00970458

Monograph

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/sp/its-idea_85.pdf

This Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) project developed an engineering prototype of a vehicle-mounted device for sensing the presence of ice/water and other materials on pavement surfaces. The sensor system is based on backscatter of infrared radiation (emitted by an onboard light source) from the road surface. It is designed to detect and continuously monitor films and layers of ice, water, snow, sand and other substances on asphalt and concrete pavement surfaces. The detected signals are processed in real time by an onboard microprocessor and displayed graphically on a laptop PC screen as a user-friendly, informative map for the vehicle operator. The prototype sensor and its electronics are packaged into a rugged, compact, and lightweight device that can be mounted on a truck or a maintenance vehicle. Data from testing by the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, by Physical Sciences Inc. on a Massachusetts Highway Department pick-up truck, and by the Colorado Department of Transportation on a winter road maintenance vehicle clearly demonstrate the ability of the prototype device to characterize and discriminate among various road conditions. This report describes the design and development of the prototype road condition sensor system, its calibration, and its field testing.

This ITS-IDEA project was conducted by Physical Sciences, Inc. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

ITS-IDEA Project 85,
Final Report

English

40 p.

2002-5

ITS-IDEA Program Project Final Report

Appendices (3) ; Figures; Photos; References (5) ; Tables (2)

Calibration; Detection and identification; Field tests; Ice; Infrared radiation; Intelligent transportation systems; Pavements; Prototypes; Real time data processing; Sand; Sensors; Snow; Technological innovations; Water; Winter maintenance

Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) (Program)

Road condition sensor system

Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; Pavements; I62: Winter Maintenance

TRIS, TRB

Mar 15 2004 12:00AM