By proactively managing both human resources and physical resources, agencies can optimize the efficiency of their winter operations. Many DOTs have undertaken snowplow route optimization studies, and recent research has also looked at optimizing fleet size and salt shed locations. Recent Clear Roads research has also examined best practices for emergency operations and for managing personnel during storms.
Related research topics:
Clear Roads Resources
- Optimizing Tow Plow and Wing Plow Deployment: Clear Roads Best Practices Guide
- Clear Roads Plowing Efficiency Decision Support Tool (.xls) and User’s Guide (137MB .ppt)
Research and Resources
- Development of an Intelligent Snowplow Truck that Integrates Telematics Technology, Roadway Sensors, and Connected Vehicle (Indiana DOT, August 2021)
- Improve and Gain Efficiency in Winter Operations (Indiana DOT, March 2021)
- Lifecycle Assessment Using Snowplow Trucks’ Automatic Vehicle Location Data (UGPTI, February 2021)
- ESRI Insights Phase II: The War Room (Utah DOT, January 2021)
- Winter Operations Decision Support Tools for the Iowa DOT Maintenance Bureau (Iowa DOT, June 2020)
- Dynamic Snow Plow Fleet Management Under Uncertain Demand and Service Disruption (TRB Annual Meeting paper, 2015)
- Scheduling and Routing of Service Trucks and Planning of Resource Replenishment Locations for Winter Roadway Maintenance (University of Illinois, 2014)
- Winter Maintenance Asset Allocation Based on GIS Snow Plow Route Optimization Model (Ohio DOT; TRB Annual Meeting paper, 2014)
- Estimation of Maintenance Fleet Size for Spreading Operations Considering Road Geometry, Weather, and Traffic (TRB Annual Meeting paper, 2013)
- Research on Best Practices for Winter Weather Operations (Texas DOT, 2011)