Maintenance Decision Support Systems
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What is a Maintenance Decision Support System?
Winter road maintenance is a complex and challenging endeavor for any highway maintenance agency. It involves bringing skilled maintenance employees and their equipment together in a battle against Mother Nature. Split-second decisions have to be made as to what warnings are given, deicing materials to apply, plowing to be done. These decisions determine the safety and mobility of the driving public.
An MDSS is a computer-based, customizable tool that provides winter maintenance personnel with route-specific weather forecast information and treatment recommendations.
Benefits
- Route-specific weather and road condition forecasts
- Optimized treatment recommendations for treatment type, application rate, and timing
- More efficient use of salt and other deicing materials
- Reduced environmental impact from deicing chemicals
- Better use of manpower and equipment
- Near real-time road condition reporting
- Training for new and seasoned maintenance personnel using historical playback
All of these translate into a safer and more efficient transportation system.
Contacts – Lead States Team
MDSS Library
- Brochure
- Other Publications
- Additional Resources
