On the right track

Developments in winter maintenance technology in the UK are described. These include developments in gritter technology, the introduction of new types of de-icing salt and the use of tracking technology. The problems associated with the trend towards local authorities using off-the-shelf tracking packages rather than specialised municipal vehicle monitoring systems are outlined. Flintshire County Council understood the importance of choosing an effective tracking system and settled on Exactrak from the De-Icing Business. This is a web based tracking and monitoring system developed specifically for local authority municipal vehicles. The system records all of the control box functions including salt sensor data, the spread rate and width and the route time. An added benefit of global positioning system (GPS) tracking is lone worker protection. Some authorities are choosing to get rid of tracking systems completely for budgetary restraints. This is a false economy because, as well as the operational improvements, the data can be used in defence against spurious insurance claims.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/3831968
• Authors:
  • SHEEN, A
• Publication Date: 2006-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 38-9,41
• Serial:
  • Highways
  • Publisher: Alad Limited
  • ISSN: 0142-6168
  • Serial URL: http://www.highways-mag.co.uk

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic vehicle location; Deicing; Economics; Equipment; Global Positioning System; Intelligent transportation systems; Local government agencies; Spreading; Winter maintenance
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 3882: Automatic; 139: Concession (award); 146: Contract; 136: Contractor; 224: Cost; 2598: Deicing; 8673: Digital computer; 255: Economics; 5911: Efficiency; 2455: Environment; 3674: Equipment; 244: Financing; 8605: Geographical information system; 9126: Global positioning system; 183: Government (national); 265: Growth rate; 9108: Improvement; 8735: Intelligent transport system; 227: Investment; 699: Itinerary; 192: Local authority; 1054: Network (traffic); 9057: Organization (association); 219: Partnership; 143: Planning; 9118: Private; 744: Public transport; 1173: Rail bound transport; 4573: Recycling (mater); 3635: Repair; 3602: Spreading; 2427: Sustainability; 9117: Telecommunication; 1268: Train; 1284: Tram; 1155: Transport; 253: Transport authority; 274: Transport operator; 1191: Underground railway; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area; 8778: Vehicle tracking (location); 2593: Winter maintenance
• Subject Areas: Economics; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I10: Economics and Administration; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods; I62: Winter Maintenance; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01050809
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jun 5 2007 12:15AM