Evaluating Snow and Ice Control Chemicals for Environmentally Sustainable Highway Maintenance Operations
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 11
Abstract
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 chemicals currently used by various Idaho Transportation Department districts for highway maintenance operations, including rock salts (mainly solid sodium chloride), IceSlicer products (solid sodium chloride with trace amounts of other chlorides), and salt brines. The analysis has been enabled by the utilization of existing lab and field test data along with reasonable assumptions, in the effort to identify environmentally sustainable materials for winter highway operations. Despite its caveats, this case study is the first attempt to incorporate the most up-to-date information into a multicriteria decision making framework for the data-driven, holistic examination of various snow and ice control chemicals used by a maintenance agency.
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Acknowledgments
The research reported herein was financially supported by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). The authors are indebted to the ITD project manager Ned Parrish, project champion Steve Spoor and other technical panel members for their continued support throughout this project. The authors thank all the professionals who participated in the survey.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 11 • November 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 24, 2013
Accepted: Apr 28, 2014
Published online: Jul 7, 2014
Published in print: Nov 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Dec 7, 2014
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