Sensing Dust in the Wind

A major problem that often turns deadly is a dust storm blowing across a busy freeway. In desert areas, dust storms seem to occur out of nowhere. Today, vision sensors provide the ability to see real-time conditions on the roadway and in-pavement sensors report the speed and flow of traffic to remote monitoring locations. Along one particularly dangerous portion of an interstate highway in Arizona, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) plans on implementing dust sensors to provide an early warning system. Sensors installed near the freeway will allow ADOT personnel to detect dust as far as a mile or more away and program digital signage to advise drivers.

According to ADOT, a key part of designing the system will be evaluating and selecting dust sensors with emphasis on the sensors’ accuracy, reliability and durability.

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