Talkin Winter Ops

Listen in as SICOP Talks Winter Ops with Tony Coventry of the FHWA’s Road Weather Management Program and Kyle Garrett of Synesis Partners about the Integrated Modeling for Road Condition Prediction or IMRCP.

When it comes to road weather management there have been a few major advances in the way agencies manage roadway networks during weather events.  The latest under developed through a series of pilots is the Integrated Modeling for Road Condition Prediction or IMRCP.  Modeling the performance of a roadway network during a weather event marks a milestone in understanding and prediction just how it will perform provides a practical tool to support operational decision making, maintenance planning, and traveler information.

Tony and Kyle describe the beginnings of the program, where its going in the future, and how it can help agencies achieve their maintenance and road network operation mission during weather events.

Follow these links to learn more about IMRCP:
Tony Coventry [email protected]
Kyle Garrett [email protected]

Repository & Open Science Access Portal (ROSA P) search on IMRCP
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/gsearch?collection=&terms=imrcp

FHWA Road Weather Management Program
https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/index.asp 

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SICOP Talks WInter Ops with Andrea Bill from the Wisconsin Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin, Madison as she discusses the latest research into use of salt brine. 

Wisconsin DOT has been working hard to promote the use of liquids in winter maintenance operations.  In 2021, the results of a 2-year research project into the use of salt brine was published.  Andrea Bill presented this work at the 2022 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting and in this episode describes the work and results of this study showing very positive results for the use of salt brine.

You can view the presentation  "WisDOT Salt Brine Project 2020-2021”

For detailed information check out The Salt Brine Final Report Final Report

If you would like to discuss this project, results, or other aspects of salt brine in Wisconsin with Andrea you can email her directly at  [email protected]

Other podcast episodes on liquids:
Episode 12: “Taking liquids to the max”
Episode 41: “The latest word on alternate methods for deicing”

Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com

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When a snowplow is involved in a crash there can be injuries to drivers and other motorists as well as damage to the snowplow that can take it out of service.  In winter some agencies can experience up to 10% reductions in equipment and operators.  To help address this Montana DOT advanced a project through Clear Roads Pooled Fund Project to look at the causes of crashes involving snowplows and develop a training program to help operators hone their defensive driving and safe driving skills when operating snowplows.

Doug McBroom, Operations Manager for the Montana DOT discusses a project funded by the Clear roads Pooled Fund Study that looked at the types of crashes impacting snowplows and suggested strategies that made their way into a training program for snowplow operators.  The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute conducted surveys and analysis of snowplow crashes and created two easy to implement training programs that are available to all DOT’s and public works  agencies.  You can check out this work the training programs by visiting the Clear Roads website at https://clearroads.org/project/18-01/  You can contact Doug McBroom directly by email at [email protected] if you would like to discuss any aspect of this program.

The research team at VTTI authored a paper describing this work and submitted it to PIARC's 16th World Winter Service and Road Resilience Congress Feb 2022 where it was presented. The US National Committee evaluated all the papers from US authors.  This paper won the award in the winter service category.  The full paper can be viewed at this link:      Developing Comprehensive Defensive Driving Training for Snowplow Operators

Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com

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Maintenance operations during extreme events is far more complex than salt and snowplows.  Historically we thought of the motorist as a consumer of maintenance’s efforts but in reality they are an active participant who’s actions have implications on the operations of the network.  In this episode Wilf Nixon, President of the Professional Snowfighters Association, joins the discussion of how we operate the network with the many major events that have happened so far in the winter of 2021-22 as a backdrop.

Things like Traffic Incident Management (TIM), traveler information, preemptively holding traffic, and disaster exercises are all part of the discussion. 

Additional listening:
Episode 19: When the snow hits the fan - Emergency operations methodology 
Episode 20: TSMO365 Weather or not
Episode 22: EDC5  - Weather responsive management strategies

Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com

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The 16th PIARC World Winter Service and Road Resilience Congress is just around the corner.  Being able to exchange knowledge and learn from winter service and road resilience professionals from around the world is a valuable takeaway from participating in this event.  The technical program offers papers from a diverse body of authors from around the world ranging from practitioners showcasing their approach to the challenges they face to academics sharing their current research into issues facing winter service and road resilience. Papers have also been considered for international prizes in several categories.  Learn about the technical program, the international prize categories, and what you can take away from attending this congress by listening in as we talk to members of the Calgary 2022 Organizing Committee about the technical program.

Find out more about the 16th PIARC World Winter Service and Road Resilience Congress and the technical program through their website at this link: https://www.piarc-calgary2022.org 

Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com

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The City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada has had to adapt to a variety of circumstances from changing weather patterns to changes in mobility needs and travel patterns brought on by the Pandemic.  These challenges are not unique as cities, counties, states, and countries who provide winter service can attest.  This heightens the relevance of the upcoming PIARC World Winter Service and Road Resilience Congress is “Adapting to a Changing World” being hosted virtually be the City of Calgary and Canada.  https://www.piarc-calgary2022.org Learn more about how Calgary is addressing these issues from Troy McLeod, Director of Roads at the City of Calgary as he describes their approach to winter service and road resilience as they adapt to these changing conditions.

Find out more about the City of Calgary Roads program and specifically about their programs dealing with winter snow and ice control through their website at this link: https://www.calgary.ca/transportation/roads/roads.html 

Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com

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In 2022 winter maintenance professionals from around the world will be focusing their attention on Calgary, Alberta, Canada, host of the World Winter Service and Road Resilience Congress.  In this episode Chris Hewitt, Manager of Roads Maintenance at the City of Calgary, discusses winter operations at the city and the unique challenges they face in a large urban environment subjected to some unique winter weather conditions. 

More information about snow services in the City of Calgary including their snow plan, snow routes and parking bans, snow clearing bylaw, and other information visit their website at https://www.calgary.ca/cfod/csc/snow.html or you can contact Chris Hewitt at [email protected] 

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Back in 1969 Permanent International Association of Road Congresses or PIARC held a World Winter Maintenance Congress in Berchtesgaden, Germany.  Reuniting every 4 years in a different country, winter maintenance professionals from around the world have turned this world Congress into the grandaddy of them all.  Hosted by Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the next international gathering of winer maintenance professionals is planned for February 7-11, 2022 as a virtual event.  

On this episode we’re visiting with Nadia Lappa, Project Manager for this 16th Congress to find out all about this event, what to expect, and what you can take away from this quadrennial world-wide gathering of winter maintenance and road resilience professionals.

For more information about the PIARC 16th World Winter Service and Road Resilience Congress happening February 7-11, 2022 you can check out its website at https://www.piarc-calgary2022.org.

Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com

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You might not know that there is an International Winter Maintenance committee that mirrors SICOP.  The Permanent International Association of Road Congresses (PIARC) houses a Winter Service Technical Committee that in a lot of ways mirrors SICOP in advancing winter service. Interaction with with the international winter maintenance community through international scanning tours and participation on the PIARC Winter Service Technical Committee (TC) has jumpstarted the introduction of several winter maintenance strategies and tools like the use of liquids and RWIS.

On this episode Steve Lund and Paul Pisano join Rick Nelson, all three English Speaking Secretaries on the PIARC Winter Service TC, to discuss PIARC and why our participation on this TC is important to the winter maintenance community here in the US.  Every 4-years PIARC conducts a worldwide winter maintenance conference and in 2022 the 16th World Winter Service and Road Resilience Congress: Adapting to a Changing World will be hosted by Calgary.  Registration is open and more information can be found at https://www.piarc-calgary2022.org 

Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com

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SICOP has been busy this past year and on this episode Steve Lund, State Maintenance Engineer for the Minnesota DOT and Chair of SICOP spends some time filling us in on several activities SICOP has worked on this past year and what’s in store for the next.  He introduces the Strategic Initiatives contained in the 2021-2023 Strategic Plan recently approved by the Steering Committee and available at https://sicop.transportation.org/strategic-plan/ .  Steve makes a special announcement regarding the SICOP leadership at 32:16.

Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com

Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!