Winter Maintenance
E-Newsletter
- May 2008
Produced by CTC & Associates LLC
To be notified of new issues email, info@ctcandassociates.com
Past Newsletters: September 2007, July 2007, November 2007 , February 2008
News
U.S. DOT has released a new version of its software that helps road maintenance managers prepare for winter weather and treat roads affected by snow, sleet or rain. The 5.0 version of the Maintenance Decision Support System prototype integrates road weather forecasts, recommended maintenance practices and maintenance resource data to help identify strategies for keeping roads open during adverse winter weather. Details.
MDSS Product Demonstration Showcase
Winter maintenance administrators are invited to learn more about the Maintenance Decision Support System at the MDSS Showcase, May 28, 2008 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha. The program will feature demonstrations of MDSS from state and local agencies, plus discussion of mobile data collection and MDSS deployment issues. Details.
This year’s expo is slated for August 27 through 28, 2008 at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (near Philadelphia). Numerous opportunities will be provided for snow and ice practitioners from every level of government, and the private sector, to learn about the field’s most up-to-date equipment, materials, technologies and strategies. Details.
The Excellence in Snow and Ice Control Award was established by the American Public Works Association to promote top performance in management and administration of public works snow and ice operations, and best practices in snow and ice removal while minimizing environmental impact. This year’s recipients: the City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, City of Winnipeg Public Works Department, Shingle Creek Watershed Commission (Plymouth, MN), North Texas Tollway Authority, and the Westchester County Department of Public Works (White Plains, NY). Details.
In the not too distant future, some roads may give drivers clear warnings of ice by turning themselves pink. A new temperature-sensitive varnish developed by researchers at French company Eurovia can be applied to road surfaces to warn drivers about icy conditions and guide winter maintenance personnel in the application of de-icers. The technique, still in the testing stage, has caught the interest of researchers in the U.S. Article.
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Research in Progress
NCHRP 20-07/Task 250 (Pending)
This task will update the AASHTO guide published in 1999. Work will focus on updating chapters dealing with equipment, snow and ice control materials and weather information systems. Abstract.
This project proposes to develop and evaluate an automatic anti-icing/de-icing applicator control system based on the use of real-time RWIS data. The proposed system will also continuously record data on the rates of chemical/abrasive application together with measurements of vehicle location and road geometries. A commercial wireless cellular network will be utilized to access RWIS data, including air temperatures, surface temperatures, precipitation, wind speed and snow depth. Sponsor: Minnesota DOT. Abstract.
North/West Passage Clarus Regional Demonstration - Environmental Sensor Station MetaData Development
The objective of this project is to construct required environmental sensor station metadata in support of the FHWA Clarus Regional Demonstration Concept of Operations (CRDCO) development project for the North/West Passage corridor study. Sponsor: Minnesota DOT. Abstract. Click here to learn more about the CRDCO project.
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