Alligator cracking is measured in square feet (square meters) of surface area. The major difficulty in measuring this type of distress is that many times two or three levels of severity exist within one distressed area. If these portions can be easily distinguished from one another, they should be measured and recorded separately. However, if the different levels of severity cannot be easily divided, the entire area should be rated at the highest severity level present. If alligator cracking and rutting occur in the same area, each is recorded separately as its respective severity level.