SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING DECISION ON SNOW REMOVAL WORK

Abstract

According to the present disclosure, road surface state information (road surface frictional force) is acquired and monitored together with road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, and road surface salt concentration information of each road to determine whether to spray a deicing agent and whether to re-spray a deicing agent as a subsequent process depending on whether to satisfy not only a road surface temperature condition, a road surface moisture condition, a road surface salt concentration condition, but also the road surface state condition of road freezing.

Claims

1. A system for making a decision on a snow removal work, comprising: an information acquiring unit which is installed in each road to acquire road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road in real time; an information monitoring unit which receives and monitors road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road acquired by the information acquiring unit, in real time; and a decision making unit which receives a monitoring result from the information monitoring unit to determine whether to spray the deicing agent and re-spray the deicing agent depending on whether to satisfy the road surface temperature condition, the road surface moisture condition, the road surface salt condition, and the road surface state condition, wherein when each road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of road freezing, the decision making unit determines to spray the deicing agent on each road and determines to respray the deicing agent based on the road surface salt concentration condition and the road surface state condition of the road freezing after spraying the deicing agent and the road surface temperature condition of the road freezing is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface moisture condition is that the moisture is generated on the road surface, the road surface salt concentration condition is that a salt concentration of the deicing agent is below a salt concentration at a freezing point, and the road surface state condition is that the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower.

2. The system for making a decision on a snow removal work according to claim 1, wherein the information acquiring unit includes: a road surface temperature information acquiring unit configured by a contact type temperature sensor which is installed on a road surface of road to measure a temperature of the road surface; a road surface moisture information acquiring unit configured by a fog sensor, a fine dust sensor, an air temperature sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, air humidity sensor, a rainfall sensor, and a snowfall sensor which are installed on a pillar mounted at a road edge of each road to measures weather conditions; a road surface salt concentration information acquiring unit configured by a salt sensor which is installed on the road surface of each road to measure a salt concentration of a deicing agent sprayed on the road surface; and a road surface frictional force information acquiring unit configured by a road surface state sensor which is installed on a pillar mounted on the road surface edge of each road to provide a road surface friction coefficient.

3. The system for making a decision on a snow removal work according to claim 1, wherein if a deicing agent reaction time has elapsed after spraying the deicing agent, the decision making unit determines whether to measure the road surface salt concentration from the road surface salt concentration information, and if the road surface salt concentration can be measured, determines whether to respray the deicing agent depending on whether to satisfy the road surface salt concentration condition of the road freezing, and if the road surface salt concentration cannot be measured, determines whether to respray the deicing agent depending on whether to satisfy the road surface state condition of the road freezing.

4. The system for making a decision on a snow removal work according to claim 3, wherein when the road surface salt concentration condition of road freezing is satisfied or the road surface state condition of road freezing is satisfied, the decision making unit goes back to the process of determining to spray a deicing agent to respray the deicing agent.

5. A method for making a decision on a snow removal work, comprising: a first step of acquiring road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road in real time; a second step of monitoring the acquired road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road in real time; and a third step of determining whether to spray a deicing agent on each road depending on whether to satisfy the road surface temperature condition, the road surface moisture condition, the road surface salt concentration condition, and the road surface state condition of the road freezing of each road from the monitoring result so that when each road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition, it is determined to spray the deicing agent on each road and after spraying the deicing agent, it is determined whether to respray the deicing agent based on the road salt concentration condition and the road surface state condition of the road freezing, wherein the road surface temperature condition of the road freezing is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface moisture condition is that the moisture is generated on the road surface, the road surface salt concentration condition is that a salt concentration of the deicing agent is below a salt concentration at a freezing point, and the road surface state condition is that the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for making a decision on a snow removal work according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a table illustrating a fraction coefficient of various road surface states provided by Transportation Research Institute of Northwestern University in the United States;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a table illustrating a frictional force (friction coefficient) for every road surface state estimated by a road surface state sensor (Mobile detector md30 manufactured by Vaisala);

[0021] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for making a decision on a snow removal work according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0022] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an algorism of a method for making a decision on a snow removal work according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0023] Hereinafter, a system for making a decision on a snow removal work according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a system for making a decision on a snow removal work according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is configured by an information acquiring unit 10, an information monitoring unit 20, and a decision making unit 30.

[Information Acquiring Unit 10]

[0025] The information acquiring unit 10 is installed in each road to acquire road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road in real time. The information acquiring unit 10 transmits information acquired using a CCTV power unit or Internet of things (IoT) installed in each road to the information monitoring unit 20 together with a measurement location and measurement time information.

[0026] The information acquiring unit 10 is configured by a road surface temperature information acquiring unit, a road surface moisture information acquiring unit, a road surface salt concentration information acquiring unit, and a road surface state information acquiring unit.

Road Surface Temperature Information Acquiring Unit

[0027] The road surface temperature information acquiring unit is configured by a contact type temperature sensor which is installed on a road surface of each road to measure a temperature of the road surface. The contact type temperature sensor is installed on the road surface where snow removal work is required rather than on a road edge to reflect an actual temperature of an area round the road surface.

Road Surface Moisture Information Acquiring Unit

[0028] The road surface moisture information acquiring unit is configured by a fog sensor, a fine dust sensor, an air temperature sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, an air humidity sensor, a rainfall sensor, and a snowfall sensor which are installed on a pillar mounted at a road surface edge of each road to measure weather conditions. In addition, various weather sensors which measure weather conditions may be added.

[0029] The road surface moisture information indicating whether moisture is generated on the road surface is acquired from weather information such as snow, rain, fog, dew, frost, a temperature, a humidity, a pressure, and fine dust measured by the fog sensor, the fine dust sensor, the air temperature sensor, the atmospheric pressure sensor, the air humidity sensor, the rainfall sensor, and the snowfall sensor.

Road Surface Salt Concentration Information Acquiring Unit

[0030] The road surface salt concentration information acquiring unit is configured by a salt sensor which is installed on the road surface of each road to measure a salt concentration of a deicing agent sprayed on the road surface. The salt sensor is installed on the road surface together with the contact type temperature sensor. The salt sensor may be an electrical or optical salt sensor.

[0031] Generally, salt or calcium chloride is used as a deicing agent. When the deicing agent is sprayed on the road surface and meets the moisture, the deicing agent is dissolved. When there is no moisture or a sufficient amount is not dissolved, the salt concentration is not measured by the salt sensor. The salt concentration of the deicing agent is utilized as important information to predict and determine a re-freezing temperature of snow or ice melted by the deicing agent.

Road Surface State Information Acquiring Unit

[0032] The road surface state information acquiring unit is configured by a road surface state sensor which is installed on a pillar mounted at the road surface edge of each road to provide a frictional force (friction coefficient) of the road surface.

[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the frictional force (friction coefficient) varies according to the road surface state. It is understood whether the road surface state is dried, moist, wet, icy, snow, and slush from the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) proposed by the road surface state sensor.

[0034] For example, Mobile detector md3 manufactured by Vaisala may be used as the road surface state sensor. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the mobile detector md30 which is manufactured by combination of an infrared sensor and other sensors senses a road surface state to provide a road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) estimated therefrom.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower, the road surface state is an icy, snowy, or slush condition and when the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) exceeds 0.6, the road surface state is a dried or wet condition. Accordingly, when the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower, the road is frozen so that the work removal work is required.

[Information Monitoring Unit 20]

[0036] The information monitoring unit 20 receives and monitors road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road acquired by the information acquiring unit 10, in real time. The information monitoring unit is implemented by a computer, software, and monitoring equipment.

[0037] The information monitoring unit 20 is configured by a road surface temperature monitoring unit which monitors road surface temperature information of each road in real time, a road surface moisture monitoring unit which monitors road surface moisture information of each road in real time, a road surface salt concentration monitoring unit which monitors road surface salt concentration information of each road in real time, and a road surface state monitoring unit which monitors road surface state information of each road in real time.

[0038] The information monitoring unit 20 visually expresses the road surface temperature information, the road surface moisture information, the road surface salt concentration information, and the road surface state information of each road which have been transmitted, through a map.

[Decision Making Unit 30]

[0039] The decision making unit 30 receives a monitoring result from the information monitoring unit 20 to determine whether to spray the deicing agent and re-spray the deicing agent depending satisfy the road surface temperature condition, the road surface moisture condition, the road surface salt condition, and the road surface state condition. The decision making unit 30 is implemented by a computer or software.

[0040] Specifically, when each road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of road freezing as a result of monitoring the information monitoring unit 20, the decision making unit 30 determines to spray the deicing agent on each road and determines to respray the deicing agent based on the road surface salt concentration condition and the road surface state condition of the road freezing after spraying the deicing agent.

[0041] Here, the road surface temperature condition of the road freezing is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface moisture condition is that the moisture is generated on the road surface, the road surface salt concentration condition is that a salt concentration of the deicing agent is below a salt concentration at a freezing point, and the road surface state condition is that the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower.

[0042] The operation of the decision making unit 30 will be described with reference to a third step S30 of the method for making a decision on a snow removal work according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Hereinafter, the method for making a decision on a snow removal work according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described basically with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0044] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the method for making a decision on a snow removal work is configured by a first step S10 of acquiring road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road in real time; a second step S20 of monitoring the acquired road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road in real time; and a third step S30 of determining whether to spray a deicing agent on each road depending on whether to satisfy the road surface temperature condition, the road surface moisture condition, the road surface salt concentration condition, and the road surface state condition of the road freezing of each road so that when each road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition, it is determined to spray the deicing agent on each road and after spraying the deicing agent, it is determined whether to respray the deicing agent based on the road salt concentration condition and the road surface state condition of the road freezing.

[0045] Hereinafter, the first step S10 will be described.

[0046] The road surface temperature information, the road surface moisture information, the road surface salt concentration information, and the road surface state information of each road are acquired in real time.

[0047] The road surface temperature information is acquired in real time by a contact type temperature sensor which is installed on the road surface of each road to measure the road surface temperature.

[0048] The road surface moisture information is acquired in real time by a fog sensor, a fine dust sensor, an air temperature sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, an air humidity sensor, a rainfall sensor, and a snowfall sensor which are installed on a pillar mounted at a road edge of each road to measures weather conditions.

[0049] The road surface salt concentration information is acquired in real time from a salt sensor which is installed on the road surface of each road to measure a salt concentration of the deicing agent sprayed on the road surface.

[0050] The road surface state information is acquired in real time by a road surface state sensor which is installed on a pillar mounted at the road surface edge of each road to provide a frictional force (friction coefficient) of the road surface. When the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower, the road surface state is an icy, snowy, or slush condition and when the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) exceeds 0.6, the road surface state is a dried or wet condition.

[0051] Hereinafter, the second step S20 will be described.

[0052] The acquired road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road are monitored in real time.

[0053] Hereinafter, the third step S30 will be described.

[0054] Whether to spray a deicing agent on each road is determined depending on whether to satisfy the road surface temperature condition, the road surface moisture condition, the road surface salt concentration condition, and the road surface state condition of the road freezing of each road from the monitoring result. When each road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition, it is determined to spray the deicing agent on each road. After spraying the deicing agent, whether to respray the deicing agent is determined based on the road salt concentration condition and the road surface state condition of the road freezing.

[0055] Here, the road surface temperature condition of the road freezing is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface moisture condition is that the moisture is generated on the road surface, the road surface salt concentration condition is that a salt concentration of the deicing agent is below a salt concentration at a freezing point, and the road surface state condition is that the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower.

[Determining to Spray Deicing Agent]

[0056] First, when each road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of the road freezing (that is, the road surface temperature is below zero and the moisture is generated on the road surface), it is determined to spray the deicing agent on each road. At this time, when the deicing agent is never sprayed, that is, when the number N of times of spraying a deicing agent is zero, it is determined to spray the deicing agent. A prescribed dosage of the deicing agent to be sprayed is 20 g/m.sup.2. When the deicing agent has been sprayed before, that is, the number N of times of spraying a deicing agent is 1 or larger, the decision making for respraying the deicing agent proceeds.

[Determining to Respray Deicing Agent]

[0057] After spraying the deicing agent, it is determined whether to respray the deicing agent based on the road surface salt concentration condition and the road surface state condition of the road freezing.

[0058] If the deicing agent is sprayed, it is necessary to wait for the deicing agent to react. A deicing agent reaction time is approximately 30 minutes. If a deicing agent reaction time has elapsed after spraying the deicing agent, it is determined whether to measure the road surface salt concentration. If the road surface salt concentration can be measured, it is determined whether to respray the deicing agent depending on whether to satisfy the road surface salt concentration condition of the road freezing. If the road surface salt concentration cannot be measured, it is determined whether to respray the deicing agent depending on whether to satisfy the road surface state condition of the road freezing.

<When Road Surface Salt Concentration of Road is Measured>

[0059] When the deicing agent is dissolved for a deicing agent reaction time after spraying the deicing agent so that the road surface salt concentration of the road is measured, it is checked whether to satisfy the road surface salt concentration condition of the road freezing.

Case 1-1: When Road Surface Salt Concentration Exceeds Salt Concentration at Freezing Point

[0060] Unless both the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of the road freezing are satisfied, if the road surface salt concentration exceeds the salt concentration at the freezing point (that is, unless the road surface salt concentration condition for road freezing is satisfied), there is no risk of re-freezing, so that the snow removal work is finished.

Case 1-2: When Road Surface Salt Concentration Exceeds Salt Concentration at Freezing Point

[0061] When both the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of the road freezing are satisfied (that is, the road surface temperature is below zero and the moisture is generated on the road surface), even though the road surface salt concentration exceeds a salt concentration at the freezing point (that is, even though the road surface salt concentration condition of the road freezing is not satisfied), there is a risk of re-freezing. Therefore, go back to the process of determining to spray a deicing agent to respray the deicing agent in consideration of the number of times of spraying the deicing agent and a deicing agent spraying dosage.

Case 1-3: When Road Surface Salt Concentration is Below Salt Concentration at Freezing Point

[0062] When the road surface salt concentration is below the salt concentration at the freezing point (that is, when the road surface salt concentration condition of the road freezing is satisfied), go back to the process of determining to spray a deicing agent to respray the deicing agent in consideration of a deicing agent spraying dosage.

<When Road Surface Salt Concentration of Road is not Measured>

[0063] When the deicing agent is not dissolved during the deicing agent reaction time after spraying the deicing agent or an amount of dissolved deicing agent is small so that the road surface salt concentration of the road is not measured, it is checked whether to satisfy the road surface state condition to determine whether the current road surface state is in a frozen state.

Case 2-1: When Road Surface Frictional Force (Friction Coefficient) Exceeds 0.6

[0064] Unless both the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of the road freezing are satisfied, if the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) exceeds 0.6 (that is, unless the road surface state condition is satisfied), there is no risk of re-freezing, so that the snow removal work is finished.

Case 2-2: When Road Surface Frictional Force (Friction Coefficient) Exceeds 0.6

[0065] When both the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of the road freezing are satisfied (that is, the road surface temperature is below zero and the moisture is generated on the road surface), even though the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) exceeds 0.6 (that is, even though the road surface state condition is not satisfied), there is a risk of re-freezing. Therefore, go back to the process of determining to spray a deicing agent to respray the deicing agent in consideration of the number of times of spraying the deicing agent and a deicing agent spraying dosage.

Case 2-3: When Road Surface Frictional Force (Friction Coefficient) is 0.6 or Lower

[0066] When the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower (that is, the road surface state condition is satisfied), the road surface state is icy, snow, or slush so that go back to the process of determining to spray a deicing agent to respray the deicing agent in consideration of a deicing agent spraying dosage.