Management tools for simulation of performance and outcome of winter transportation infrastructure maintenance activities

Abstract

An apparatus and system for evaluating winter transportation infrastructure maintenance operations includes a quantification component and a simulation component. Input data representative of collected winter transportation infrastructure maintenance data and observed transportation infrastructure data are modeled in a comprehensive data processing mechanism to measure and carry out effective and efficient winter maintenance planning and operations.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 61 / 592,467, filed on Jan. 30, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated in their entirety herein.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicable.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates generally to winter transportation infrastructure maintenance. More specifically, particular embodiments of the present invention relate to quantifying and simulating the performance and outcome of winter transportation infrastructure maintenance activities to improve activity evaluation for efficiency and effectiveness.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Historically, agencies and entities that undertake or are responsible for winter transportation infrastructure maintenance activities have measured resource utilization in the performance of such winter maintenance activities in several ways. At the lowest level, deicer, abra...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a system and method that helps winter transportation infrastructure maintenance managers better understand their current maintenance activities and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of these activities. It includes a tool for quantifying maintenance activities and their results, as well as a simulation component that can independently simulate different maintenance activities based on observed weather conditions. The quantification component integrates a database of information collected by snow maintenance vehicles and uses various data processing functions to determine the direction of maintenance vehicle travel and track separate activities a maintenance vehicle may be performing. The simulation component incorporates road condition assessment and observed or otherwise assessed weather information to dynamically determine the most appropriate maintenance response for each situation requiring maintenance. Overall, the invention provides a comprehensive solution for evaluating winter maintenance operations and improving their performance.

Problems solved by technology

Agencies and entities responsible for winter transportation infrastructure maintenance are often confronted with the enormously difficult problem of measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of their snow and ice control operations.

The quantity of resources utilized, and the effectiveness of these winter maintenance activities, are both difficult to measure and difficult to normalize for weather conditions that vary over both time and space.

If such a vehicle is unloading material at the same time, or has a plow in a down position, this may inadvertently accumulate into substantial quantities over time.

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