Improved User Experience and Scientific Understanding of Anti-icing and Pre-wetting for Winter Maintenance in North America

In recent years, North American highway agencies are increasingly adopting innovative snow and ice control strategies, including anti-icing and pre-wetting practices. In 2005, to synthesize the benefits and outcomes of implementing such strategies, a survey on the practice of anti-icing and pre-wetting was conducted; however, insufficient information and limited understanding were summarized to account for their low usage at that time. A decade later, research is needed to document improved user experience and scientific understanding on these strategies, which can be used in a comparative manner. Through a follow-up survey launched in April 2014 with the same focus as the 2005 survey, a contrastive synthesis is presented which summarizes changes in the evolution of anti-icing and pre-wetting in the past decade, including the occupancy of snow and ice control strategies, related costs, environmental concerns, corrosion, and community response. The research demonstrates the elevated and indispensable status of anti-icing and pre-wetting strategies in current winter maintenance activities relative to their limited use ten years ago. The research further supports their positive effects on economic, environmental and social goals, which is attributable to the proactive and environmentally responsible performance of anti-icing and pre- wetting. Finally gaps in current practical operations and the need for further work are discussed.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHD65 Winter Maintenance. Alternate title: Improved User Experience and Scientific Understanding of Anti-icing and Prewetting for Winter Maintenance in North America.
  • Corporate Authors:

    Transportation Research Board

    500 Fifth Street, NW
    Washington, DC  United States  20001
  • Authors:
    • Cui, Na
    • Shi, Xianming
  • Conference:
  • Date: 2015

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 18p
  • Monograph Title: TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01558158
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 15-5823
  • Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Mar 30 2015 9:33AM