Perspectives for WIM in North America Perspectivas para

Florianópolis - Santa Catarina - Brazil
April 3rd to 7th - 2011
Perspectives for WIM in North America
Tom Kearney - [email protected]
USDOT – Federal Highway Administration
Abstract
The Smart Roadside Initiative (SRI) was formally launched in 2008 with the Stakeholder Workshop
sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The participants at
the workshop agreed that commercial vehicle safety, security, and mobility systems should be linked
into a coordinated and comprehensive roadside program. High speed weigh-in-motion technology for
mainline screening of truck weights is a “core technology” in the SRI. Smart Roadside is an approved
mode-specific research project in the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Intelligent
Transportation Systems (ITS) Strategic Research Plan, 2010-2014. USDOT’s ITS Safety Research
Program is supported by the Research Plan. Given this, there is now a recognized need to initiate
work to perform a Needs Analysis, develop a Concept of Operations and develop a Prototype Smart
Roadside Application for integration into the ITS Safety Program’s Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V-I)
activities.
The current commercial vehicle environment in the US consists of numerous Federal, State, regional,
and private-sector programs that use a combination of manual, semi-automatic, and advanced
technologies to support safety, mobility and security. Weigh-in-Motion technology is a core
component of systems deployed to perform mainline screening. The effectiveness of these programs
will be greatly improved as relevant and appropriate data is shared among the current systems and they
are integrated in a collaborative fashion. Smart Roadside can be simply described as an integrated
system deployed at strategic points along commercial vehicle routes to improve safety, mobility and
efficiency of truck movement and operations on the roadway.
The vision for the Smart Roadside is one in which commercial vehicles, motor carriers, enforcement
resources, highway facilities, intermodal facilities, toll facilities, and other nodes on the transportation
system collect data for their own purposes and share the data seamlessly with the relevant parties, in
order to improve motor carrier safety, security, operational efficiency, and freight mobility. This
vision will be achieved through the application of interoperable technologies and information sharing
between in-vehicle, on-the-road, and freight facility systems. Whenever possible, the Smart Roadside
will leverage stakeholders' current technology investments in order to augment existing programs and
support new activities.
This talk will provide an overview of USDOT’s ITS Safety Program including a description of the
Smart Roadside Program and the important role WIM plays as part of that Program.
Perspectivas para o sistema de pesagem em movimento na América do
Norte
Resumo
A iniciativa “beira de estrada inteligente” (Smart Roadside Initiative – SRI) foi lançada formalmente
em 2008, com a realização do workshop com as partes interessadas, promovido pela Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), pela Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) e pelo
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Os participantes do encontro concordaram que os
sistemas de segurança, seguridade e mobilidade de veículos comerciais deveriam ser integrados em
um programa de beira de estrada coordenado e abrangente. A pesagem em movimento a alta
velocidade para pré-seleção na pista de veículos sobrepesados é uma tecnologia central na SRI. O
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Florianópolis - Santa Catarina - Brazil
April 3rd to 7th - 2011
Smart Roadside é um projeto de pesquisa modal-específico para o período 2010-2014, no âmbito do
Plano Estratégico de Pesquisa em Sistemas Inteligentes de Transporte (Strategic Research Plan on
Intelligent Transportation Systems – ITS) do Ministério dos Transportes americano (U.S. Department
of Transportation – USDOT). Esse Plano de Pesquisa em ITS do USDOT inclui o Programa de
Pesquisa em Segurança. Levando isso em consideração, há agora uma necessidade reconhecida de se
iniciar o trabalho de execução de uma análise de necessidades, desenvolver um conceito de operações
e desenvolver um protótipo de aplicação Smart Roadside para integração nas atividades veículo-parainfraestrutura (V-I) do Programa de Segurança em ITS.
O atual ambiente dos veículos comerciais nos EUA consiste de numerosos programas de iniciativas
federal, estadual, regional e do setor privado, que fazem uso de uma combinação de tecnologias
manuais, semiautomáticas e avançadas para prover segurança, mobilidade e proteção. A tecnologia de
pesagem em movimento (Weigh-in-Motion – WIM) é um componente central dos sistemas
implantados para realizar pré-seleção na pista. A efetividade desses programas será consideravelmente
melhorada na medida em que dados relevantes e apropriados sejam compartilhados com os sistemas
atuais e estes sejam integrados de forma colaborativa. O Smart Roadside pode ser descrito
simplesmente como um sistema integrado instalado em pontos estratégicos ao longo de rotas de
veículos comerciais para melhorar a segurança, a mobilidade e a eficiência da movimentação e
operação dos caminhões na rodovia.
A visão para o projeto Smart Roadside é aquela em que veículos comerciais, empresas de transporte,
recursos de fiscalização, instalações rodoviárias, instalações intermodais, instalações de pedágio e
outros nós do sistema de transporte coletam dados para uso próprio e os compartilham sem
descontinuidade com as partes relevantes, a fim de melhorar a segurança, a seguridade, a eficiência
operacional e a mobilidade das cargas das empresas de transporte. Sempre que possível, o projeto
Smart Roadside vai alavancar os atuais investimentos dos interessados em tecnologia, de modo a
expandir programas existentes e a dar suporte a novas atividades.
Esta apresentação dará uma visão geral do Programa de Segurança do ITS do USDOT, incluindo uma
descrição do Smart Roadside Program e o importante papel que o WIM desempenha como parte dele.
Overview
Weigh-in-Motion technology has been a technology of keen interest in the United States for several
decades.
The pavement research community, evidenced through the Federal Highway
Administration’s (FHWA) Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) research program, has
embraced the technology using WIM detectors as a valuable tool to gain “loading” data needed to
advance pavement design and materials program objectives. Recently, the bridge management and
design community has turned to WIM systems and WIM data seeking to improve the data used in
estimating “bridge loading” and to develop more accurate depictions of “design vehicles” for use in
bridge design. FHWA’s Long-Term Bridge Health Monitoring Program includes WIM technology in
the suite of sensors and devices used in the program’s data collection activities. Freight planners
introduce findings generated through WIM data to look at their roadway networks and understand how
freight is moving.
Truck enforcement community representatives have viewed the technology as a valuable tool in
screening trucks for gross vehicle, axle and axle sets weights while traveling at highway speeds. The
earliest concepts for “Virtual Weigh Stations” emerged in Kentucky and in Indiana in the mid to late
1980’s and in each case WIM was featured as a key tool. The Smart Roadside Initiative elevates the
role of WIM technology in truck enforcement programs by introducing the technology into the
broader, strategic aspects of “next generation” vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure
interactions envisioned under USDOT’s ITS Strategic Research Program: 2010-2014.
The Smart Roadside Initiative (SRI) was formerly “kicked-off” as the US national truck enforcement
and freight mobility program in Jacksonville, Florida in May, 2008. The Workshop brought together
the many diverse stakeholders involved in commercial motor vehicle operations and regulation of their
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Florianópolis - Santa Catarina - Brazil
April 3rd to 7th - 2011
operations from both the public and private sectors. The Workshop was sponsored by the FHWA, the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and the Florida Department of Transportation
(FDOT). The participants at the workshop agreed that commercial vehicle safety, security, and
mobility systems should be linked into a coordinated and comprehensive roadside program. Smart
Roadside is an approved mode-specific research project in the U.S. Department of Transportation
(USDOT) Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Strategic Research Plan, 2010-2014. Given this,
efforts are underway to perform a Needs Analysis and develop a Concept of Operations for the Smart
Roadside Initiative.
The current commercial vehicle environment consists of numerous Federal, State, regional, and
private-sector programs that use a combination of manual, semi-automatic, and advanced technologies
to support safety, mobility and security. The effectiveness of these programs will be greatly improved
by the Smart Roadside concept as relevant and appropriate data is shared among the current systems
and they are integrated in a collaborative fashion. Smart Roadside can be simply described as an
integrated system deployed at strategic points along commercial vehicle routes to improve safety,
mobility and efficiency of truck movement and operations on the roadway.
USDOT ITS Research Program Focus
The USDOT ITS Strategic Research Plan: 2010-2014 provides the research framework for supporting
enhanced safety, improved mobility and effective stewardship of the impacts highway operations has
on the environment. The identification and application of advanced technologies in these three areas
is a cornerstone of the Research Program. The Research Plan was rolled out in December, 2009; there
are several components included under the Plan:
•
•
•
•
Connected Vehicle Research;
Mode-Specific Research;
Cross-Cutting Research; and
Exploratory Research.
The concept of vehicle-to-vehicle communication exchanges and vehicle-to-infrastructure and
infrastructure-to-vehicle communication exchanges is progressed through the overall ITS Strategic
Research Program. As such, the goal of introducing telecommunication devices into vehicles,
including commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles, and delivering telecommunication
capabilities strategically placed as part of the national roadway infrastructure is intended to reduce
vehicle crashes and enhance roadway mobility. Simultaneously, devices, infrastructure and
applications are being developed to deliver the many complex elements of the ITS Strategic Research
Plan.
Picture of Weigh Station in Tennessee (CVSA)
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Florianópolis - Santa Catarina - Brazil
April 3rd to 7th - 2011
The Smart Roadside Element
Included under the “Mode-Specific Research” component of the ITS Strategic Research Plan is
support for the “Smart Roadside Initiative”. The Smart Roadside Initiative (SRI) is being progressed
via a partnership between USDOT’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). FHWA has the responsibility of overseeing effective
enforcement of commercial motor vehicle size and weight. The FMCSA is responsible to oversee
truck safety and trucking company and driver safety compliance. Since FHWA and FMCSA interact
with the same enforcement officials at the state level, it made sense to form a partnership and
coordinate closely on strategic program initiatives related to regulating trucking activities. The
introduction of advanced technologies into traditional enforcement activities was agreed to by both
FHWA and FMCSA as a means to improve the effectiveness of truck enforcement activities and to
realize efficiencies, by both the public and private sector interests, in the delivery of enforcement
programs. The concept of Smart Roadside emerged as a result.
The vision for the Smart Roadside is one in which commercial vehicles, motor carriers, enforcement
resources, highway facilities, intermodal facilities, toll facilities, and other nodes on the transportation
system collect data for their own purposes and share the data seamlessly with the relevant parties, in
order to improve motor carrier safety, security, operational efficiency, and freight mobility. This
vision will be achieved through the application of interoperable technologies and information sharing
between in-vehicle, on-the-road, and freight facility systems. Whenever possible, the Smart Roadside
will leverage stakeholders' current technology investments in order to augment existing programs and
support new and emerging opportunities to enhance current practices undertaken by both the public
and private sector.
In light of the diverging trends of the forecast for significant growth in truck travel, responding to the
needs of a growing US population, and the diminishing public resources available to conduct truck
enforcement program activities, technology offers relief. The more efficient and strategic delivery of
enforcement activities can be a reality through the introduction of effective screening capabilities,
thereby focusing limited enforcement resources toward those vehicles deserving closer inspections and
measurements. The “ITS model” that these enforcement technologies will be required to operate
within is quite complex; interoperability, security and scalability become key aspects that must be
addressed in moving WIM and other enforcement technologies into this new telecommunication laden
environment.
Depiction of “Smart Roadside” layout (USDOT-FMCSA)
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April 3rd to 7th - 2011
Project Objective
The goal of the SRI is to deliver a “prototype” application operating in telecommunications rich
roadway environment that embraces various approaches and technology solutions designed to conduct
truck enforcement program activities more effectively and efficiently. A number of strategic
objectives have been identified to help guide the development and delivery of the Smart Roadside
concept:
•
•
•
•
•
Investigate and identify successful deployments of truck related roadside technologies (for
example, Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) and Virtual
Weigh Stations (VWS)) that are currently in use to understand their potential of contributing
to SRI goals and objectives and the possibility of their inclusion in the SRI framework.
Review Smart Roadside research that is complete or underway to validate the candidate
applications for SRI, identify possible enhancements to these applications, and understand
how they may be brought together under a common operating framework.
Conduct analysis to determine the high value Commercial Vehicle Operations/Freight
applications that will be initially addressed for Vehicle-to-Infrastructure deployment;
Assess stakeholder/user needs, goals, expectations, operational environment, processes, and
characteristics of the proposed SRI prototype.
Apply systems engineering principles to develop and validate a prototype application.
Development of this prototype will start with Concept definition and end with working
applications that are suitable to include in a field operational test.
SRI Project Scope
The scope of SRI is quite broad. In order to successfully launch what FMCSA and FHWA envision
being the first phase of research needed to advance this Initiative, the federal agency partners have
identified four programs and projects to be the primary focus of the overall Concept of Operations and
application prototype(s). These four programs/projects are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Wireless Roadside Inspections;
Universal Truck Identification;
Virtual Weigh Station/Electronic Screening; and
Truck Parking Programs (FMCSA's “Smart Park” and FHWA’s “SAFETEA-LU Section 1305
Program”).
Research supported by FHWA and FMCSA has been or is in the process of being completed in each
of these “core” areas. There are significant ties among three of the four “core” areas tagged to be
integrated under the SRI. The Wireless Roadside Inspection (WRI) Program is led by FMCSA and is
focused on the delivery of truck inspections to the roadside employing wireless technologies. WIM is
included in the suite of technologies embraced by WRI. Concept of Operations have been completed
and recently updated for WRI and a report on the findings from the three “pilots” recently conducted
is in the process of being prepared. The “pilots” were held in Tennessee, Kentucky and New York.
The Universal Truck Identifier research project is in the process of being completed. FHWA and
FMCSA are partnering in leading this project. The project evaluates the capabilities of various
technologies in uniquely identifying commercial motor vehicles subject to FHWA and FMCSA
statutory and regulatory oversight and will deliver a “test plan” for evaluating the functional
performance of devices in identifying vehicles. The output of this project will support both WRI and
the Virtual Weigh Station/Electronic Screening (VWS/e-Screening) initiatives.
WIM is the core technology component of VWS/e-Screening and research on this topic has been
ongoing over the past several years. A series of reports were completed, including Concept of
Operations and “State of the Practice” Reports, designed to assist states intending to implement virtual
weigh stations. Currently, a robust data model and architecture for VWS/e-Screening is under
development. The VWS/e-Screening program is not unrelated to WRI, the overlap regarding “in/on
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road” technologies and functional requirements is quite profound. The distinguishing feature between
the two is the “wireless” aspect of WRI and the broader scope of WRI in addressing “back office”
information access.
The Truck Parking component of SRI is a service based feature of SRI intended to integrate the ITSrelated characteristics for detecting and broadcasting truck parking availability to drivers in need of
rest. FMCSA is conducting research into ITS based solutions addressing truck parking issues on the
roadway system under their “Smart Park” research program. FHWA oversees a grant program created
under the last US national highway act to deliver solutions to areas experiencing truck parking
problems. A number of ITS based solutions are being advanced through awards made under this
program.
Complex Environment
The SRI application will integrate these four “core” program activity/program areas into a single
application and will an operating application to the roadside equipment (RSEs) environment. The
Research and Analysis Phase of the SRI Project is nearing completion with the development of
Concept of Operations to follow. Application Design activities are scheduled to begin in the Fall,
2011, starting with System requirements and Architecture. A prototype of the SRI application should
be finalized and tested by the end of the Summer, 2012. SRI will be included in the Field Operational
Test Phase for all Vehicle-to-Infrastructure and Infrastructure-to-Vehicle applications that are being
developed under the ITS Strategic Research Program.
The functional requirements and transactions associated with SRI will be executed without interfering
with on-board system systems and without interfering with V-V and V-I safety critical (crash
imminent) systems. While the importance of effective truck enforcement can be traced to highway
safety, transport market equity and infrastructure preservation and protection, other applications,
especially in the safety area, cannot be compromised for the sake of operating the envisioned SRI.
Picture of connected vehicles (USDOT-Joint Program Office)
The RSEs hosting SRI will also serve as a platform for a plethora of other applications developed to
enhance safety, mobility and environmental stewardship. The RSEs will support applications
designed to “shake hands” with light duty as well as heavy duty vehicles. The 5.9 GHz frequency will
host wireless data exchanges to/from the roadside and between vehicles. Private sector interests in
promoting more efficient freight operations will be identified and invited into this environment as
well. Interoperability, integration and security are keystone policy issue areas currently being
addressed.
This is a look at the neighborhood WIM is moving into in the US.
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