Introduction
The Load Volume Scanner (LVS) supports a custom function to estimate net load weight.
This function estimates weight from volumetric measurement and known product density:
Weight = Volume × Density
Weight estimates are rounded to the nearest 0.1 tonne/ton and reported as additional load details in measurement records. The LVS volumetric measurement is not modified.
The LVS operator must know the loose density of measured load materials to use this function correctly.
Density factors are specified in tonnes per cubic metre (t/m3) or tons per cubic yard (t/yd3) to suit the LVS regional configuration.
The LVS weight estimate function is not suitable where exact weight is required.
The LVS weight estimate function must be activated by LoadScan. Once activated, the LVS operator can edit the weight estimate settings as required.
These instructions are for LVS software version 3.0-619 or higher.
Weight estimate settings
When the weight estimate function is active, the following custom settings are available:
| Setting | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| WeightEstimateEnable | TRUE | Weight estimate enabled.
LVS configured for single-bin measurement only: a single load detail field to report weight is appended to measurement records. LVS configured to measure two or more bins: load detail fields to report bin weights and total weight are appended to measurement records. |
| FALSE | Weight estimate disabled. | |
| WeightEstimate DensityFactor |
numeric | Optionally specifies a fixed material density used to estimate load weight from measured volume where material type is not selected from a list. |
| [blank] | Use material specific density values. | |
| WeightEstimateShow DensityFactor |
TRUE | Add a ‘Density’ load detail field to measurement records to report the applied density for each scan. |
| FALSE | Do not report density factor. | |
| WeightEstimate MessageBoardDisplay |
TRUE | Display weight estimate on the message board load report instead of volume. |
| FALSE | Display standard load report on the message board. |
Use the Custom button in the System section of the LVS operator console Settings screen to access and edit custom settings.
Refer to Custom settings in the User configuration options section of the LVS Operator Manual for detailed instructions on editing custom settings.
Material specific weight estimate
Material specific density values can be used to estimate net weight for each measured load.
This requires:
- the LVS to be configured with a load detail prompt to get the load material type for each scan.
- the material type to be selected from a pre-defined materials list with density values populated.
Create a load detail prompt and selection list for material type
The following instructions assume familiarity with LVS configuration. Refer to Configuring load detail prompts in the User configuration options section of the LVS Operator Manual for detailed information about configuring load details and selection lists.
- Enable prompting for load details.
- Create a suitably named load detail with type set to ‘Material (product type)’.
- Set the material type load detail to use a selection list and require list match.
- Populate the selection list and ensure the density value is set for each list item.
If the Density field is left unset (zero) for a materials list item, weight estimates for each bin will be recorded as zero for scans where that material is selected.
Fixed density weight estimate
A fixed density value can be used to estimate the net weight for all measured loads, regardless of the load material type.
Method 1 – set a fixed density factor
The required custom setting is:
| Setting | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| WeightEstimate DensityFactor |
numeric | The material density value in tonnes/m3 or tons/yd3, depending on LVS regional configuration. |
This method does not require the material type to be recorded.
Method 2 – create a materials list with a single item
Create a load detail prompt and corresponding selection list as described in Material specific weight estimate, but limit the list to a single item. In this case the material will be auto selected (no prompt) and the corresponding density used for weight estimation.
This method will always record the material type even if it never changes.
Weight estimate display on the LED message board
Weight estimates do not show on load reports displayed on the LED message board by default.
However, where weight targets or limits are more important to the truck drivers than load volume it is possible to display the weight estimate as the primary measurement on the message board load report instead of volume.
To enable weight estimate message board display, set the WeightEstimateMessageBoardDisplay custom setting to ‘TRUE’.
When this option is enabled, measured load volume does not display on message board load reports.
Other load report outputs and saved records are not affected.
Example
Big Rock Quarry requires material specific weight estimates on their LVS.
WeightEstimateEnable and WeightEstimateShowDensityFactor custom settings are set to TRUE to enable the weight estimate function with reporting of the density factor used for each measurement:
A load detail prompt called ‘Product’ with detail type set to ‘Material (product type)’ is configured and set to use a selection list:
The ‘Product’ selection list defines material names and corresponding density values:
The LVS is configured for 2-bin truck and trailer measurement, so the following load details are automatically enabled for weight estimate reporting:
- Truck Weight (t)
- Trailer Weight (t)
- Total Weight (t)
- Density (t/m3)
These are shown on the operator console Main screen:
In this Article
Introduction
The Load Volume Scanner (LVS) supports a custom function to estimate net load weight.
This function estimates weight from volumetric measurement and known product density:
Weight = Volume × Density
Weight estimates are rounded to the nearest 0.1 tonne/ton and reported as additional load details in measurement records. The LVS volumetric measurement is not modified.
The LVS operator must know the loose density of measured load materials to use this function correctly.
Density factors are specified in tonnes per cubic metre (t/m3) or tons per cubic yard (t/yd3) to suit the LVS regional configuration.
The LVS weight estimate function is not suitable where exact weight is required.
The LVS weight estimate function must be activated by LoadScan. Once activated, the LVS operator can edit the weight estimate settings as required.
These instructions are for LVS software version 3.0-619 or higher.
Weight estimate settings
When the weight estimate function is active, the following custom settings are available:
| Setting | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| WeightEstimateEnable | TRUE | Weight estimate enabled.
LVS configured for single-bin measurement only: a single load detail field to report weight is appended to measurement records. LVS configured to measure two or more bins: load detail fields to report bin weights and total weight are appended to measurement records. |
| FALSE | Weight estimate disabled. | |
| WeightEstimate DensityFactor |
numeric | Optionally specifies a fixed material density used to estimate load weight from measured volume where material type is not selected from a list. |
| [blank] | Use material specific density values. | |
| WeightEstimateShow DensityFactor |
TRUE | Add a ‘Density’ load detail field to measurement records to report the applied density for each scan. |
| FALSE | Do not report density factor. | |
| WeightEstimate MessageBoardDisplay |
TRUE | Display weight estimate on the message board load report instead of volume. |
| FALSE | Display standard load report on the message board. |
Use the Custom button in the System section of the LVS operator console Settings screen to access and edit custom settings.
Refer to Custom settings in the User configuration options section of the LVS Operator Manual for detailed instructions on editing custom settings.
Material specific weight estimate
Material specific density values can be used to estimate net weight for each measured load.
This requires:
- the LVS to be configured with a load detail prompt to get the load material type for each scan.
- the material type to be selected from a pre-defined materials list with density values populated.
Create a load detail prompt and selection list for material type
The following instructions assume familiarity with LVS configuration. Refer to Configuring load detail prompts in the User configuration options section of the LVS Operator Manual for detailed information about configuring load details and selection lists.
- Enable prompting for load details.
- Create a suitably named load detail with type set to ‘Material (product type)’.
- Set the material type load detail to use a selection list and require list match.
- Populate the selection list and ensure the density value is set for each list item.
If the Density field is left unset (zero) for a materials list item, weight estimates for each bin will be recorded as zero for scans where that material is selected.
Fixed density weight estimate
A fixed density value can be used to estimate the net weight for all measured loads, regardless of the load material type.
Method 1 – set a fixed density factor
The required custom setting is:
| Setting | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| WeightEstimate DensityFactor |
numeric | The material density value in tonnes/m3 or tons/yd3, depending on LVS regional configuration. |
This method does not require the material type to be recorded.
Method 2 – create a materials list with a single item
Create a load detail prompt and corresponding selection list as described in Material specific weight estimate, but limit the list to a single item. In this case the material will be auto selected (no prompt) and the corresponding density used for weight estimation.
This method will always record the material type even if it never changes.
Weight estimate display on the LED message board
Weight estimates do not show on load reports displayed on the LED message board by default.
However, where weight targets or limits are more important to the truck drivers than load volume it is possible to display the weight estimate as the primary measurement on the message board load report instead of volume.
To enable weight estimate message board display, set the WeightEstimateMessageBoardDisplay custom setting to ‘TRUE’.
When this option is enabled, measured load volume does not display on message board load reports.
Other load report outputs and saved records are not affected.
Example
Big Rock Quarry requires material specific weight estimates on their LVS.
WeightEstimateEnable and WeightEstimateShowDensityFactor custom settings are set to TRUE to enable the weight estimate function with reporting of the density factor used for each measurement:
A load detail prompt called ‘Product’ with detail type set to ‘Material (product type)’ is configured and set to use a selection list:
The ‘Product’ selection list defines material names and corresponding density values:
The LVS is configured for 2-bin truck and trailer measurement, so the following load details are automatically enabled for weight estimate reporting:
- Truck Weight (t)
- Trailer Weight (t)
- Total Weight (t)
- Density (t/m3)
These are shown on the operator console Main screen: