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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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Sensors

close-up

A Weigh In Motion Scale (WIM)

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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…

1) Environmental Factors Freeze/Thaw CyclesTemperature Extremes

2) Excessive Vehicle LoadingGross Wt., Axle, Bridge Loading

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Roadway Damage from Excessive Truck Loading

Increasing Axle Loads

Pav

emen

t Dam

age

CarsLegal Trucks

Overweight Trucks

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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 VWS’s 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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We’ve come a long way!!!

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For more information contact…

Dan Shamo URS Corporation (317) 532-5400

Dan_Shamo@urscorp.com