Project overview: from the kick-off meeting to the final report

Kickoff meeting with the client

The first step before the commencement of measurements is a kickoff meeting with the client.

The following topics need to be addressed:

• What is the purpose of the measurement (preselection, traffic analysis etc.)?
• A broad list of bridges on a given road section needs to be prepared by the client.
• Are there any special environmental factors concerning the proposed locations (is there a possibility of electrical supply from the grid, what is the mobile network coverage, how accessible are the bridges and the area under the bridges etc.)?

An exact timeline has to be agreed on.

After the general topics have been discussed, the bridge inspection can be done.

Bridge inspection

Proposed bridges are then inspected by Cestel’s technicians and engineers together with the representatives from the client.

They check the structure of the bridge, the state of the road surface, access under the bridge, they take the relevant measurements etc. Bridges are ranked according to their suitability and expected measurement accuracy.

After the inspection is completed, the client is given an Inspection report on the basis of which a decision is made on the bridges that will be used in the measurements.

Configuration setup

Using CAD software, Cestel’s technicians draw the configuration setup for each bridge where the position of sensors, cables and cabinets is precisely determined.

The configuration drawing is used by the field team during the installation phase.

Installation

Installation of the sensors and cabinets takes about 8 hours. The first installation is usually made by Cestel’s field technicians, but the long-term users of the SiWIM system are generally trained by Cestel for an independent use of the system.

It is discussed with the client before the start of installation if any special equipment, such us a bucket truck, is needed during the setup of the system.

Calibration

The system is calibrated using a truck with known weight supplied by a local subcontractor. The duration of the calibration process depends mostly on the distance that the calibration vehicle needs to travel before it can make a U-turn.

After the calibration is completed, an accuracy assessment of the installed system can be made. It is included in the Installation and calibration report.

Measurements

During the measurement, the system is supervised by Cestel’s technical support. The length of the measurement is determined in discussion with the client at the start of the project.

Measurements last anywhere between two weeks, which is long enough for a traffic analysis report, and a couple of years, such permanent installations are usually implemented when SiWIM is used to its fullest capacity – as a tool for preselection, traffic reports and bridge assessments.

Deinstallation

Deinstallation of the system is done very quickly – usually it takes less than 3 hours. All of the holes that were drilled to attach the sensors are filled with a concrete paste. After the deinstallation is completed, a report on the process is prepared.

Data processing, analysis and report

The gathered data is then analyzed by the traffic experts in Cestel’s analyses department. A report is prepared in line with the client’s topics of interest and is also accompanied by recommendations.