PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Each year in October, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) begins gearing up to perform snow and ice removal operations throughout the state. Each of ODOT's twelve district offices inspect their entire inventory of snow removal equipment, to ensure that all trucks, plows, salt spinners and graders are prepared for the upcoming winter. The snow and ice removal season in Ohio typically runs from November through mid-March. As part of its commitment to improving service to Ohio motorists, ODOT sought to update its snow and ice removal program, by adding technology and computer-aided planning.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
As part of its 2001 Strategic Initiatives, ODOT added new technology to the state's existing Road and Weather Information System (RWIS), to increase the safety of motorists traveling in Ohio, particularly during the winter season. Specific objectives of the program are to:

• Provide site-specific information to ODOT district offices, to monitor highway conditions during winter storms
• Assist county garages and ODOT district offices respond more efficiently to weather conditions
• Help motorists plan ahead for their commute or travel plans, to allow adequate travel time to safely reach their destinations

Pavement sensors are currently installed in major three metropolitan areas of Ohio—Toledo, Cleveland and Columbus. Data from these sensors is transferred to ODOT's district offices, and entered into the Road and Weather Information System (RWIS) on the ODOT web site. Motorists can track winter weather conditions by accessing RWIS on the internet, at www.odotonline.org/otis/rwis. RWIS also lists winter weather advisories, snow warnings and highway closures. The information is kept up-to-date, and is available 24 hours per day.

Computer modeling software is also used to plan plow routes for each county. B Data on equipment capabilities, personnel resources, facility locations and highway types is entered into the system. Highway layouts and the locations of available plows and salt stores are then examined, to determine the most effective routes for snow plows and salt spreading equipment.

Global Positioning System (GPS) devices are scheduled to be installed in 2001, to help monitor the locations of ODOT equipment. This technology will allow the department to track the exact location of snow removal equipment, and determine which routes have been serviced.

RESULTS
As a result of these technological enhancements, ODOT's snow and ice removal program was extremely effective during the 1999-2000 winter season. Approximately 1,550 ODOT trucks spread more than 550,000 tons of salt on Ohio's interstates, state highways and U.S. routes.

Although the pavement sensors are currently in use only in the Central Ohio, Toledo and Cleveland areas, ODOT has plans to install them throughout the state during the next several years. As new highway projects are developed, and existing roads are repaved, the sensors will be incorporated into road surfaces.