Sensor-Based Spreader Automation for Reducing Salt Use and Improving\n Safety

Le résumé fourni par la source

Over 30 million tons of deicing salt is applied on U.S. roads annually at a\ncost of roughly $1.2 billion and with significant negative environmental\nimpact. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce salt use while maintaining winter\nroad safety. Automatic adjustment of application rate in response to road,\nweather, traffic, and other conditions has the potential to achieve this goal.\n In the US, salt application rates are typically pre-set manually based on\nroadway classification, cycle time, desired level of service (LOS), and\nexpected traffic, road, and weather conditions. The operators can temporarily\nchange the application rate manually based on their experience and\nobservations. Current spreader automation mostly involves adjusting discharge\nrate in response to spreader speed, although pavement temperature sensors are\nlikely to be adopted in the future.\n This paper explores extending spreader automation for adjusting salt\ndischarge rate on curves, inclines, and other areas with historically high\naccident concentrations. First, we propose the use of gyroscopic sensors and\ninclinometers on board the spreader to adjust discharge rate in real time in\nresponse to curves and inclines. The second part of the proposed solution\nincludes the installation of roadside Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)\ntags that can communicate the length and the severity of the hazard zone to an\nRFID reader on board the spreader to automatically adjust discharge rate\naccordingly.\n Our proposed methods have the potential to reduce salt use and operator\nfatigue, while increasing winter road safety without adding excessive cost or\ncomplexity to the existing spreader systems in the US.\n

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