Winter Maintenance Asset Allocation Based on GIS Snow Plow Route Optimization Model

For many states in the United States and various cold weather countries, winter maintenance costs are the single most expensive line item on their budgets. In the current economic climate, finding products, methods, and materials to reduce costs are paramount for every agency. One area in which costs may be reduced is by optimizing the snow plowing routes an agency is responsible for maintaining. This paper presents a route optimization model created for the snow plow routes maintained by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for District 4 located in northeast Ohio. The model is developed in a geographical information system (GIS) based program, and is validated using global positioning system (GPS) units placed in several snowplow trucks. Along with optimizing the snow plowing routes for the district, the model will determine cycle times and amount of salt applied for various salt application rates. These results may be used as a decision making tool for the amount of trucks needed and the application rate of salt for various levels of snowfall. A hub concept of asset reallocation during winter events is also discussed in order to optimize the equipment available to best handle winter events. This concept reduces cycle times while increasing level of service (LOS) on roadways affected by snowfall by increasing the plowing and material application capabilities without increasing costs.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHD65 Winter Maintenance. Alternate title: Winter Maintenance Asset Allocation Based on Geographic Information System Snowplow Route Optimization Model
  • Corporate Authors:

    Transportation Research Board

    500 Fifth Street, NW
    Washington, DC  United States  20001
  • Authors:
    • Holik, William A
    • Crow, Mallory
    • Schneider, William H
    • Miller, Christopher M
  • Conference:
  • Date: 2014

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 17p
  • Monograph Title: TRB 93rd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01515479
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 14-1011
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Feb 24 2014 8:42AM