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Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0

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Title:

Effective Use of Fiber Cable Sensor for Route No. 18 in Winter

Abstract:

This paper reports on the efforts for the winter road management system and the conditions under which the optical fiber temperature radar system is applicable. A continuous road surface temperature sensing system senses temperatures beneath the ground surface using optical fiber temperature radar (FTR). Using an array of temperature distribution points running lengthwise along a road, data is collated to conduct winter road management in an appropriate and timely manner. A system successfully overcoming the challenges (e.g., burial method) was completed through test operations using a serviceable road (Route No. 18), and has proved to be a potent defense for enhancing winter road management. The system enables jurisdictional administration offices to use the temperature distribution data to control and manage road operations in winter. It enables prior detection of potential icy spots that had not been detected using the existing approaches. It enables salting to be applied in a timely and appropriate manner, reducing the amount of salt used.

Source(s):

9th World Congress on ITS. For an electronic copy of this resource, please direct your request to WeatherFeedback@dot.gov.

Date: 2002

Author:

Sekiguchi

Keywords:


Thermal mapping
Winter maintenance

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