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Virtual Weigh Stations Recent State Initiatives. Talking Freight Series Webcast Presented By Daniel E. Shamo, P.E. February 10, 2009. What is a Virtual Weigh Station?. An Enhanced Weigh-in-Motion Scale Equipment to Record Violation Data Real Time
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Virtual Weigh StationsRecent State Initiatives Talking Freight Series Webcast Presented By Daniel E. Shamo, P.E. February 10, 2009
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
Sensors A Weigh In Motion Scale (WIM) close-up
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
Traditional Strategies • Fixed Scale Facilities (Port of Entry Scales) • Mobile Scales • Roadside Enforcement
VWS Strategies • Targeted Roadside Enforcement • Scale By-Pass Evasion • Protection of Vulnerable Bridges & Roads • Identification of Habitual Offenders • Performance Measures
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
What VWS’s Bring to the Table • A More Covert Operation • Lower Costs • Zero Enforcement Opportunities • Performance Measures
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?
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
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
For more information contact… Dan Shamo URS Corporation (317) 532-5400 Dan_Shamo@urscorp.com