The use of high-speed weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems does eliminate the problems of high cost and slow static weight stations. However, another problem is usually generated -- because it is easy to weigh all truck traffic with a WIM system, this type of system generates large amounts of data that require tremendous time and effort to convert into the appropriate formats. The work done to develop a common methodology for analysing, storing, and reporting WIM data is documented. The evaluation of the various WIM systems used to collect the data, the identification of the needs of the various Pennsylvania Department of Transportation offices and bureaus, and the recommendations and development of five computer programs to analyse and report the WIM data are discussed. Among the unique features of the programs are the production of tables or graphs, or both; the ability of the user to specify time investments of hour, day or month; and the ability of the user to request the analysis for any individual vehicle type or a combination of several vehicle types. In addition, all the variables of the analyses are kept in external files that could be modified at any time without accessing the actual programs. Finally, sample analysis for some recommendations for the implementation of this computer package is described.
Abstract