PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Delcan Technologies, a Parsons Company, implemented an Intelligent Snow Plow system for the State of Michigan Department of Transportation. The Mobile Data Collector (MDC) units capture data from plow blade sensors, air and road temperature sensors, GPS and spreader controllers. The data is transmitted to the cloud hosted MDOT central system where system administrators monitor, analyze, and report on the information. Additionally, Delcan Technologies integrated the Maintenance Decision Support System into the MDC Touchscreen application. Specialized reports monitor efficient salt usage and help to identify potential salting compliance issues.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The scope of the MDOT Intelligent Snow Plow System covers the collection, analysis and transmitting of real-time weather and road conditions. The project includes the deployment of over 300 mobile data collectors in snow plows. A Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) was linked to the system to provide advanced treatment recommendations. Utilizing data from a Salt Scatter Study conducted by MDOT, a specialized report was created to monitor wasted salt based upon vehicle speed. DTI continues to provide installation and training assistance to MDOT to help manage future installations, in addition to hosting the central system. An option on the contract also includes the outfitting of auxiliary fleet vehicles with additional automatic vehicle location devices.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
- Deployment of over 300 MDC units in snow plows and patrol vehicles
- Collection and reporting of real-time weather and roadway condition information
- Integration with MDSS to provide proactive treatment recommendations
- Geo-fencing capabilities to manage plow location
- Role-based user management
- Rich, specialized reports focused on MDOT operations
- Installation support and training
- Required, and met highly accelerated deployment schedule
- MDOT projected a savings of $13M per year by monitoring and holding drivers accountable for adhering to spreader/speed guidelines.
- Monitoring and alerting of diagnostic trouble codes for the entire snow plow fleet.
- Pilot involving the use of mobile data collectors for the application of herbicide, so that the entire system is used year round. Beginning in 2016.
Scope of Services
The Regional Municipality of Peel deployed Mobile Data Collectors (MDC) to track and report winter maintenance activities undertaken by their snow plow fleet and daily Road Patrol monitoring. In addition to monitoring snow plow activity, the Region of Peel Transportation Division/Roads Operations utilizes DTI MDC units in safety service patrol vehicles to monitor incidents, log maintenance events and track roadside service events. The integrated solution enables managers to view all fleet activity on the same screen.
Project Description
The Intelligent NETworks® system solution contains an interface into existing Region of Peel systems including, Hansen and Geomedia. This enables the Region of Peel to easily interface the MDC data with their existing software systems.
Project Highlights
- Deployed the Intelligent NETworks® ATMS platform to the Region’s infrastructure.
- Installed the equipment in the Region’s vehicles.
- Responsible for equipment removal and re-installation each season into contractor vehicles.
- Developed custom reporting for the MDC-004 with a larger touchscreen for road event reporting for the Patrol vehicles, and worked with the Region to interface those reports with their existing system.
Scope of Services
Delcan Technologies implemented an AVL Mobile Data Collection System for snow plows for the State of South Dakota Department of Transportation to interface 100 winter management vehicles with the FHWA Maintenance Decision Support System. This project included the design and implementation of NTCIP standard interfaces for snow plows, and trucks and roadside weather stations, along with the wireless communications to retrieve real time weather and position data. DTI has continued to support this project since 2008, and is starting to move South Dakota DOT from the original MDC-002 to the new MDC-004 hardware platform for data collection.
Project Description
The Mobile Data Collection System functionality includes:
- Information gathered from the spreader controller, GPS receiver, plow blade sensors, air and road temperature sensors, and other sensing equipment.
- Weather information provided by Iteris includes regional weather radar, truck centered radar, hourly forecast and recommended road treatments specific to plow route.
- All data gathered is displayed to snow plow operator through a touch screen interface
- Touch screen interface allows operator input of driving conditions and displays recommended lane treatment and application rates.
- All monitored information is made available using NTCIP and can easily be incorporated into a user’s existing NTCIP central system.
- Data is also made available to an external web browser for easy access by South Dakota DOT and other authorized government agencies.
- DOT is able to monitor snow plow location, direction of travel, lane treatments, and the progress of each plow.
- Monitor and provide reporting and integration for SDDOT’s weather stations.
- Provide controller for custom South Dakota DOT weather stations.
Results
The Mobile Data Collectors for the snow plow units reduced the impact of snow and ice removal on the environment by using the MDSS recommendations for the efficient use of materials. The system also decreased the amount of snow and ice removal materials needed while also ensuring the roads were properly treated. A study showed that after installing the system, the DOT reduced their operating cost in materials spread from $300 per mile to $60 per mile.
*Licensed under U.S. Patent Nos. 7,355,509 and 7,714,705
Scope of Services
Delcan Technologies was selected to implement an AVL Mobile Data Collection System for Snow Plows for the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) for a fleet of 100 snow plows.
Project Description
This project included the design and implementation of interfaces for the snow plows, the testing program for the trucks and roadside weather stations, and the wireless data communications to retrieve real time weather and position data. The MDC system collected information from on board sensors on road conditions along with receiving real time weather data from Meridian on local and regional weather radar for display on in-vehicle touchscreens. All of the conditions were presented to the operator, along with their input on driving conditions, through a touch screen interface. Data was also made available to an external web browser for easy access by NDOR and other authorized government agencies. DTI hosted the Intelligent NETworks® AVL/Snow Plow module to collect all data from the MDC units. This provided an easy to use web-based interface for NDOR to see the location and activities of their fleet.
Project Highlights
- Provide a cloud hosted copy of the Intelligent NETworks® ATMS
- Provide leased equipment to Nebraska DOR over the contract period.
- Integration for MDSS services with Iteris.
*Licensed under U.S. Patent Nos. 7,355,509 and 7,714,705
