross-slope issues where visible
Not captured by aerial assessment
- Subsurface structural conditions: Base/subbase integrity, subgrade performance, moisture intrusion below the surface course
- Pavement thickness: No coring, GPR, or structural testing is performed
- Ride quality: IRI, roughness index, or surface smoothness measurements are not produced
- Friction / skid resistance: Not evaluated from aerial imagery
- Street-level only conditions: Edge drop-offs, heaving, frost damage not visible from overhead, distress below parked vehicles or canopy
- ADA compliance: Sidewalk, ramp, or curb accessibility conditions are outside standard scope
- Utility impacts: Underground conflicts, vault settlement, or utility cut quality beyond visible surface effects
- Traffic and loading: Actual traffic volumes, vehicle classifications, or cumulative loading history are not modeled
4. Imagery Limitations
All aerial-based products depend on imagery quality. The following reduce accuracy and are flagged at the segment level in deliverables:
- Tree canopy and shadow: Reduces pavement edge visibility and surface distress detection. Canopy-obstructed segments receive a lower confidence rating.
- Parked vehicles: Vehicles parked along curbs obscure pavement edge width. Affected segments are flagged with partial-obstruction notation.
- Recent construction or fresh overlays: New surfaces may score excellent regardless of underlying structure. If a road was recently overlaid, the score reflects the new surface — not historical base condition.
- Imagery age: All products report the imagery capture date. Conditions may have changed since capture. ORCA uses the most current imagery meeting minimum resolution requirements (generally 3–6 inch GSD).
- Winter or snow-covered imagery: ORCA avoids winter imagery where possible. When unavoidable, affected segments are flagged.
- Gravel and unpaved surfaces: Models are optimized for asphalt and concrete. Gravel/aggregate surface ratings are preliminary estimates and carry higher uncertainty.
5. Professional Engineer Review
PE
PE Review on Every Assessment Deliverable
PASER condition assessment deliverables are reviewed by a licensed Professional Engineer prior to delivery. The PE review confirms AI-generated ratings are consistent with the applied methodology, identifies anomalous segments requiring correction or flagging, and certifies the output.
PE review applies to condition assessment products. Quantity takeoff reports, marketing lists, and material estimate sheets are not PE-stamped documents — they are data products. PE review does not constitute a site visit, field investigation, or formal engineering report unless explicitly contracted as a separate engineering service.
Illinois PE License
Wisconsin PE License
PASER Certified
Municipal & Private Roads
6. Appropriate Use by Client Type
Municipalities and engineering consultants
- Network-level pavement management planning and capital program development
- WISLR submissions and state DOT reporting
- Grant application support (ICIP, STP, CDBG, ARPA)
- Budget estimation and 5-year CIP development
- Contractor scope definition for resurfacing programs
- Pre-design screening (before committing to full field investigation costs)
Paving and resurfacing contractors
- Pre-bid quantity estimation for municipal, private, and commercial resurfacing jobs
- Condition-based scope differentiation (crack seal vs. overlay vs. reconstruction)
- Prospect identification and pipeline development
- Internal estimating efficiency — reduces pre-bid field time for initial scoping
- Not a substitute for site visit on final bid: ORCA data is pre-bid intelligence. A site walkthrough before final bid submission is standard professional practice and remains the contractor's responsibility.
Snow removal contractors
- Lane mile and square footage quantification for contract pricing
- Salt and deicing material quantity estimation
- Route planning and zone segmentation
- Salt estimates are provided at standard reference rates — actual application depends on storm conditions, product, and contractor practice
7. No Warranty
ORCA Roads provides all products and deliverables "as is" based on available aerial imagery, GIS data, AI analysis, and (for condition assessments) PE review. We make no warranty, express or implied, as to completeness, accuracy, or fitness for a particular purpose beyond what is documented in the per-delivery accuracy statement accompanying each project.
ORCA makes no representations about pavement conditions that cannot be observed from aerial imagery, including subsurface structural conditions, roughness, friction, or conditions present beneath obstructions.
8. Limitation of Liability
ORCA Roads' aggregate liability for any single engagement shall not exceed the total fees paid for that project. ORCA shall not be liable for:
- Decisions made in reliance on assessment or quantity data without supplemental field verification where warranted by the per-delivery accuracy documentation
- Pavement conditions not observable from aerial imagery as described in Section 3
- Changes in conditions between imagery capture date and date of use
- Bid overruns, change orders, or contract disputes arising from use of ORCA quantity estimates
- Marketing contact data that becomes outdated after the delivery date
- Consequential, indirect, or punitive damages of any kind
This limitation applies to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of consequential damages; in those jurisdictions, ORCA's liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted.
9. Governing Standards
ORCA's road condition assessment methodology is based on the PASER (Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating) system developed by the University of Wisconsin Transportation Information Center (WTTIC). ORCA applies this methodology to aerial imagery analysis and is not affiliated with WTTIC or the Wisconsin DOT. Clients requiring WISLR-compatible submissions should confirm current WISLR requirements with their regional planning organization or WisDOT.
10. Contact for Questions or Disputes
Technical questions about a specific deliverable, accuracy concerns, or requests for clarification on methodology:
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