U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
| Project Information | ||
| Project ID: | FHWA-PROJ-14-0011 | |
| Project Name: | Advanced, Low-Cost Snowplow Visual Guidance System | |
| Project Status: | Programmed | |
| Start Date: | September 22, 2014 | |
| End Date: | March 21, 2016 | |
| Contact Information | ||
| Last Name: | Kessler | |
| First Name: | Morgan | |
| Telephone: | TBD | |
| E-mail: | morgan.kessler@dot.gov | |
| Office: | Office of Infrastructure Research and Development | |
| Team: | Infrastructure Analysis and Construction Team [HRDI-20] | |
| Program: | Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center | |
| Project detail | ||
| Project Description: | The scope of this work is to comprehensively research and develop a visual guidance system that will be used by the operator onboard snowplow units, incorporating recent technological advances in digital imaging, remote sensing, global positioning system (GPS) and digital three-dimensional (3D) visualization. The conditions for intended use are low, and zero visibility environments such as encountered during blizzards, rural nighttime operations, super-cooled fog, and other high visual impairment situations. The effort will include gathering/synthesizing data, distilling this data to parse out technology applicable to the project goals, and designing and assembling an operational prototype unit that will be ready for further validation, enhancement, and field use. These latter tasks beyond delivery of an operational prototype would be addressed in a possible phase II, and are not part of the present project scope. | |
| Goals: | The objective of this project is to develop a prototype unit that incorporates available technology as much as possible with the goal of producing a relatively low-cost, high-accuracy, visual guidance system for snowplow operators. Elements of the project will include examining commercial and academic advances in virtual displays and similar digital imaging, three-dimensional (3D) mapping, global positioning system (GPS) vehicle positioning, radar/LiDAR-based sensing, and other emerging/existing technologies. Research would look at what sort of visual display would be the most effective for operator acceptance, safety and comfort. | |
| Product Type: | Hardware Research report | |
| Test Methodology: | The approach to this project shall involve conducting a comprehensive literature review, and applying this information to develop an operational prototype. | |
| Expected Benefits: | Using the newest advances in remote sensing, digital modeling, and computer-enhanced visualization toward the development of a reliable, accurate, and cost-effective tool for improving the safety and productivity of snowplow operation. | |
| Deliverables: | Name: The effort will include gathering/synthesizing data, distilling the data to parse out technology applicable to the project goals, and designing and assembling an operational prototype unit that will be ready for further validation, enhancement, and field use. Product Type(s): Research report, Hardware Description: The primary product for this project is an operational prototype unit ready to be installed on a snowplow. The second deliverable is a detailed marketing analysis for the system. | |
| FHWA Topics: | Road Operations and Congestion--Emergency Response | |
| TRT Terms: | Visual aids Research Infrastructure Global positioning system Snowplows Laser radar |
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| FHWA Disciplines: | Environment Operations Planning |
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| Subject Areas: | Highways Maintenance and Preservation Research |
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