Integration of Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) and inductive signature data for truck body classification

Transportation agencies tasked with forecasting freight movements, creating and evaluating policy to mitigate transportation impacts on infrastructure and air quality, and furnishing the data necessary for performance driven investment depend on quality, detailed, and ubiquitous vehicle data. Unfortunately in the US, currently available commercial vehicle data contain critical gaps when it comes to linking vehicle and operational characteristics. Leveraging existing traffic sensor infrastructure, we developed a novel, readily implementable approach of integrating two complementary data collection devices, Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) systems and advanced inductive loop detectors (ILD), to produce high resolution truck data. For each vehicle traversing a WIM site, an inductive signature was collected along with WIM measurements such as axle spacing and weight which were then used as inputs to a series of truck body classification models that encompass all truck classes in the most common axle-based Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) classification scheme in the US. Since body configuration can be linked to commodity carried, drive and duty cycle, and other distinct operating characteristics, body class data is undeniably useful for freight planning and air quality monitoring. A multiple classifier systems (MCS) method was adopted to increase the classification accuracy for minority body classes. In all, eight separate body classifications models were developed from an extensive data set of 18,967 truck records distinguishing an unprecedented total of 23 single unit truck and 31 single and semi-trailer body configurations, each with over 80% correct classification rates (CCR). Remarkably, the body class model for five axle semi-tractor trailers - the most diverse truck category - achieved MCS CCRs above 85% for several industry specific classes including refrigerated and non-refrigerated intermodal containers, livestock, and logging trailers.