System and method for making decision on snow removal work

Abstract

To provide an accurate system and method for making decision on snow removal work.SOLUTION: For every road, road surface temperature information, road surface humidity information, road surface salinity information, and road surface state information (road surface friction) are acquired and monitored, and according to whether not only a road surface temperature condition, a road surface humidity condition, a road surface salinity condition, but a road surface state condition for road freezing are satisfied, whether to sprinkle a snow melting agent and subsequently sprinkle the snow melting agent again is determined. Consequently, a more accurate judgement on road freezing and thin ice (black ice) can be made, and the accuracy of making decision on snow removal work is improved, and thereby inconsiderate sprinkling of the snow melting agent can be reduced to solve the problems including an increase in cost, corrosion of the road surface, and contamination of soil around the road.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a snow removal operation decision making system and method. [Background technology]

[0002] Road icing occurs due to three factors and their interactions: 1. Road surface temperature 2. Presence or absence of moisture on the road surface (snowfall, rainfall, dew, fog, water melted from snow removal work, etc.) 3. Concentration of defrosting agent (chloride) sprayed to prevent freezing

[0003] Thin ice (black ice) can occur for two reasons: 1. Rain falls on areas such as bridges where the road surface temperature is low at night or dawn, causing instant freezing. 2. After snow removal work, the chloride concentration may decrease due to continued snowfall or rainfall, causing refreezing, or the temperature may drop at dawn, causing refreezing.

[0004] Despite knowing the causes of frozen roads and thin ice (black ice), serious traffic accidents occur every year due to frozen roads and thin ice. The reasons for this include the inaccuracy of measuring road surface temperature, the difficulty of measuring road surface moisture, the difficulty of measuring the concentration of snow-melting agents (chloride), and the dependency of snow removal decision-making on the experience of road managers.

[0005] Therefore, the applicant's Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2380852 proposes a snow removal operation decision-making system and method that considers all road freezing factors, accurately measures them, and predicts the time when the road will freeze by considering their interactions, thereby accurately determining whether or not snow removal operations should be performed, the timing of snow removal operations, and the amount of snow-melting agent to be spread, allowing road managers to accurately and quickly decide on snow removal operations regardless of their snow removal experience.

[0006] However, the applicant's snow removal operation decision-making system and method has a structure in which a road is judged to be at risk of freezing and snow melting agent is sprayed only based on the road surface temperature and road surface moisture conditions, even if the salt concentration is not measured after the snow melting agent is sprayed, and therefore the accuracy of the decision-making is low. Therefore, the applicant's snow removal operation decision-making system and method also need to be improved. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent No. 10-2380852 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a snow removal operation decision-making system and method capable of solving the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the snow removal operation decision-making system of the present invention comprises an information acquisition unit that is installed on each road and acquires road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface condition information of each road in real time, an information monitoring unit that receives the road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface condition information acquired by the information acquisition unit and monitors the information in real time, and a decision making system for deciding whether or not the road surface temperature conditions, road surface moisture conditions, road surface salt concentration conditions, and road surface condition conditions for road freezing of each road are satisfied based on the monitoring results transmitted from the information monitoring unit. The system includes a decision-making unit which decides whether to spray snow-melting agent and whether to spray snow-melting agent again, and the decision-making unit decides to spray snow-melting agent on each road when the road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and road surface humidity condition for road freezing, and decides whether to spray snow-melting agent again based on the road surface salt concentration condition and road surface condition for road freezing after the snow-melting agent has been sprayed, wherein the road surface temperature condition for road freezing is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface humidity condition is that road surface moisture occurs, the road surface salt concentration condition is that the salt concentration of the snow-melting agent is equal to or lower than the salt concentration at the freezing point, and the road surface condition is that the road surface friction coefficient is 0.6 or less.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for determining whether to spray snow-melting agent or not and whether to spray snow-melting agent again depending on whether the road surface temperature conditions, road surface moisture conditions, road surface salt concentration conditions, and road surface condition conditions of each road are satisfied based on the results of the monitoring, and to determine whether to spray snow-melting agent again depending on whether the road surface temperature conditions, road surface moisture conditions, road surface salt concentration conditions, and road surface condition conditions of each road are satisfied based on the results of the monitoring, and to determine whether to spray snow-melting agent or not and to determine whether to spray snow-melting agent again depending on whether the road surface temperature conditions, road surface moisture conditions, road surface salt concentration conditions, and road surface condition conditions of each road are satisfied based on the results of the monitoring, and to determine whether to spray snow-melting agent or not and to determine whether to spray snow-melting agent again depending on the results of the monitoring, and to determine whether the road surface temperature conditions, road surface moisture conditions, road surface salt concentration conditions, and road surface condition conditions of each road are satisfied based ... and a third step of deciding whether to re-spray de-icing agent based on the road surface salt concentration condition for the frozen road and the road surface condition after the de-icing agent has been sprayed, wherein the road surface temperature condition for the frozen road is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface moisture condition is that road surface moisture occurs, the road surface salt concentration condition is that the salt concentration of the de-icing agent is equal to or lower than the freezing point, and the road surface condition is that the road surface friction force is 0.6 or less. Effect of the Invention

[0011] The present invention acquires and monitors road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface condition information (road surface friction force) for each road, and determines whether to spray snow-melting agent and subsequent re-spray of snow-melting agent depending on whether the road surface temperature conditions, road surface moisture conditions, road surface salt conditions, as well as the road surface condition conditions for road freezing are met. This allows for more accurate judgment of road icing and thin ice (black ice), improves the accuracy of snow removal operation decision-making, and reduces indiscriminate spraying of snow-melting agent, improving problems such as increased costs, road surface corrosion, and soil pollution around the road.

[0012] In the present invention, when the salinity concentration after the spreading of the snow-melting agent is not measured, the road surface condition, i.e., the road surface friction condition, is taken into consideration from the road surface condition information acquired by the road surface condition sensor to determine whether or not to spread the snow-melting agent. In this way, when the salinity concentration is not measured, the snow-melting agent may be spread by substantially judging whether or not the road surface condition is at risk of freezing from the road surface friction, instead of unilaterally spreading the snow-melting agent as in the conventional case. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a snow removal operation decision-making system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] This is a table provided by transportation researchers at Northwestern University in the United States showing the friction coefficient for various road surface conditions. [Diagram 3] This is a table showing the friction force (friction coefficient) for each road surface condition estimated by a road surface condition sensor (mobile detector md30 made by Vaisala). [Figure 4] 2 is a flowchart showing a snow removal operation decision-making method according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 5] 4 is a flow chart showing an algorithm of a snow removal operation decision-making method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, a snow removal operation decision-making system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the snow removal operation decision-making system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an information acquisition unit 10, an information monitoring unit 20, and a decision-making unit 30.

[0016] [Information Acquisition Unit 10] The information acquisition unit 10 is installed on each road and acquires road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface condition information of each road in real time. The information acquisition unit 10 transmits the information acquired using the CCTV power supply unit and IoT (Internet of Things) installed on each road to the information monitoring unit 20 together with measurement position and measurement time information. The information acquisition unit 10 is composed of a road surface temperature information acquisition unit, a road surface moisture information acquisition unit, a road surface salt concentration information acquisition unit, and a road surface condition information acquisition unit.

[0017] Road surface temperature information acquisition part The road surface temperature information acquisition unit is configured with a contact-type temperature sensor that is installed on the road surface of each road to measure the temperature of the road surface. The contact-type temperature sensor is preferably installed on the road surface of a road that requires snow removal work rather than on the edge of the road, and reflects the actual temperature of the surrounding area of ​​the road surface.

[0018] Road surface moisture information acquisition unit The road surface moisture information acquisition unit is installed on a pole attached to the edge of the road surface of each road and includes a fog sensor, a particulate matter sensor, an atmospheric temperature sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, an atmospheric humidity sensor, a rainfall sensor, and a snowfall sensor for measuring weather conditions. In addition, various weather sensors for measuring weather conditions may be added. Road surface moisture information regarding whether road surface moisture has occurred may be acquired from weather information such as snow, rain, fog, dew, frost, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and particulate matter measured by the fog sensor, particulate matter sensor, atmospheric temperature sensor, atmospheric pressure sensor, atmospheric humidity sensor, rainfall sensor, and snowfall sensor.

[0019] Road surface salt concentration information acquisition unit The road surface salt concentration information acquisition unit is composed of a salt sensor that is installed on the road surface of each road and measures the salt concentration of the snow-melting agent spread on the road surface. The salt sensor is installed on the road surface together with a contact-type temperature sensor. The salt sensor may be an electrical or optical salt sensor. Generally, salt or calcium chloride is used as the snow-melting agent. When the snow-melting agent is spread on the road surface and comes into contact with moisture, the snow-melting agent dissolves, and if there is no moisture or a sufficient amount does not dissolve, the salt concentration may not be measured by the salt sensor. The salt concentration of the snow-melting agent is used as important information for predicting and determining the temperature at which the snow or ice melted by the snow-melting agent will refreeze.

[0020] Road surface condition information acquisition unit The road surface condition information acquisition unit is configured with a road surface condition sensor that is installed on a pole attached to the edge of the road surface of each road and provides road surface friction force (friction coefficient). As shown in FIG. 2, the friction force (friction coefficient) varies depending on the road surface condition. From the road surface friction force (friction coefficient) presented by the road surface condition sensor, it is possible to know whether the road surface condition corresponds to dry, damp, wet, ice, snow, slush, etc. For example, the mobile detector md30 manufactured by Vaisala may be used as the road surface condition sensor. As shown in FIG. 3, the mobile detector md30 manufactured by combining an infrared sensor and other sensors detects the road surface condition and provides the road surface friction force (friction coefficient) estimated from the road surface condition.

[0021] 2 and 3, when the road surface friction force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or less, the road surface condition is ice, snow, or slush, and when the road surface friction force (friction coefficient) is more than 0.6, the road surface condition is dry or wet. Therefore, when the road surface friction force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or less, the road is in a frozen state, and snow removal work is necessary.

[0022] [Information Monitoring Unit 20] The information monitoring unit 20 receives the road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface condition information of each road acquired by the information acquisition unit 10 and monitors them in real time. The information monitoring unit may be embodied as a computer, software, monitoring equipment, etc. The information monitoring unit 20 includes a road surface temperature monitoring unit that monitors the road surface temperature information of each road in real time, a road surface moisture monitoring unit that monitors the road surface moisture information of each road in real time, a road surface salt concentration monitoring unit that monitors the road surface salt concentration information of each road in real time, and a road surface condition monitoring unit that monitors the road surface condition information of each road in real time. The information monitoring unit 20 may visually display the road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface condition information of each road that have been transmitted to it through a map.

[0023] [Decision-making Unit 30] The decision-making unit 30 receives the monitoring results from the information monitoring unit 20 and determines whether to spray snow-melting agent or whether to re-spray snow-melting agent depending on whether road surface temperature conditions, road surface moisture conditions, road surface salt conditions, and road surface condition conditions for road freezing are satisfied. The decision-making unit 30 may be embodied as a computer, software, etc.

[0024] Specifically, the decision-making unit 30 decides to spray snow-melting agent on each road when the road surface temperature condition and road surface moisture condition of road icing are satisfied as a result of monitoring by the information monitoring unit 20, and decides whether to spray snow-melting agent again based on the road surface salt concentration condition and road surface condition of road icing after spraying snow-melting agent. Here, the road surface temperature condition of road icing is below zero temperature, the road surface moisture condition is road surface moisture generation, the road surface salt concentration condition is the salt concentration of snow-melting agent is below the freezing point salt concentration, and the road surface condition is the road surface friction force (friction coefficient) is below 0.6. The operation of the decision-making unit 30 refers to the third step S30 of the snow removal operation decision-making method according to an embodiment of the present invention described later.

[0025] A method for making decisions about snow removal operations according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.

[0026] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the snow removal operation decision-making method includes a first step S10 of acquiring road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface condition 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 condition information of each road in real time; and a third step S30 of deciding whether to spray snow-melting agent and whether to re-spray snow-melting agent depending on whether the road surface temperature conditions, road surface moisture conditions, road surface salt conditions, and road surface condition conditions for road icing of each road are satisfied from the monitoring results, and deciding to spray snow-melting agent on each road if each road satisfies the road surface temperature conditions and road surface moisture conditions for road icing, and deciding whether to re-spray snow-melting agent based on the road surface salt concentration conditions and road surface condition conditions for road icing after the snow-melting agent has been sprayed.

[0027] The first step S10 will be described below. Road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface condition information of each road are obtained in real time. Road surface temperature information is obtained in real time from a contact type temperature sensor installed on the road surface of each road and measuring the road surface temperature. Road surface moisture information is obtained in real time from a fog sensor, a particulate matter sensor, an air temperature sensor, an air pressure sensor, an air humidity sensor, a rainfall sensor, and a snowfall sensor installed on a pole attached to the edge of the road surface of each road and measuring the weather conditions.

[0028] Road surface salt concentration information is obtained in real time from a salt sensor that is installed on the road surface of each road and measures the salt concentration of the snow-melting agent spread on the road surface. Road surface condition information is obtained in real time from a road surface condition sensor that is installed on a pole attached to the edge of the road surface of each road and provides the road surface friction force (friction coefficient). If the road surface friction force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or less, the road surface condition is ice, snow, or slush, and if the road surface friction force (friction coefficient) is more than 0.6, the road surface condition is dry or wet.

[0029] The second step S20 will be described below. The acquired road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salinity concentration information, and road surface condition information of each road are monitored in real time.

[0030] The third step S30 will be described below. From the monitoring results, it is determined whether to spray snow-melting agent and whether to spray snow-melting agent again depending on whether the road surface temperature condition, road surface moisture condition, road surface salt condition, and road surface condition of each road for road freezing are satisfied. If each road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and road surface moisture condition of road freezing, it is determined to spray snow-melting agent on each road, and it is determined whether to spray snow-melting agent again based on the road surface salt concentration condition and road surface condition of road freezing after spraying snow-melting agent. Here, the road surface temperature condition of road freezing is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface moisture condition is that road surface moisture occurs, the road surface salt concentration condition is that the salt concentration of snow-melting agent is below the freezing point salt concentration, and the road surface condition condition is that the road surface friction force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or less.

[0031] [Decision to spread snow-melting agent] First, if each road satisfies the road surface temperature and road surface moisture conditions for road freezing (i.e., the road surface temperature is below zero and there is road surface moisture), a decision is made to spread snow-melting agent on each road. At this time, the decision is made to spread snow-melting agent if snow-melting agent has never been spread, i.e., the number of times snow-melting agent has been spread (N) is 0. The prescribed amount of snow-melting agent to be spread is 20g / m2. If snow-melting agent has been spread before, i.e., the number of times snow-melting agent has been spread (N) is 1 or more, the process of deciding whether to spread snow-melting agent again is carried out.

[0032] [Decision to re-spray snow-melting agent] Whether or not to re-spray snow-melting agent is determined based on the road salt concentration conditions and road surface condition conditions for frozen roads after the snow-melting agent has been sprayed. Once snow-melting agent has been sprayed, it must be waited for the snow-melting agent to react. The reaction time for snow-melting agent is approximately 30 minutes. If the reaction time for snow-melting agent after spraying has elapsed, it is determined whether or not the road salt concentration can be measured, and if the road salt concentration can be measured, it is determined whether or not to re-spray snow-melting agent depending on whether the road salt concentration conditions for frozen roads are met, and if the road salt concentration cannot be measured, it is determined whether or not to re-spray snow-melting agent depending on whether the road surface condition conditions for frozen roads are met.

[0033] <When road surface salt concentration is measured> After the de-icing agent is sprayed, the de-icing agent dissolves during its reaction time and the road surface salt concentration is measured, and then it is examined whether the road surface salt concentration conditions for road freezing are met.

[0034] Case 1-1: When the road salt concentration exceeds the freezing point Unless all of the road surface temperature and road surface moisture conditions for road freezing are met, once the road surface salt concentration exceeds the freezing point salt concentration (i.e., the road surface salt concentration conditions for road freezing are not met), snow removal operations will cease since there is no risk of refreezing.

[0035] Case 1-2: When the road salt concentration exceeds the freezing point If the road surface temperature and road surface moisture conditions for road freezing are all met (i.e., the road surface temperature is below zero and road surface moisture is occurring), even if the road surface salt concentration exceeds the freezing point salt concentration (i.e., even if the road surface salt concentration conditions for road freezing are not met), there is a risk of re-freezing, so the system returns to the de-icing agent application decision process and re-sprays de-icing agent, taking into account the number of times and the amount of de-icing agent to be sprayed.

[0036] Case 1-3: When the road salt concentration is below the freezing point If the road surface salt concentration is below the freezing point salt concentration (i.e., if the road surface salt concentration condition for road freezing is met), the process returns to the snow-melting agent spraying decision process, and snow-melting agent is sprayed again, taking into account the amount of snow-melting agent to be sprayed.

[0037] <When road salt concentration is not measured> After the de-icing agent is spread, if the agent does not melt during the reaction time or if the amount of melted agent is so small that the road salt concentration on the road cannot be measured, it is examined whether the road surface condition conditions are met and it is determined whether the current road surface condition is frozen.

[0038] Case 2-1: When road friction (friction coefficient) exceeds 0.6 Unless all of the road surface temperature and road surface moisture conditions for road freezing are met, snow removal work will be terminated if the road surface friction force (friction coefficient) exceeds 0.6 (i.e., the road surface condition conditions are not met) as there is no risk of refreezing.

[0039] Case 2-2: When road friction (friction coefficient) exceeds 0.6 If the road surface temperature and road surface moisture conditions for road freezing are all met (i.e., the road surface temperature is below zero and road surface moisture is occurring), even if the road surface friction force (friction coefficient) exceeds 0.6 (i.e., even if the road surface condition conditions are not met), there is a risk of re-freezing, so the system returns to the de-icing agent application decision process and re-sprays de-icing agent, taking into account the number of times and amount of de-icing agent application.

[0040] Case 2-3: When road friction (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or less If the road surface friction force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or less (i.e., if the road surface condition conditions are met), the road surface condition is ice, snow, or slush, so the process returns to the snow-melting agent application decision process and snow-melting agent is sprayed again, taking into account the amount of snow-melting agent to be sprayed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 10 Information Acquisition Unit 20. Information Monitoring Unit 30 Decision-making unit

Claims

1. An information acquisition unit is installed on each road and acquires road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface condition information in real time for each road; an information monitoring unit for monitoring the road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salinity information, and road surface condition information of each road acquired by the information acquisition unit in real time; a decision-making unit that receives a result of the monitoring from the information monitoring unit and decides whether to spray snow-melting agent and whether to spray snow-melting agent again depending on whether a road surface temperature condition, a road surface moisture condition, a road surface salt condition, and a road surface condition condition of each road are satisfied; the decision-making unit decides to spray de-icing agent on each road when the road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and road surface moisture condition of road icing, and decides whether to spray de-icing agent again based on the road surface salt concentration condition and road surface condition of road icing after spraying the de-icing agent; Here, the road surface temperature condition for road freezing is a road surface temperature below zero, the road surface moisture condition is the occurrence of road surface moisture, the road surface salt concentration condition is the salt concentration of the snow-melting agent being equal to or lower than the freezing point, and the road surface condition condition is the road surface friction coefficient being equal to or lower than 0.

6.

2. The information acquisition unit includes: A road surface temperature information acquisition unit configured with a contact type temperature sensor installed on the road surface of each road to measure the road surface temperature; A road surface moisture information acquisition unit that is installed on a pole attached to the edge of the road surface of each road and that measures weather conditions and is composed of a fog sensor, a particulate matter sensor, an atmospheric temperature sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, an atmospheric humidity sensor, a rainfall sensor, and a snowfall sensor; A road surface salt concentration information acquisition unit configured with a salt sensor that is installed on the road surface of each road and measures the salt concentration of the snow-melting agent sprayed on the road surface; The snow removal operation decision-making system according to claim 1, further comprising a road surface friction force information acquisition unit configured with a road surface condition sensor installed on a post attached to the edge of the road surface of each road and providing a road surface friction coefficient.

3. The decision-making unit comprises: When the reaction time of the snow-melting agent has elapsed after the snow-melting agent is spread, it is determined whether or not the road surface salt concentration can be measured based on the road surface salt concentration information; If the road salt concentration can be measured, a decision is made as to whether or not to re-spray snow-melting agent depending on whether or not the road salt concentration condition for road freezing is met; 2. The snow removal operation decision-making system according to claim 1, wherein if the road salt concentration cannot be measured, it is determined whether or not to re-spray snow-melting agent depending on whether the road surface condition for freezing is met.

4. The decision-making unit comprises: The snow removal operation decision-making system according to claim 3, characterized in that when the road surface salt concentration condition for freezing the road is met or the road surface condition condition for freezing the road is met, the system returns to the snow-melting agent spraying decision-making process and sprays snow-melting agent again.

5. A first step of acquiring road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface condition 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 condition information of each road in real time; a third step of determining whether to spray de-icing agent and whether to re-spray de-icing agent according to whether the road surface temperature conditions, road surface moisture conditions, road surface salt conditions, and road surface condition conditions for road icing of each road are satisfied based on the result of the monitoring, and determining to spray de-icing agent on each road if each road satisfies the road surface temperature conditions and road surface moisture conditions for road icing, and determining whether to re-spray de-icing agent based on the road surface salt concentration conditions and road surface condition conditions for road icing after spraying the de-icing agent; Here, the road surface temperature condition for road freezing is a road surface temperature below zero, the road surface moisture condition is the occurrence of road surface moisture, the road surface salt concentration condition is the salt concentration of the snow-melting agent being equal to or lower than the freezing point, and the road surface state condition is a road surface friction force of 0.6 or less.

Images