This synthesis documents front-line maintenance worker training and certification practices for h... more This synthesis documents front-line maintenance worker training and certification practices for highway transportation agencies in the United States and Canada. The information presented includes the types of topics being addressed by training and certification programs, the delivery methods used to provide the training, the sources of instruction, and whether material-sharing relationships are being utilized to access training. In addition, the synthesis captures how training is related to performance and the incentives being used by state and provincial agencies to encourage front-line maintenance workers to complete training. Information used in this study was gathered through a literature review and a survey of state departments of transportation and Canadian provincial transportation agencies. Follow-up interviews with selected agencies provided additional information.
Environmental Sustainability in Transportation Infrastructure, 2015
Traditionally, the main priority of winter road maintenance has been assigned to level of service... more Traditionally, the main priority of winter road maintenance has been assigned to level of service, cost-effectiveness, and corrosion rather than other less well-characterized effects such as impacts to water quality. It is increasingly vital to understand the environmental footprint of deicers, including their impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Chloride based deicers do not degrade in the natural environment and their application on winter pavements can lead to accumulation in adjacent environments over time. Information presented to date on deicers generally includes chemical composition and performance of deicers, while additional information on deicer aquatic toxicity is needed to enable fully-informed decisions by stakeholders. This work presents a state-of-the-knowledge review of the impacts of chloride based deicers and additives on water and aquatic species, and the issue of heavy metal leaching. Toxicity associated with the direct effect of deicers or with the indirect effect via their interactions with runoff chemistry is reviewed as well. This work will assist the stakeholder agencies in the search for effective practices to reduce the toxicity and other water quality implications of chloride based deicers.
Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2016
Stormwater runoff at airports is a significant and costly issue, especially for the stormwater la... more Stormwater runoff at airports is a significant and costly issue, especially for the stormwater laden with deicing contaminants of high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and aquatic toxicity. To reduce the loading of deicing constituents in stormwater and to manage the increasing pressure of tightening regulations, identifying fate and transport and evaluating environmental risks of deicing stormwater are of critical importance. In this review, the regulatory development of airport deicing stormwater management was first discussed, along with the milestone Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 14 publication. The deicer usage and fugitive losses can be reduced and the amount of deicer collected can be increased by having a better understanding of the fate and transport of deicing constituents in stormwater. As such, an overview and evaluation of the constituents of concern in deicers were provided to support the assessment of environmental impacts and mitigation recommendations. The state of knowledge of airport deicing stormwater management was then reviewed, which needs to be synthesized into a national guidance document. A guidebook and a decision tool for airports were proposed to adopt specific practical stormwater management strategies while balancing their priorities in environmental, economic, and social values against operational constraints. These challenges pose great opportunities to improve the current practices of airport deicing stormwater management.
Agriculturally derived products, or agro-based products, and complex chloride mineral (CCM) based... more Agriculturally derived products, or agro-based products, and complex chloride mineral (CCM) based products are increasingly employed in snow and ice control operations, either used alone or more commonly as additives or blended with traditional chloride-based products such as rock salt (solid sodium chloride) and salt brine (liquid sodium chloride). Past studies and manufacturers have claimed that agro-based or CCM based products provide benefits such as freezing point depression, prolong performance on the road surface, the ability to utilize UV light as an aid to ice prevention, and various environmental benefits. However, the measurement of the effectiveness of such products has been limited. To further investigate the role CCM and agro-based products may have in deicing and corrosion protection, a literature review and national survey were conducted to identify potential products, how they are typically used, performance characteristics, and pros and cons. Ten products were sele...
Laboratory tests are often used to evaluate deicer performance, but they have been shown to corre... more Laboratory tests are often used to evaluate deicer performance, but they have been shown to correlate poorly to actual field performance. This report provides a comprehensive review of literature related to laboratory and field testing of deicers, from deicer performance to friction. Laboratory testing has ranged from simple experiments with few parameters to more complex tests that mimic plowing, pavement type, and a range of temperatures. However, a laboratory experiment that would be expected to correlate well to deicer field performance was not found. Additionally, equipment used to measure friction in a laboratory was very different than the large‐scale, high speed devices used in the field. Finally, the state of practice regarding friction measurements in the aviation transportation sector may be de‐emphasized in light of complications posed by reliability, repeatability, time‐stability, and correlation to aircraft braking performance. After reviewing the literature and interv...
The use of chemicals and abrasives for highway winter maintenance operations is an essential stra... more The use of chemicals and abrasives for highway winter maintenance operations is an essential strategy for ensuring a reasonably high level of service, yet the performance of such materials has to be balanced with their potential negative impacts on motor vehicles, transportation infrastructure and the natural environment. In this context, this work presents a comprehensive and quantitative evaluation of snow and ice control materials currently used by various Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) districts for highway maintenance operations, including: rock salts (mainly solid sodium chloride), IceSlicer products (solid sodium chloride with trace amounts of other chlorides), salt brines, a corrosion-inhibited magnesium chloride brine, and sand-salt mixtures. The analysis has been enabled by the utilization of existing lab and field test data along with reasonable assumptions. This case study is the first attempt to incorporate the most up-to-date information into a multi-criteria de...
... ADOT&PF Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities ASOS Automated Surface ... more ... ADOT&PF Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities ASOS Automated Surface Observing System AWOS Automated Weather Observing System CARS Condition Acquisition and Reporting System ESS Environmental Sensor Station FAA Federal Aviation ...
This study evaluated the longevity of corrosion inhibitors and the performance of inhibited deice... more This study evaluated the longevity of corrosion inhibitors and the performance of inhibited deicer products under storage or after pavement application. No significant degradation of corrosion inhibitor or loss of chlorides was seen during the months of field storage. The fate and transport of the inhibitors differed from those of the chlorides, in which dilution by precipitation and likely wicking of the deicer into the pavement and the top snow layer contributed to the loss of inhibitor and chlorides. The accelerated UV-degradation lab study found little degradation of GLT and FreezGard inhibitors but significant degradation of CCB inhibitor. While these inhibitors demonstrated their effectiveness in corrosion inhibition, they showed no side benefits in deicer performance. No significant difference in anti-icing performance was observed between the three liquid deicers during the two storm events. All three liquid deicers worked effectively for anti-icing applications under the in...
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
Open graded, ultrathin, and permeable friction course surfaces (collectively referred to as PFSs)... more Open graded, ultrathin, and permeable friction course surfaces (collectively referred to as PFSs) have been successfully used by many transportation agencies in several countries as a wearing surface to help reduce water splash and spray, reduce potential for hydroplaning, increase friction, and reduce noise. Despite these advantages, when used in colder climates PFSs tend to freeze more rapidly, transport deicing/anti-icing chemicals from the road surface, clog from sands and other debris, and retain snow and ice for a longer period of time. Most of the reported difficulties with PFSs are at near-freezing temperatures (28°F–35°F). Laboratory tests were conducted using samples of traditional dense graded pavement (DGP), cores from new and old in-service open graded friction course pavements, and ultrathin friction course samples made from hot mix asphalt collected from paving operations. The tests were conducted in a walk-in environmental chamber at 28°F. Snow–pavement bond strength...
The practice of converting paved roads to unpaved is relatively widespread; this study identified... more The practice of converting paved roads to unpaved is relatively widespread; this study identified recent road conversion projects in 27 states. These are primarily rural, low-volume roads that were paved when asphalt and construction prices were low. Those asphalt roads have now aged well beyond their design service life, are rapidly deteriorating, and are both difficult and expensive to maintain. Instead, many local road agencies are converting these deteriorated paved roads to unpaved as a more sustainable solution. Key findings from this study include: Local road agencies have experienced positive outcomes by converting roads. Many local road agencies reported cost savings after converting, compared with the costs of continuing maintenance of the deteriorating paved road, or repaving. One key to successful conversion is early involvement of the public in the planning process. Other techniques that can be used to improve the overall results of a project include treating or stabilizing granular surfaces to control dust, limiting the rate of aggregate loss, and reducing motor grader/blade maintenance frequency. Stabilization procedures can also improve safety, increase public acceptance, and reduce life-cycle costs and environmental impacts after a conversion has taken place.
This synthesis documents front-line maintenance worker training and certification practices for h... more This synthesis documents front-line maintenance worker training and certification practices for highway transportation agencies in the United States and Canada. The information presented includes the types of topics being addressed by training and certification programs, the delivery methods used to provide the training, the sources of instruction, and whether material-sharing relationships are being utilized to access training. In addition, the synthesis captures how training is related to performance and the incentives being used by state and provincial agencies to encourage front-line maintenance workers to complete training. Information used in this study was gathered through a literature review and a survey of state departments of transportation and Canadian provincial transportation agencies. Follow-up interviews with selected agencies provided additional information.
Environmental Sustainability in Transportation Infrastructure, 2015
Traditionally, the main priority of winter road maintenance has been assigned to level of service... more Traditionally, the main priority of winter road maintenance has been assigned to level of service, cost-effectiveness, and corrosion rather than other less well-characterized effects such as impacts to water quality. It is increasingly vital to understand the environmental footprint of deicers, including their impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Chloride based deicers do not degrade in the natural environment and their application on winter pavements can lead to accumulation in adjacent environments over time. Information presented to date on deicers generally includes chemical composition and performance of deicers, while additional information on deicer aquatic toxicity is needed to enable fully-informed decisions by stakeholders. This work presents a state-of-the-knowledge review of the impacts of chloride based deicers and additives on water and aquatic species, and the issue of heavy metal leaching. Toxicity associated with the direct effect of deicers or with the indirect effect via their interactions with runoff chemistry is reviewed as well. This work will assist the stakeholder agencies in the search for effective practices to reduce the toxicity and other water quality implications of chloride based deicers.
Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2016
Stormwater runoff at airports is a significant and costly issue, especially for the stormwater la... more Stormwater runoff at airports is a significant and costly issue, especially for the stormwater laden with deicing contaminants of high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and aquatic toxicity. To reduce the loading of deicing constituents in stormwater and to manage the increasing pressure of tightening regulations, identifying fate and transport and evaluating environmental risks of deicing stormwater are of critical importance. In this review, the regulatory development of airport deicing stormwater management was first discussed, along with the milestone Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 14 publication. The deicer usage and fugitive losses can be reduced and the amount of deicer collected can be increased by having a better understanding of the fate and transport of deicing constituents in stormwater. As such, an overview and evaluation of the constituents of concern in deicers were provided to support the assessment of environmental impacts and mitigation recommendations. The state of knowledge of airport deicing stormwater management was then reviewed, which needs to be synthesized into a national guidance document. A guidebook and a decision tool for airports were proposed to adopt specific practical stormwater management strategies while balancing their priorities in environmental, economic, and social values against operational constraints. These challenges pose great opportunities to improve the current practices of airport deicing stormwater management.
Agriculturally derived products, or agro-based products, and complex chloride mineral (CCM) based... more Agriculturally derived products, or agro-based products, and complex chloride mineral (CCM) based products are increasingly employed in snow and ice control operations, either used alone or more commonly as additives or blended with traditional chloride-based products such as rock salt (solid sodium chloride) and salt brine (liquid sodium chloride). Past studies and manufacturers have claimed that agro-based or CCM based products provide benefits such as freezing point depression, prolong performance on the road surface, the ability to utilize UV light as an aid to ice prevention, and various environmental benefits. However, the measurement of the effectiveness of such products has been limited. To further investigate the role CCM and agro-based products may have in deicing and corrosion protection, a literature review and national survey were conducted to identify potential products, how they are typically used, performance characteristics, and pros and cons. Ten products were sele...
Laboratory tests are often used to evaluate deicer performance, but they have been shown to corre... more Laboratory tests are often used to evaluate deicer performance, but they have been shown to correlate poorly to actual field performance. This report provides a comprehensive review of literature related to laboratory and field testing of deicers, from deicer performance to friction. Laboratory testing has ranged from simple experiments with few parameters to more complex tests that mimic plowing, pavement type, and a range of temperatures. However, a laboratory experiment that would be expected to correlate well to deicer field performance was not found. Additionally, equipment used to measure friction in a laboratory was very different than the large‐scale, high speed devices used in the field. Finally, the state of practice regarding friction measurements in the aviation transportation sector may be de‐emphasized in light of complications posed by reliability, repeatability, time‐stability, and correlation to aircraft braking performance. After reviewing the literature and interv...
The use of chemicals and abrasives for highway winter maintenance operations is an essential stra... more The use of chemicals and abrasives for highway winter maintenance operations is an essential strategy for ensuring a reasonably high level of service, yet the performance of such materials has to be balanced with their potential negative impacts on motor vehicles, transportation infrastructure and the natural environment. In this context, this work presents a comprehensive and quantitative evaluation of snow and ice control materials currently used by various Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) districts for highway maintenance operations, including: rock salts (mainly solid sodium chloride), IceSlicer products (solid sodium chloride with trace amounts of other chlorides), salt brines, a corrosion-inhibited magnesium chloride brine, and sand-salt mixtures. The analysis has been enabled by the utilization of existing lab and field test data along with reasonable assumptions. This case study is the first attempt to incorporate the most up-to-date information into a multi-criteria de...
... ADOT&PF Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities ASOS Automated Surface ... more ... ADOT&PF Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities ASOS Automated Surface Observing System AWOS Automated Weather Observing System CARS Condition Acquisition and Reporting System ESS Environmental Sensor Station FAA Federal Aviation ...
This study evaluated the longevity of corrosion inhibitors and the performance of inhibited deice... more This study evaluated the longevity of corrosion inhibitors and the performance of inhibited deicer products under storage or after pavement application. No significant degradation of corrosion inhibitor or loss of chlorides was seen during the months of field storage. The fate and transport of the inhibitors differed from those of the chlorides, in which dilution by precipitation and likely wicking of the deicer into the pavement and the top snow layer contributed to the loss of inhibitor and chlorides. The accelerated UV-degradation lab study found little degradation of GLT and FreezGard inhibitors but significant degradation of CCB inhibitor. While these inhibitors demonstrated their effectiveness in corrosion inhibition, they showed no side benefits in deicer performance. No significant difference in anti-icing performance was observed between the three liquid deicers during the two storm events. All three liquid deicers worked effectively for anti-icing applications under the in...
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
Open graded, ultrathin, and permeable friction course surfaces (collectively referred to as PFSs)... more Open graded, ultrathin, and permeable friction course surfaces (collectively referred to as PFSs) have been successfully used by many transportation agencies in several countries as a wearing surface to help reduce water splash and spray, reduce potential for hydroplaning, increase friction, and reduce noise. Despite these advantages, when used in colder climates PFSs tend to freeze more rapidly, transport deicing/anti-icing chemicals from the road surface, clog from sands and other debris, and retain snow and ice for a longer period of time. Most of the reported difficulties with PFSs are at near-freezing temperatures (28°F–35°F). Laboratory tests were conducted using samples of traditional dense graded pavement (DGP), cores from new and old in-service open graded friction course pavements, and ultrathin friction course samples made from hot mix asphalt collected from paving operations. The tests were conducted in a walk-in environmental chamber at 28°F. Snow–pavement bond strength...
The practice of converting paved roads to unpaved is relatively widespread; this study identified... more The practice of converting paved roads to unpaved is relatively widespread; this study identified recent road conversion projects in 27 states. These are primarily rural, low-volume roads that were paved when asphalt and construction prices were low. Those asphalt roads have now aged well beyond their design service life, are rapidly deteriorating, and are both difficult and expensive to maintain. Instead, many local road agencies are converting these deteriorated paved roads to unpaved as a more sustainable solution. Key findings from this study include: Local road agencies have experienced positive outcomes by converting roads. Many local road agencies reported cost savings after converting, compared with the costs of continuing maintenance of the deteriorating paved road, or repaving. One key to successful conversion is early involvement of the public in the planning process. Other techniques that can be used to improve the overall results of a project include treating or stabilizing granular surfaces to control dust, limiting the rate of aggregate loss, and reducing motor grader/blade maintenance frequency. Stabilization procedures can also improve safety, increase public acceptance, and reduce life-cycle costs and environmental impacts after a conversion has taken place.
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