Equipment
Profilographs
CS8550 Bridge Profilograph

CS8550 Bridge Profilograph

12-Foot Frame for Caltrans Test Method 547

At a Glance

Collect data under California Test Method 547 for bridge decks. The fully electronic system will index your start station and report defects in real time.

Print out the traces on a thermal printers within the Pelican case on the profilograph frame or send the PDF to your local printer or email.

SSI Is The Only Supplier of California Style Bridge Profilographs

The SSI CS8550 Bridge Profilograph is a modified frame of a CS8500 California Profilograph. The shorter bridge profilograph frame focuses on shorter wavelengths related to bridge roughness.

Hand-built, lightweight aluminum frame. Powder coated wheel chassis with adjustable steering system at each end. Bi-directional hardware allows data collection in reverse direction without frame turn-around.
Operator control housing contains all profiling system electronics, on-board printer with power assisted paper take-up and Toughbook computer. AC/DC power supplies for use in field or office.
SSI’s patented Windows data collection and analysis software has been refined through ongoing development and user input since 1995.
Rugged Panasonic Toughbook operator computer with touchscreen controls.
Bi-directional data collection (English or Metric Units) and dual wheel path reporting on a single report.
Real time display of past segment profile index and must grind bumps & dips during data collection
Adjustable filtering parameters, blanking band, and localized roughness (must grind bump/dip templates)
Re-writeable raw data and export routines to convert profile data to PDF, ERD/PPF for ProVal and Excel
Guaranteed compliance with all commonly used DOT profilograph specifications and test methods
Software and electronic copy of user’s manual facilitates operational training on desktop computers
GPS subsystem with profile stations and localized roughness correlated with GPS coordinates
The original California profilograph under California Department of Transportation Test Method 547

Measurement Principle

Designed to measure pavement smoothness as a rolling straightedge, the latest CS8550 collects data through optical encoder based height and distance measurements taken at a default 1 inch sampling interval. The raw signals are synchronized, processed and sent to Windows user interface software operating on a Panasonic Toughbook computer. The measurement wheel at the center of the frame records the elevations in real time. There is no need for the plastic templates to calculate the profile index or bump templates to determine out-of-tolerance areas. The SSI Profiler software reports the profile index and must-grind bumps, or dips, in real time.

Device Rating

The CS8550 Profilograph complies with Caltrans Test Method 547. The system will report the straightedge simulation and the PRI (Profile Ride Index) required under the CTM 547.

Data Sampling

The CS8500 collects elevations at a 1 inch sampling interval. The GPS subsystem can tag the elevation profile with a GPS coordinate up to ten times per second (10 Hz).