innovation, technology, • 70% of the nations and snow … & cameron, 2005 innovation,...

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Developing Management Skills, Whetten & Cameron, 2005

Innovation, Technology, and Snow and Ice Control

Plowing Ahead

APWA North American Snow ConferenceApril 23, 2007

Diana Clonch, Snow and Ice CoordinatorJohn Thorpe, Transportation ManagerJim Miller, MPV Operator


National Statistics

• 70% of the Nations roads are in snow regions

• 118,000 people are injured in snowy condition accidents

• 1,300 deaths occur each year under snowy conditions


Associated Costs

• State and locals spend $2.3 billion annually on snow and ice control

• Over $5 million annually on infrastructure repairs due to damage from snow and ice control


Impacts of Snow and Ice

• Maintenance Budgets– $2.3 billion annually

• Essential Services– Police, medical, fire and rescue,

• Individuals– Increased accidents, fatalities,

property damage and insurance, lost wages

• Economic– Lost productivity, late

shipments, additional fuel and lost sales

• Environmental and Infrastructure– Over $5 million annually in

repairs


ODOT Statistics

• 43,000 Lane-miles• Roads carry the 5 th largest

volume of traffic in the US• $1.3 trillion in freight

crosses Ohio annually• 33,664 Snow and Ice

related accidents annually– 9,063 Injuries

– 53 deaths


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Ohio Associated CostsAnnually:• Spend $36 million on snow

and ice control• Use over 400,000 tons of

salt• 6,000,000 gallons of brine• 500,000 gallons of other

chemicals• 2,500 employees involved

in snow and ice control• 1,500 trucks• 200 garage facilities


06/07 Season

• Spent $55 million on snow and ice control

• Use over 640,000 tons of salt

• 7,100,000 gallons of brine

• 1,100,000 gallons of other chemicals

• Logged over 684,000 man-hours of work


Ave Price $42.16 Ton

05 = $40.21

06/07 = $27 millionDeveloping Management Skills,

Whetten & Cameron, 2005

Statewide Salt Usage

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

ton

s

Annual Usage Linear (Annual Usage)

Annual Rate of Increase = 33,745 tons Statewide


???????????????How can you make it work?

• Dwindling resources?

• Increased expectations?

• How does one encourage innovation?


Harnessing Innovation• Empowerment– “to enable…. to help others

develop a sense of self-confidence”Letting others:

– Make decisions

– Set goals – Accomplish results

– Receive rewards


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Empowerment1. Articulating a clear vision2. Fostering personal mastery3. Modeling4. Providing support5. Creating emotional arousal6. Providing necessary information7. Providing necessary resources8. Connecting to outcomes9. Creating confidence

Developing Management Skills, Whetten & Cameron, 2005Developing Management Skills,

Whetten & Cameron, 2005

SMART Goals• Specific – Identifiable and observable• Measurable – Outcomes can be measured• Aligned – Congruent with overall vision• Reachable – Realistic and doable• Time-bound – Completion timeframe………………Specific behavioral goals that

help guide individuals as they work on their tasks.



Innovation and Technology

• Forecasting and RWIS

• Material Applications and Anti-Icing

• Equipment Advancements

• Training and Development


Forecasting and RWIS

169 Sites - #1 in the USA

Integrated wireless system

New maintenance contract

Current contracts for Ohio Specific Services


ODOT’s RWIS Story

• Begin in 1992 with FHWA and 18 sites• By 1997 began exploring expansion• Currently includes more than 169 sites in 88

counties and on every major highway– Most sites are wireless

– Powered by solar and/or wind– Provides data in 3 to 5 minute intervals

– 2nd year of a statewide Maintenance Service Contract


What RWIS Provides:

•Air Temperatures•Dew Point Temperatures•Relative Humidity•Precipitation Type•Wind Direction & Speed•Pavement Temperatures•Pavement Conditions•Traffic Speeds & Volume

The RWIS Advantage: ON THE HIGHWAY, NOT AT THE AIRPORT!

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Contract Weather Services

• Providing atmospheric and pavement condition analysis and forecasting services

• Incorporating National Weather Service (NWS) data

• Bidder-developed products• ODOT’s Road & Weather Information

System (RWIS)


Forecast MapsForecast Maps

•• Air TempsAir Temps

•• Dew PointDew Point

•• HumidityHumidity

•• WindsWinds

•• Total PrecipTotal Precip

•• SnowSnow

•• CombinedCombined



Site Specific ForecastsSite Specific ForecastsAutomated Short Term Automated Short Term Radar History and Radar History and Projection ModelProjection Model

Three Ways to View Three Ways to View ForecasterForecaster’’s Data:s Data:

•• 1. Textual Hourly Forecast 1. Textual Hourly Forecast

•• 2. Graphical Hourly 2. Graphical Hourly Forecast.Forecast.

•• 3. METCAST 3. METCAST –– A Combined A Combined Forecast Forecast


METCASTMETCAST


RWIS DATA

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Material Applications and Anti-Icing

2002 Policy2nd in the USA in use

•Material Application Guidelines (MAG)

•Pre-Treatment Plan

•Solids, liquids, blending



OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONSNOW & ICE

PRE-TREATMENT PLAN DRAFTNovember 19, 2003

I. PURPOSE

Pre-treat Priority Routes and any identified trouble spots with liquid material for black ice,unexpected winter events, frost control, and forecasted winter events when conditions warrant.

II. PRE-TREATMENT LIQUIDS

Salt Brine, Magic-O, Caliber, or equivalent

III. APPLICATION

Pre-treat Priority Routes a minimum of twice a week when conditions warrant. On higher volumeroads where material may be tracked away by traffic, pre-treat as close to the onset of an event aspossible.

IV. WHEN CONDITIONS WARRANT

A. Roadways are dry.B. Rain is not forecasted for the next 24 hours.C. Forecasted low temperature to fall within the range

of 20 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit.D. Sufficient time exists for pavement to dry before pavement temperature falls below 20 degrees

Fahrenheit.E. Blowing snow is not anticipated.F. Visual observation indicates sufficient material residue does not exist.

V. IMPLEMENTATION

Regular winter maintenance operations.

VI. SPECIAL CONDITIONS

A. Refer to the Material Application Guidelines.B. “Black Ice” - Pavement temperature is equal to or predicted to be less than the due point

temperature and is equal to or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When available, utilize RWIS datafor pavement temperature, dew point temperature, etc..

Pre-treatment Range

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONSNOW & ICE

PRE-TREATMENT PLAN DRAFTNovember 19, 2003


Blending Details

• Materials – From past practices of Ill DOT– 85% Salt Brine– 15% Agriculture Product

• Process– Manual blended through blending station for

each load– No on-site storage of Blended Product


Storage, Blending, and Application


Brine Maker Built By Employees

Brine Maker Produces about 5,000 Gal per Hr

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Direct Application of Blended Product

• 85% Salt Brine with 15% Geomelt

• Applied following a storm on April 14th at a rate of 90 Gal/LM

• Surface Temps at 10 F to 12 F


Direct Application of Blended Product

45 Minutes to Achieve Bare Pavement


Equipment Advancements

• Road Grip Tester (RGT)– Pilot in 2001 with a pro-type– Planning approximately 32

units for winter• Gaining national and

international attention– Michigan, Utah, Washington,

Wyoming, Virginia, NY, Ontario, Sweden and Japan

• Partnering with University of North Dakota for cold region testing


Applications for Snow and Ice Control

• Provides a method to quantify results– A measure of the quality of work performance– An indicator of the consistency and uniformity of

service• Assist with operational decision making

– Early detection of icy spots – treatment implementation

– Effectiveness/evaluation of treatment selections –treatment adjustments

• Advisory information for motorist– Early warnings of icy conditions– Alerts for specific routes/geographical areas


RGT wheel is at 1.75°Angle

How RGT Works

• RGT wheel is at a slight angle to the others.

• Wheel “scrubs” or is pushed sideways based on road grip conditions.

• This side force is converted to an electrical signal by the hub.


The Display• Lights give the driver

an indication of road surface conditions. More lights = more slippery conditions.

• Display is a voltmeter that reads the voltage from the hub, calibrated for road conditions.

• Numerical display (for unit calibration) is converted to a friction range

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RGT Ranges

• Green - Dry or wet pavements

• Yellow- Partly snow covered

• Red - Snow covered or ice


Operator and User Feedback

• “An added tool…..very helpful to get the feel for what the pavement was like”

• “We found using these trucks for patrolingbefore a storm extremely beneficial..”

• “We utilized the information to help all of the other operators ”

• “I was able to two-way a driver to hit a required route”


Display of an Event

First Day of SpringMarch 21, 2006

Grove City Outpost – Plow Units


Grove City 3/21/06 08:15 AM –08:45 AM


Grove City 3/21/06 08:30 AM –09:00 AM


Grove City 3/21/06 08:45 AM –09:15 AM

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Grove City 3/21/06 09:00 AM –09:30 AM


Grove City 3/21/06 09:15 AM –09:45 AM


Grove City 3/21/06 09:30 AM –10:00 AM


Grove City 3/21/06 09:45 AM –10:15 AM


Grove City 3/21/06 10:00 AM –10:30 AM


Grove City 3/21/06 10:15 AM –10:45 AM

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Grove City 3/21/06 10:30 AM –11:00 AM



Multi Purpose - 1

MP-1


Equipment Advancements• D4 Multi-Purpose

Vehicle (MPV)– Designed and built

by District personnel

– Dry and liquid applications

– Proven cost savings


Initiated by the Stark County M & R Manager, Jim Murray

– he asked –

How can we perform all snow and ice functions with the same truck at the

same time??


Employees of the Ohio Department of Transportation in District 4 take the lead by making the first all-in-one snow and ice removal vehicle. Their Multi Purpose Prototype I. or “ MP-1” as it is otherwise known, does everything from plowing snow to treating the roadway with brine to keeping the snow from even covering it

True Innovation

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THE MP-1 TEAM

Ronald Milliron, Jim Miller, Bob Clapsaddle, and John Thorpe


Viewing Innovation


The MPV in Action


Training and Development


Training and Development• Annual RWIS and

Weather Workshop• RWIS/AI CBT

• Liquid Chemical Workshop

• HT Snow & Ice Course


Training Basics

• Understanding meteorology and energy balance related to weather forecasting reliability

• Communications with weather forecasters • RWIS and effective uses• Snow and ice chemicals including brine making,

optimal applications, and dilution by weather and traffic

• Pavement temperatures and seasonal effects• Planning and organization – the written snow and

ice removal plan• Technology, instrumentation, and equipment

advancement

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The Number 1 Hindrance for Implementation of New

Technology is Inadequate Training

Training, The Key to Technology Implementation, Smithson, 2003


Plowing Ahead – What’s Recommended?

1. Innovative training to better understand modern road weather forecasts and technological advancement

2. Development and implementation of next-generation snow and ice control equipment


Plowing Ahead - Advisories

• Fundamentals of Road Weather Management– Advisory strategies

such as message signs, freeway management systems, web based information and variable speed limits


Plowing Ahead - Equipment• Global Position Systems (GPS)

– The use of satellites to pin point location and time stamps

• 3 Major Components– 24 Satellites that orbit earth– Ground Control Stations– Receiver

• Automated Vehicle Locating (AVL)– A computer based vehicle tracking system

relaying GPS created locations and vehicle activities to a control center


How GPS Works

Satellite

In Truck Receiver and Modem

ServerWork Station

Map and Reports


Benefits and Advantages• Total resource management• Identifies vehicle location providing for real time

management• Generates graphical display of resources and

allows for up -to the minute planning based on conditions

• Promotes enhanced assistance response and communications

• Allows for timely dissemination of information• Automation of reporting processes• Provides complete work histories and playback

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Connecting to Outcomes




Harnessing Innovation

• Empowerment– “to enable…. to help others develop a sense of self-confidence”


Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Unknown Author


Questions???????

innovation, technology, • 70% of the nations and snow … & cameron, 2005 innovation,...

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