Sicop Talks Winter Ops

The 2024 National Briefing on Winter Maintenance and Road Weather gives organizations working in this space an opportunity to showcase their efforts to advance the state of the practice through collaboration, research, technical support, and implementation.  This episode features the Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group of the Committee on Maintenance.  This series is produced in collaboration with the AASHTO Maintenance Committee, the Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group, and the Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program.  For more information you can reach out to: Brad Darr at bdarr@nd.gov or Emily McGraw at eomcgraw@ncdot.gov Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.c

The 2024 National Briefing on Winter Maintenance and Road Weather gives organizations working in this space an opportunity to showcase their efforts to advance the state of the practice through collaboration, research, technical support, and implementation.  This episode features the Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program.This series is produced in collaboration with the AASHTO Maintenance Committee, the Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group, and the Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program. For more information you can reach out to:Brad Darr at bdarr@nd.gov Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops Visit the Winter Weather Management TSP website at:https://transportation.org/winter-weather-management/Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Wint

Each year, in cooperation with the AASHTO Committee on Maintenance, the Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group, and the Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program we sponsor a National Briefing on winter maintenance and road weather activities.  These briefings give organizations workin gin this space an opportunity to showcase their work for groups and agencies providing winter service.  Over the next 16 episodes you get to learn about these organizations and their work and how, quite possibly, it may impact how you are performing winter maintenance.These presentations are also available on our YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/@TalkinWinterOpsI hope you get an opportunity to listen in on all these episodes.Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

The Guide for Snow and Ice Control was first published back in 1999 and with the exception of an addendum has remained unchanged since then.  Since then there has been a vast amount of research, field trials, and advancements in winter maintenance and road weather technologies.  In 2018 a project was launched through the National Cooperative Highway Research Program to rewrite the Guide incorporating the latest state of the practice.  The new guide has been produced, accepted by AASHTO’s Committee on Maintenance, and is in the process of being published by AASHTO as the AASHTO Guide for Snow and Ice Control.  While we don’t know exactly when the new Guide will be released, Brad Darr, Chair of the Committee on Maintenance - Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group, John Habermann, Texas A&M Transportation Institute and Principal Investigator for the project, and Diana Clonch, Subject Matter Expert supporting the project give us some insight into the new Guide, what you can expect to see in it, and ho

In 2004 a group of 5 states got together and pooled their money to test winter maintenance materials, equipment and methods for use by highway maintenance operations.  The program has grown to 40 states and amassed a large collection of research and training.  The Clear Roads Pooled Fund Program is funded through a $25,000 annual contribution per subscribing state and is eligible for SP&R federal pass through dollars.Craig Bargfrede, Winter Maintenance Administrator for the Iowa DOT also serves as the current Chair of the Clear Roads Pooled Fund Study and is our guest to explain the program.  For more information you can check out the Clear Roads website at clear roads.org or reach out to Craig Bargfrede at craig.bargfrede@iowadot.us or Greg Waidley at greg.waidley@ctcandassociates.comListen in as Craig talks about the Clear Roads program and how it works to clear roads.   Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather mana

Twenty years ago in 2004 “Where The Weather Meets The Road” was published by the National Academy of Science and it proposed a research roadmap over the next 20-years to advance road weather services.  Now in 2024 the future described in Where The Weather Meets The Road is here Paul Pisano, Chair of the TRB Road Weather Committee and Dr. Gina Eosco, Division Chief, Science, Technology, and Society for the Weather Program Office at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were both involved in this report and are here to discuss where we were, where we’ve come, and what the future might hold.Check out the report at this link Where The Weather Meets The Road You can continue the discussion of what you think the future of road weather management holds with Paul Pisano or Dr. Gina EoscoSign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinter

Full scale testing of modern snowplow blades can be a difficult and often unrepeatable proposition depending on the weather and where your test track is located.  In this episode Alex Klein-Paste of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) set about to design  scale model testing of a particular snowplow blade design in a laboratory setting.  Alex demonstrated that these tests closely mirror their full scale counterparts and set the stage for rapid development and testing of various designs.  This work was presented at the 2024 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.Check out this video of the model snow plow clearing snow at this link https://youtu.be/KDTDGT96-j0?si=gcwmTeQbjWs_dN4tYou can reach out directly to Alex by email at alex.klein-paste@ntnu.no and view the high speed videography of the plow blade tests at link here.Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by cl

You would think that it wouldn’t be difficult to see something as big as a snowplow but during a winter storm event at night you’d be surprised how hard it is recognize a slow moving maintenance vehicle.  In this episode Jeff Pifer, Director of the Equipment Division at the West Virginia Division of Highways discusses techniques that are being used to make snowplows and other maintenance vehicles more conspicuous.  Vehicle color, lighting packages, and reflective markings and patterns are the topic of discussion.Clear Roads has also sponsored several research projects into vehicle conspicuity and you can review this work at their website https://www.clearroads.org/equipment-plow-trucks/ For more information on this topic you can reach out to Jeff Pifer at jeff.m.pifer@wv.gov Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for

Whenever you mix snowplows, winter storms, and motorists on the same stretch of pavement everyone needs to be at the top of their game in vehicles equipped for conditions.  Most of the time folks get where there headed and the roads get cleared without incident. But, there are times when vehicles get tangled up with a snow plow and the outcomes can be catastrophic. On this episode we’ve got Jed Falgren, State Maintenance Engineer for the Minnesota DOT who’s been involved in some really innovative projects to help reduce the number of interactions between snowplows and motorists from their CAV-Traveler Alert System to reflective materials and lighting. For more information on MnDOT’s efforts to reduce crashes with snowplows and other slow moving maintenance operations you can reach out directly to Jed at jed.falgren@state.mn.usSign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin'

When it comes to liquid deicing products how do you know you’re getting what you paid for and that it’s likely to perform as promised?  The Nebraska DOT has been working on developing a easy to run, repeatable, and cost effective test method to determine the ice melting capacity of liquid deicing products.Mike Mattison and Jasmine Dondlinger of the Nebraska DOT take us on the journey this test method has taken from the initial idea using a instrumented martini shaker to the Rocker AASHTO Provisional Test Method and why this test method should be part of your winter operations program when it comes to liquid deicing products.If you would like more information about the new Rocker Test Method or how it might fit into your winter maintenance program you can contact Mike Mattison at mailto:Mike.Mattison@nebraska.gov or Jasmine Dondlinger at mailto:Jasmine.Dondlinger@nebraska.gov .Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather manag

There’s lots of discussion going on these days regarding artificial intelligence or AI.  Like it or not you’re probably using or at least taking advantage of AI applications right now and you might not even know it.  Winter operations takes place in an environment well suited for AI applications to provide assistance across a broad spectrum of activities from road weather forecasting to decision support to operator assistance in the cab through lane guidance, material applications, and a host of other potential applications.  In this episode Software Engineer Tom Brummet with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Research Applications Laboratory discusses AI and ongoing work in winter maintenance and road weather.If this episode peaked your interest in Artificial Intelligence applications in winter maintenance you can check out what’s happening at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Research Applications Laboratory at this link https://ral.ucar.edu/technologies/artificial-intelligence-and-ma

Public works agencies have struggled for years recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce. These challenges have reached critical levels for many agencies since the pandemic. In this episode were Talkin’ Winter Ops with the City of Columbus Department of Public Service Human Resource Officer Lauren Hunter and Infrastructure Operations Coordinator Scott Lucas about a recruiting program that takes them into the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio and a unique vocational program partnership offering 2nd chances with the City of Columbus.For more information of this program email Lauren Hunter at lbhunter@columbus.gov or Scott Lucas at selucas@columbus.govSign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

Part 3 of our workforce recruiting and retention series showcases a grass roots program the Washington State DOT launched a few years back to encourage high school students to consider a career in transportation maintenance.  Pasco Bakotich, State Maintenance Engineer for the Washington State DOT explains the program, the benefits they’ve seen, and success they’ve witnessed by bringing these young adults into the maintenance family. If you’d like more information on the Washington DOT High School to Highways program contact Pasco at BakotiP@wsdot.wa.gov Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

Part 2 of the workforce series focuses on the No Boundaries synthesis Innovation strategies in Recruiting and Retention with Sandi Sauter, Deputy Director of Operations for the Maryland State Highway Administration. This episode zeros in on recruiting and retention and steps that some states are taking to include all segments of the applicant pool. Check out the No Boundaries synthesis at this link https://maintainroads.org/responses-to-staffing-shortages-synthesis/ 0:00 Intro3:29 Sandi and the Maryland SHA7:22 No Boundaries synthesis-recruiting10:12 The applicant pool15:53 The hiring process18:42 Messaging & alternative recruiting techniques24:48 2nd chance programs28:35 Getting diversity in the workforce45:01 “can we” vs "why can’t we”53:34 tying up loose ends   Email Sandi Sauter at SSauter@mdot.maryland.gov or Kristen Seeber kirsten.seeber@ctcandassociates.com at CTC Associates who provide support to the No Boundaries Pooled Fund Study.Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other

The topic of workforce, recruiting, and retention has dominated the discussion for years, but nowadays the issue seems particularly acute. In Part 1 of a 4 part series on workforce we’re focusing on a domestic scan conducted by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) recently conducted titled Leading Practices in Strategic Workforce Management by Transportation Agencies.  During the Committee on Maintenance annual meeting Bill Lambert of the New Hampshire DOT presented some of the findings and we’re revisiting his conversation with Lee Wilkinson of the Iowa DOT.  Both Bill and Lee were members of the scan team and would welcome any discussion or comments. Read the final report at this link NCHRP domestic scan 19-02  and reach out to them by email  william.r.lambert@dot.nh.gov and lee.wilkinson@iowadot.us 0:00 Intro6:48 Driving force for a domestic scan11:14 Retention of workforce13:15 Domestic scan process, some observations20:43 employee engagement27:15 Employee development34:21 Employee re

Introducing the transformation of SICOP to the AASHTO Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program and SICOP Talks Winter Ops to Talkin Winter Ops.  With the re-branding of SICOP we're re-branding the podcast as well.  Same program, same podcast, with a new look.Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

There’s a lot of ways we use salt in winter operations from solids to pre-wet, brines straight up or blended, and combinations of all of the above.  regardless how you use it there a lot of chemistry going on when you put it on a snow packed or about to be snow packed road.  Our guest for this episode is Dr. Scott Koefod who's an inorganic chemist with 30 plus years of experience researching various aspects and uses of salt which includes our business of winter maintenance. You can reach out to Dr. Scott to discuss the chemistry of salt by email Scott_Koefod@cargill.com or visit his Q&A website at https://www.cargill.com/industrial/winter-road-maintenance/questions-and-answersSign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

4th National Briefing on Winter Maintenance and Road Weather give organizations working in the severe weather and maintenance operations space an opportunity to showcase their recent efforts to advance the state of the practice through collaboration, research, technical support, and implementation.  This briefing features the  Northwest Passage Pooled Fund Study.This briefing series is produced in collaboration with the AASHTO Maintenance Committee, the Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group, and the Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program - SICOP.Watch the video at this link:https://youtu.be/-ou8P9oO10QFor more information Contact:Dave Huft at Dave.Huft@state.sd.usVisit their website at this link:http://www.nwpassage.infoSign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out the

4th National Briefing on Winter Maintenance and Road Weather give organizations working in the severe weather and maintenance operations space an opportunity to showcase their recent efforts to advance the state of the practice through collaboration, research, technical support, and implementation.  This briefing features the FHWA Road Weather Management Program.This briefing series is produced in collaboration with the AASHTO Maintenance Committee, the Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group, and the Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program - SICOP.Watch the video at this link:https://youtu.be/Xr8vjJ7Px00For more information contact:Jeremy McGuffey at jeremy.mcguffey@dot.govDavid Johnson (Team Lead) at david.johnson@dot.gov Ray Murphy (Resource Center) at ray.Murphy@dot.gov Visit the Road Weather Management website https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/index.aspRWMO Outreach Publications: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/resources/publications.htmSign up for email notifications on future episode

4th National Briefing on Winter Maintenance and Road Weather give organizations working in the severe weather and maintenance operations space an opportunity to showcase their recent efforts to advance the state of the practice through collaboration, research, technical support, and implementation.  This briefing features the No Boundaries Pooled Fund Study.This briefing series is produced in collaboration with the AASHTO Maintenance Committee, the Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group, and the Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program - SICOP.Watch the video at this link:https://youtu.be/rZtyNPtEGUMFor more information contact:Heath Patterson at hpatterson@mdot.ms.govKirsten Seeber with CTC at  kirsten.seeber@ctcandassociates.comVisit the No Boundaries website at this link:https://maintainroads.org/Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter O