High-speed WIM (Weigh-in-motion) solutions help prevent road damage caused by vehicles exceeding permissible limits. Solutions designed for automatic ticketing, based on data obtained from the WIM station, allow for effective reduction of the number of overloaded vehicles on the roads and reduce the involvement of law enforcement agencies. Metrology institutes in Europe, among others, are working on creating legislation that allows the use of data from WIM stations for automatic ticketing. This initiative is accompanied by the development of devices and software by WIM solution providers such as APM PRO. Over the last two years, APM PRO, together with scientists from technical universities, has developed the iWIM solution dedicated to direct ticketing.
Mikołów is a town in southern Poland where we installed the first system ready for automatic ticketing. The iWIM device is a data recorder that simultaneously processes signals from pressure sensors, polymer sensors, and induction loops. The passage of a vehicle through the induction loops initiates the weighing process and provides highly accurate data on the vehicle’s magnetic profile. The signal from the loop also initiates the capture of images from CCTV cameras, ANPR, and the start of 3D scanning. The system is not limited to one configuration. Thanks to its modular design, different devices from various manufacturers can be used, making the solution flexible and adaptable to emerging regulations regarding automatic ticketing in different countries.
The iWIM recorder is the first device on the market that supports various types of sensors: strain gauge, quartz, piezoelectric polymer, and induction loops. The client can freely decide what types of sensors, cameras, and other devices they want to use. Such flexibility of the solution is possible thanks to the use of advanced FPGA processors, which also enable parallel signal processing in real-time from all sensors. The device meets the requirements for solutions designed for automatic ticketing and complies with the WELMEC standard. Advanced algorithms based on fuzzy logic allow for the assessment of record reliability. Measurement reliability is calculated based on data from various sensors, including weather conditions, road surface condition, vehicle trajectory, and induction loops. The reliability coefficient calculated based on this data is used to assess the suitability of the record for imposing an administrative penalty.
After passing through the station, a record is created, which can be sent to any database or integrated with any software. If the end user has chosen to use our WIM Pro application, the record is sent to a database from which individual records are displayed in the WIM Pro application. The WIM Pro application can be configured in several ways, from the simplest implementations to integration with a government database for automatic ticketing (automatic mode). The WIM Pro software can work with pre-selection systems in conjunction with VMS signs in automatic or semi-automatic modes with the involvement of law enforcement agencies. APM PRO is a leader in providing modern Weigh-in-motion solutions, contributing to improved road safety. APM PRO consistently invests in research and development to deliver the most advanced technologies and support effective enforcement of road regulations worldwide.
