Using Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) to Control Load Restrictions on Gravel and Surface-Treated Highways

This research is the second phase of a two-year project conducted at the University of Waterloo (UW) in association with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO). During the first phase of the project, experimental sites were installed in Northern Ontario to monitor the amount of frost in the pavement and a preliminary analysis of field and RWIS data found a reasonable correlation between frost depth in the roadway and RWIS variables. To fulfill the ultimate objective of this project, which is to assist the MTO in making effective real time Spring Load Restrictions (SLR) and Winter Weight Premiums (WWP) decisions using Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) real-time data and forecasts, the second phase of the project followed up by developing empirical predictors for the depths of frost and thaw as well. In addition, deflection data was collected using a portable Falling Weight Deflectometer (PFWD) and the measurements were examined. In addition, the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) software was used respectively to quantify how much pavement distresses were impacted by various loading scenarios and to simulate the ability of each load restriction scenario to increase pavement service life for typical Northern Ontario structure, climate and traffic conditions. The Ontario Pavement Analysis of Costs (OPAC 2000) software was used to perform a life-cycle cost analysis and evaluate the benefit of imposing SLR when the pavement is weak in terms of pavement preservation and service life. Finally, the findings are organized into practical recommendations for the determination of SLR and WWP schedules, and the overall need for collection of Ontario frost and deflection data on low-volume roads with the objective to calibrate the model to various Ontario regions on the one hand and track spring-thaw weakening in the pavement on the other hand is outlined in this final report.

• Corporate Authors:

  Ontario Ministry of Transportation

  1201 Wilson Avenue
  Downsview, Ontario  Canada  M3M 1J8
• Authors:
  • TIGHE, SL
  • Mills, B
  • Haas, CT
  • BAIZ, S
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: 1 v., 127p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Falling weight deflectometers; Gravel roads; Highway maintenance; Life cycle costing; Low volume roads; Road weather information systems; Secondary roads; Spring; Traffic volume; Winter
• Uncontrolled Terms: Frost depth; Low cost roads
• Geographic Terms: Ontario (Province)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01130162
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
• Files: TAC
• Created Date: Jun 18 2009 9:21AM