1. What is the cost for buying and installing one device?
This is commercially sensitive information and costs vary depending on which weather monitoring systems are required at the site. Our view is that it would not be in the public interest to share this information.
This is because sharing this information would jeopardise our ability as a purchasing authority to achieve best value for money, and confer an unfair disadvantage to the current contractor.
Therefore, we are withholding this information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Section 43(2): Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).
2. What is the total annual cost of maintaining these devices?
Our view is that it would not be in the public interest to share this information.
This is because sharing this information would jeopardise our ability as a purchasing authority to achieve best value for money, and confer an unfair disadvantage to the current contractor.
Therefore, we are withholding this information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Section 43(2): Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).
3. What are the radio frequency microwave radiation readings right next to the device? What is the distance from the device it was measured?
Devon County Council do not hold this information. We can you tell you the equipment is designed and registered to national standards and is used by Highway Authorities across the country. The equipment in question is compliant with the following regulations and so is suitable for use on the Highway:
- The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (SI 2012 No.3032)
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 (SI 2016 No.1091)
- Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (SI 2016 No.1101)
- EN 55032:2012 + AC:2013 Electromagnetic compatibility of multimedia equipment – Emission requirements. RWS200 fulfils the requirements for Class B equipment
- EN 61010-1:2010 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use – Part 1: General requirements
- EN 61326-1:2013 Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use – EMC requirements – Part 1: General requirements. RWS200 fulfils the requirements for industrial electromagnetic environment EN IEC 63000:2018 Technical documentation for the assessment of electrical and electronic products with respect to the restriction of hazardous substances.
4. Why are there web cameras on the ice detectors? What kind of web cameras? Do they use facial recognition?
The web cams capture a still image of the road every ten minutes. This gives visual confirmation of the state of the highway if required, eg. if there is snow on the road. They do not use facial recognition.
5. The ice detector type is marked as basic, forecast or extended. What does extended mean and why does Exmouth have an extended type of ice detector?
A basic site provides road surface temperatures and surface state with some basic sites also including a Webcam. An extended site includes other readings such as wind speed and or present weather detection sensors. These sites are used to determine winter treatments and provide additional data for our forecasters.