Several state departments of transportation have integrated mobile road weather information sensors (RWIS) and maintenance decision support systems (MDSS) to improve the performance of their winter maintenance operations. The main goal of this research project is to conduct a multi-year field study to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating mobile RWIS and MDSS into existing Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) winter maintenance operations. The project focused on eight research tasks. Tasks 1 through 3 comprised identifying IDOT study participants for the deployment of mobile RWIS units and MDSS; selecting, acquiring, installing, calibrating, and providing training on 12 mobile RWIS units acquired from three manufacturers; and conducting a multi-year field evaluation of mobile RWIS units and MDSS during three consecutive winter seasons to assess their operational performance and effectiveness. Salt usage data were collected and analyzed in Task 4 through pairwise comparisons of snowplows with and without mobile RWIS units and MDSS to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing salt usage and improving roadway conditions. Surveys and follow-up interviews with winter maintenance personnel were conducted in Task 5 to gather and analyze feedback on the use, benefits, and operational challenges of mobile RWIS units and MDSS. Tasks 6 through 8 comprised evaluating the cost-effectiveness of the three mobile RWIS models and MDSS, identifying additional uses for mobile RWIS units, and developing recommendations for future deployment and use of mobile RWIS units and MDSS across Illinois.

Infrastructure Assets: Highway Assets
Resource Types: Research Report
Capabilities: Data & Information Systems, Tools & Technology
Management Processes: Monitoring & Adjustment, Performance Based Planning & Programming