M. Ken Copeland
Georgia Department of Transportation
Atlanta, GA
May 1985

The Second National Conference on WIM was attended by representatives from all 50 states and several foreign countries. Presentations and demonstrations clearly revealed wide spread acceptance and use of WIM for both enforcement of vehicle weight laws, pavement design, and management.

Following is a list of the papers presented at the conference. Abstracts are included where available.

Welcome
Thomas D. Moreland, Georgia Department of Transportation

Welcome
D. J. Altobelli, FHWA, Atlanta, GA

Need for Weigh-In-Motion
David McElhaney, FHWA, Washington, D.C.

Weigh-In-Motion Overview
Perry Kent, FHWA, Washington, D.C.

Weigh-In-Motion and the Strategic Highway Research System
L. Gary Byrd, Strategic Highway Research Program, Washington, D.C.

Traffic Data Needs for Long-Term Pavement Performance Studies
J. Brent Rauhut, Brent Rauhut Engineering, Inc., Austin, TX

Concepts, History, and Future of In-Motion Weighing
Clyde Lee, University of Texas, Austin, TX

Opening
Rex Leathers, FHWA, Washington, D.C.

Impact of Truck Size and Weights on Highway Pavements and Bridges
Reuben Thommas, Claude Napier, and Frank Botelho, FHWA, Washington, D.C.

Development of a Traffic Characteristics Inventory File
W. N. Lofroos, Florida Department of Transportation

The initial purpose of this document was to provide guidance for a consultant and Department of Transportation staff as a major enhancement of the traffic data systems and the formal development of a traffic characteristics inventory (TCI) file. It has subsequently been updated to reflect progress to date. This document describes Florida's present procedure for calculating 18 Kip equivalent single axle loads, examines short-comings, and describes a proposed procedure which will overcome some of these problems and provide a basis for addressing the remaining problems.

Potential Design Applications of Weigh-In-Motion Data
K. Y. Mori, and W. H. Ames, California Department of Transportation

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has been actively involved in Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) research for nearly 20 years. Caltrans research and the performance of trial installations in weigh station off-ramps and in through truck lanes indicate the potential for significant benefits through coordinated use of WIM for weight enforcement screening and truck weight monitoring.

A Master Plan has been developed for implementation of WIM at 28 selected sites statewide at a current estimated cost of $8 - $10 million. The use of portable WIM equipment is also planned to provide truck weight information for pavement and bridge research, planning, and design purposes. The objectives are to improve the quantity and statistical quality of truck size and weight information for pavement and bridge design and performance evaluation, provide a better data base for estimated volume projections of heavy vehicles for design and planning purposes, for systems planning purposes, and improve efficiency of enforcement at high-volume weigh stations.

Use of Weighing-In-Motion Data for Pavement Design
Richard Stehr, Minnesota Department of Transportation

Weighing-in-motion (WIM) data has dramatically improved the way traffic forecasts are made in the State of Minnesota. This paper examines the reasons for the improvement, including a discussion of the data, sampling methods, the effects of lane distribution, and scale evasion bias. It also discusses probabilistic forecasting designs.

Effects of Load Distributions and Axle and Tire Configurations on Pavement Fatigue
Herbert F. Southgate and Robert C. Deen, Kentucky Transportation Research Program, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

This paper presents recent advances in pavement research in the area of magnitudes of loadings, tire and axle configurations, effects of tire pressures and/or contact pressures upon damage factors, and use of traffic data obtained by conventional methods and equipment or by weigh-in-motion equipment.

The Use of Weigh-In-Motion/Automatic Vehicle Identification in Oregon
Milan Krukar and Loyd Henion

There are eight elements to the Oregon Weigh-In-Motion/Automatic Vehicle Identification - Demonstration Project. Data is being collected from five of the eight elements. This paper presents some of the preliminary findings and their significance. the uses of the WIM/AVI data are discussed. To date, this data has not been fully utilized by the various planning and design groups of the highway division. The reasons for this limited use and how they are being rectified are presented. Future directions of WIM/AVI and data uses are discussed.

Heavy Vehicle Electronic License Plate Project and The Crescent Demonstration Project
Harry A. Reed and Louis A. Schmitt, Arizona Department of Transportation

Progress Report on Utah Department of Transportation's Weigh-In-Motion Program
Robert Todd, Utah Department of Transportation

A Progress Report on Maine Department of Transportation's Weigh-In-Motion R.T.A.P. Project
John H. Wyman, Maine D.O.T., Materials and Research Division

Maryland State Highway Administration's Demonstration Project of Coordinated Weight Monitoring and Enforcement Using Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) Equipment RTAP-1 (2)
Kenneth V. Dodson, Maryland Bureau of Highway Statistics

Progress Report: West Virginia Rural Transportation Assistance Program Weigh-In-Motion Project
A. D. Blackwood, West Virginia Department of Highways

Kansas Rural Transportation Assistance Program Weigh-In-Motion Demonstration Project
Clarence Startz, Kansas Department of Transportation

Progress Report: Arizona Department of Transportation
Louis A. Schmitt, Arizona Department of Transportation

European Experience in Weigh-In-Motion: High Speed Axle Load Measurement--A European Perspective
Robin S. Moore, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, U.K.

This paper outlines current requirements for, and methods of obtaining, axle load data in Europe using WIM technology. There is considerable similarity between permanent European axle weighing scales and those developed in the USA. Some comparisons are given between static and measured dynamic axle loads using a number of permanent and portable European WIM systems. Future applications using the new and relatively low cost WIM sensors appear to be numerous.

The South Dakota Bridge Weigh-In-Motion System
David L. Huft, South Dakota Department of Transportation

Following completion of Federal Highway Administration sponsored research in high speed weighing of vehicles using instrumented bridges as the load sensing element, the South Dakota Department of Transportation became interested in the technology as an appropriate means to gather truck weight information. After unsuccessful efforts to obtain a prototype system from the FHWA, the Department decided to develop its own bridge weigh-in-motion system in late 1982. Electronic equipment was purchased, weighing software was designed and written, and a motorhome was purchased to house and transport the system. Two bridges were permanently instrumented in 1983.

While based on research published during the FHWA sponsored contracts, the system has developed independently and differs in some respects from those systems. Strain gages permanently attached to structures are used instead of removable transducers, photocells rather than tapeswitches are used to sense axles, and site calibration procedures are different.

As of summer, 1985, eighteen bridge weigh-in-motion sites in South Dakota are being used to conduct the state's Truck Weight Study on interstate, main rural, secondary, and urban highways.

A Report on the Field Evaluation of FHWA Vehicle Classification Categories
John H. Wyman, Maine D.O.T., Materials & Research Division

The object of this project study was to evaluate the ability of presently available automatic vehicle classifiers to accurately identify the vehicle types in the FHWA classification scheme.

In addition, a review of the scheme "E" was required with attention to any possible corrections and changes needed to bring the scheme into conformity with the changes suggested in the FHWA review.

A Report on Automatic Vehicle Classification
Clarence Startz, Kansas Department of Transportation

Low-Cost WIM: The Way Forward
Peter Davies and Fraser Sommerville, CRC Corporation, Corvallis, OR

Truck weighing in the U.S. has evolved from the relatively simple use of static, permanent and portable weighing devices to the utilization of sophisticated dynamic weighing (WIM) technology. Portable integrated systems for traffic volume counting, vehicle type categorizations, and accumulation of axle weight distributions are now within reach. Similar systems which can communicate directly with a central new computer are also now feasible. This paper describes the development of such low-cost WIM systems.

Enforcement Workshop Summary
Fred Juba, Pennsylvania DOT

Design Workshop Summary
James Cable, Iowa DOT

Planning Workshop Summary
Pat Savage, FHWA, Washington, D.C.

Closing Remarks
Ken Copeland, Georgia DOT
Leonard Larson, FHWA, Atlanta, GA

OTO Perspective on Weight Enforcement and WIM
Jonathan D. McDade, FHWA, Washington, D.C.

Pennsylvania Weight History and Experiences with Weigh-In-Motion
Frederick R. Juba, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Nevada's Use of WIM in Enforcement Activities
D. Keith Maki, Nevada Department of Transportation

State of Delaware Weight Enforcement
John F. Chadick, Delaware State Police

Weight Enforcement in Maryland
Murray Zepp, Maryland State Police

High Speed Sorter and Data Collection "WIM" System, Highway 20, St-Romuald, Province of Quebec, Canada
Rock Bergeron and Marc Robert, Quebec Department of Transportation

The Use of Weigh-In-Motion Systems to Collect Design Data
Paul Simms, Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department

Equivalent Axle Loads for Pavement Design
Richard D. Warpoole, Tennessee Department of Transportation

Weigh-In-Motion Data Applications for Analysis and Design in the Pavement Management Process
Thomas J. Koglin, New Mexico State Highway Department

Truck Weights as Related to Pavement Design in Alabama
F. L. Holman, Alabama Highway Department

Weigh-In-Motion Application to Iowa Pavement Design
James K. Cable, Iowa Department of Transportation

Meeting Traffic Loading Data Needs for Pavement Analysis
John P. Hallin, FHWA, Portland, OR

Comparisons on Truck Weight Survey and WIM Data Collecting Methods and Thoughts on Future Data Collection
Bill McCall, Iowa Department of Transportation

Weighing-In-Motion in Illinois
Larry Shoudel, Illinois Department of Transportation

Weighing-In-Motion in New Mexico
Robert Mares, New Mexico State Highway Department

The FHWA Traffic Monitoring Guide - A Coordinated, Statistically-Based and Cost-Effective Approach for the Collection and Analysis of Traffic Monitoring Data
Stanley Gee, FHWA, Albany, NY

Characteristics of Wisconsin's Truck Weight Study and Bridge Weigh-In-Motion System
Lang R. Spicer, Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Integration of Truck Weighing Programs
Wiley D. Cunagin, Texas A & M University System

Last Modified: November 2007

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