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Maintenance DecisionSupport System

Pooled Fund Study TPF-5(054)David Huft, South Dakota DOT

AASHTO Standing Committee on HighwaysPalm Desert, CA October 24, 2009

Maintenance DecisionSupport System

Pooled Fund Study TPF-5(054)David Huft, South Dakota DOT

AASHTO Standing Committee on HighwaysPalm Desert, CA October 24, 2009

Connecting South Dakota and the Nation

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Motivation for MDSSMotivation for MDSS

Rising expectations of traveling public and commercial carriers

Rising material & fuel costs Constrained agency funding and staffing Reliable, timely, reports of conditions hard to get Some weather conditions are difficult to forecast Pavement response to weather conditions and

maintenance treatments is complex New deicing chemicals are available Retiring maintenance staff replaced by less

experienced workers

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MDSS Operating PremiseMDSS Operating Premise

If you know… road characteristics current conditions predicted weather physics & chemistry of

snow, ice, chemicals available resources

(material, equipment, schedule)

MDSS can recommend… treatment type application rate optimal timing

…and predict future road conditions

with or without treatments

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MDSS Mass & Energy ModelingMDSS Mass & Energy Modeling

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MDSS Road Condition PredictionMDSS Road Condition Prediction

PassingDriving

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Pooled Fund MDSS:Essential Elements of MDSS

Pooled Fund MDSS:Essential Elements of MDSS Report actual road

conditions Report maintenance

treatments Assess past & present

weather conditions Assess present roadway

state Predict storm-event weather Recognize resource

constraints Identify feasible

maintenance treatments Target agency priorities

Predict road surface behavior

Communicate recommendations to supervisors and workers

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MDSS Graphical User InterfaceMap ViewMDSS Graphical User InterfaceMap View

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MDSS Graphical User Interface Route ViewMDSS Graphical User Interface Route View

Different maintenance plans produce different road conditions

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Mobile Data CollectorTouch Screen ComputerMobile Data CollectorTouch Screen Computer

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MDSS is New…but Not NewMDSS is New…but Not New

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Assess DOT Needs, Readiness

Evaluate Functional Prototype

Develop MDSS Software

6-State Limited Deployment

Refine MDSS Software

Validation Studies

8-State Field Trials

Broad Deployment

2007 Expanded Deployment

B/C Analysis2008

10-State Field Trials

12-State Field Trials

14-State Field Trials

2009

2010

Refinement, Management Tools

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MDSS Routes 2008-2009MDSS Routes 2008-2009# of Routes

CA 66

CO 108108

IN 156156

IA 6565

KS 1818

KY 55

MN 185185

NENE 101101

NHNH 77

NYNY 1717

NDND 7777

SDSD 8080

VAVA 99

WYWY 6868

Contractor is Meridian Environmental Technology

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MDSS Benefits: ProjectedMDSS Benefits: Projected

Achieve same level of service with less material & effort– 23% material savings in New Hampshire study

Achieve better level of service with same material & effort– 10-15% less “unacceptable” conditions in New

Hampshire study

8:1 Benefit/Cost Ratio New Hampshire Similar studies performed in MN, CO

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MDSS Benefits: RealizedMDSS Benefits: Realized

Mitchell Region (SD) event example: $60/mile versus $300/mile

Indiana first-year statewide deployment in winter of 2008/2009– Substantial reduction in salt use ($12M)– Reductions in overtime ($1.3M) & fuel– Estimated savings of $11M overall after

normalizing for winter conditions– ~27% of normal winter maintenance budget

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MDSS Benefits: IntangibleMDSS Benefits: Intangible

One-stop convenience for completewinter weather information

Better anticipation of storm events& road conditions

Direct information delivery to managers & operators

More seamless winter maintenance Reduced environmental impact Use of MDSS “storm playback” as a

training & analysis tool

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Pooled Fund Study:Current Technical DirectionsPooled Fund Study:Current Technical Directions

Fostering initial deployments Integration w/DOT Information Systems

– equipment, scheduling, traveler information

Evaluation, validation, and refinement Improving physical models Improving remote assessments of

weather conditions Development of more management-

oriented tools and reports

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Pooled Fund Study:Membership BenefitsPooled Fund Study:Membership Benefits

Opportunity to “test drive” MDSS Convenient funding mechanism Learning environment

– State ↔ State– State ↔ Developer

Peer exchange process to identify and address technology challenges through research and development activities

Nationally prominent forum for advancing MDSS and related technologies

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Pooled Fund Study:Member ResponsibilitiesPooled Fund Study:Member Responsibilities

Contribute Financially Contribute Intellectually

– Project Panel Meetings (3/year)– Conference Calls– Technical Product Reviews– Assess Technology Gaps & Needs

Conduct Deployment Field Trials Intellectual Property Stewardship

New States Are Welcome

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Questions?Questions?

For additional information, please contact:

David Huft

SDDOT Research Program Manager

605.773.3358

dave.huft@state.sd.us