Sensors get better look at heavies on freeway

VALUABLE data is the result of the state’s recently-wrapped trial which saw heavy vehicles monitored in real-time on the Western Freeway between Ballan and Melton.

The Bridge Weigh–In–Motion system uses the temporary installation of cutting–edge sensors to track how heavy vehicles travel, collecting live data of their movements without disrupting traffic.

Sensors were temporarily installed on bridges on the freeway as part of the 12-month trial with the gathered data giving engineers an insight into how bridges on the freeway are being used day-to-day and building a better picture of how the wider network is being used.

The trial involved attaching sensors under bridges, along with a roadside camera and a small solar power unit to monitor loads and heavy vehicles using the bridges.

The 12-month trial was a collaboration between the Department of Transport and Planning, Slovenian technology company CESTEL, and local contractor Fulton Hogan.

It was the first time the portable technology had been used in Australia following its successful deployment on key infrastructure throughout Europe, Asia, North and South America.

“The new technology is a game changer giving bridge engineers precise information on bridge use – right down to the weight applied by individual axles of individual trucks,” State Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne said.

“This initiative marks a significant step in data-driven infrastructure management and supports our commitment to maintaining a safe, efficient, and sustainable transport network.”

With clearer, road specific data, it’s expected engineers can better understand how the network’s bridges and roads are coping with heavy vehicle movements.

The technology will complement the existing weigh-in-motion network for a better understanding of a vehicle’s location or onboard mass.

The Western Freeway is a key freight route for agricultural industries to get their goods to market, also serving as an important connection for commuters to jobs and services in Melbourne, Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh and Melton.