Synthesis of Vehicle-Based Winter Maintenance Technologies

The objective of this research is to identify all vehicle-mounted winter maintenance technologies indicating the state of development. For those technologies in operational use, the synthesis will document the state-of-the-practice, including net value derived from its implementation.

In the northern states and Canada, snow and ice control operations are crucial tools for the safety of motorists on winter highways. It is important for state transportation departments to improve their snow and ice control strategies to reduce the direct and indirect costs of highway winter maintenance nationwide. However, it is difficult for any one DOT to investigate the advantages, cost-benefits, and service benefits of the wide spectrum of available technologies. This study will investigate the following technologies:

• AVL Technology
• On-board Freezing Point and Ice-Presence Detection Systems
• Surface Temperature Measuring Devices
• Millimeter Wavelength Radar Sensors
• Salinity Measuring Sensors
• Visual and Multi-Spectral Sensors
• FAST Systems
• Other Vehicle-based Winter Maintenance Technologies

  This project will provide a synthesis of this information to enable states to evaluate which technologies might be applicable to their particular location, available staff, and vehicle inventory. The study will consist of a synthesis of relevant literature coupled with an agency survey to all of the states; from this, a guidance document will be developed for states to use to evaluate which winter maintenance technologies apply to their environment.