Abstract
Thermal mapping has been known as a reliable technique to analyse and even predict road surface temperature in a stretch of road, rather than just a single point (e.g. road weather station location). The method itself was developed in the 1980s, and as time progressed, the technique was improved and has become more applicable. Due to other methods, such as climate modelling, becoming widely accessible and more affordable to apply, thermal mapping started being pushed out to the background as an expensive alternative. The idea for this paper arose from thermal mapping applications to Lithuanian roads that produced inconclusive results in some research areas and raised the question of whether this technique applies to flatlands as effectively as to uplands. The Czech Republic was chosen as a country with an available database and environmentally different road network. Several stretches of road thermal mapping data were analysed and compared. It was concluded, that in flat landscapes altitude has lesser predictability value for road surface temperature than in undulating uplands. In addition, thermal mapping results appear to be more inconclusive in flatlands, compared to uplands. Nevertheless, thermal mapping is a good and reliable method for determining cold spots.
Highlights
Regions with ice and snow during winters are dependent on microclimate conditions of roads, since cleaning, de-icing and treating the network is financially expensive and time-consuming
Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) with networks of automatic meteorological stations on roads provide continuous one-dimensional meteorological data on road microclimate, and in combination with twodimensional road thermal mapping data, this information is used as an initial base of future road conditions forecasting (Chapman, Thornes, & Bradley, 2002a, 2002b; Chapman & Thornes, 2006)
The idea for this paper arose from thermal mapping applications to Lithuanian roads that produced inconclusive results in some research areas and raised the question of whether this technique applies to flatlands as effectively as to uplands
Summary
Regions with ice and snow during winters are dependent on microclimate conditions of roads, since cleaning, de-icing and treating the network is financially expensive and time-consuming. Failing to do this effectively can result in increased traffic vulnerability to accidents and financial loss (Andreescu & Frost, 1998; Norrman, Eriksson, & Lindqvist, 2000; Usman, Fu, & Miranda-Moreno, 2010). Various methods of measurement, data assessment, and forecasting of road surface temperature and condition have been developed since the 1980s This advance in technology helped to decrease maintenance personnel reaction time to weather events and even apply preventive measures against ice formation. The technology of Road Weather Information System (RWIS) has been applied to various regions around the world and is continuing to be the main source of every-day information about road weather conditions
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