Sensor Data
Pavement or surface layer sensors are installed on, embedded within, or placed immediately under the hot-mix asphalt or concrete layer of a pavement structure. The sensors are linked by fiber optics to MnROAD's computerized data collection system and the data is stored in a database at MnDOT Materials Research and Engineering Laboratory in Maplewood.
There are two categories of pavement sensor:
Traffic load response: Sensors that measure the response resulting from dynamic forces applied by traffic.
Environmental: Sensors that measure the response of slower changing forces like temperature, moisture and frost depth, material expansion/contraction, shrinkage and creep.
All sensors are designated by a two-letter code. Specification and performance history for an individual sensor type is available upon request.
Environmental Effect Sensors
Displacent of Layered Surface
Displacement [soil]
Pressure in Soil
Dynamic Pore Water Pressure
- DW - Dynamic Pore Water Pressure Cell
Strain [dowel bar]
- SS - Steel Strain Gage
Strain [asphalt]
Strain [composite/overal]
Strain [concrete]
Concrete Maturity:
Crack Detection:
Displacement
Drainage Volume
Electrical Conductivity [soil]
Elevation Reference
- IV - Reference Rods
Frost Depth
- RP - Resistivity Probe
Moisture [concrete]
Moisture [soil]
Pressure [soil]
- PL/PT - State Soil Pressure Cell
Environmental Concrete Strain
Temperature
Water Table Level