Optimizing snow plowing operations in urban road networks : 2015 final report.

PDFTech ReportDTRT12GUTG11Snow and ice controlSnow removalSnowplowsWinter maintenanceUrban transitHighwaysUnited StatesPennsylvaniaPittsburgh (Pennsylvania)Carnegie-Mellon University. Technologies for Safe and Efficient Transportation University Transportation CenterKinable, JorisSmith, Stephen F.van Hoeve, WillemCarnegie-Mellon University. Robotics InstituteCarnegie-Mellon University. Tepper School of BusinessUniversity Transportation Centers Program (U.S.)US Transportation CollectionDue to the disruptive effect of snowstorms on cities, both in terms ofmobility and safety, the faster the streets can be cleared the better. Yet inmost cities (including Pittsburgh), static plans for snowplowing aredeveloped using simple allocation schemes, e.g., streets are divided amongvehicles based on geographic area, and each driver determines his/herindividual route. These schemes are used because they are easy toimplement and they work but the resulting snow plowing operation can bequite inefficient. In extreme cases (e.g., the Pittsburgh storm of February 5-6, 2010 where snow removal took several days to accom- plish), thisinefficiency can lead to protracted periods of hardship for urban residentsand travelers