Road Freezing Decision System Using Chloride Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for deciding on snow removal work have low decision-making accuracy due to reliance on road surface temperature and moisture conditions without measuring chloride concentration after deicing agent application.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that acquire and monitor real-time road surface temperature, moisture, salt concentration, and state information to determine whether to spray and re-spray deicing agents, considering all conditions for accurate road freezing prediction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If deicing agent spraying decision is made based only on road surface temperature and moisture conditions, then the decision-making process is simple, but the decision-making accuracy is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecision-making process simplicityVSAvoiddecision-making accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously measuring chloride concentration after deicing agent application and using this information to adjust subsequent spraying decisions. The monitoring unit tracks chloride levels and feeds this data back to the decision-making system, enabling dynamic adjustment of spraying strategies based on actual road conditions and previous treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces experience-based mechanical decision-making with an automated electronic system that integrates multiple sensor inputs (temperature, moisture, chloride concentration) and uses algorithmic processing to determine spraying decisions. This substitution of human judgment with an automated sensing and decision system improves accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If deicing agent is sprayed frequently to ensure road safety, then road safety is improved, but costs and environmental harm increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad safetyVSAvoiddeicing agent consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from chloride concentration measurements to determine when additional spraying is necessary. By monitoring actual chloride levels on the road surface, the system can accurately assess whether previous applications are still effective or if reapplication is needed, preventing both over-spraying and under-spraying.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the decision parameters from simple temperature and moisture thresholds to a multi-parameter approach including chloride concentration measurement. This allows for more precise control of spraying operations, adjusting decisions based on the actual chemical state of the road surface rather than relying on conservative frequent application schedules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If deicing agent is sprayed without measuring chloride concentration, then the operation is faster, but the effectiveness of snow removal work is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation speedVSAvoidsnow removal effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual or experience-based assessment of road conditions with automated electronic sensing that rapidly measures chloride concentration. This electronic measurement system provides quick, objective data about road surface salt levels, enabling fast decision-making without sacrificing accuracy or effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables the road surface itself to provide information about its state through chloride concentration measurement. The road surface effectively 'tells' the system whether it needs more deicing agent by maintaining sensors that detect the actual salt levels present, allowing the system to respond appropriately without human intervention or estimation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250075448A1System and method for making decision on snow removal work

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 RE TECH CO LTD

AI summary

According to the present disclosure, road surface state information (road surface frictional force) is acquired and monitored together with road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, and road surface salt concentration information of each road to determine whether to spray a deicing agent and whether to re-spray a deicing agent as a subsequent process depending on whether to satisfy not only a road surface temperature condition, a road surface moisture condition, a road surface salt concentration condition, but also the road surface state condition of road freezing.