|
SSI offers numerous unique lightweight devices for measuring the
surface condition of roads, bridges, airports and sidewalks. An
Overview
of the lightweight systems is below, along with details about
the
Vehicle Platforms,
Hardware Features,
Software Features,
Operator Interface Computer,
and
Proof of Performance.
Pictures of each system can also be viewed. To download a data
sheet, click on the link below any picture.
Contact SSI
for pricing and availability.
|
OVERVIEW
|
|
SSI’s lightweight profiling
systems feature a common set data collection system sensors and
electronics instrumented onto a variety of available vehicle
platforms. All of the vehicles qualify as lightweight profiling
systems, since they have a low pressure footprint contacting the
road surface. This allows any of the devices to access fresh
pavement (e.g. “green” concrete) surfaces sooner than full
weight vehicles.
SSI’s lightweight profiling
systems feature a digital data collection architecture that
generates surface profile data having a greater degree of
accuracy and repeatability than any competitive device. The
system can also pinpoint “hot-spot” areas of localized roughness
with unmatched precision. SSI has the test results and research
data to demonstrate the superior accuracy and repeatability
capabilities of the lightweight profiler. The feature-rich
Windows software programs offer incomparable ease of operation
and facilitate widespread use and sharing of profile data among
all parties interested in the profile attributes of a surface
throughout a project’s life cycle. The superior attributes of
the SSI-lightweight system evolve from patented technology and
years of PhD level professional engineering.
All models of SSI’s
lightweight profiling systems have profiling system hardware
that is modular in design, which means that all key profiling
system components are portable, “plug-and-play” parts that are
easily replaced in the field. The profiling system hardware is
installed onto a number of user-selectable vehicles (see
Vehicle Platforms below). All of the
profiling system hardware is professionally engineered. The
profiling system data collection electronics are fabricated in
an ISO 9001 certified facility. A portable military
specification Panasonic
Toughbook 19 or
Toughbook 30 computer with touch-screen
controls allows for easy, safe one-person operation. The
profiling system software allows instant viewing of profile
results and localized roughness. PDF images, ERD/PPF/PRO, and
Excel format exports of the profile data are available by
touching a single button within SSI’s Profiler software.
Simulation routines are provided for predicting the corrected
profile of an existing surface after corrective grinding or
overlay. Encrypted raw data can be re-analyzed repeatedly with
numerous adjustable data reduction and filtering parameters.
SSI lightweight profiling
systems are available with alternate laser sensors designed for
asphalt or concrete pavements. SSI profiling systems
instrumented with single point (“dot”) lasers are the preferred
laser for most asphalt applications, while SSI’s
“wide-footprint” sensors are preferred by the concrete industry,
where such specialty lasers help minimize the “ride value
inflation” effects of a single point laser on concrete pavements
finished with longitudinal tinning, diamond grinding or coarse
textures. SSI’s wide-footprint lasers are offered in two
configurations: (i) adjustable dot lasers sensors spaced closely
together, or (ii) the “RoLine” sensor manufactured by LMI
Technologies (producer of the popular “Selcom” brand of lasers
for road profiling applications. The RoLine laser reads a 4
inch/100 mm lateral scan of the surface and was specifically
designed for concrete pavement applications. All models and
sensor configurations are guaranteed by SSI to meet or exceed
agency specifications, certification requirements, and test
methods.
SSI’s lightweight profiling
systems operate at speeds from 5 mph up to the maximum speed of
the host vehicle platform (20 -70 mph, depending on the vehicle
and collection system configuration). Profile data is backed up
in real time, and the collection system suspends itself when the
vehicle drops below the minimum operating speed. The system is
supplied with three data collection triggers, including SSI’s
proprietary reverse direction triggering method, which collects
data with exact stations (chainage) without pre-measuring or
marking the test surface with reflective tape or pylons.
SSI’s guarantees that its
lightweight profiling systems meet or exceed all applicable DOT
agency test methods and certification procedures. This includes
the industry’s most stringent certification protocols: AASHTO
PP51-02 and Texas Department of Transportation Test Tex 1001-S
(as administered by The Texas Transportation Institute).
Survey,
Design and Machine Control Options.
SSI’s lightweight
profiling systems can be configured with an embedded GPS
subsystem that creates a mobile surveying platform on the same
vehicle. As a surveying vehicle, the system generates a higher
resolution surface topography map than conventional surveying
methods in a fraction of the time. The high resolution surface
data file can be used in standard engineering software for
design applications. The same GPS components can be detached
and used on other devices for site preparation and machine
control applications.
Click here
for more details.
|
|
Return to Top
|
|
|
|
The
CS8700
standard lightweight profiling system
is supplied with an Ingersoll Rand/Club Car XRT
1200 industrial utility vehicle. An all
aluminum framed vehicle with a 400cc gasoline
engine.
Click here
for further information on the XRT1200 vehicle.
A custom configuration for
Concrete
Pavements
is available. SSI installs numerous customized
enhancements to the vehicle, including a
professionally engineered steel-framed hard top
and an electronically regulated alternator kit.
The profiling system components are attached to
the vehicle with professionally engineered mount
hardware. An in-cab workstation is also
installed with a
Toughbook 30
operator computer. |
 |
|
The
Smart
Profiling System
is installed on the Smart car vehicle, which is
part of the Mercedes-Benz car group. The Smart
car is powered by a 3-cylinder, 1-liter gasoline
engine with a high end speed of 90 mph (145 kph)
and designed for 40-45 mpg fuel efficiency .
SSI’s inertial profiling system components
install onto a custom mount that is attached to
the Smart car to create a platform that
functions as a lightweight or high speed
profiling system. A pedestal mounted
Toughbook 19
computer is installed inside the cab of the
vehicle for safe one-person operation. The
Smart profiling system can be configured with
laser sensors for asphalt or concrete pavement
testing. For more information on the Smart car,
Click here. |
 |
|
The
CS9200
Multiple Purpose Profiling
system is a 100% self contained collection
system specifically designed for road surface
testing. A specific configuration for
Concrete
Pavements
is available. The system needs only a 12V power
supply from the tow vehicle. When towed behind
an all-terrain vehicle or golf cart, the CS9200
is the functional equivalent to a standard
lightweight profiling system. A portable
suitcase is used to operate the system from the
cab of the host vehicle. A fully rugged
Toughbook 19
is used as the operator interface computer.
No Wires--Data is transmitted by wireless RF
radio. |
 |
|
Either of the
CS9300
Portable Profiling System
or the
CS9400 Simple
Profiling System
can work as a lightweight profiling system.
These systems attach to a standard Class III (2
inch/50 mm) towing receiver. The hardware can
be attached to an ATV or golf cart to function
as a lightweight profiling system. A rugged
suitcase is supplied to operate the system from
the passenger seat or rear cargo area the host
vehicle. The operator controls the system from
a rugged
Toughbook 19
computer. An optional RF radio kit is available
for wireless transmission of the surface data.
Optional GPS (low resolution or RTK corrected
high resolutions) is available on the CS9400
system with design format data available.
|
 |
|
The
T3 Ultra-Light
profiling system
has SSI’s highly compact data collection
components installed onto a battery powered
personal mobility vehicle. The T3 vehicle has a
zero degree turning radius and long-life, field
swappable batteries with a range of up to 75
miles. The vehicle’s speed is programmable and
set by default not to exceed 20 mph (32 kph).
The data collection system is operated on a
military specification
Toughbook 19
computer. Optional tilt, grade and GPS
subsystems are available for specialty
applications, such as sidewalk testing for
accessibility assessment. |
 |
|
Customers can specify the vehicle onto which the
lightweight profiling system will be installed.
SSI will design and build the attachment
hardware and assist with proper installation and
calibration of the lightweight profiling system
components onto the customer’s preferred
vehicle. SSI has also retrofitted the SSI
lightweight data collection system components
onto used profiling systems produced by other
manufacturers.
Contact SSI
to review the options for creating a lightweight
profiling system out of customer specified
vehicle platforms. Some limitations apply. |
 |
|
|
Return to Top |
|
Return to Top
|
HARDWARE FEATURES
|
 |
Profiling system components modular and portable. All
components field replaceable for quick replacement and
minimal downtime. All hardware professionally
engineered. |
|
|
Industrial laser sensors, aerospace-grade
accelerometers, and SSI proprietary electronics
architecture provide highest quality digital profile
data. Electronics fabricated in ISO9001 certified
facility. |
|
|
True
ASTM Class I profiling system at all data collection
speeds. Guaranteed compliance with DOT, ASTM and AASHTO
standards. |
|
|
Choose
from several vehicle platforms according to end user
preferences or requirements.
|
|
|
Adjustable hardware for lateral and vertical
repositioning of laser sensors.
|
|
|
Indexer
hardware for in-field static re-calibration of
accelerometers (proprietary to SSI). |
|
|
Spatial-based longitudinal sampling, variable sampling
interval to less than 25 mm (.1 inch).
|
|
|
Non-contact optical encoder based distance measurement
system with rated error of 0.1% or less.
|
|
|
Vertical
measurements with Selcom laser sensors that are
unaffected by pavement texture, color, reflectivity or
ambient lighting. Resolution of the vertical
measurements: better than 0.1mm (0.005 in). |
|
|
"All-in-Cab" data collection, analysis and reporting
system. Perform all operations without leaving the
driver’s seat! |
|
|
Multiple
data collection triggers supplied, including proprietary
reverse direction trigger for collecting exact profile
stations without pre-measuring or marking test sections
and post-testing cone removal.
|
|
|
Guaranteed compliance with commonly used agency
specifications, test methods and certification
requirements. |
|
|
Optional
embedded GPS subsystem using profiling system as a
mobile surveying device. High resolution GPS with L1/L2
RTK corrections produces dense terrain maps faster than
conventional surveying instruments and can be used for
site design and machine control options.
Click here
for more details. |
|
|
Return to Top
|
SOFTWARE FEATURES
|
|
|
Feature
rich, simple Windows software programs for calibration,
collection and analysis. Menu-driven prompts ease
training and operation. Software designed for ease of
use by operators with minimal computer experience. |
|
|
Instant
on-screen results for ride index results and display of
exact areas and dimensions of localized roughness
(“must-grind bumps/dips”).
|
|
|
One-touch creation of color PDF images for profile
traces and reports.
|
|
|
One-touch data export routines for translating profile
data to ERD/PPF/PRO formats or to Excel templates
supplied by SSI (customer templates also programmed). |
|
|
Bonus/Penalty results highlighted and calculated within
supplied spreadsheet templates. |
|
|
Color
scheme designed to ease interpretation of profile
traces, summary reports and localized roughness reports. |
|
|
Raw data
files are encrypted and re-writeable for repeat analysis
using different parameters.
|
|
|
Simulation routines for predicting ride index values and
localized roughness after predicted grinding or
overlays. |
|
|
All
software features licensed for use on desktop/office
computers and printers. |
|
|
Compatible with FHWA ProVal software (one touch creation
of ERD or PPF format data). |
|
|
Design
format (e.g. DXF/DWG) data outputs available with
optional high resolution GPS subsystem with RTK
corrections. For details,
click here. |
|
|
Return to Top
|
OPERATOR INTERFACE COMPUTER
|
|
|
SSI is a
Panasonic Toughbook TP3 distributor for the construction
and transportation industries. A military specification
ruggedized Toughbook computer with touch screen controls
is supplied standard with all SSI lightweight profiling
systems. The typical model supplied is the
Toughbook 19or
Toughbook 30
configured with current Intel Duo Core processor, excess
RAM, shock mounted large capacity hard drive, wireless
networking, Bluetooth, and a Microsoft Windows XP
Professional or Vista Business operating system.
Detailed Toughbook computer specifications can be viewed
on SSI’s
www.smoothroad.com
website, or by
clicking here.
The full line of Panasonic Toughbooks and all
accessories are available from SSI, including, broadband
wide area networking (Sprint, Cingular, Verizon, etc.),
embedded GPS, backlit keyboards, and more.
Ask an
SSI representative about the full range of Panasonic
Toughbook solutions. |
|
|
Return to Top
|
|
|
|
SSI’s
lightweight profiling systems have proven capabilities to
generate highly accurate, repeatable surface profile data.
These attributes are evidenced by the Figures below.
Figure 1
shows a comparison of the data from SSI’s lightweight
profiling system as compared against independent survey
data.
Figure 2
shows a repeatability comparison of ten repeat same surface
data collections by the lightweight system.
Figure 3
shows the system’s ability to reproduce the exact profile of
the test surface by showing the system’s measurement of an
artificial bump of known dimensions.
Figure
1: Proof of Accuracy.
In Figure 1, the surface data collected by the SSI
lightweight profiling systems is compared with high
precision against independent survey data. Figure 1 shows
an example of a point-by-point comparison of the profile
data collected by the SSI lightweight system at a one-inch
sampling interval as compared to an independent reference
profile generated with survey instrumentation on a test
surface. The lightweight system’s data (the blue trace)
overlays on the reference survey profile with exact
precision. On a running point-by-point comparison, the
accumulated difference between the T3 system’s profile and
the survey profile is 24.5 mils (0.0245 inches). This level
of accuracy places the SSI lightweight profiling system as
among the most accurate of commercially available surface
profiling systems. Prior to delivering any lightweight
profiling system to an end user, SSI’s verifies that the
collection system compares against an independent reference
profile with a greater degree of accuracy than is required
by any agency specification or equipment certification
requirement.
Figure 1: SSI
Lightweight Profiling System: Proof of Accuracy vs. Survey
Data
Figure
2: Proof of Repeatability:
SSI’s
lightweight profiling systems are also capable of generating
highly repeatable profile data. This has been proven
repeatedly by agency certification requirements. In
addition, the graph below shows 10 repeat runs of an SSI
lightweight profiling system as compared to an independent
reference profile generated by an independent reference
profile equivalent to survey data. This figure shows the
near identical comparison of the ten separately collected
profile traces from the SSI lightweight profiling system,
with a further close comparison of those ten data
collections with the independent reference profile, as
viewed in SSI’s patented Profiler data analysis software,
which displays both traces aligned in the same direction
(regardless of the direction the test data was collected).
Figure 2: SSI
Lightweight Profiling Systems: Repeatability Comparison of
Ten Profiler Runs vs. Dipstick
Figure 3:
Proof of Ability to Reproduce the Exact Profile of the Test
Surface.
SSI’s
lightweight profiling system has the proven ability to
reproduce the exact profile of the tested surface with a
greater degree of accuracy then any competitive system.
Figure 3 shows the system’s ability to reproduce the exact
dimensions of an artificially constructed bump placed at a
random location on the test surface. The dark blue line
shows the artificial bump (10 feet long with seven 0.25 inch
steps up and then seven 0.25” steps down) placed from
station numbers 292 to 392 on the test surface. Three
collections from an SSI lightweight profiling system run
over the bump are overlaid on the trace of the actual bump
surface. The lightweight profiler data reproduces the
actual bump dimensions with exacting precision. Other
systems have been observed to err in locating the
longitudinal position of the bump, to erroneously display
the detected actual bump surface as a numbed bell curve, or
err in the height of the detected steps by over one-inch
from the actual height. All of SSI’s lightweight profiling
systems can reproduce the profile of the measured surface
with unmatched precision and accuracy.
Figure 3: SSI
Lightweight Profiling Systems: Accuracy Producing True
Profile & Detecting Localized Roughness
|
|
Return to Top |
For Further Information Use This
Form or Call 1-800-662-5656
Downloads
Brochures:
CS8700
Lightweight Profiling System
CS8700
Lightweight Profiling System--Concrete Configuration
CS9400 Simple
Profiling System
CS9300
Portable Profiling System
T3 Ultra-Light Profiling System
Smart Car
Profiling System
CS9200 Multiple
Purpose (Trailer Mounted) Profiling System
CS9200 Multiple Purpose (Trailer Mounted) Profiling
System--Concrete Configuration
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)