Optimizing RWIS InformationIn theDecision Making Process

摘要

Today's maintenance managers in Canada and the United States must be able to handlernmultiple tasks during snow and ice control operations or risk falling behind the onslaughtrnof winter weather. Although today's managers have a variety of good information whichrncan lead to effective snow and ice control, all of the regulations concerning chemicalrnapplications, environmental impacts and multiple, often contradictory, weather and roadrnweather forecasts can lead to information overload for the field operations decisionrnmaker.rnThe Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recognized these problems and sincern1999 has been developing and field testing a Maintenance Decision Support Systemrn(MDSS) for snow and ice control operations. The MDSS project integrates state-of-the-artrnweather and road weather forecasting, data fusion, and optimization techniques withrncomputerized snow and ice control rules of practice logic. MDSS provides a specificrnforecast of surface conditions and treatment recommendations customized for individualrnmaintenance garages snow plow routes. Treatment recommendations include thernfollowing information:rn?Recommended treatment plans such as plow only, chemical use, and abrasivesrn?Recommended chemical amount (pounds per lane mile)rn?Timing of initial and subsequent treatmentsrn?Indication of the need to pre-treat or post-treat the roadrnAfter successful field evaluations during the past two winters in Iowa, there was generalrnagreement among maintenance managers that these new technologies were able to assistrnthem with maintaining safety and mobility on roadways and provide for more efficientrnuse of chemicals, equipment and staff. Private sector road weather providers also agreedrnthere is a market for these new technologies.rnThis paper will provide an overview of the prototype MDSS system, its successes andrnlessons learned in snow and ice control operations in the Midwestern United States andrnthe 2004-2005 field tests in the more complex weather regions of Colorado. Annualrnmaintenance savings (materials, equipment and labor) will also be discussed.