Snow removal operation decision-making system and method

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 interrelationships: 1. Road surface temperature 2. Presence or absence of moisture on the road surface (snowfall, rainfall, dew, fog, water melted by snow removal work, etc.) 3. Concentration of snow-melting 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 rain, causing refreezing, or the temperature may drop at dawn, causing refreezing.

[0004] Despite knowing the causes of road freezing and thin ice (black ice), major traffic accidents occur every year due to road freezing 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 dependence of snow removal decision-making on the experience of road managers.

[0005] Therefore, the applicant's Korean Patent No. 10-2380852 proposes a snow removal 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 to perform snow removal work, the timing of snow removal work, and the amount of snow-melting agent to be sprayed, allowing road managers to accurately and quickly decide on snow removal work regardless of their snow removal experience.

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

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

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a snow removal operation decision-making system and method that can solve 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 installed on each road and 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; 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 of each road acquired by the information acquisition unit and monitors the information in real time; and a snow removal operation decision-making system that receives monitoring results from the information monitoring unit and determines whether the road surface temperature conditions, road surface moisture conditions, road surface salt concentration conditions, and road surface condition conditions of each road are met. The system includes a decision-making unit that decides whether to spray deicing agent and whether to spray it again, and the decision-making unit decides to spray deicing agent on each road when the road surface temperature and road surface humidity conditions for road icing are met, and decides whether to spray deicing agent again based on the road surface salt concentration conditions for road icing and road surface conditions after the deicing agent has been sprayed, where the road surface temperature condition for road icing is a road surface temperature below zero, the road surface humidity condition is the occurrence of road surface humidity, the road surface salt concentration condition is the salt concentration of the deicing agent being equal to or lower than the salt concentration at the freezing point, and the road surface condition is a road surface friction coefficient of 0.6 or less.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting road surface temperature, humidity, salt concentration, and road surface condition information of each road in real time, comprising the steps of: a first step of acquiring road surface temperature information, humidity information, 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, humidity information, salt concentration information, and road surface condition information of each road in real time; and a second step of determining whether to spray snow-melting agent and when to spray snow-melting agent depending on whether the road surface temperature conditions, humidity conditions, salt concentration conditions, and road surface condition conditions of road freezing of each road are met based on the results of the monitoring. and a third step of determining whether to re-spray deicing agent on each road if the road surface temperature and road surface humidity conditions for road icing are met, and determining whether to re-spray deicing agent on each road based on the road surface salt concentration conditions and road surface condition for road icing after the deicing agent has been sprayed, wherein the road surface temperature condition for road icing is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface humidity condition is that road surface humidity occurs, the road surface salt concentration condition is that the salt concentration of the deicing agent is below the freezing point, and the road surface condition is that road surface Friction coefficientThis is achieved by a snow removal operation decision-making method characterized in that: [Effects 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-spraying depending on whether the road surface temperature, road surface moisture, and road surface salt conditions for road icing as well as road surface condition conditions are met. This enables more accurate judgment of road icing and thin ice (black ice), improving the accuracy of snow removal operation decision-making, thereby reducing indiscriminate spraying of snow-melting agent and alleviating problems such as increased costs, road surface erosion, and soil contamination around roads.

[0012] In the present invention, if the salt concentration after spraying the snow-melting agent is not measured, the road surface condition, i.e., the road surface frictional force condition, is taken into consideration when determining whether to spray the snow-melting agent from the road surface condition information acquired by the road surface condition sensor. As a result, if the salt concentration is not measured, the snow-melting agent can be sprayed by essentially determining whether the road surface condition is at risk of freezing from the road surface frictional force, rather than unilaterally spraying the snow-melting agent as in the conventional case. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a snow removal operation decision-making system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 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. [Figure 3] This is a table showing the friction coefficient for each road surface condition estimated by a road surface condition sensor (mobile detector md30 made by Vaisala). [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a snow removal operation decision-making method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5]1 is a flowchart showing an algorithm of a snow removal operation decision-making method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[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 for each road in real time. The information acquisition unit 10 transmits the acquired information, along with measurement location and measurement time information, to the information monitoring unit 20 using CCTV power supply units and IoT (Internet of Things) installed on each road. The information acquisition unit 10 is composed of a road surface temperature information acquisition unit, road surface moisture information acquisition unit, road surface salt concentration information acquisition unit, and 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 roads that require snow removal work rather than on the road edge, and preferably 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 rain sensor, and a snow sensor for measuring weather conditions. Various other weather sensors for measuring weather conditions may be added. Road surface moisture information regarding the occurrence of road surface moisture 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, rain sensor, and snow 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 sprayed 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. Salt or calcium chloride is generally used as the snow-melting agent. When the snow-melting agent is sprayed on the road surface and comes into contact with moisture, it dissolves. However, if there is no moisture or if the amount is not sufficient, 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 composed of road surface condition sensors that are installed on poles attached to the edge of the road surface of each road and provide 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) provided by the road surface condition sensor, it is possible to determine whether the road surface condition is dry, damp, wet, icy, snowy, slushy, 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, which is manufactured by combining an infrared sensor and other sensors, detects the road surface condition and provides the estimated road surface friction force (friction coefficient).

[0021] According to Figures 2 and 3, the road surface Friction coefficient If is 0.6 or less, the road condition is ice, snow, or slush. Friction coefficient If is greater than 0.6, the road surface condition is either dry or wet. Friction coefficient If the value is 0.6 or less, the road is frozen and snow removal work is required.

[0022] [Information Monitoring Unit 20] The information monitoring unit 20 receives and monitors in real time 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. 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 in real time the road surface temperature information of each road, a road surface moisture monitoring unit that monitors in real time the road surface moisture information of each road, a road surface salt concentration monitoring unit that monitors in real time the road surface salt concentration information of each road, and a road surface condition monitoring unit that monitors in real time the road surface condition information of each road. The information monitoring unit 20 may visually display the received road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface condition information of each road 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 icing are met. The decision-making unit 30 may be embodied as a computer, software, etc.

[0024] Specifically, the decision-making unit 30 determines whether to spray deicing agent on each road if the road surface temperature and road surface humidity conditions for road icing are met as a result of monitoring by the information monitoring unit 20, and determines whether to spray deicing agent again based on the road surface salt concentration conditions and road surface condition conditions for road icing after spraying the deicing agent. Here, the road surface temperature condition for road icing is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface humidity condition is that road surface humidity occurs, the road surface salt concentration condition is that the salt concentration of the deicing agent is below the freezing point, and the road surface condition is that road surface Friction coefficient is less than or equal to 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, which will be described later.

[0025] A snow removal operation decision-making method 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 comprises a first step S10 of acquiring road surface temperature, road surface moisture, road surface salt concentration, and road surface condition information for each road in real time; a second step S20 of monitoring the acquired road surface temperature, road surface moisture, road surface salt concentration, and road surface condition information for each road in real time; and a third step S30 of determining whether to spray de-icing agent or re-spray it based on the monitoring results and whether the road surface temperature, road surface moisture, road surface salt, and road surface condition conditions for each road are met. If the road surface temperature and road surface moisture conditions for icing are met, a decision is made to spray de-icing agent on each road, and a third step S30 of determining whether to re-spray de-icing agent based on the road surface salt concentration and road surface condition conditions for icing after spraying the de-icing agent.

[0027] The first step S10 is described below. Road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface condition information for each road are acquired in real time. Road surface temperature information is acquired in real time from contact-type temperature sensors installed on the road surface of each road to measure the road surface temperature. Road surface moisture information is acquired in real time from fog sensors, particulate matter sensors, air temperature sensors, air pressure sensors, air humidity sensors, rain sensors, and snow sensors installed on poles attached to the edge of the road surface to measure weather conditions.

[0028] Road surface salt concentration information is obtained in real time from salt sensors that are installed on the road surface of each road and measure the salt concentration of the snow-melting agent sprayed on the road surface. Road surface condition information is obtained in real time from road surface condition sensors that are installed on poles attached to the edge of the road surface of each road and provide road surface friction force (friction coefficient). Road surface Friction coefficient If is 0.6 or less, the road condition is ice, snow, or slush. Friction coefficient If is greater than 0.6, the road condition is either dry or wet.

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

[0030] The third step S30 will be explained below. Based on the monitoring results, a decision is made as to whether or not to spray snow-melting agent and whether or not to re-spray snow-melting agent depending on whether or not the road surface temperature, humidity, salt content, and road surface condition conditions for road icing on each road are met. If each road satisfies the road surface temperature and humidity conditions for road icing, a decision is made as to whether to spray snow-melting agent on each road, and whether or not to re-spray snow-melting agent based on the road surface salt concentration conditions and road surface condition conditions for road icing after spraying snow-melting agent. Here, the road surface temperature condition for road icing is a road surface temperature below zero, the road humidity condition is the occurrence of road moisture, the road surface salt concentration condition is the salt concentration of snow-melting agent is below the freezing point, and the road surface condition is the road surface. Friction coefficient is less than 0.6.

[0031] [Decision on spraying 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 spray snow-melting agent on each road. At this time, the decision is made to spray snow-melting agent if snow-melting agent has never been sprayed, i.e., if the number of times snow-melting agent has been sprayed (N) is 0. The prescribed amount of snow-melting agent to be sprayed is 20g / m2. If snow-melting agent has been sprayed before, i.e., if the number of times snow-melting agent has been sprayed (N) is 1 or more, the process of deciding whether to spray snow-melting agent again is carried out.

[0032] [Decision to re-spray snow-melting agent] After spraying the deicing agent, the decision on whether to spray it again is made based on the road salt concentration conditions and road surface conditions for frozen roads. Once the deicing agent is sprayed, it must be allowed to react. The reaction time for deicing agent is approximately 30 minutes. After the reaction time for deicing agent has elapsed, the system determines whether the road salt concentration can be measured. If the road salt concentration can be measured, the system determines whether to spray deicing agent again depending on whether the road salt concentration conditions for frozen roads are met. If the road salt concentration cannot be measured, the system determines whether to spray deicing agent again depending on whether the road surface condition conditions for frozen roads are met.

[0033] <When measuring road surface salt concentration> After the de-icing agent is sprayed, the de-icing agent dissolves during its reaction time, and the road surface salt concentration is measured. Then, it is determined 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 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 work will end as 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 present), 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 the de-icing agent, taking into account the number of times and amount of application of the de-icing agent.

[0036] Case 1-3: When the road salt concentration is below the freezing point If the road salt concentration is below the freezing point (i.e., if the road 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 sprayed, if the agent does not dissolve during the reaction time or if the amount dissolved is so small that the road salt concentration cannot be measured, the system checks whether the road surface condition conditions are met and determines whether the current road surface condition is frozen.

[0038] Case2-1: Road surface Friction coefficient If is greater than 0.6 Unless all road surface temperature and road surface moisture conditions for road freezing are met, the road surface Friction coefficient When exceeds 0.6 (i.e., the road surface condition is not met), snow removal work is terminated because there is no risk of refreezing.

[0039] Case2-2: Road surface Friction coefficient If is greater than 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 present), Friction coefficient Even if the road surface condition exceeds 0.6 (i.e., the road surface condition is not met), there is a risk of refreezing, so the process returns to the snow-melting agent application decision process, and snow-melting agent is re-sprayed taking into account the number of times the snow-melting agent is sprayed and the amount of snow-melting agent sprayed.

[0040] Case2-3: Road surface Friction coefficient is 0.6 or less road surface Friction coefficient If is 0.6 or less (i.e., if the road surface condition condition is met), the road surface condition is ice, snow, or slush, so 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. [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 for each road in real time; an information monitoring unit for receiving and monitoring in real time 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; a decision-making unit that receives the monitoring results from the information monitoring unit 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 icing of each road are satisfied; the decision-making unit determines whether to spray snow-melting agent on each road when the road surface temperature and road surface moisture conditions for road icing are met, and determines whether to spray snow-melting agent again based on the road surface salt concentration conditions and road surface condition conditions for road icing after the snow-melting agent has been sprayed; 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 below the salt concentration at the freezing point, and the road surface condition condition is the road surface friction coefficient being 0.6 or less.

2. The information acquisition unit: a road surface temperature information acquisition unit configured with a contact 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 that is 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 road surface condition sensors installed on posts attached to the edge of the road surface of each road and providing the road surface friction coefficient.

3. The decision-making unit When the reaction time of the snow-melting agent has elapsed after the snow-melting agent has been sprayed, it is determined whether or not it is possible to measure the road surface salt concentration based on the road surface salt concentration information. 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 condition for road freezing is met; 2. The snow removal operation decision-making system of claim 1, wherein if the road surface salt concentration cannot be measured, the system determines whether to re-spray snow-melting agent depending on whether the road surface condition conditions for icy roads are met.

4. The decision-making unit The snow removal operation decision-making system of claim 3, wherein if the road surface salt concentration condition for road freezing is met or the road surface condition condition for road freezing 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 snow-melting agent and whether to re-spray snow-melting agent based on whether the road surface temperature conditions, road surface moisture conditions, road surface salt conditions, and road surface condition conditions for road icing on each road are satisfied based on the monitoring results, and determining whether to spray snow-melting agent on each road if the road surface temperature conditions and road surface moisture conditions for road icing on each road are satisfied, and determining 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; 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 salt concentration at the freezing point, and the road surface condition condition is the road surface friction coefficient being equal to or lower than 0.6.

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