Abstract Manager

ABSTRACT

Canada uses well over 5 million tonnes of salt annually on winter road maintenance.  In 2001, salt was identified as a toxic substance, and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) subsequently developed the Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts (Code) to protect the environment while maintaining road safety in 2004.  Significant advances have been made since the inception of the Code; however, chloride levels continue to rise in the environment.  Continued innovation is critical to protect both public safety and the environment.

Salt, the primary winter maintenance material used to combat snow and ice, is sensitive to the pavement temperature, working well at temperatures near freezing, while it is less effective at colder temperatures.  Understanding the current and future road temperatures across a broad highway network is an important part of winter road maintenance as this guides road treatment plans.  Currently, this requires installing and maintaining roadside weather stations known as Road Weather Information System (RWIS).  RWIS stations, depending on the configuration, can cost upwards of $250,000 to install, plus annual operations and maintenance costs.  As a result of the cost, these stations are only installed in critical areas. 

To help fill in the large gaps between stations, the Maritime Provinces, together with WSP Canada, have implemented an AI-based solution to create a current and forecasted road surface temperature that covers all provincial highways.  The use of AI to create the road surface map of the entire province will help in optimizing winter maintenance operations, enhancing decision making, improving safety, reducing salt usage and its environmental impact, and saving money.

Presentation Description

The presentation will introduce the AI road temperature project and present the first year's findings