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Evaluation of Low-cost Weigh-in-motion at Armington Junction Weigh Station

Project #: 428531
Start Date: 05/01/1999
End Date: 10/31/2000
ABSTRACT:

Efficient weigh station operation has been limited by lengthy static-scale vehicle weighing processes that often cannot keep pace with the local truck demand. When truck demand exceeds facility capacity, weigh station personnel must either close the entrance to the facility until the truck queue dissipates or must subjectively select trucks to be weighed. In either case, the effective capture of overweight vehicles traveling the nation’s highways is compromised. Weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems serve to improve the operational efficiency of weigh stations by automatically identifying and screening trucks that are the most likely to be overweight.Traditional WIM systems rely on an array of vehicle presence sensors utilizing piezo-electric cable, pressure cell, inductance loop, or bending plate technologies. Weigh-in-motion systems can detect wheel loads, axle loads and spacing, and the number of axles. The systems can also determine the vehicle’s speed, wheelbase, lane and direction of travel and the date and time of vehicle passage.The accuracy of these systems is highly dependent on the infrastructure in which it is placed. Traditional installation has required the system housing to be high quality concrete to minimize the dynamic (bounce and flex) effects of the vehicle-infrastructure interaction. This infrastructure requirement has the potential to greatly increase the cost of implementing a WIM system and perhaps limit its use.A more recent WIM system developed by Kistler promises to deliver the same accuracy or better as traditional WIM systems when installed in either asphalt or concrete. This installation option could potentially result in significant cost savings related to WIM implementation and could ultimately lead to more widespread use of WIM systems, particularly in rural environments where relatively lower commercial vehicle volumes may not justify the implementation of more traditional, higher cost WIM systems. The intent of this project is to explore the performance of this new low-cost weigh-in-motion at the Armington Junction Weigh Station.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the accuracy, operations and maintenance requirements and relative costs of a new low cost weigh-in-motion system that is less sensitive to the infrastructure in which it is placed. Results if successful, will lead to widespread implementation in rural areas where lower truck traffic volumes

PERSONNEL:

  • Steve Albert
    (PI)
  • Dave Galt
    (Main External Contact)

REPORTS & DOCUMENTS:

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