In October, FTA had an opportunity to share its FTA WIM – weight in motion technology through a webinar section promoted by TEAMFL titled “What to expect from the future of WIM?”
In alignment with the next level of WIM, FTA presented the study cases that were deployed overseas in order to give a little glimpse of what the future can be in the US.
The sophistication of this technology is due to the integration of the software with components, Intercomp’ strain gauges strip sensors, a piezoelectric sensor for dual tire-wheel detection, ANPR cameras, with infrared illuminators and RFID readers, overview cameras to offer a panoramic view, besides LIDAR scanner and LED Screens for indicative messages.
Altogether, this system called FTA HSWIM – High-speed Weight in Motion is able to deliver a real-time classification, and most importantly, it complies with Class A(5) up to 80 mph in its complete version. FTA HSWIM is prepared to fully automated system, considering direct enforcement and toll by weight.
The Florida Transportation Plan – FTP is working on new possibilities to turn Florida’s roads more agile and productive.
According to Updating the Florida Transportation Plan, Emerging Trends, the State currently carries a total freight volume of 958.8 M TONS. Truck is mostly used, which represents 760 M TONS, followed by maritime with 110,8 M TONS, rail with 85,5 M TONS, and air with 2,5 M TONS. Truck still contributes almost 80% of the total freight volume in Florida.
Based on this, FTA HSWIM can definitely add value to the current technologies on the roads and help Florida’s transportation corridors achieve even better performance.
It is possible to imagine a real future by using FTA HSWIM to measure non-stop trucks when they cross this new concept of weight station.
Come to mind the statistics given by Tom Kearney, Transportation’s Specialist at Federal Highway Administration, that 67% of the trucks reached their total volume capacity before the weight limit. With FTA HSWIM solution weight enforcement can be most efficient, effective, and requires a smaller enforcement staff.
The savings in comparison with a new traditional weigh station facility is enormous.
FTA HSWIM can embed automated direct enforcement and it is able to operate 24/7, it increases traffic safety for the law enforcement officers by avoiding the pullover occasions.
According to U.S Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao, “In 2017, 47 officers lost their lives in traffic-related incidents, with nine officers struck and killed outside their vehicles.”
Not to mention saving their time to manage other important matters, such as helping first responders when an urgent situation occurs.
Toll by weight is another possibility through FTA HSWIM, which can ensure fair road usage fees, identify overweight offenders. Also, it comes with the possibility of implementing a fully automated system and associate it with weight enforcement.
Road users will be charging according to their vehicle’s actual weight
The development process of the FTA HSWIM solution has considered economics, efficiency, safety, performance, and compliances.
In terms of benefits, FTA HSWIM contributes with a list of them; reducing the cost of equipment, installation, and ownership; long-term infrastructure planning and long-term pavement performance; and a safer environment for first responders, roadway, and vehicle operators.
During the webinar section, some questions were asked. One of these questions was related to the intention of implementing one of these technologies, it means, FTA HSWIM, toll by weighing, direct enforcement, or all of them. The result was that 42% of answers were positive to implement all of them.
FTA is ready to help implement this amazing technology in Florida and it can be part of the solution for the economy and for the society as well.
Author: Degoncir Goncalves.
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