Problem

Over the last several decades, best management practices have been developed to minimize the volume of chlorides that are introduced into our roadside environments each winter. However, many stakeholders are currently guiding policy discussions towards the chlorides themselves without a complete understanding of the impacts of alternatives maintenance materials or the proactive steps that agencies can take to ensure that their snow and ice programs are utilizing the most current and effective strategies.

Objective

The goal of this project was to develop a comprehensive Snow and Ice Control Environmental Best Management Practices (BMP) Manual that will provide the most up-to-date recommendations for winter highway maintenance. The purpose was to help articulate responsible snow and ice control practices for DOT staff, legislators and other interested parties, so that the priorities of safety, efficiency, cost and environmental protection can be appropriately balanced.

Results

The key outcome of this project is a national Snow and Ice Control Environmental Best Management Practices Manual that provides the most up-to-date recommendations, based on a foundation of leading research and resources nationwide.

This project was featured in an article in the September 2015 issue of Roads and Bridges magazine.

The final presentation webinar took place on June 24, 2015.

Problem

Corrosion to maintenance equipment resulting from the use of chloride deicers is a challenge for transportation agencies across North America. While there are many products and much anecdotal guidance for the prevention of corrosion, there is not a consolidated guide that combines all of the available knowledge on corrosion prevention for use by snow and ice control practitioners. Such a manual could aid the entire winter maintenance community in the prevention of corrosion and the extension of equipment life.

In the 2013 final report for the project on Best Practices and Guidelines for Protecting DOT Equipment from the Corrosive Effect of Chemical Deicers, the researchers identified the need for additional study to bridge existing knowledge gaps relevant to this subject. This includes research on the long-term effectiveness of practices or products for corrosion protection; minimizing the risk of premature failure of the post-assembly coatings; the synergistic use of washing and inhibitors; and the study of metallic components. Finally, research is needed to develop guidelines on the best practices for preventing deicer corrosion.

Objective

This goal of this project was to develop guidelines for corrosion management on highway maintenance equipment.

Results

A guide that summarizes in layman’s terms the best practices to prevent corrosion to maintenance equipment.

This final presentation webinar took place on May 18, 2015.

Problem

In 2012, Clear Roads completed a project to develop weather severity maps of the U.S. The project responded to state DOT needs for comparing their operations with other states with similar weather severity. These comparisons allow states to identify opportunities for reducing spending or improving levels of service. By analyzing the weather severity in snow and ice states, the researchers developed a methodology to map weather severity across the regions and states. The resulting maps depict winter weather severity across the U.S. in a manner similar to the plant hardiness zone maps used for agriculture.

As individual Clear Roads states have been using these maps in presentations within their agencies, they found that state-specific maps would better allow them to focus on their own weather patterns or patterns within their region. High quality versions of the maps were needed that would include scale, title, credits, etc.

Objective

The goal of this project was to develop a state-focused version of each of the five weather severity maps (hours of blowing snow; hours of freezing rain; hours of snowfall; inches of snow and overall severity) for each of the 29 member states, based on the maps developed in the original project. That project compiled data from the National Weather Service and Federal Aviation Administration from 2000 to 2010. 

Results

A set of state-specific maps tailored to each member state’s interest.

Problem

Transportation agencies have been managing their salt and liquid anti-icing applications based on the results of multiple testing efforts over the years, including:

• FHWA TE 28 Project, ”Manual of Practice for an Effective Anti-icing Program” (1996)
• NCHRP Report #526, “Snow and Ice Control: Guidelines for Materials and Methods” (2004)
• NCHRP Report #577, “Guidelines for the Selection of Snow and Ice Control Materials to Mitigate Environmental Impacts” (2007)

In recent years, more sophisticated methods and procedures have been developed in the field of deicing and anti-icing applications. These include the use of slurry, enhanced brine blends, agricultural by-products as inhibitors or adjuvants, and bridge systems (applied by truck or fixed systems). There also has been growing interest in the use of alternatives to chlorides, such as acetates and glycols.

Additionally, the awareness and concern about chloride loading in the environment has caused many agencies to reevaluate their practices with respect to solid and liquid chloride applications. Agencies are being tasked with maintaining historical and expected service levels while optimizing or minimizing the use of chloride-based products.

Objective

The goal of this project is to update the guidelines developed in FHWA TE-28 and NCHRP Report #526 to reflect present day challenges and the growing complexity of material use in winter operations. The investigator will not conduct new field testing for this project but will instead rely on formal and informal testing and field experience (including NCHRP report #577) conducted since NCHRP Report #526 was published.

Results

The project validated current guidelines and has provided guidance for a future project to focus on current anti-icing field practices.

Problem

There are dozens of different types of solid material distribution systems used in winter maintenance such as chutes, spinners, zero velocity, augers, etc. These systems have a wide range of costs and effectiveness. Some agencies use commercially available systems and others create their own systems out of scrap material available at a maintenance garage. Agencies do not know which of these systems is most effective or have a way to determine which type is best suited to their agency’s needs.

Objective

The goal of this project was to identify and catalogue as many solid material distribution systems as possible and develop a plan for field testing them. Systems with pre-wetting capabilities should be included in the study, although equipment for slurries or direct liquid applications is not included in the scope of this project.

Results

Results include:

• A photographic catalog of all the different types of material distribution systems identified.
• A Final Report with a recommended plan of study for field testing to assess the effectiveness of material distribution systems.

Problem

Sensors and other devices used on DOT vehicles are often provided by different vendors, each with their own proprietary communication protocols and data formats. It is costly and time-intensive to integrate the different systems into one data stream. The adoption of a standard protocol and specification would simplify the process of adding new components and reduce the overall costs of developing and maintaining a mobile data platform.

Objective

The goal is to engage the vendor community to develop a protocol that would support a “plug and play” approach to integrating electronic devices and sensors on plow trucks.

Approach

Working with interested stakeholders, Clear Roads engaged in a collaborative effort to develop a communications protocol that will allow plug-and-play connectivity among vendors who follow the protocol. Establishment of this protocol will mutually benefit Clear Roads member states and their vendors by standardizing how critical operational data is shared on modern snow and ice vehicles, namely between compatible Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) devices and anti-icing/deicing Joystick and Spreader Controller systems.

To learn more, please see the Webinar below.

Expected Results

A standard protocol that each state can specify in procurement to facilitate a plug-and-play approach to sharing operational data from electronic devices on modern winter maintenance vehicles.

Public Comments on the Draft Protocol

In February 2014, Clear Roads invited public input on the draft specification for a standard communications protocol. Clear Roads revised the protocol and again invited all interested stakeholders in the winter maintenance community and related vendor organizations to provide comments and feedback in September 2014. The protocol has been updated based on the comments received. The comments received and Clear Roads’ formal responses are available here.

The draft Clear Roads Universal In-Cab Performance Specifications and Communications Protocol is available here.

Timeline

• A collaborative group of Clear Roads members and spreader and AVL vendors developed a draft protocol (2011-2014).
• The draft protocol was posted for public comment in February 2014 and again in September 2014.
• In early 2017, Clear Roads completed the Plug and Play Initiative, Phase 2, which identifies a standard protocol for the transmission of data from a vehicle to a point location.
• In late 2017, Clear Roads kicked off the project Developing Test Bed Software to Qualify Plug and Play Technology, which allows testing of devices to ensure compliance with the developed protocol.
• The Clear Roads Test Portal went live in early 2019. It is available for vendors to validate their equipment to ensure it is compliant with the protocol.

Problem

DOTs are constantly challenged to maintain safe, passable roadways through the winter season. Winter weather can generate a variety of unique conditions and many factors need to be analyzed to identify the best approach for treatment in any given situation.

The implications of improper treatment include public safety concerns, failure to meet or exceed the customers’ expectations, waste of materials and adverse impact on the environment. The vehicle operator has the most influence on effective treatment as they determine application rates and use of varying medium (i.e. granular vs. liquid or granular w/liquid). Like any human process, this is subject to occasional errors. A totally automated dispensing system could help mitigate the potential for human error in determining the best approach for treatment of winter roads.

Objective

The intent of this study was to determine if a totally automated dispensing system is achievable and cost effective and develop recommendations on the best way to implement such a system in the short and long term.

Results

A guide to help agencies assess the levels of spreader automation available and how best to implement the latest technology into DOT fleets.

This final presentation webinar took place on May 5, 2014.

Problem

During winter events, equipment operators work long, stressful hours, and fatigue can be a major problem resulting in higher accident rates, lower productivity and increased health issues. Reducing equipment operator fatigue during winter operations could increase safety, reduce employee absences and improve operator efficiency. This project looked at the environmental stimuli that contribute the most to operator fatigue and recommended practical, low-cost mitigation solutions. Focus areas included: (i) work and rest schedules for drivers and how they relate to driver fatigue and incidents, both when operating trucks with and without advanced in-cab instrumentation, (ii) the causes of fatigue-related incidents, and (iii) applicable functional countermeasures to reduce fatigue and potential incidents.

Objective

The goal was to develop a series of cost effective, realistic recommendations for reducing or eliminating fatigue that impacts equipment operators during winter operations.

Results

Recommendations on some cost-effective solutions to mitigate driver fatigue and potential avenues for further research.

Problem

State Departments of Transportation are under constant pressure to justify their snow and ice program budgets and to look for new approaches to saving money, such as hiring private contractors and reducing level of service. However, all stakeholders need a better understanding of the total cost of winter operations in order to make informed decisions.

Objective

To effectively defend current budgets and request additional needed funds, winter maintenance professionals needed a better understanding of the costs associated with their operations, how these costs compare with other similar states, and opportunities for reducing spending that would not negatively impact level of service.

Results

A better understanding of what data would be needed to accurately measure and compare winter maintenance costs between storms and agencies. The project also developed a tool that allows users to analyze and compare the labor and material costs of up to four different storm events.

This final presentation webinar took place on December 18, 2013.

Problem

The winter maintenance community has information on the relative corrosive properties of deicing chemicals, liquid and solid, in use throughout North America (MgCl2, NaCl, “beet juice” etc.). However, there is little information available regarding the toxicity of these various compounds, especially to the aquatic environment.

Objective

This project evaluated the toxicity of deicing chemicals in the following base chemical categories: Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Acetate and Glycerol. As a result, the researchers were able to develop a ranking of the chemicals according to toxicity.

Results

A final report and a concise summary of the toxicity rankings that helps winter highway maintenance managers consider both expected levels of service and potential harm to the environment when selecting a deicer to use.

See the final presentation webinar below.