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and Ranging) data along with AVL billion on winter road maintenance,” shared, challenged and brainstormed
(Automatic Vehicle Location) speed Omitaomu said. “With City of Knoxville until we found the right solution. It was
detection data to determine the amount road data, we developed a successful awesome.”
of brine to use. That tablet will then laboratory prototype, and we’re pleased
“talk” to the actual equipment attached to collaborate with the City and with Prior to diving into that solution, the
to the truck, which will regulate UT in scaling up and applying this novel students thoroughly interviewed City
the amount of brine distributed by approach in a real-world scenario. Public Service officials to determine the
electronic solenoid valves. greatest needs and challenges in snow
“Our goal is to give cities like prevention methods.
In areas that the LiDAR data has Knoxville an intelligent approach to
identified as greater risks for ice – for managing their resources effectively.” “It’s really ideal to be neighbors with
example, stretches of road that are shady think tank entities like ORNL and UT
or where there are changes in topography UT students from the Haslam College because our community benefits from
– the device will increase the amount of Business evaluated the LiDAR data, forward-thinking projects like this
of road treatment. When snow trucks then added AVL data to form the one,” Weth said. “Though I expect us to
travel lower than 30 mph, the optimal device’s software. benefit from this device in Knoxville’s
brine distribution speed, the device will moderate winters, I can really see it
calculate and reduce the amount of brine LiDAR surveying relies on ultraviolet, supporting areas up north or in the
to avoid excessive treatment. near visible, or infrared light to image mountains, where they receive ongoing
objects such as rocks via satellite. In this snowfall.”
Olufemi “Femi” Omitaomu of application, for example, LiDAR was able
the Computational Sciences and to show which City streets will be most City Public Service staff have attached
Engineering Division at ORNL or least susceptible to snow and ice. this device to one of the City’s seven
approached Chad Weth, City of brine trucks. After this winter season,
Knoxville Public Service Director, “As my teammates and I learned from the City will be reporting back to ORNL
several years ago about the project. A our interviews, safety is priority No. 1,” on brine use comparing the prototype
regional neighbor to ORNL, the City of said Selin Anitsal, a marketing student device and the typical brine trucks.
Knoxville’s urban setting and strategic at Haslam. “Given that requirement, we
Snow Plan, which outlines City streets still found ways to improve efficiency by “We’ve been really pleased with our
in levels of priority, made Knoxville an adjusting brine flow based upon speed snow response over recent years, but
ideal test candidate. and the risk factors along the roadway. there’s always room for improvement,”
said Weth. “We’re grateful to our
“Across the United States, cities “We had an invaluable experience partners at UT and ORNL for the
are collectively spending about $1.5 working with the City of Knoxville, Oak chance for our snow response to prove
Ridge and Kevin Homan, our system more effective.”
engineer. We succeeded because we
View online at tnpublicworks.com 23
