SurfaceVue 11

Fixed-Location, Non-Invasive Road Surface Condition and Temperature Sensor
SurfaceVue 11

SurfaceVue 11

Orderable

Fixed-Location, Non-Invasive Road Surface Condition and Temperature Sensor

Pricing

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Model:
SurfaceVue 11
Item Number:
46531
Warranty:
1 year

Overview

The SurfaceVue™11 is a fixed-location, non-invasive road surface condition and temperature sensor ideal for winter maintenance managers that need to make informed decisions about maintaining their roads. The sensor is a core component of any Road Weather Information System (RWIS) and extends the same surface condition insight to parking lots, cycleways, and anywhere surface conditions put people at risk.

The sensor uses optical technology to measure the surface condition, friction or grip, and ice and water layer thickness. In addition, the surface temperature, air temperature, dew point, air pressure, and wind speed parameters are measured for a complete view of the road surface.

With no moving parts, the SurfaceVue 11 needs minimal maintenance, and because it mounts on a pole, it is easy for crews to reach when service is needed. In most cases, maintenance does not require closing a lane of traffic, which keeps both crews and drivers safer.

The SurfaceVue 11 sensor ships with a 10 m (33 ft) cable and two adjustable band straps for a 7 to 17 cm (3 to 7 in.) pole.

Note: The SurfaceVue 11 CRBasic programming requirements are different from those for the SurfaceVue 10. Please use the provided sample CRBasic program when updating your sensor.

Technical Description

The SurfaceVue 11 mounts on a pole or existing roadside structure and is aimed at the travel lane, so no part of the sensor sits in the pavement. The sensor communicates measured data to a data logger over RS-232 using the included 10 m (33 ft) cable, or optionally over RS-485 using an RS485EXT converter box. In a typical installation, the sensor is wired into an RWIS Remote Processing Unit (RPU).

The sensor consists of two units that communicate over a single connection.

  1. The surface condition unit, housed in a black tube, measures surface state, friction, and water and ice layer thickness.
  2. The temperature unit, enclosed in a white radiation shield and mounted below the surface condition unit, measures surface temperature, air temperature, dew point temperature, and air pressure.

An outer radiation shield protects the entire sensor. Ground temperature and wind speed are modeled.

The surface condition unit uses spectroscopic analysis. It emits infrared light at multiple wavelengths toward the road surface and measures the reflected light. Water or ice on the road surface attenuates the reflected light compared to calibrated values, and the degree of attenuation depends on the amount of water or ice. Snow appears as ice in the reflected spectrum and can be distinguished from hard ice.

The temperature unit uses an infrared temperature sensor to measure surface temperature. It also includes an ambient temperature and humidity probe to calculate dew point temperature.

SurfaceVue 11 measurements:

  • Surface state (dry, moist, wet, slush, snow, ice)
  • Coefficient of friction or grip
  • Water and ice layer thickness
  • Surface temperature
  • Air temperature
  • Dew point temperature
  • Air pressure
  • Wind speed and gust (modeled)
  • Ground temperature (modeled) 

Benefits

  • Non-contact sensor to reduce costs associated with installation and maintenance and eliminate the need to close traffic lanes
  • Field-proven optical measurement for confident treatment and deployment decisions
  • Simple calibration and setup as part of a Campbell Scientific RWIS
  • No moving parts for minimal maintenance and long lifespan
  • Includes modeled wind measurement that can help with blowing snow determination

Specifications

Road Conditions

Surface States
Dry, moist, wet, slush, snow, ice

Friction (Grip)

Measurement Range
0 to 1.0

(unitless)

Accuracy
±0.1

(compared to braking friction reference)

Resolution
±0.01

Water and Ice Layer Thickness

Range
0 to 3 mm

(0 to 0.12 in.)

Accuracy
±0.1 mm up to 1.0 mm

(0.004 in. up to 0.04 in.)

10% > 1.0 mm

(10% > 0.04 in.)

Resolution
±0.01 mm

Road Surface Temperature

Measurement Range
-40 to +60°C

(-40 to +140°F)

Accuracy
±0.3°C
Resolution
±0.1°C

Ground Temperature (Modeled)

Measurement Range
-40 to +60°C

(-40 to +140°F)

Accuracy
±0.5°C
Resolution
±0.1°C

Dew Point Temperature (Calculated)

Measurement Range
-40 to +60°C

(-40 to +140°F)

Accuracy
±1.0°C
Resolution
±0.1°C

Air Temperature

Measurement Range
-40 to +60°C

(-40 to +140°F)

Accuracy
±0.3°C
Resolution
±0.1°C

Relative Humidity

Measurement Range
0 to 100%
Accuracy
±2%
Resolution
±0.1%

Barometric Pressure

Measurement Range
500 to 1100 hPa
Accuracy
±1.0 hPa
Resolution
±0.1 hPa

Wind Speed (Modeled)

Measurement Range
0 to 60 m/s

(0 to 134 mph)

Accuracy
±10%
Resolution
±1 m/s

General Specifications

Measuring Range
3 to 10 m

(9.8 to 32.8 ft)

Installation Angle
30 to 80°
Road Surface Conditions Field of View
2.8°

0.5 m (at 10 m)

Road Surface Temperature Field of View
10°

1.7 m (at 10 m)

Operating Temperature Range
-40 to +60°C

(-40 to +140°F)

Operating Humidity Range
0 to 100%
Power Consumption @ 12 Vdc
< 100 mA

(typical)

Supply Voltage Range
9 to 30 Vdc
Digital Output
RS-232
Warm-up Time
1 min
Cable Type
Five conductor
Cable Length
10 m

(32.8 ft)

Dimensions
68.6 x 23.5 x 14.0 cm

(27.0 x 9.25 x 5.5 in.)

Weight
4.3 kg

(9.45 lb)

Ships With

(2)
  • 10 m (33 ft) Cable
  • Adjustable Band Straps for a 7 to 17 cm (3 to 7 in.) PoleQty 2

Compatibility

The SurfaceVue 11 is compatible with any Campbell Scientific RWIS station.

Related Resources