3.0 Technologies Being Deployed

The ISSES technology in Kentucky is intended to give inspectors real-time information about trucks passing by the scale house at a slow ramp speed (nominally less than approximately 15 mph, according to posted signs) through several integrated subsystems:

A bulk radiation detection monitor
A front tractor automated license plate recognition (ALPR) system
A USDOT number reader, using optical character recognition (OCR) technology
A thermal imaging (infrared, or IR) inspection system
A vehicle classification system (laser scanner).

The system also includes an overview (color still image) camera mounted near the roof of the scale house and a (visible) color video image system in parallel with the IR camera. The locations of the primary systems relative to the overall weigh station layout in Laurel County are illustrated in Figure 3-1. Further descriptions of traffic flows into and around the Laurel County site, and the prevailing methods of inspection selection, are presented in the Inspection Efficiency section below.

Map of the Laurel County (London, Kentucky) weigh station, showing traffic flow from left to right, sorter lane for weighing trucks, static scale behind scale house, and ISSES portal in front of scale house. Automatic directional signals show drivers which lanes to follow as they traverse the station.

Figure 3-1. Layout of weigh-inspection station and traffic patterns at London, Kentucky (Laurel County) on northbound I-75. Illustration is not to scale.

When the evaluation began in earnest in early 2007, the equipment vendor/integrator reported that the radiation monitor, thermal imager, license plate reader, USDOT number reader, and laser scanner were installed and fully operational in stand-alone mode at the London site. Integration and data transmission software were still in development and testing. Related testing activities at the site by other organizations, outside the scope of this independent evaluation, are detailed in the Evaluation Plan (USDOT 2006c).

The Kentucky deployment of ISSES is unique in that it is attempting to integrate disparate enforcement and security functions. TransTech is currently working with more than 10 jurisdictions (e.g., Florida, New York, Virginia, Quebec, and Ontario) on deploying similar systems, but these typically involve subsets (e.g., ALPR + weigh-in-motion, or WIM, or ALPR + USDOT number reader + WIM), and not the full set of combined functions being attempted in Kentucky.

Previous | Next