The application of modern information and communication technologies in combination with improved systems of measuring enable us to furnish extensive information for optimized winter maintenance. Many equipment manufacturers have established very complex systems that are applied by several roadadministrations. This has resulted in the integration of components from a variety of suppliers often creating new difficulties. Frequently a number of different data processing systems are found within a given highway surveillance center, i.e. for weather forecasts, road surface conditions, schedules for vehicles, documentation and cost evaluation. Furthermore many of these system components - because of their complexity - are used to a very limited extent by people at the working level. For the future it is anticipated that, due to the improvement of new technologies, a number of new components will enter the Winter Maintenance Management Systems (WMMS) market. Therefore it appears reasonable to establish a modular structure for WMMS data. These data processing tasks should be separated into individual levels which could be easily applied to conform to different demands and financial resources available at users' levels. It is considered of utmost importance to clearly establish each component of a modular structure so as to define the correct input and output of each module. Furthermore interfaces, communication protocols and data formats should be standardized to install a complete system independent from individual suppliers. Based on the results of the recent COST action 344 "Improvements to Snow and IceControl on European Roads and Bridges", as well as those of COST action 353 "Winter Service Strategies for Increased European Road Safety" in connection with other studies, the components of a modular structured WMMS are described. Examples show the advantages of a modular structured WMMS. Thisimplies the possibility of integrating components from various suppliers as well as the possibility of progressing step by step towards a safe implementation of future developments. For the covering abstract see ITRD E143097.
Samenvatting