Patent Application
20250075448
This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0114466 filed on Aug. 30, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a system and a method for making a decision on a snow removal work.
Road freezing is caused by the following three factors and their interrelation:
1) Temperature of a road surface, 2) Presence or absence of moisture on the road surface (snowfall, rainfall, dew, fog, and melted water from snow removal work), 3) Concentration of deicing agent (chloride) sprayed to prevent freezing
Further, thin ice (black ice) is caused by the following two reasons:
1) Temporary freezing occurring when rain falls on places such as bridges where a temperature of a road surface is low at night or early in the morning, 2) Re-freezing caused by a concentration of chloride lowered due to continued snowfall or rainfall, or re-freezing due to a temperature drop early in the morning, after snow removal work
Even though the causes of road freezing and thin ice (black ice) as described above, major traffic accidents occur every year due to the road freezing and thin ice because of inaccuracy in measuring a road surface temperature, difficulty in measuring moisture on the road surface, difficulty in measuring a concentration of a deicing agent (chloride), and decision-making on the snow removal work based on the experience of road managers.
Accordingly, Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2380852 of the applicant proposes a system and a method for making a decision on a snow removal work which consider all the road freezing factors, accurately measure the road freezing factors, and predict a road freezing time in consideration of their interrelation to accurately determine whether to perform the snow removal work, when the snow removal work will be performed, and an amount of deicing agent to be sprayed. Accordingly, a road manager can accurately and quickly make a decision on the snow removal work regardless of snow removal experience.
However, the system and the method for making a decision on a snow removal work of the present applicant has a structure which sprays the deicing agent by determining a freezing risk of the road only with a road surface temperature condition and a road surface moisture condition without measuring a concentration of chloride after spraying the deicing agent so that there is a problem in that the decision-making accuracy is low. Accordingly, the system and the method for making a decision on a snow removal work of the present applicant still need to be improved.
An object to be achieved by the present disclosure is to provide a system and a method for making a decision on a road removal work.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a system for making a decision on a snow removal work includes: an information acquiring unit which is installed in each road to acquire road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road in real time; an information monitoring unit which receives and monitors the road surface temperature information, the road surface moisture information, the road surface salt concentration information, and the road surface state information of each road acquired by the information acquiring unit, in real time; and a decision making unit which receives a monitoring result from the information monitoring unit to determine whether to spray the deicing agent and re-spray the deicing agent depending on whether to satisfy the road surface temperature condition, the road surface moisture condition, the road surface salt condition, and the road surface state condition, when each road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of road freezing, the decision making unit determines to spray the deicing agent on each road and determines to respray the deicing agent based on the road surface salt concentration condition and the road surface state of the road freezing after spraying the deicing agent. Here, the road surface temperature condition of the road freezing is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface moisture condition is that the moisture is generated on the road surface, the road surface salt concentration condition is that a salt concentration of the deicing agent is below a salt concentration at a freezing point, and the road surface state condition is that the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower.
Further, the object is achieved by a method for making a decision on a snow removal work including: a first step of acquiring road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state 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 state information of each road in real time; and a third step of determining whether to spray a deicing agent on each road depending on whether to satisfy the road surface temperature condition, the road surface moisture condition, the road surface salt concentration condition, and the road surface state condition of the road freezing of each road so that when each road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition, it is determined to spray the deicing agent on each road and after spraying the deicing agent, it is determined whether to respray the deicing agent based on the road salt concentration condition and the road surface state condition of the road freezing,
Here, the road surface temperature condition of the road freezing is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface moisture condition is that the moisture is generated on the road surface, the road surface salt concentration condition is that a salt concentration of the deicing agent is below a salt concentration at a freezing point, and the road surface state condition is that the road surface frictional force is 0.6 or lower.
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 respray 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. Accordingly, it is possible to more accurately determine the road freezing and thin ice (black ice) to improve the accuracy of making a decision on the snow removal work so that indiscriminate spraying of deicing agent is reduced to improve the problems of increased cost, road surface corrosion, and soil contamination around the road.
According to the present disclosure, when the salt concentration is not measured after spraying the deicing agent, a road surface state condition, that is, a road surface frictional force condition is considered from road surface state information acquired by a road surface state sensor to determine whether to spray the deicing agent. Accordingly, when the salt concentration cannot be measured, it is possible to spray the deicing agent by substantially determining whether the road surface state is at the risk of freezing based on the road surface frictional force, rather than spray the deicing agent unilaterally as in the related art.
The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Hereinafter, a system for making a decision on a snow removal work according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.
As illustrated in
The information acquiring unit 10 is installed in each road to acquire road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road in real time. The information acquiring unit 10 transmits information acquired using a CCTV power unit or Internet of things (IoT) installed in each road to the information monitoring unit 20 together with a measurement location and measurement time information.
The information acquiring unit 10 is configured by a road surface temperature information acquiring unit, a road surface moisture information acquiring unit, a road surface salt concentration information acquiring unit, and a road surface state information acquiring unit.
The road surface temperature information acquiring unit is configured by a contact type temperature sensor which is installed on a road surface of each road to measure a temperature of the road surface. The contact type temperature sensor is installed on the road surface where snow removal work is required rather than on a road edge to reflect an actual temperature of an area round the road surface.
The road surface moisture information acquiring unit is configured by a fog sensor, a fine dust sensor, an air temperature sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, an air humidity sensor, a rainfall sensor, and a snowfall sensor which are installed on a pillar mounted at a road surface edge of each road to measure weather conditions. In addition, various weather sensors which measure weather conditions may be added.
The road surface moisture information indicating whether moisture is generated on the road surface is acquired from weather information such as snow, rain, fog, dew, frost, a temperature, a humidity, a pressure, and fine dust measured by the fog sensor, the fine dust sensor, the air temperature sensor, the atmospheric pressure sensor, the air humidity sensor, the rainfall sensor, and the snowfall sensor.
The road surface salt concentration information acquiring unit is configured by a salt sensor which is installed on the road surface of each road to measure a salt concentration of a deicing agent sprayed on the road surface. The salt sensor is installed on the road surface together with the contact type temperature sensor. The salt sensor may be an electrical or optical salt sensor.
Generally, salt or calcium chloride is used as a deicing agent. When the deicing agent is sprayed on the road surface and meets the moisture, the deicing agent is dissolved. When there is no moisture or a sufficient amount is not dissolved, the salt concentration is not measured by the salt sensor. The salt concentration of the deicing agent is utilized as important information to predict and determine a re-freezing temperature of snow or ice melted by the deicing agent.
The road surface state information acquiring unit is configured by a road surface state sensor which is installed on a pillar mounted at the road surface edge of each road to provide a frictional force (friction coefficient) of the road surface.
As illustrated in
For example, Mobile detector md3 manufactured by Vaisala may be used as the road surface state sensor. As illustrated in
Referring to
The information monitoring unit 20 receives and monitors road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road acquired by the information acquiring unit 10, in real time. The information monitoring unit is implemented by a computer, software, and monitoring equipment.
The information monitoring unit 20 is configured by a road surface temperature monitoring unit which monitors road surface temperature information of each road in real time, a road surface moisture monitoring unit which monitors road surface moisture information of each road in real time, a road surface salt concentration monitoring unit which monitors road surface salt concentration information of each road in real time, and a road surface state monitoring unit which monitors road surface state information of each road in real time.
The information monitoring unit 20 visually expresses the road surface temperature information, the road surface moisture information, the road surface salt concentration information, and the road surface state information of each road which have been transmitted, through a map.
The decision making unit 30 receives a monitoring result from the information monitoring unit 20 to determine whether to spray the deicing agent and re-spray the deicing agent depending satisfy the road surface temperature condition, the road surface moisture condition, the road surface salt condition, and the road surface state condition. The decision making unit 30 is implemented by a computer or software.
Specifically, when each road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of road freezing as a result of monitoring the information monitoring unit 20, the decision making unit 30 determines to spray the deicing agent on each road and determines to respray the deicing agent based on the road surface salt concentration condition and the road surface state condition of the road freezing after spraying the deicing agent.
Here, the road surface temperature condition of the road freezing is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface moisture condition is that the moisture is generated on the road surface, the road surface salt concentration condition is that a salt concentration of the deicing agent is below a salt concentration at a freezing point, and the road surface state condition is that the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower.
The operation of the decision making unit 30 will be described with reference to a third step S30 of the method for making a decision on a snow removal work according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
Hereinafter, the method for making a decision on a snow removal work according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described basically with reference to
As illustrated in
Hereinafter, the first step S10 will be described.
The road surface temperature information, the road surface moisture information, the road surface salt concentration information, and the road surface state information of each road are acquired in real time.
The road surface temperature information is acquired in real time by a contact type temperature sensor which is installed on the road surface of each road to measure the road surface temperature.
The road surface moisture information is acquired in real time by a fog sensor, a fine dust sensor, an air temperature sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, an air humidity sensor, a rainfall sensor, and a snowfall sensor which are installed on a pillar mounted at a road edge of each road to measures weather conditions.
The road surface salt concentration information is acquired in real time from a salt sensor which is installed on the road surface of each road to measure a salt concentration of the deicing agent sprayed on the road surface.
The road surface state information is acquired in real time by a road surface state sensor which is installed on a pillar mounted at the road surface edge of each road to provide a frictional force (friction coefficient) of the road surface. When the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower, the road surface state is an icy, snowy, or slush condition and when the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) exceeds 0.6, the road surface state is a dried or wet condition.
Hereinafter, the second step S20 will be described.
The acquired road surface temperature information, road surface moisture information, road surface salt concentration information, and road surface state information of each road are monitored in real time.
Hereinafter, the third step S30 will be described.
Whether to spray a deicing agent on each road is determined depending on whether to satisfy the road surface temperature condition, the road surface moisture condition, the road surface salt concentration condition, and the road surface state condition of the road freezing of each road from the monitoring result. When each road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition, it is determined to spray the deicing agent on each road. After spraying the deicing agent, whether to respray the deicing agent is determined based on the road salt concentration condition and the road surface state condition of the road freezing.
Here, the road surface temperature condition of the road freezing is that the road surface temperature is below zero, the road surface moisture condition is that the moisture is generated on the road surface, the road surface salt concentration condition is that a salt concentration of the deicing agent is below a salt concentration at a freezing point, and the road surface state condition is that the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower.
First, when each road satisfies the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of the road freezing (that is, the road surface temperature is below zero and the moisture is generated on the road surface), it is determined to spray the deicing agent on each road. At this time, when the deicing agent is never sprayed, that is, when the number N of times of spraying a deicing agent is zero, it is determined to spray the deicing agent. A prescribed dosage of the deicing agent to be sprayed is 20 g/m2. When the deicing agent has been sprayed before, that is, the number N of times of spraying a deicing agent is 1 or larger, the decision making for respraying the deicing agent proceeds.
After spraying the deicing agent, it is determined whether to respray the deicing agent based on the road surface salt concentration condition and the road surface state condition of the road freezing.
If the deicing agent is sprayed, it is necessary to wait for the deicing agent to react. A deicing agent reaction time is approximately 30 minutes. If a deicing agent reaction time has elapsed after spraying the deicing agent, it is determined whether to measure the road surface salt concentration. If the road surface salt concentration can be measured, it is determined whether to respray the deicing agent depending on whether to satisfy the road surface salt concentration condition of the road freezing. If the road surface salt concentration cannot be measured, it is determined whether to respray the deicing agent depending on whether to satisfy the road surface state condition of the road freezing.
When the deicing agent is dissolved for a deicing agent reaction time after spraying the deicing agent so that the road surface salt concentration of the road is measured, it is checked whether to satisfy the road surface salt concentration condition of the road freezing.
Unless both the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of the road freezing are satisfied, if the road surface salt concentration exceeds the salt concentration at the freezing point (that is, unless the road surface salt concentration condition for road freezing is satisfied), there is no risk of re-freezing, so that the snow removal work is finished.
When both the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of the road freezing are satisfied (that is, the road surface temperature is below zero and the moisture is generated on the road surface), even though the road surface salt concentration exceeds a salt concentration at the freezing point (that is, even though the road surface salt concentration condition of the road freezing is not satisfied), there is a risk of re-freezing. Therefore, go back to the process of determining to spray a deicing agent to respray the deicing agent in consideration of the number of times of spraying the deicing agent and a deicing agent spraying dosage.
When the road surface salt concentration is below the salt concentration at the freezing point (that is, when the road surface salt concentration condition of the road freezing is satisfied), go back to the process of determining to spray a deicing agent to respray the deicing agent in consideration of a deicing agent spraying dosage.
When the deicing agent is not dissolved during the deicing agent reaction time after spraying the deicing agent or an amount of dissolved deicing agent is small so that the road surface salt concentration of the road is not measured, it is checked whether to satisfy the road surface state condition to determine whether the current road surface state is in a frozen state.
Unless both the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of the road freezing are satisfied, if the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) exceeds 0.6 (that is, unless the road surface state condition is satisfied), there is no risk of re-freezing, so that the snow removal work is finished.
When both the road surface temperature condition and the road surface moisture condition of the road freezing are satisfied (that is, the road surface temperature is below zero and the moisture is generated on the road surface), even though the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) exceeds 0.6 (that is, even though the road surface state condition is not satisfied), there is a risk of re-freezing. Therefore, go back to the process of determining to spray a deicing agent to respray the deicing agent in consideration of the number of times of spraying the deicing agent and a deicing agent spraying dosage.
When the road surface frictional force (friction coefficient) is 0.6 or lower (that is, the road surface state condition is satisfied), the road surface state is icy, snow, or slush so that go back to the process of determining to spray a deicing agent to respray the deicing agent in consideration of a deicing agent spraying dosage.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0114466 | Aug 2023 | KR | national |
