Development of a Weigh-Pad-Based Portable Weigh-In-Motion System

Abstract

Installing permanent in-pavement weigh-in-motion (WIM) stations on local roads is very expensive and requires
\nrecurring costs of maintenance trips, electricity, and communication. For county roads with limited average daily
\ntraffic (ADT) volume, such a high cost of installation and maintenance is rarely justifiable. One solution to bring
\nWIM technologies to local roads is to utilize a portable WIM system, much like pneumatic tube counters used in
\nshort-duration traffic counts. That is, a single unit is reused in multiple locations for few days at a time. This way,
\nWIM data is obtained without the cost of permanent in-pavement WIM stations. This report describes the results of
\na two-year research project sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to develop a
\nportable WIM system that can be readily deployed on local roads. The objective of this project was to develop a
\nportable WIM system that would be used much like a pneumatic tube counter. The developed system is battery
\noperated, low cost, portable, and easily installable on both rigid and flexible pavements. The report includes a sideby-
\nside comparison of data between the developed on-pavement portable WIM system and an in-pavement
\npermanent WIM system.