snowflakeWinter Maintenance E-Newsletter - February 2010

Produced by CTC & Associates LLC
To be notified of new issues email, info@ctcandassociates.com

Past Newsletters: November 2009, August 2009


News

SIMA’s Snow and Ice Symposium
The Snow & Ice Management Association will hold its 13th annual national symposium June 23 to 26, 2010, at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, R.I. New this year is an interactive deicing and anti-icing workshop that includes classroom training, face-to-face networking time, individual case studies, and an equipment display. The symposium also offers a two-day trade show, snack-and-chat sessions, and 20 educational sessions in administration, operations, sales and marketing, management and leadership, plus a new risk management track. Details.

 

Testing Crystal Fusion
A recent Maintenance Research Bulletin spotlights Minnesota DOT’s testing of Crystal Fusion, a product that bonds with windshield glass to increase its strength and clarity, and decrease the likelihood that dirt and moisture will cling to it. Minnesota DOT’s Metro District is evaluating this product for its ability to improve operators’ visibility during snow and ice operations. Research Bulletin.

 

 

Update Available for Environmental Sensor Station Standard
Version 3 of NTCIP 1204, NTCIP Environmental Sensor Station Interface Standard, is now available. This standard, published by the National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol, defines data found in road weather information stations and air quality sensors. The revision includes a definition of keywords, a table tracing requirements to test cases, and test procedures for each test case; other changes are summarized in the publication’s Annex D. For a limited time, the PDF edition of the update is available for download from the NTCIP Web site at no cost. Read about and download the standard.

 

Blending stationMaterial Treatment Goes Mobile
Minnesota DOT has a new tool in its snowfighting arsenal—the Blending Station. A recent Maintenance Research Bulletin highlights this trailer-mounted, self-contained mobile unit that combines liquid and granular deicing materials to create a consistent blend of treated material. With its own power source and onboard liquid tank, the Blending Station can be used to create limited quantities of treated material, or it can be connected to a larger tanker and used for days in one location to create stockpiles. Fully tested and ready for statewide use, the Blending Station can be moved throughout the state by a class 35 truck.
Research Bulletin.



Documenting the Advances in Winter Maintenance
The November-December 2009 issue of TR News is all about winter maintenance, including articles about advances in winter weather and road condition forecasts, developing a maintenance decision support system, the design and development of a highway maintenance concept vehicle, and training for winter maintenance operations.
Link to the table of contents.

 

Calibration Guide for Snowplow Salt and Sander Controllers
A guide recently published by Minnesota DOT provides step-by-step instructions for calibrating snowplow salt and sander controllers. The guide covers calibration and verification of the DICKEY-john ICS 2000 and DICKEY-john Control Point controllers, suggesting calibration approaches for both closed-loop and open-loop systems. Also included are blank calibration forms, quick calibration sheets, and calculation worksheets. CalibrationGuide.



Research Reports

Development of an Improved Agricultural-Based Deicing Product
Iowa Department of Transportation Project 09-310, January 2010
In this study, researchers investigated by-products from agricultural processes that may be cost-effective, environmentally acceptable, and suitable for use as deicing applications. Based on the parameters tested, the product combination that shows the greatest promise for future application consists of 80 percent glycerol with 20 percent NaCl. Report.

 

Models for Predicting RWIS Sensor Misalignments and Their Causes
CTS 10-01, January 2010
Researchers developed a software tool to automate the process of identifying malfunctioning weather sensors in real time. Users define profiles that describe road weather information system sites and the rules associated with sensors at those sites. Using these predefined and historically verified profiles, the software analyzes weather sensor data in real time and flags sensor malfunctions with a reasonable accuracy. Report.

 


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