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Virginia Tech

Operational effects of weigh-in-motion systems in weight enforcement

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The effects of weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems on traffic operations and weight enforcement were compared and evaluated. The systems studied included high speed WIM, medium speed WIM and conventional static scales alone. The major measurements of effectiveness were traffic delay, queue, and the avoidance rate for overweight vehicles. Four weighing facilities from both the eastern and western United States were chosen as the real life bases for the study. Queuing theories, probability and statistics were the major methodologies employed in the study. The characteristics of queuing systems, such as traffic arrival patterns, weight enforcement processing time distribution, and capacity of the static scales at each weigh station were determined through field data collection at weigh stations. The proportion of the vehicle population directed to the static scale by WIM screening was analyzed, based on WIM accuracy and truck weight distributions at or near each weigh facility. By considering delay, queue, and the avoidance rate of overweight vehicles comprehensively, optimal weighing systems are proposed for different V/C ratios, i.e., the ratio of traffic volume at a specific site to the actual capacity of the static scale. When the V/C ratio is less than 1, a weighing facility using a static scale alone is most cost effective; when the V/C ratio is between 1 and 1.5, a medium speed WIM is suggested. High speed WIM is recommended only when the V/C ratio is larger than 1.5.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Civil Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Civil Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1995

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Weng, Ying

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-12302008-063629
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/46455

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Weng, Ying. Operational effects of weigh-in-motion systems in weight enforcement. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/46455