Development and Deployment of a Remotely Controlled Weigh Station

Transportation of goods by truck continues to rise in Canada while much of the highway infrastructure is aging and agencies are pressed to control costs and improve efficiency of operations. Highway preservation must include not only maintenance and rehabilitation work, but also protection of the highway infrastructure from damage due to overloading. As the infrastructure ages and becomes more susceptible to potential damage, it is even more important to ensure that overloading is not occurring. With the rise in economic activity in Western Canada and changes in the transportation industry, truck traffic has significantly increased. This increase puts the highway infrastructure at a higher risk of damage due to overloading if weights are not monitored and controlled. As the need for even more diligence in monitoring and controlling weights is increasing, agencies are being asked to do more with fewer resources. A primary component of an agencies weight enforcement program has been a network of strategically placed permanent weigh station sites. However, agencies are constrained by budget and resource limitations to operate these stations on a continuous basis. Therefore, alternatives are needed that allow diligent monitoring of truck weights while more efficiently using available resources. Through a joint funding arrangement, Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation has partnered with Transport Canada, Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, and International Road Dynamics to develop and deploy a remote controlled weigh station on Saskatchewan Highway 14 near the Alberta border. In addition to be a funding partner, Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation will also be a partner in the operation of the system. The system allows the station to be operated from any remote location using an internet connection and a windows based operator interface. This paper presents the background and need for this type of application, the design considerations in developing the system, and the operation and deployment of the system.