Maintenance Decision Support System Pooled Fund Study TPF-5(054) David Huft, South Dakota DOT MDSS Stakeholders Meeting Boulder, CO October 20-21, 2005 Connecting South Dakota and the Nation

Project Partners nColorado DOT nIndiana DOT nIowa DOT nKansas DOT nMinnesota DOT nNorth Dakota DOT nSouth Dakota DOT (lead state) nWyoming DOT nFederal Highway Administration nMeridian Environmental Technology

Winter Maintenance Challenges nRising expectations of traveling public and commercial carriers nConstrained agency funding and staffing nReliable, timely, specific reports of conditions difficult to obtain nSome weather conditions are difficult to forecast nPavement response to weather conditions and maintenance treatments is not well established nEffects and effectiveness of innovative maintenance treatments not well understood nRetiring maintenance staff replaced by less experienced workers

Project Objectives nAssess needs, benefits, and receptivity to MDSS in participating DOTs nDefine functional and user requirements for an operational and sustainable Maintenance Decision Support System nEvaluate FHWA Functional Prototype nBuild and evaluate an operational and sustainable Maintenance Decision Support System nImprove the ability to forecast road conditions in response to changing weather and applied maintenance treatments

Essential Elements of MDSS nReport actual road surface conditions nReport actual maintenance treatments nAssess past & present weather conditions nAssess present state of the roadway nPredict storm-event weather nRecognize resource constraints nIdentify feasible maintenance treatments nPredict road surface behavior nCommunicate recommendations to supervisors and workers

Essential Element Report Actual Road Surface Conditions Sources nRWIS nVisual Observation nOn-vehicle Sensors Frequency nReal time nNear real time Media nWireless nTelephony nGraphical User Interface Items Reported nPavement temperature nPavement moisture type nPavement moisture depth nBlowing snow

Essential Element Report Actual Maintenance Treatments Sources nSupervisors nTruck operators nOn-vehicle sensors Media nWireless nTelephony nGraphical User Interface Elements Reported nTime & Location nPlow Position nMaterial(s) Applied nApplication Rate

Essential Element Assess Past, Present Weather Conditions Sources nRWIS nFAA / NWS nRadar nSatellite nField Personnel nOn-vehicle sensors Conditions Reported nAir Temperature nDew Point (Humidity) nWind Velocity nPrecipitation Type nPrecipitation Rate nBlowing & Drifting nCloudiness nVisibility

Essential Element Assess Present State of the Roadway Methodology nPavement Model with the Capability of Integrating: –Observed Weather –Reported Road Conditions –Reported Maintenance Actions Items Predicted nPavement temperature nPavement moisture type(s) nPavement moisture depth(s) nChemical concentration(s) nPercent ice

Past Future

Essential Element Predict Storm Event Weather Methodologies nComputer Model nEnsemble of Models nMeteorologists nMan/Machine Mix Time Horizon nNear-term (<6 hours) nLong-term Items Predicted nAir Temperature nDew Point (Humidity) nWind Velocity nPrecipitation Type nPrecipitation Rate nBlowing & Drifting nCloudiness/Radiation

Essential Element Identify Feasible Maintenance Treatments Identify nTreatment Type nTreatment Timing nApplication Rate Resource Constraints nVehicles nAttachments (by vehicle) nMaterials (by vehicle) nStaff nSchedules nCycle Times nPriorities

Essential Element Predict Road Surface Behavior Methodology nPavement Model with the Capability to Predict the Effects of Maintenance Actions Time Horizon nNear-term (<6 hours) nLong-term Items Predicted nPavement temperature nPavement moisture type(s) nPavement moisture depth(s) nChemical concentration(s) nPercent ice

Essential Element: Communicate Recommendations ‘Optimal’ Treatment nMaintenance action deemed optimal by the system; safety first, cost second ‘Standard’ Treatment nAnticipated maintenance based on standard local operating practices ‘What-If’ Treatments nAllows user to try any number of alternative maintenance actions Media nGraphical User Interface nWireless Information Provided nAnticipated or recommended maintenance action(s) nExpected impact of those maintenance actions on the roadway

Project Timeline (simplified) Assess States’ Needs, Readiness Evaluate Functional Prototype Develop MDSS Software 6-State Limited Deployment Refine Pooled Fund MDSS Validation Studies 8-State Field Trials Full Deployment 2007 Extensive Deployment

What Have We Learned? nMDSS is tactical as well as strategic nIn-truck instruments are essential –Reporting road conditions –Reporting treatments by location (AVL) nAgency factors are critical –Agency culture & practice –Agency resources ($, equipment, people…) –IT, communications environment nScale-up issues are hugely significant n“Essential Elements” are truly essential

Technical Directions nMore Extensive Deployment nWeather & Road Prediction Validation nIn-Vehicle Instrumentation nIn-Vehicle Information to Operators nImproved Physical Models –Difficult Weather Conditions –Chemical Effects nIntegration with DOT Information Systems (Equipment, Scheduling, Traveler Information, etc.) nCost Analysis & Tradeoffs

Sustainability Issues nIntellectual Property –NOT Public Domain –Equity for partners and non-partners nArchitecture –Open Architecture –Interface Standards –System Modularity nInstitutional Issues –Fit to specific DOT cultures & practices nAdvancing the State of Art & Practice

Partner Responsibilities nContribute Financially nContribute Intellectually –Project Panel Meetings –Conference Calls –Technical Product Reviews nConduct Field Trials nIntellectual Property Stewardship

For More Information: Contact David L. Huft SDDOT Office of Research 700 East Broadway Pierre, SD Phone: Fax: Look at