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RoadVista Awarded Patent For Handheld Retroreflection Measurement Technology
RoadVista, a Gamma Scientific Company and leading manufacturer of precision highway-safety measurement instruments, today announced it has been awarded a patent for the technology underlying its innovative handheld, multiple-angle retroreflectometers. U.S. Patent # 7,961,328 B2 has been awarded for the technology’s unique ability to simultaneously measure two or more annular bands of retroreflected light, as well as provide users with continuous, user-adjustable entrance and observation angles. This technology is field-proven in RoadVista’s Model 922 and Model 932 handheld retroreflectometers, which also feature lab-grade accuracy and comprehensive data management tools.
The Model 922: Simultaneous, dual-angle measurement.
The industry's only annular aperture instrument, the Model 922 measures observation angles of 0.2°and 0.5°, with an entrance angle of -4°(European specifications also available)....
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New MUTCD Minimum Maintained Retroreflectivity Levels
If you would like to learn more information about the upcoming MUTCD deadline, we invite you to watch the online recording of the April 7, 2011 live broadcast of:
"Are you ready for the new MUTCD regulations? Understanding the Why's, What's and How's of Minimum Sign Retroreflectivity Standards."
For more information, please visit the FHWA website at www.fhwa.dot.gov/retro, the Roadvista Model 922 product page or theProfessional Pavement Products website.
MUTCD Minimum Maintained Retroreflectivity Levels Chart
| The minimum maintained retroreflectivity levels shown in this table are in units of cd/lx/m2 measured at an observation angle of 0.2° and an entrance angle of -4.0° |
| SIGN COLOR |
ADDITIONAL CRITERIA |
Sheeting Type (ASTM D4956-04) |
| Beaded Sheeting |
Prismatic Sheeting |
| I |
II |
III |
III, IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X |
White on Green
|
Overhead
|
White *
Green > 7 |
White *
Green > 15 |
White *
Green > 25 |
White > 250
Green > 25 |
White on Green
|
Ground-mounted
|
White *
Green > 7 |
White > 120
Green > 15 |
Black on Yellow or Black on Orange |
see note (1) below |
Yellow *
Orange * |
Yellow > 50
Orange > 50 |
| see note (2) below |
Yellow *
Orange * |
Yellow > 75
Orange > 75 |
| White on Red |
see note (3) below |
White > 35
Red > 7 |
| Black on White |
|
White > 50 |
| * |
This sheeting type should not be used for this color for this application. |
| (1) |
For text and fine symbol signs measuring at least 1200 mm (48 in) and for all sizes of bold symbol signs. |
| (2) |
For text and fine symbol signs measuring less than 1200 mm (48 in). |
| (3) |
Minimum Sign Contrast Ratio greater than or equal to 3 to 1 (white retroreflectivity divided by red retroreflectivity) |
Definition of Bold Symbol Signs
Fine Symbol signs are all those not listed as Bold Symbol Signs
| Bold Symbol Signs |
- W1-1,-2 Turn and Curve
- W1-3,-4 Reverse Turn and Curve
- W1-5 Winding Road
- W1-6,-7 Large Arrow
- W1-8 Chevron
- W1-10 Intersection in Curve
- W1-11 Hairpin Curve
- W1-15 270 Degree Loop
- W2-1 Cross Road
- W2-2,-3 Side Road
- W2-4,-5 T and Y Intersection
- W2-6 Circular Intersection
- W3-1 Stop Ahead
|
- W3-2 Yield Ahead
- W3-3 Signal Ahead
- W4-1 Merge
- W4-2 Lane Ends
- W4-3 Added Lane
- W4-5 Entering Roadway Merge
- W4-6 Entering Roadway Added Lane
- W6-1,-2 Divided Highway Begins and Ends
- W6-3 Two-Way Traffic
- W10-1,-2,-3,-4,-11,-12 Highway-Railroad Advance Warning
- W11-2 Pedestrian Crossing
|
- W11-3 Deer Crossing
- W11-4 Cattle Crossing
- W11-5 Farm Equipment
- W11-6 Snowmobile Crossing
- W11-7 Equestrian Crossing
- W11-8 Fire Station
- W11-10 Truck Crossing
- W12-1 Double Arrow
- W16-5p,-6p,-7p Pointing Arrow Plaques
- W20-7a Flagger
- W21-1a Worker
|
| Special Cases |
- W3-1 Stop Ahead: Red retroreflectivity > 7
- W3-2 Yield Ahead: Red retroreflectivity > 7; White retroreflectivity > 35
- W3-3 Signal Ahead: Red retroreflectivity > 7; Green retroreflectivity > 7
- W3-5 Speed Reduction: White retroreflectivity > 50
- For non-diamond shaped signs such as W14-3 (No Passing Zone), W4-4 (Cross Traffic Does Not Stop) or W13-1,-2,-3,-5 (Speed Advisory Plaques), use largest sign dimension to determine proper minimum retroreflectivity level.
|
