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Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0

Title:

Vehicle-Based Sensor Technologies for Winter Maintenance: A Critical Review

Abstract:

This paper presents findings from a comprehensive literature review and agency surveys on the development of vehicle-based technologies to improve winter maintenance efficiency and safety. Several technologies are discussed, including automatic vehicle location, road surface temperature measuring devices, on-board freezing point and ice-presence detection systems, and visual and multispectral sensors, along with considerations for implementing them. Cutting-edge technologies can make maintaining winter roadways more efficient, safer and less costly. Numerous vehicle-based technologies, including automatic vehicle location (AVL), surface temperature measuring devices, on-board freezing point and ice-presence detection systems, salinity measuring devices, visual and multi-spectral sensors, and millimeter wavelength radar sensors, have been developed in recent years to achieve improvements in winter maintenance efficiency and safety. Conducted through the NCHRP Project 20-7/Task 200, this paper synthesizes information obtained from a comprehensive literature review and agency surveys on the state of development of these advanced technologies. Of these technologies, AVL systems and road surface temperature measuring devices are the only ones that have matured and become fully operational, while the remainders are still in the development and testing phases. Some considerations to be addressed when implementing theses advanced technologies for winter maintenance include communications (especially in rural areas), planning, and system integration. Capital and maintenance costs, user acceptance, training issues, and maintenance needs should be considered early on when planning for advanced technologies. Integration of various technologies is important but challenging, particularly in the areas of communications, user interface, and software/hardware expandability and compatibility. The information offered by this paper is expected to encourage maintenance agencies to implement better winter maintenance practices with respect to providing safe, reliable winter highways in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.

Source(s):

86th Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting, Montana State University. For an electronic copy of this resource, please direct your request to WeatherFeedback@dot.gov.

Date: 2007

Author:

Shi, et al

Keywords:


Mobile sensing
Pavement condition
Pavement temperature
Institutional issues
Communications
Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)

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