Pilot Test of Automatic Vehicle Location on Snow Plows

摘要

This memorandum summarizes the findings regarding the performance of AVL in pre-pilot tests on vehicles engaged in weed spraying and snowplow operations. AVL units were applied to weed spraying equipment in Bozeman and snowplows in Helena and Boulder. In addition, Remote Vehicle Lcoation (RVL) units were installed on snowplows stationed at MacDonald Pass and Butte; however, limited use of these systems did not allow for a detailed evaluation to be made as part of this work. To determine how AVL performed during the pre-pilot tests, researchers at the Western Transportation Institute (WTI) solicited feedback from those who worked directly with the systems, namely maintenance superintendents/managers and vehicle operators, through personal interviews. This provided an overview of the issues that must be addressed and upgrades that might be desired in order to ensure a successful deployment on a broader vehicle fleet.