Anyone know what this is?
 

So Cal yesterday. There was a Caltrans truck nearby but I don't know if they were together. Also looks like there are two license plate scanners.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1376005098.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1376005116.jpg

The F150 doesn't seem to have CA plates.

Floriduh....

Actually, Jersey.

Looks like surveying gear. Ground penetrating radar or other equipment they use for monitoring road degredation. Probably safe to remove the tinfoil hats.

High and dry mountains in the background.

Surveying comp outsource/rental?

Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.

I agree - looks like a Joisey plate.
Was the driver sportin' a GTL t-shirt and a faux-hawk?

Car penetrating radar?
 

Several states now have vehicles with the technology to scan vehicles that it passes to reveal what is in the other vehicle, things such as firearms, drugs, explosives, etc. From what I have read on the subject, it works much like the body scans at the airports. Seems that big bro is finding more and more ways to invade the individuals' privacy!

Any specific articles I can read on this subject?

OK, do you have a link about that is not from the tin-foil hat group?

Body scanners pick up metal objects. A car is metal so it will see a car outline. How can it pick up the smell of explosives from a car driving down the road?

If they could make the driver go into a truck trailer I might believe they could do that with strong x-rays that would not be real healthy for humans.

American Science & Engineering, a company based in Billerica, Massachusetts, has sold U.S. and foreign government agencies more than 500 backscatter x-ray scanners mounted in vans that can be driven past neighboring vehicles to see their contents, according to Joe Reiss, a vice president of marketing at the company.

Full-Body Scan Technology Deployed In Street-Roving Vans - Forbes
Project Mindwake: Full-Body Backscatter Technology rolling out on U.S. streets
Z Backscatter Van Used to Scan for Car Bombs, Drugs and People in Hiding - SlashGear
Backscatter X-ray - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also sounds like invasion of privacy but in this day and age who knows. I did a Google search and could find nothing.

Until I read something legit...........

It is equipment to measure road degradation.

I am briefing a group next week in Nashville (ATSSA) on how they can use unmanned air systems for sign maintenance and wear, on road line wear and reflector wear.

They are also interested in using UAS for quick accident investigation to get cars and trucks off the road after an accident faster.

According to the manufacturer:

The Z Backscatter™ Van (ZBV) is the most maneuverable, versatile, and successful cargo and vehicle screening system on the market. Featuring Z Backscatter technology—pioneered and perfected by AS&E—the ZBV system can quickly reach places other systems can’t go, and scan objects other systems can’t inspect.

Its photo-like imaging quickly and clearly reveals threats like explosives, drugs, currency, and trade-fraud items such as alcohol and cigarettes—even in high-throughput environments like border crossings and security checkpoints. The ZBV system gives your team:

The ability to investigate targets that could not be scanned before
Maximum flexibility, maneuverability, and ease of use
Photo-like imaging of vehicles and cargo for rapid analysis
A system proven to be effective and reliable—even in harsh environments
The lowest cost of ownership for a mobile screening system


Also from their website:
ZBV S-Class: The newest addition to the ZBV line is built on a standard Mercedes-Benz Sprinter panel van for a contemporary appearance. Its reduced operational footprint is ideal for scanning objects in the tightest confines.

If a person, such as an illegal stowaway, is present in the vehicle or container being scanned, the system creates only a silhouette with no facial or body detail. The system cannot be used to identify an individual, or their race or age.

Thanks, very interesting.

As noted, the scanners do work. There is one parked at the Border Patrol check point out in the country east of San Diego. I go by it a couple of times a week when venturing to/from the shooting range. Generally I'll see some delivery types of trucks lined up to run by it.

Moot point here in Va where my vehicle falls under the same protection as my home. Anything they find can not be used against me since there was no warrant issued for the "search".

About a half mile ahead of where I took the photos there is some major road construction finishing up. That must be what he was doing - esp. considering the presence of the Caltrans truck. Still can't understand why the truck's from out of state.

low bid contractor
lots of private corps with hi-teck gear do that