United States Department of Transportation
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Expanding portable B-WIM technology.
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2011-06-28
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[PDF-3.56 MB]
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Abstract:Advances in weigh-in-motion technology over the past 15 years have led to successful field application of a
commercial grade portable Bridge WIM system (B-WIM) in Europe. Under a previous UTCA Research
Project No. 07212, UTCA tested the state-of-the art commercially available B-WIM technology on two
interstate highway bridges. The equipment tested was developed by CESTEL, a Slovenian technology
company, and is commercially referred to as the SiWIM system. Some technical difficulties occurred during
the Project 07212 field tests; however, the SiWIM system was successfully installed, calibrated, and placed
into a data gathering mode at both sites. The objective of the research described in this report was to develop a
practical recommendation for installation of SiWIM technology at potentially multiple locations in the State of
Alabama for the primary purpose of traffic enforcement. The researchers worked with the Alabama DOT to
select a bridge for instrumentation that has the potential for an excellent accuracy classification rating. The
bridge selected is located on US Highway 78 East in Graysville, Alabama. The bridge structure consists of
three forty-two foot simply supported reinforced concrete T-beam spans with two traffic lanes in one direction.
In addition, an ALDOT-operated Bending Plate Weigh-In-Motion System (BP-WIM) is located
approximately four miles to the west also on US Highway 78. After installing the SiWiM system on the
bridge, calibration and three in-service simulated enforcement test exercises were conducted. Over one
hundred trucks were weighed by the SiWIM system and compared to their static weights. Many of the trucks
were also weighed by the BP-WIM system. The accuracy classification established for the SiWIM system
during the calibration and subsequent in-service tests varied between ±20% and ±44% of the static weight with
a confidence level of 85%. This level of accuracy is not precise enough to be used with confidence to screen
trucks for weight enforcement. The additional BP-WIM data collected during this program indicated that the
SiWIM system may be as accurate as the nearby BP-WIM system tested. Lessons learned from the work
reported here have been of benefit. In March, 2011, ALDOT personnel installed, calibrated, and operated a
newer model of the SiWIM system on a shorter span bridge, achieving B(10), C(15), AND B(10) accuracy
classification in random truck weighing for gross vehicle weight, group axles, and single axles, respectively.
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