Volume List  / Volume 5 (3)

Article

THE IMPACTS OF WINTER MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE DELAY ON INTERSTATES

DOI: 10.7708/ijtte.2015.5(3).04


5 / 3 / 264-277 Pages

Author(s)

William A. Holik - The University of Akron, Department of Civil Engineering, Auburn Science and Engineering Center, Room 210, Akron, OH 44325-3905, United States of America -

Mallory Crow - The University of Akron, Department of Civil Engineering, Auburn Science and Engineering Center, Room 210, Akron, OH 44325-3905, United States of America -

William H. Schneider IV - The University of Akron, Department of Civil Engineering, Auburn Science and Engineering Center, Room 210, Akron, OH 44325-3905, United States of America -

Christopher M. Miller - The University of Akron, Department of Civil Engineering, Auburn Science and Engineering Center, Room 210, Akron, OH 44325-3905, United States of America -


Abstract

This paper evaluates the impacts of specialty winter maintenance equipment on vehicle delay by fusing Bluetooth speed, weather, and winter maintenance treatment data. A specialty plow capable of plowing two lanes in one pass is compared to a standard winter maintenance truck that plows and treats one lane per pass. Each type of equipment is analyzed on the same two-lane interstate highway, with the two trucks maintaining different sections to avoid cross contamination. The researchers deployed multiple Bluetooth nodes along the roadway to capture vehicle speeds during maintenance activities. The cumulative delay per mile is compared for the two trucks during light and heavy snowfall. The times when delay occurs are grouped into five-minute intervals for two scenarios including when the winter maintenance equipment has just passed through a Bluetooth node segment and for all recently-treated segments after the equipment has exited the highway. The results indicated the specialty plow creates a larger delay than the standard truck when plowing two lanes and a similar delay when plowing one lane and the shoulder. However, when looking solely at heavy snowfall, the delay is similar for each type of equipment, indicating the specialty plow is more effective during heavy snowfall.


Download Article

Number of downloads: 1503


Acknowledgements:

The authors of this paper would like to thank the Ohio Department of Transportation for the use of their equipment and facilities in gathering the data for this study. Additionally, the authors would like to thank Mr. Brian Olson, Mr. Paul Ensinger, and Mr. Mark Griffiths for their guidance and input throughout this research project. The research was performed by The University of Akron. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or polices of ODOT or the Federal Highway Administration.


References:

Ahmed, H.; El-Darieby, M.; Morgan, Y.; Abdulhai, B. 2008. A Wireless Mesh Network-Based Platform for ITS. In Proceedings of the Vehicular Technology Conference Spring 2008, IEEE Vehicular Technology Society, New York, NY, 3047-3051.

 

Asudegi, M. 2009. Optimal Number and Location of Bluetooth Sensors for Travel Time Data Collection in Networks, Master of Science, Civil and Environment Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.

 

Barceló, J.; Montero, L.; Marqués, L.; Carmona, C. 2009. Travel Time Forecasting and Dynamic OD Estimation In Freeways Based on Bluetooth Traffic Monitoring. In Proceedings of the Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting (CD-ROM), Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.

 

Braun Intertec Corporation. 2010. Development of Standardized Test Procedures for Carbide Insert Snowplow Blade Wear. Clear Roads Final Report.

 

Brennan, T.M.; Ernst, J.M.; Day, C.M.; Bullock, D.; Krogmeier, J.V.; Martchouk, M. 2010. Influence of Vertical Sensor Placement on Data Collection Efficiency from Bluetooth MAC Address Collectoni Devices, Journal of Transportatoin Engineering. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436.0000178, 136(12): 1104-1109.

 

Colson, S. 2009. Evaluation of Alternative Snow Plow Cutting Edges. Technical Brief (09-3), Maine DOT Transportation Research Division.

 

Colson, S. 2010. Evaluation of the Kuper – Tuca SX36 Snow Plow Cutting Edges. Technical Brief 10-02, Maine DOT Transportation Research Division.

 

CTC and Associates LLC. 2010. Multiple-Blade Snowplow Project Final Report. Clear Roads Final Report.

 

Fischel, M. 2001. Evaluation of Selected Deicers Based on a Review of the Literature. Publication No. CDOT-DTD-R-2001-15. A Final Report Prepared for the Colorado Department of Transportation, Denver, CO.

 

Haghani, A.; Hamedi, M.; Sadabadi, K.; Young, S.; Tarnoff, P. 2010. Freeway Travel Time Ground Truth Data Collection Using Bluetooth Sensors. In Proceedings of the Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting (CD-ROM), Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.

 

Hainen, A.M.; Wasson, J.S.; Hubbard, S.M.L.; Remias, S.M.; Farnsworth, G.D.; Bullock, D.M. 2010. Estimating Route Choice and Travel Time Reliability with Field Observations of Bluetooth Probe Vehicles, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board of the National Acadamies. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3141/2256-06, 2256: 43-50.

 

Hranac, R.; Sterzin, E.; Krechmer, D.; Rakha, H.; Farzaneh, M. 2006. Empirical Studies on Traffic Flow in Inclement Weather. FHWA-HOP-07-073.

 

Ibrahim, A.T.; Hall, F.L. 1994. Effect of Adverse Weather Conditions on Speed-Flow-Occupancy Relationships, Transportation Research Record, 1457: 184-191.

 

Kim, K.; Chien, S.I.; Spasovic, L.N. 2011. Evaluation of Technologies for Freeway Travel Time Estimation: Case Study of I-287 in New Jersey. In Proceedings of the Transportation Research Board 90th Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.

 

Liang, W.L.; Kyte, M.; Kitcherner, F.; Shannon, P. 1998. The Effect of Environmental Factors on Driver Speed: A Case Study, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3141/1635-21, 1635: 155-161.

 

Martchouk, M.; Mannering, F.; Bullock, D. 2011. Analysis of Freeway Travel Time Variability Using Bluetooth Detection, Journal of Transportation Engineering. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436.0000253, 137(10): 697-705.

 

Mastel, A. 2011. Evaluation of Snow Plow Blade Systems Final Report. North Dakota Department of Transportation Experimental Study MR 2010-03.

 

Nixon, W.A.; Qiu, L. 2005. Developing A Storm Severity Index, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3141/1911-14, 1911: 143-148.

 

Ohio Department of Transportation. 2013. Traffic Survey Report. Division of Planning, Office of Technical Services, Traffic Counts.

 

Pasolini, G.; Verdone, R. 2002. Bluetooth for ITS?. In Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Wireless Personal Multimedia Communications, 1: 315-317.

 

Quayle, S.; Koonce, P.; DePencier, D.; Bullock, D. 2010. Arterial Performance Measures Using MAC Readers: Portland Pilot Study. In Proceedings of the Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting (CD-ROM), Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.

 

Schneider, W.H.; Holik, W.A.; Bakula, C. 2012. Application of Bluetooth Technology to Rural Freeway Speed Data Collection. Ohio Department of Transportation Report FHWA/OH-2012/16.

 

Shi, X.; Venezian, D.; Xie, N.; Gong, J. 2013. Use of Chloride-Based Ice Control Products for Sustainable Winter Maintenance: A Balanced Perspective, Cold Regions Science and Technology. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2012.11.001, 86: 104-112.

 

Tsapakis, I.; Cheng, T. 2012. Impact of Weather Conditions on Macroscopic Urban Travel Times. In the Special issue of the Journal of Transportation Geography.

 

Wasson, J.S.; Sturdevant, J.R.; Bullock, D.M. 2008. Real-Time Travel Time Estimates Using Media Access Control Address Matching, ITE Journal, 78(6): 20-23.


Quoted IJTTE Works



Related Keywords