Winter Maintenance Optimization
A Winter Maintenance Optimization Tool
Winter road maintenance involves complex, interdependent decisions related to routing, contractor assignments, zone boundaries, and depot locations. These decisions are often made manually, limiting the ability to test alternatives, quantify trade-offs, or respond to changing conditions efficiently.
The Winter Maintenance Optimization Tool is a web-based decision support system that automates these processes using arc-routing algorithms—advanced optimization methods designed for servicing specific segments of a road network under time and resource constraints. The tool generates efficient plow and salt routes, aligned with operational goals and regulatory requirements.
A core feature is its ability to perform what-if scenario analysis, allowing users to test:
Alternative zone boundaries
Different contractor and Town resource allocations
Depot locations and their effect on deadhead travel
Varying snowfall intensities (e.g., 5 cm to 100-year events)
Adjustments to service level expectations
The system incorporates detailed Level of Service (LOS) parameters, including:
Maximum allowable clearance time for each road type (e.g., 4 hours for primary roads, 8 hours for local roads)
Priority ordering (e.g., primary before secondary, secondary before locals)
Specific vehicle requirements for certain routes
Tolerance thresholds for compliance evaluation
LOS compliance is quantified for every route and road segment, enabling direct evaluation of system performance under different plans. This allows municipalities to move beyond intuition and experience, using data-driven methods to optimize operations, defend budget allocations, and support council reporting.
Features
User Inputs
This module allows users to define the key operational settings that guide the tool. Users can assign each zone to a contractor or to the Town, specify the pricing structure (such as hourly rates or per-kilometer costs), and input travel speeds under different snowfall intensities.
Level of Service (LOS) requirements can also be defined, including target clearance times for different road types. These inputs form the foundation for all route planning and performance evaluation.
Boundary Adjustment
Users can adjust the boundaries of service zones directly on the map. Each zone corresponds to a single vehicle. The system allows zones to be modified through a drag-and-drop interface.
Once a boundary is changed, the tool immediately updates the routes within the affected zone. This feature supports quick adjustments in response to staffing changes, equipment availability, or operational goals.
Route Optimization
The tool generates efficient routes for plowing and salting using optimization algorithms based on the road network.
Primary roads are prioritized, followed by secondary and local roads. The system reduces overlap, minimizes total travel time, and adjusts the routes based on the latest input parameters. Plow and salt routes are calculated separately to reflect different vehicle and service requirements.
Outputs and Evaluation
After route optimization, the tool provides detailed outputs for each zone and road segment. These include estimated clearance times, total route distance and duration, and a breakdown of how well the routes meet the defined level of service.
The outputs can be exported as reports or GIS shapefiles and used for internal reviews or presentations to council. This enables better transparency and informed decision-making.
Depot Assignment
Depots define where each route begins and ends. This module allows users to assign depots to zones manually or by dragging and dropping their location on the map.
Users can test different depot configurations and immediately see how they affect travel time and operational efficiency. This helps reduce unnecessary driving and improves overall system performance.
Use Cases
The Winter Maintenance Optimization Tool is designed to support a wide range of planning, operational, and reporting needs. Typical use cases include:
Operational Planning
Develop daily or seasonal snow-clearing plans based on current contractor assignments, available vehicles, depot locations, and expected snowfall conditions. Adjust boundaries and rerun optimization as conditions change.
Scenario Testing
Evaluate “what-if” situations to understand the impact of alternative service levels, depot placements, contractor assignments, or resource constraints. Use these insights to support budgeting, contract design, or emergency preparedness.
Performance Monitoring
Track and evaluate how well snow-clearing operations met Level of Service (LOS) requirements. Identify any roads or zones that did not meet target clearance times, and use this information to adjust planning for future events.
Council and Stakeholder Reporting
Generate clear, quantitative reports that communicate operational plans, costs, and performance outcomes. Export GIS files and summary reports to support council presentations or inter-departmental coordination.
Post-Event Analysis
After a snow event, review actual vs. planned clearance times, route performance, and LOS compliance. Use this analysis to validate contractor performance, support billing, or identify opportunities for process improvement.
Team
Contact Us