Virtual Weigh Stations Recent State Initiatives

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Virtual Weigh StationsRecent State Initiatives

• Talking Freight Series
• Webcast
• Presented By
• Daniel E. Shamo, P.E.
• February 10, 2009

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What is a Virtual Weigh Station?

• An Enhanced Weigh-in-Motion Scale
• Equipment to Record Violation Data
• Real Time
• Post Processed (Ex. Daily, Weekly, Monthly)
• Digital Imaging to Identify Vehicle Information
• Supporting Infrastructure
• Automate data handling
• Integrated DOT/Enforcement Operations

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A Weigh In Motion Scale (WIM)
close-up
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Dedicated Roadside Inspection Areas
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Certified Portable Scales
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Digital Image Capture
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What Problem are We Addressing?

• Pavement, Bridge and Rail Crossing Damage Results
  from Two Principle Causes
• Environmental Factors
• Freeze/Thaw Cycles
• Temperature Extremes
• 2) Excessive Vehicle Loading
• Gross Wt., Axle, Bridge Loading

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Example damage from excessive axle loads
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Traditional Strategies

• Fixed Scale Facilities (Port of Entry Scales)
• Mobile Scales
• Roadside Enforcement

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VWS Strategies

• Targeted Roadside Enforcement
• Scale By-Pass Evasion
• Protection of Vulnerable Bridges Roads
• Identification of Habitual Offenders
• Performance Measures

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A Word about Weight Enforcement vs.Weight
Compliance
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Enforcement vs. Compliance

• Enforcement is Costly and Has Not Delivered
• Fixed weigh stations are easily circumvented
• Enforcement resources are usually very limited
• Majority of legal trucks are unnecessarily
  delayed
• Port of Entry scales do not address intra-state
  movements
• Blind mobile enforcement has a low hit rate
• Compliance Programs can be More Effective
• Improving the compliance rate is the real goal,
  not fines
• Habitual Offenders are the real target
• Legal trucks are not disturbed
• Targeted mobile enforcement can be very efficient

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What VWSs Bring to the Table

• A More Covert Operation
• Lower Costs
• Zero Enforcement Opportunities
• Performance Measures

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Additional Enhancements Possible

• Infrared Temperature Sensors
• Tire Temperature
• Wheel Hub Temperature
• Road Weather Information Systems
• Meteorological Measurements
• Pavement Condition
• Radiation Detection
• Classifying Cargo for Commodity Research
• Illegal Disposal of Radioactive Materials
• Hostile Activities?

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State Accomplishments to date

• Successfully Virtualized V-WIM prototypes
• Developed Guidelines for Inspection Sites
• Created Weight Compliance Strategic Plans
• Used Data to Estimate Weight Damage
• Used Enforcement Data to Calibrate WIMs
• Night/Day Imaging Systems
• Internet Access for Roadside Enforcement
• Dimensional Enforcement

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Where do we go from here?

• Multi-state Consortium is encouraged
• Develop a Standard Central Operating System
• Sharing Specifications and Strategies
• Sharing Data from VWSs Near Borders
• Develop Performance Measures
• Promote Research
• Damage estimation
• Additional Enhancements
• Performance Measurements

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Weve come a long way!!!
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For more information contact
Dan Shamo URS Corporation (317)
532-5400 Dan_Shamo_at_urscorp.com