Sask sets up remote inspection stations at three locations

REGINA, — Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation has begun deploying Remote Vehicle Inspection Stations as well as other technological initiatives across the province.

The three sites the RVIS devices will be located are: Highway No. 9 south of Carlyle; Highway No. 13 east of Weyburn; and Highway No. 2 north of Prince Albert.

The RVIS system will collect statistical data on all traffic and vehicle configurations, including traffic counts, traffic volumes in relation to the time of day, and traffic patterns. The system does not contain radar or laser technology and will not be used for speed enforcement.

The ministry says the RVIS technology — supplied by International Road Dynamics Inc. of Saskatoon — will help protect highway infrastructure from damage caused by overweight vehicles as well as improve enforcement.

A variety of technologies to capture information on non-compliant trucks and power-unit/semi-trailer combinations will be used. IRD, for example, uses patented Weigh in Motion (WIM) technology to analyze vehicles passing through the site at highway speeds. The system captures information such as the vehicle weight, axle configurations; inter axle spacing, licence plate numbers, vehicle types and the company name (if displayed on the vehicle). Sensors in the road surface detect when a vehicle is passing through the site, and triggers the cameras.

Cameras obtain video images of the vehicle and load and record the date and time, licence number and other pertinent vehicle information.

Information is collected and stored locally, and then sent via the Internet, to a central location. As the vehicle progresses though, it passes over the WIM scale where the weights and measurements are taken and then stored. Information regarding non-compliant vehicles is archived and can be accessed by Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation for various reasons, including enforcement purposes.