Ulrich Thielmann, general manager at Germany’s ProContour, has studied aerospace engineering and served as regional sales manager for one of the largest German machinery vendors in Africa and the Middle East. ProContour has developed a system for electronically measuring tire tread depth as cars drive over the unit, which is imbedded into the pavement surface.
The measurement of tire tread depth may make sense in the transport business – for example, in connection with transportation of hazardous materials. But for this I do not need a system capable of making measurements at 120 km/h.
Absolutely right. For this reason we make the difference between three system types which, depending on requirements, have been designed for different kinds of applications. The system type ProContour H3-D facto, for example, supplies data and documentation on incoming and outgoing heavy vehicles, thereby fulfilling preventive safety requirements.
What are typical applications for the H3-D measurement system?
The primary area of application is naturally the automated measurement of tire tread depth under real road traffic conditions. This is a task of the traffic authorities. But the basic concept of the ProContour H3-D has aroused interest in many other user groups. On the motorways, an entirely different type of system is required compared to interstate traffic going into Switzerland, for example, so we are offering ideal system types depending on your requirements and at a corresponding price-to-performance ratio.
How complex is the installation procedure?
This depends on the specific field of application, on mobile or stationary deployment, and the required system types. Basically, of course, earthwork will be necessary for installing shafts or U-shaped troughs. However, in our experience we have found that the installation of a specific system-type up to the point of active online processing takes one or two days at the most.
What about documentation of the measurement results?
This depends very much on the kind of application. Whereas a mobile motorway check facility temporarily saves the measurement data and images of objectionable vehicles whereby later, via a data memory, the data is supplied to a further data processing system, a car dealer will want to display the data to his customers online in his office after the vehicle has entered the receiving area, or hand out a printout from a thermal printer as a preventive measure.
What are the available options?
Several options are thinkable. We offer the following:
• Display board
• Camera for recording the traffic situation
• Camera for recording the vehicle number
• Printer
• Transfer of the data to a customer’s software (for example fleet management, customer relationship management or tire storage).
The measurement system is based on the principle of laser triangulation. Isn't that dangerous, and is the operating staff at risk?
Definitely not. The measurement instrumentation belongs to Laser Class 1, this being equivalent to a normal CD player. Thus there is neither a risk to eyesight nor to health.
For more infomation, visit www.procontour.com.
