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Snowplow operators are often tasked with clearing snow from roadways under challenging conditions. One such situation is low visibility due to falling or blowing snow that makes it difficult to navigate, stay centered in the lane, and identify upcoming hazards. To support snowplow operators working in these conditions, University of Minnesota researchers developed a snowplow driver-assist system that provides the operator with visual and auditory information that is suitable for low-visibility situations. A lane-guidance system uses high-accuracy Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and maps of the roadway to provide information to drivers about their lateral positions. A forward-obstacle-detection system uses forward-facing radar to detect potential hazards in the roadway. The design of the system, and in particular its interface, is guided by extensive user testing to ensure the system is easy to understand, easy to use, and well liked among its users. The system was deployed in two phases over the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 winter seasons. In total, nine systems were deployed on snowplows across Minnesota, four in the first winter season and an additional five in the second. Participating truck stations represented all eight MnDOT districts as well as Dakota County. Over the course of the deployment, additional user feedback was collected to identify system strengths and areas for improvement. The system was found to be a cost-effective addition to snowplows that increase driver safety, reduce plow downtime, and increase driver efficacy for plowing operations, thus providing support to operators working in demanding, low-visibility conditions.

A Mn/DOT task force was formed to design an ergonomically correct snowplow truck cab which is cost effective and efficient. After brainstorming problems relating to snowplow cabs, four main issues were identified: visibility, controls, warning systems, and comfort. A survey was sent to Mn/DOT operators asking them to rate various factors on the four main issues. The survey also asked for additional comments on each of the factors. The overall ratings were lower than anticipated. A review of the comments led to the conclusion that lowered ratings were a result of the use of older trucks. Not all operators have exposure to or are aware of the improvements that have been implemented in newer trucks. This report includes the questionnaire, all responses, and recommendations for solving the problems which were identified.

Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) conducted a research project to evaluate the contribution to motoring safety and durability of snowplowable pavement markers. Two styles were tried; a raised steel casting with reflector and a reflector recessed in a slot cut in the pavement. Different spacings (50 and 100 ft.) were tried and wet and dry night observations were made.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) formed a Snowplow Lighting Task Force to look into a state-wide problem of snowplow/motorist related accidents and make recommendations to reduce this type of accident. A review of accident records showed that an average of 54 such accidents occurred each winter season involving its snowplow trucks, 54% of those accidents listed the snow cloud created during the snowplowing operation as the contributing factor by obscuring the snowplow and its warning lights. Based on the results of this study, the task force was given the responsibility to study the snowplow visibility problem; specifically, the snowplow lighting. The task force reviewed the issues of warning lights and plowing equipment in detail. It was determined that the snowplow and wing shapes were large contributors to the poor visibility problem by generating snow clouds. Warning lights mounted on the trucks could not be seen because of these clouds. A literature search was conducted but provided no recent studies on the reduction of snowplow accidents through the use of snowplow visibility enhancements. Comparisons of different lighting configurations during snowplowing operations were video taped in the winter of '87-'88. Mn/DOT learned that regardless of the type of light or configuration, it is possible for the snow cloud to obscure the snowplow truck for a period of time. Comparison tests were run during the winter of '88-'89 between an experimental light configuration recommended by the vendor and the present configuration for warning lights generally used by Mn/DOT. The experimental lights proved to be far more visible, but were also obscured by the snow cloud for a period of time. A limited study on a small strobe light mounted on a wing was also made. Conclusions drawn from this short study are that warning lights alone will not solve the snowplow accident problem. Plow and wing design should be studied; snowplow operation procedures should be reviewed; public awareness should be broadened.

This project analyzes the impact that idling and snowfall have on the fuel consumed by MnDOT’s snowplow fleet, with the underlying objective to determine and advise MnDOT on ways to reduce fuel usage of the fleet using vehicle telematics data. This is a significant problem to solve as fuel use reduction contributes to MnDOT’s sustainability goals of achieving a 30% reduction in fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2005 levels by 2025. Furthermore, rising fuel costs are a future cause for concern due to an increase in business operational costs that increases the burden on taxpayers to keep roads safe in winter. This problem is challenging because existing on-board diagnostics (OBD) data do not contain mass information for the trucks’ fuel use, which can fluctuate significantly when they are applying deicing substances to the road. Taking a mean value for the vehicle mass, we observe a clear positive correlation between snowfall and average fuel use. For days with snowfall totaling 4 inches or more, fuel use rises more than 25% on average compared to days without snowfall. In addition, the results from the idling analysis indicate that the idling time associated with the fleet is about 23% of total recorded hours and constitutes about 4.3% of the total fuel used. Daily idling activity reports containing information about idling events and fuel economy are generated for the sampled vehicles and shared with MnDOT.

Appendices to Report 2023-03 "Reducing Winter Maintenance Equipment Fuel Consumption Using Advanced Vehicle Data Analytics."

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2023-27, “Deployment of a Snowplow Driver-Assist System,” published June 2023.

MnDOT evaluated five pieces of new winter maintenance equipment: two slurry spreaders, an underbody scraper, a true-float wing plow and a two-way reversible plow. For Winter 1 of the evaluation program, all equipment was acquired, installed, and field-tested in MnDOT District 2. For Winter 2, a data collection program was developed to capture quantitative data on how well the equipment worked in District 2, compared side by side against comparable routes with traditional spreaders. Winter 1 and 2 field testing of the three types of plow equipment allowed operators to fix operational problems and led participants to agree that MnDOT should continue to use such equipment and acquire more. MnDOT participants did not reach consensus on whether to continue to use or buy more of the two slurry spreaders. Data analysis showed that they performed comparably to traditional slurry spreaders in terms of road regain time and salt use when they were operational. Issues included equipment height, causing loading and maintenance worker safety concerns; equipment weight, reducing how much material could be loaded in the truck; difficulty in setup; equipment not operating as expected; and difficulty obtaining vendor parts and getting vendor support. These issues led to the cancellation of a third winter of testing in a different district. It was suggested that the equipment might better suit MnDOT’s needs by mounting it on a boxless truck.

This report presents the results of a study of automated route planning and optimizing software to be used by Mn/DOT Metro Division and by Hennepin County for snow plow and for snow and ice control logistical planning. The study has: 1. Produced a uniform set of specifications for the two agencies; 2. Identified and analyzed a large number of commercially available software simulation packages for route and logistical planning; 3. Prepared recommendations on how to proceed with the project with a detailed analysis of their advantages and shortcomings. This report is unpublished. 15 copies were produced and distributed.