Fiber optics for Weight-in-Motion (WiM)

Abstract

During the past decade there has been an increase of overloaded trucks on the pavements, which in turn decreases the lifetime of pavements and cause them damage [5]. To prevent this violation of the country regulations, weigh-in-motion (WIM) network stations were developed. WIM systems improved traffic safety and infrastructure lifetime which is a positive result on both ends. The WIM station is able to determine various vehicle characteristics such as its type, gross weight, the load on each axle, vehicle?s speed etc. The most common sensors in WIM systems are strain gauges force sensors and piezoelectric sensors. In this paper we will discuss the different types of WIM systems and their advantages, and then we will deepen our research in fiber optic WIM systems, compare them, and see which fiber optic technology suits more for each application.