Automated vehicle location, data recording, friction measurement and applicator control for winter road maintenance.

PDFTech ReportMN/RC 2010-07(c) 89261 (wo) 58Automatic vehicle locationData recordersDeicers (Equipment)Winter maintenanceSnow and ice controlRolling contactMinnesotaMinnesota. Dept. of TransportationErdogan, GurkanAlexander, LeeRajamani, RajeshUniversity of Minnesota. Dept. of Mechanical EngineeringMinnesota. Dept. of TransportationBTS Data DirectoryThe first part of this project conducted a detailed evaluation of the ability of a new friction measurement system toprovide an accurate measure of road conditions. A system that records friction coefficient as a function of roadlocation was developed using the same vehicle location measurement system as the current MDSS project. Studiesconducted show that the friction measurement system provides a significantly more reliable measure of roadsurface conditions than does visual inspection. The second part of this project focused on a detailed evaluation ofthe performance of a closed-loop system that utilizes friction measurement for automatic applicator control.Experimental studies have shown that a friction measurement based zero velocity sander can adequately applysalt/chemicals to all slippery spots on a road at speeds up to 25 mph. The final part of this project focused onenhancement of the developed automatic applicator control system with utilization of real-time data from ageographical information system that provides information on upcoming geometric road alignment and knownproblematic segments of roadway. The developed friction measurement, data recording and applicator controlsystem is compact, modular and can be used on both snowplows and pick-up trucks.17. Documen