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Please check back often as we continue to add items. Sunday, April 18, 20101:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | | Anti-Icing - An Argentina Perspective | Is it possible to implement an nationwide anti-icing program in one year?
Argentina did just that.
This session will recap the experiences that Argentina went through in implementing an anti-icing program in their country.
They basically went from "A" to "Z" overnight.
Come and see how they went through the process, all the way from their scan tour of the U.S. to getting their program "rolled-out" within one year. A representative from Argentina as well as a member of the U.S. coalition will show you how it was done.
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| | Operator/ Fleet Panel Discussion | Snow Operators and Fleet Managers sometimes have different points of view when it comes to equipment handling.
Join us for this interactive panel to discuss how to resolve the common conflicts between the folks that run the plows and the ones that keep them running.
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| | Snow and Ice Control -101 | This session will provide an operational overview of the snow and ice control program used in the City of Dubuque.
The presentation will include information on scheduling, the type of equipment used and the use of anti-icing technology. It will cover how Public Works crews are utilized, the role of contracted help in the snow removal operation and how an AVL system has been incorporated into the deicing and plowing operation.
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| | Understanding Customer Service Level Expectations | How do you communicate the levels of service that you provide to your residents?
How do you determine what those levels of service are or what they should be?
What feedback do you receive from residents and how do you respond to it?
Do you introduce new programs in response to changing public demands?
Do you use innovative technologies to improve or maintain your levels of service?
The City of Toronto has some of the highest levels of service in North America for winter maintenance operations and the public's expectations are even higher. Using the City of Toronto experience as an example to stimulate discussion, this panel presentation will address the ever increasing public demand for not only clear roads with bare pavement but also for such enhanced programs such as driveway windrow clearing, bicycle path snow removal, and residential sidewalk clearing.
This panel presentation will address the issues involved in determining the level of service to provide and how to convince all parties involved that the level is appropriate
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2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. | | Effective Operator Training Strategies | Who do you think are the most distracted drivers on the road? Is it police officers, ambulance drivers, utility workers, or snowplow operators?
The common practice today is: if an operator has the appropriate license to drive a truck, then he is hired to operate a snowplow. Often, he is put out on the road after only being shown how to use the controls. So there they are in a truck overloaded with material, with twelve-plus feet of steel added to the front, and a wing made of steel attached to the side.
As the trainers for the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors (AORS), it is our job to train their members and the cities that they belong to, on both heavy equipment and snowplow operation. What we have found over the years is the unrealized necessity of training.
Consider what snowplow operators have to do on a daily basis. They have to:
• perform pre-trip inspections
• drive
• shift gears
• operate the front plow
• operate the wing plow
• operate windshield wipers
• maintain control of their vehicle despite clearance issues
• run the de-icing/sanding equipment
• and communicate during the worst driving conditions possible
Operator pre-season training must address all of these issues in the most efficient amount of time. Every year managers are faced with bringing in additional winter staff to perform last-minute work while ensuring that training is completed with the least amount of disruption.
So how do you cover all the key points needed and still reduce the amount of disruption?
We will show you how to assemble a systematic approach to your operator training package, from the classroom to the field following a modular approach to training. The best methods of training for today's operation will be discussed as you learn to translate the previous year's collision rates to this year's training.
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| | New Snowfighter Training Tool | After two years of beta testing, the Salt Institute has released a new tool for use by agency and LTAP center snowfighting trainers.
Distributed as a DVD, the tool is a non-linear PowerPoint™ program for plow/spreader operators. Foremost among its strengths is its potential for total content customization. It combines Web-type flexibility and a conventional PowerPoint™ for use in trainer-led snow & ice workshops.
Come see if this tool is a match for your agency training programs.
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| | Road Weather: The Science Behind What You Know | How can a bridge deck sometimes get colder than the air temperature?
Why does frost form sometimes, but not always?
Why does the pavement temperature sometimes drop dramatically at the beginning of a snow event, and why does it drop only slightly other times?
The weather impacts us all, whether it is in our personal lives or while at work. Consciously or not, we know that every time we step outside, the weather is going to affect the way we feel. Our miles of asphalt and concrete, which are our main concern during the winter months, are also affected by the weather on a minute by minute basis. We spend the entire winter trying to guess how the weather will impact our pavement, and thus impact driving conditions.
The temperature of a bridge or road surface is one of the most critical pieces of road information, so therefore we must learn how and why it changes. Learn what to look for in the formation of frost, and how it gets on our roads. This session will discuss many of the variables that can cause the pavement conditions to change and what you can look for to make accurate decisions about those conditions.
We all know how inaccurate a weather forecast can be, so why would any meteorologist try to predict what is going to happen to an object in that weather? This session will discuss the latest advancements in forecasting the road weather conditions.
Finally, the session explains the science behind measuring road temperature and conditions. What should those responsible for clearing winter weather make sure they have in their winter toolbox?
This session will focus on those forces of weather that impact the road the most by discussing the science of road weather, in a light and easy- to- understand manner.
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| | Snow Removal Operations in an Airport Environment | Canadians have come to expect snow and freezing rain during the winter months. Despite the challenging winter weather, staff at Toronto Pearson airport has the enormous task of keeping the airport running for more than 31 million passengers that travel through Canada's busiest airport each year.
The GTAA's carefully designed approach to winter operations aims to minimize operational impact during winter events. Experienced staff developed the GTAA's winter plan of operations and work tirelessly to minimize inconvenience to the travelling public and maintain safe operations during winter weather.
The topics covered will be:
Airfield Snow Removal
Runway and Taxiway snow removal operations
- Developing and implementing the plan
- Innovations which improved overall performance
- Working with others (NAV Canada) to improve efficiency
Apron snow removal operations
- Combining internal resources with contracted services
Groundside Snow Removal
Innovations in snow removal techniques
GTAA Salt Management Plan
GTAA Winter Operations Cost Saving Initiatives
A cost comparison from the winter of 2007/08 to 2008/09
- Reducing the level of services and risk.
- Benchmarking to other airports
- Vendor Partnering
Come see how they do it and what you may be able to apply to your winter maintenance plan!
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3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | | One Man's Junk, Another Man's Treasure | Opening Keynote Speaker: Stacey David
Stacey David is best known as the host of the top-rated TV show "TRUCKS!" where for eight years he wrote, produced, designed, and built custom vehicles.
His loyal fan base helped "TRUCKS!" maintain the highest viewership for automotive how-to programming since the show aired in 1998, and it was consistently one of Spike TV's highest-rated shows overall.
Stacey is currently the President and CEO of Rattletrap Productions Inc., a company that produces educational and entertaining automotive TV and radio programming. His TV series "GearZ" supplies the gearhead/car enthusiast/do-it yourselfer with the ultimate hands on mechanical television show.
He was born and raised in a small town in southern Idaho, where the love of motors, all kinds of vehicles, ripping them apart and putting them back together, came early for him. His engaging personality and approachability tells the viewer that he is the same person off camera as he is on camera. He connects and encourages audiences of all ages.
Automotive enthusiasts give Stacey all-star ratings for his design, knowledge and creative work. They are motivated with courage and inspiration to tackle the tough projects they have only dreamed of, not only in the garage but in life. His reward is hearing them say,"You inspired me to get out and build something."
Stacey dreams big and then takes that vision and builds it into reality.
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5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monday, April 19, 20108:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | | Plowing Through the Media | Why is my street always plowed last and what are the Town's priorities?
Why is it that I see snowplows and sander trucks going past my house that are not plowing or sanding?
Who is responsible for clearing snow from the sidewalks in my neighborhood?
Why do the snowplows block my driveway with snow when they clear the roadway?
A County snowplow damaged my car or property. What do I do?
The questions on snow removal come when snowfighters have the least amount of time to address them. The communication challenges are overwhelming — Heavy snowstorms taxing salt supplies, budget cuts precipitating lower service levels, unrealistic public expectations and citizens blogging misinformation on the Internet.
How do YOU successfully communicate your snow removal plans and successes to the general public? Internet sites? Articles in the newspaper? Twitter updates?
The session will be hosted by the city of Omaha's Communications Director Ron Gerard and staffed with snow industry experts from around North America.
Please join us for this interactive panel session as they share challenges and solutions in communicating with the public.
Come armed with your own questions, lessons learned and innovative solutions.
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10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. | | Clear Roads Research Report | Clear Roads, a pooled fund research project sponsored by 16 states, researches practical winter road maintenance topics.
This report brings APWA members up-to-date on what's been accomplished so far and what research is underway. Clear Road's Winter Chemical Field Test Handbook will be presented giving managers and operators guidelines for field tests comparing one chemical with another in their own backyard.
Clear Roads co-sponsored a nationwide winter maintenance peer exchange in August 2009 to define new research needs and assess progress. The top research needs identified by 35 snowbelt state DOT's will be shared.
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| | Do Not Neglect Snow and Ice Training in Difficult Budget Times | In difficult budget times, with staff and other resources at barely survivable levels, it is difficult to justify investments in snow and ice control training. However this lack of investment often leads to costly and unwanted consequences.
This presentation will:
• Describe the benefits of snow and ice control training
• Describe available training techniques and forums
• Identify sources of training materials
• Identify sources of help for training
• Provide guidance for within-agency training
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| | New Developments in Chloride Toxicity | The release of chlorides into the environment is a major concern to the future of the deicing business.
The US EPA chloride toxicity criteria were established using a limited number of species tested in a laboratory setting. This resulted in conditions that do not reflect the actual environment under consideration. Water hardness, for example, has a strong mitigating effect on chloride toxicity.
While employing strict adherence to sound scientific principles for the preservation of the environment, the testing of significantly more species and accounting for the impact of water hardness on chloride toxicity, will provide much greater flexibility for deicing products in the future
This session will describe the work carried out to include the impacts of water chemistry on chloride toxicity.
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| | Prior Lake, Minnesota "Smart" Snow and Ice Control Program | Located 30 miles southwest of Minneapolis/St.Paul the City of Prior Lake is the home to 23,000 residents, 14 lakes, a little over 100 center lane miles and covers 18.3 square miles. The major goal of the city's "smart" snow and ice control program is to reduce the amount of salt used in winter maintenance by lowering application rates and utilizing natural products for delivering anti-icing and de-icing chemicals.
Prior Lake, MN is APWA's 2010 Excellence in Snow and Ice Control winner. Come see what they did to warrant this year's award!
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12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. | | RoundTable Discussion Groups | Come join these roundtable discussions on the exhibit floor!
1. Use of De-Icing Liquids with moderator Gary Story of the City of Kearney, NE
2. Operator Perspective- Snow Plow Roadeo with moderator Greg Goldman of the City of La Vista, NE
3. New innovations in budgeting with moderator Scott McIntyre of the City of Omaha, NE
4. Sidewalks & Code Enforcement with moderator John Parson of the City of London, ON
5. Federal Highway Projects with moderator Ray Murphy of the FHWA
6. Operator/ Fleet issues with moderator John Scharffbillig of the City of Minneapolis, MN
7. Post storm Data - what do I do with it now? with moderator Tim Martin City of the city of Coeur D'Alene, ID
8. Focus on Safety with moderator Lynn Bernhard of the Utah DOT
9. Making Your Media Relations More Successful with moderator Laura Bynum - APWA's Communications / Media Relations Manager
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2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. | | Effective Use of AVL & Weather Data in Winter Operations (A Case Study) | This presentation introduces participants to some of the latest techniques in the integration of RWIS data, real-time AVL and weather radar data by two DOT's.
The session will demonstrate the range of potential savings, improvements in efficiency and increases in safety that have been documented through examples from the Missouri and Washington DOT's, along with supporting evidence from several Canadian Provinces. The DOT's maintenance personnel will provide examples of post-storm training that has been enhanced by the ability to replay real-time data. Additionally, improvements in maintenance activity that occurred as a result of brining RWIS and AVL data together will be discussed.
Since so much has been said about the "potential" of AVL and RWIS, this is an opportunity to hear first-hand evidence from DOT's that are quantifying their benefits and seeing real results from their investment in technology.
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| | Environmental Management of Road Salts | A comprehensive five-year scientific assessment by Environment Canada determined that in sufficient concentrations, road salts pose a risk to plants, animals and the aquatic environment (Assessment Report - Road Salts).
A Risk Management Strategy for Road Salts was subsequently developed to outline the measures that Environment Canada proposes in order to manage the risks associated with roads salts. Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Government of Canada published a Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts on April 3, 2004. The Code is designed to help municipalities and other road authorities better manage their use of road salts in a way that reduces harm they cause to the environment while maintaining road safety. The Code of Practice was developed in consultation with a Multi-stakeholder Working Group for Road Salts.
The Government of Canada is not banning the use of road salts or proposing any measures that would compromise or reduce road safety. However, it recommends that road authorities prepare salt management plans that identify actions they will take to improve their practices in salt storage, general use on roads and snow disposal.
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| | New Guidelines for Spreader Calibration | This presentation will highlight the results of a recent Clear Roads study on the delivery accuracy of salt and other materials spreaders. Topics will include:
• Fundamental system concepts
• Types of controllers in common use
• Controlling calibration and operational variables
• Calibrating calibration equipment
• Calibration methodology (liquid and dry)
• Ground speed controlled systems
• Manual systems
• Non-truck mounted systems
• Calibration accuracy assurance
• Verification testing or checking
• Understanding application rate and discharge rate
• Spread pattern control
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| | Training Marks the SPOT | What type of training are your new plow operators receiving?
Do you even do any training?
If not, come and learn wha Des Moines and the surrounding agencies have developed.
Join equipment operators Matt Dolan and Joey Almond as they share their experiences with building a metro-wide training program.
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3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | | Ensuring Deicing and Salt Supplies at a Reasonable Cost | Wild gyrations in the salt marketplace have created anxiety and budgetary pressures that can be avoided by taking pre-season delivery of sufficient quantities of salt.
This interactive panel session will introduce you to some proactive managers that have invested in salt storage facilities sufficient to hold 100% of their agencies' respective annual road salt usage. These managers will explore how they secured capital funding and share their experiences with deliveries and materials costs.
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| | Maximizing Vehicle Resale Values Using The Internet | Income from the sale of used fleet assets has become an extremely important source of miscellaneous revenue that can be used to fill in the gaps created by sinking tax revenues.
Lot auctions can still serve the purpose in some cases, but the name of the game today is to reach out to a broader audience of buyers via the Internet. Government officials can maximize the returns by turning to an internet auction service that specializes in this discipline with a bidder list the may be in the thousands. These companies already have the systems in place and within a short period of time can begin selling your fleet assets.
This session will introduce you to one of these specialists who will describe how the process works; following this introduction a fleet manager who has been selling used equipment on the internet for the last eight years will share his experience that has lead to a tenfold increase in auction revenue.
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| | Public Works: Preparing for Emergency Response | Natural disasters and human-caused emergencies seem to have become more frequent, extensive and costly in recent years. No area is immune from geological or meteorological events such as floods, severe windstorms, earthquakes or from other major problems like major traffic incidents, planned special events and industrial, rail and aviation accidents.
Most local public works agencies must handle the initial responses to these critical situations as partners with police and fire. The role of public works though has evolved as we have become recognized at the federal level as first responders. This signals that we need to evolve from being mostly reactive to being more proactive.
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| | Should Your Agency Lower Snowfighting Service Levels to Match Tighter Budgets? | Where can you cut the budget without putting the driving public at risk?
How do you reduce overtime or restrict salt usage when the streets need to be plowed?
What can you do to convince residents that they will have to be patient waiting for plows to hit their street and exercise more caution driving on snow-covered roads?
These are just a few of the questions involved in determining if your agency should lower service levels to match tighter budgets.
Come join us for this panel discussion in which three agencies will explore how they are dealing with this complicated and emotional issue.
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Tuesday, April 20, 20108:00 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. | | Anti-Icing and Deicing Decisions for Runways and Ramps | This presentation will discuss what is meant by the terms "anti-icing" and "deicing" on runways and ramps.Several examples of real-world applications at multiple airports will be shown.
The discussion will continue on various runway chemicals available along with future proposed deicers, discussion on new EPA Rules for deicers, how deicers work, how long they will last, equipment considerations, safety and a summary discussion which will conclude with questions and answers.
Example photos will be used throughout the presentation.
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| | Clarus, Can it Benefit Your Local Agency? | Each day, traffic, incident, maintenance, and emergency managers and staff, as well as the traveling public, make decisions that directly affect roadway safety, mobility and the environment.
To this end, the FHWA Road Weather Management Program has supported a number of initiatives including the Clarus system.
Clarus is a USDOT project to collect, quality check, and disseminate environmental sensor station atmospheric and surface observations from across North America. Utilizing the Clarus System, www.clarus-system.com, for obtaining surface weather information can and will enhance maintenance and operations for local agencies.
Come see if Clarus can help you.
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| | Equipment Operators - Tap Into Them For Success | Equipment operators can be a tremendous resource in an agency if they are allowed to get involved. See what happens when they have the opportunity to provide ideas and take ownership in their work. These three equipment operators will share stories about their involvement in their respective operations and explain what benefits have been realized.
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| | To Contract Out or Not To Contract Out (Plowing and Spreading Equipment) | The contracting or outsourcing of winter maintenance equipment provides an opportunity to enhance your operation either by meeting or rising your levels of service, improving the quality of equipment at your disposal, or through monetary circumstances allowing the municipality to a little more, with less.
This presentation will break this process into three major steps. The first section will discuss how to assess and adjudicate the needs of the municipality when a decision has been made to contract out any portion of your winter maintenance operations. This includes defining the perspective fleet type, determining the configuration and the duration of contract, and equipment options. It will help you recognize budget concerns, prepare appropriate funds in advance and help to identify, estimate, and forecast what financial implications will impact your overall maintenance budget.
The second portion will discuss creating a contract that reflects and justifies the now and future needs of the municipality. By implementing correct and specific terminology in the specs, "loop holes" will be tightened up, giving the municipality greater control as to the selection process of awarding the contract.
The last aspect will address challenging situations and how to resolve them. Communication will be of utmost importance. Identifying the issues, and executing a plan to resolve those quickly, means your road network and the traveling public's best interests are met as expeditiously as possible.
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10:10 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | | A Fully-Integrated Maintenance Decision Support System - A Successful Operational Deployment | Due to the harsh winter of 2007-2008, and a decreasing state budget, INDOT was forced to find cost savings without compromising the safety or level of service provided to its customers.
During the 2008-2009 winter season, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) conducted a state-wide deployment of a Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS). The implementation of a fully integrated MDSS provided Indiana the potential to maintain the same level of service (LOS) on all routes while reducing maintenance operations cost. A key to successful deployment within Indiana was the development and implementation of a detailed strategic plan. A fully-integrated support network was established for different users of the MDSS deployment. Training was crucial to the overall deployment plan within Indiana. Each level of user had specific training regarding the components of the system they were mostly likely to use. This included Graphical User Interface (GUI) training for supervisors, Automatic Vehicle Location/Mobile Data Collection (AVL/MDC) installation training for mechanics, and in-cab training for the operators.
Follow-up training was conducted in mid-winter to promote the constant learning process throughout the winter season and to combat the resistance that comes with change. Champions were trained at all levels. This made deployment easier as users of the system felt more comfortable asking questions of fellow DOT employees. Under this strategic plan INDOT placed a sampling of MDSS routes in each unit (garage) allowing all DOT maintenance employees the ability to use the system. These routes were deployed in locations where they would be representative of surrounding routes in the unit area.
This presentation will provide an overview of INDOT's deployment of a fully-integrated MDSS during the 2008-2009 winter season. Cost-benefit data will show how INDOT was able to maintain their desired level of service while reducing maintenance costs. Other insights in the successful deployment will be provided along with preliminary findings from the 2009-2010 winter season.
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| | City of Kearney's Snow and Ice melter program. | The City of Kearney has successfully utilized new ice control products and equipment for the last few years.
Please join Kearney's Transportation Superintendent in this overview of how they made changes to their procedures, utilized the new products and improved their ice control program.
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| | Write It Right! Developing An Effective Winter Operations Snow and Ice Control Manual | Snow and ice storms can dramatically disrupt travel; traffic delays and accidents have a profound effect on our daily activities.
Keeping streets and roads safely passable during such storms is one of the most critical functions of public works!
Though the annual amount of snow or number of events can vary considerably by locale and from year to year, each local and state agency has to plan for and be ready to respond in basically the same manner. The equipment, materials and tactics are essentially similar. What differs considerably is whether an agency has a thorough and current plan and comprehensive operations manual.
A well-crafted manual consolidates all relevant elements concerning winter weather operations into a clear, concise and accessible document. This is vital not only to the staff responsible for conducting the actual operations but for elected officials and the public as well. When others understand how an agency plans, prepares and executes this program, then the agency is better able to handle complaints and criticism and defend against claims arising from accidents and disruption of activities.
Many agencies have a manual or set of related documents; in some cases this may be very rudimentary and need expansion and revision. Policies, procedures and practices change over time so it is essential that an agency have a process to periodically review and update the operations plan and manual. Devoting staff time and resources is usually not the highest priority due other more pressing daily matters. However, either the absence of a policy and manual or one that is incomplete or obsolete can put an agency at risk. At the least, it may mean that an agency is conducting operations that may not be the most effective, efficient or practical.
This presentation will focus on the benefits of a winter operations manual and policy, resources for information and best management practices, essential elements, preparing an outline and tailoring a manual to best meet the needs of the particular agency. New for 2010 is how winter weather operations should now include NIMS (National Incident Management Systems) as a basic part and how public works is considered not only a first responder but incident command in such situations.
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12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | | Changing the Way We Do Business - Argentina's Winter Maintenance Story | How do you implement change on a nationwide scale?
This session is devoted to how a country implemented change to their entire winter maintenance program "overnight".
A representative from the Argentina Transportation Authority will provide attendees with a background of where they were, what they did, and where they are going.
See how a country decided it was time to "modernize" their winter maintenance practices and how they accomplished it.
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| | Deicing Liquid Additives Demystified | Can I store them outside? What about bridges and waterways? How will they mix with sodium chloride, magnesium chloride or calcium chloride?
Additives in liquid deicers can enhance deicing/anti-icing and stockpile treatment programs substantially. When added to chloride base solutions, like salt brine, magnesium chloride, or calcium chloride solutions, additives can enhance the low temperature and ice melting properties. However, with so many additives to choose from how are you to assess the pros and cons of various additives?
This presentation uses lab and field data to compare additives, including corn syrup, corn steeps, beet juice, molasses, and other liquids. It will also address other factors to consider when selecting an additive such as the environmental impact, storage/handling properties, and physical attributes such as viscosity and smell. Each additive has distinct properties, which create value to end users of various climates.
There is no magic bullet that works everywhere — Come see what will work for you.
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| | Snowfighting from the Customers' Perspective | This non-technical session is focused on the importance of snow fighting from the perspective of our ultimate customers — the motoring public. The speaker represents many AAA clubs, as well as the major national and state trucking, bus, motorcycle and RV associations. These groups are often interviewed by the media and meet with politicians during and after snow storms to share public reaction to our performance.
The public perceptions of snow fighting has had a substantial impact on many political careers and agencies’ images — more so than reviews of many of the agency functions. Therefore, it is important to understand the many ways that winter maintenance affects our customers, such as safety, economic impact, and quality-of-life.
Public critiques can have a beneficial affect for our agencies — particularly when government funding is tight and local budgets are faced with cuts. Agency leaders want to be recognized for excellent work. But tough reviews are also strong political motivators for increasing funding and strengthening snow-fighting programs.
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| | Snowplow COMBAT | "Snowplow COMBAT"
This presentation and live demonstration describes the Franklin County Engineers / City of Columbus, Ohio collaborative snowplow AVL project. COMBAT (Central Ohio Management Based Applied Technology) is a multi-jurisdictional, 4.2 million dollar implementation of a full-featured GPS AVL system that includes 100 snowplows, 25 mowers and 25 street sweepers.
While the presentation will describe the high-tech implementationof a fully integrated snowplow, the presentation and the project focused on operations. The project was sponsored by operations employees, written by operations employees and implemented by operations employees. Cost tracking, customer service, and operations logistics reports/features were implemented. Finally, hints on how operations-orientated organizations can implement a successful project in an IT environment will be discussed.
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1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. | | Domestic Scan of Winter Maintenance Best Practices | What are the best winter maintenance practices in the country?
In March and April of 2009, a six-member winter maintenance scanning team completed a 14-day tour to five different states. Some highlights include:
• The chance to sit in cabs of snow control trucks amongst so much electronic gear (gadgets, screens, cameras and buttons) that there was not any room left for anyone other than a single operator.
• The viewing of dispatching centers with high walls covered with multiple screens showing roadway conditions received in real time from cameras relaying the same image that the snowfighter is seeing from his/her cab.
• Talking to dispatchers who, at any given time, could know exactly where every truck was distributed on the road network (as does every individual driver themselves).
• Meeting onsite meteorologists who were updating weather forecasts for the snowfighters based on real time information received from stationary devices out on the network, coupled by real-time information conveyed directly from the cab of the trucks. Chemical application rates are being adjusted accordingly on the spot.
• Observing plowing trucks, operated by a single driver that could clear two traveling lanes at a time using a follow-behind tow plow, in which a wide range of anti-icing and deicing chemicals could be distributed in both liquid and solid form, separately or together. Solids were being distributed at zero-ground speed to almost eliminate bounce (thus less waste).
Come hear an overview of all the best practices they witnessed.
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| | Let's compare! State verses Local agencies. | Maybe we all need to realize there is both opportunity for improvement and learning no matter how big or small an agency is.
After 27 years in a DOT I accepted a City superintendent job with a City.
We need to realize that the lessons learned in one situation can help in another, even if some processes can't be utilized because of demographics, geographic restrictions or hindrances, equipment availability, funding limitations, cycle times, material availability, political influences and realm of authority and decision making.
Come join the presentation and discussion as we evaluate, review, understand and learn from both types of organizations and just maybe we'll learn some avenues to help us pursue and become more successful no matter where we are.
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| | Sustainability and Certification | In today's environment the expectation for a safe and reliable transportation system for the commuting of people and the transportation of goods and services, has resulted in the need for agencies to provide unprecedented levels of service throughout the winter season.
The environmental impacts from chemical usage on infrastructure, vehicles, vegetation and especially to groundwater have led to agencies looking for alternatives and improved methods.
Sustainability in winter operations focuses on principles and procedures for proper usage and storage of deicing materials while balancing the need to maintain safe roadways.
This session will cover the effects of deicing chemicals on the environment, sensible salting, treatment recommendations, calibration, use of liquids and organic materials in winter operations, and certification of operators both public and private.
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| | The Growth of Liquid De-Icing in Europe - Past, Present and Future | Do you ever wonder how other countries get rid of ice?
This presentation will focus in on the growth of liquid de-icing in Europe over recent years. It will focus in on various European countries, highlighting how different technologies are applied to different climatic situations. Examples will be given of emerging techniques with results from both laboratory and field studies being presented.
The session will also make direct comparisons of techniques from both Europe and North America, and highlight how snow and ice removal either side of the Atlantic is learning from one another.
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3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | | How to Keep On Keeping On | Closing Keynote Speaker: Tom Osborne
As head coach of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers for 25 years, Osborne took his team to a bowl game every year, won three national championships in the last four years he coached, and ended his career boasting an 84 percent winning record.
However, most people single out the coach for his integrity, grace under pressure, and devotion to his faith. To coach Osborne, this awareness and appreciation for his honesty, character, and sportsmanship have more meaning than all the No. 1 championships put together.
Now as a motivational speaker, and author of his memoir "Faith in the Game", Osborne lets us in on the traits required for successful life management and teamwork--loyalty, perseverance, honesty, integrity, strategy, character, faith, and old-fashioned "sweat equity" — values it takes to achieve victory, on any field
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5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. | | Dinner at the Strategic Air & Space Museum | Buses will depart hotels at 5:30 p.m. Cost is included in full attendee and guest/spouse registrations. Additional tickets are $50 each and can be purchased onsite at the conference. Recommended attire — casual.
As big as six football fields, the Strategic Air & Space Museum is home to more than 40 of the world's most famous aircraft, spacecraft and missiles, including the SR-71, U-2, B-17, B1-A and the Apollo 009 capsule. APWA Snow Conference guests will have exclusive use of the entire facility. We'll dine in an airplane hanger, under the wings of historic military planes.
There will be plenty of time to view the permanent hands-on exhibits and also a special traveling exhibit — Leonardo Da Vinci's Machines in Motion, where you can touch, feel and experience 40 machines set in motion from the mind of Da Vinci. Or just hang out and enjoy live music by the Avi8ors, performing songs from the World War II era in USO style. The museum gift shop will also be open during the event.
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Wednesday, April 21, 20108:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | | Technical Tour - Fleet Maintenance and Snow & Ice Operations | The morning of Wednesday, April 21 is dedicated entirely to the technical tour program. One tour will visit two Omaha Public Works facilities. There is no additional cost, but you must have a full conference registration to participate and reserve a place on the tour by checking the appropriate box on your registration.
Fleet Maintenance — Omaha’s fleet maintenance facility repairs vehicles from Police, Fire and Parks, as well as Street Maintenance. Mechanics and managers will be available to talk with you about their work in keeping the snow fleet operational during the winter months, and to demonstrate how they use software to track inventory, costs, fuel usage, etc. A truck will be set up for material calibration and a foreman available to answer any calibration questions. Also on display — “Merve", an assault vehicle complete with gun ports and used for riot control. This facility also includes welding and parts shops.
Snow & Ice Operations — You’ll have the opportunity to see a variety of snow and ice equipment at this large operations yard. Equipment operators and managers will be on hand to discuss the equipment and snow operations. This facility also includes a brine-making operation and a computerized system to track snow operations.
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