Development of method for anti-icing materials consumption optimization during winter road maintenance

Abstract

The object of research is the processes of managing the consumption of anti-icing materials during the winter maintenance of highways. The main hypothesis of the research is the application of mathematical modelling methods to optimize the consumption of anti-icing materials. The study considered the factors that affect the use of both individual types and anti-icing materials as a whole. It was determined that the temperature of the road surface and the selected winter maintenance strategy taking into account the level of service (LOS) are significant factors. A mathematical model of material consumption optimization based on the binary numbering system is proposed. Additional limitations to the model have been established: compliance with the criteria of reliability, preservation of assets, road safety, compliance with user expectations (social factor), environmental friendliness, efficiency of the use of materials. An algorithm for the application of the method of optimizing the consumption of anti-icing materials during the winter maintenance of highways has been developed. It was determined that the developed method solves the main problem of minimizing the costs of anti-icing materials, taking into account the requirements of the level of service, the chosen strategy, the temperature of the road surface and the criteria of impact on winter maintenance. It is proposed to implement the calculation according to this method using the built-in «Parameter selection» function in the Microsoft Excel license environment (USA). The results obtained by the optimization method, based on real data, showed the possibility of saving materials by about 23 %, which confirms the effectiveness of the proposed solutions. The results of calculations based on the method of optimization of material consumption have practical value and can be used to make management decisions regarding the justification of winter road maintenance operations. The proposed method can be used both for the cost planning phase and in the case of analysis in the post-implementation period. This is an important aspect in the conditions of financial and resource uncertainty, including those related to circumstances of force majeure, in particular, martial law in Ukraine.