Proven Benefits of MDSS:

• moreproactiveandeffectivewintermaintenancestrategies,resultinginimprovedtravelersafetyandcustomersatisfaction

• reduceduseofdeicingchemicals,resultinginlowercostsandlessenvironmentalimpact

• betterallocationofpersonnelandequipmentresources,resultinginloweroperationalcosts

LEAD STATES TEAM S Y N O P S I SMaintenance Decision Support System (MDSS)

What the LST Did

AMaintenanceDecisionSupportSystem(MDSS)bringstogether,inauser-friendlysoftwarepackage,awiderangeofinformationvitaltomaintainingmobilityandimprovingsafetyinadverseweatherconditions.Itallowsagenciestomonitorconditionsstatewideandselectspecificregions,roads—orevenintersections—toaddressconditionsasneeded.Integratingvirtuallyallinformationrequiredtosupportweathermaintenancedecision-making,MDSSoptimizestheefficientdeploymentofmanpower,machinery,andmaterials.

TheoverallgoalfortheLSTwastonationallyincreaseadoptionofMDSSby30percentintwoyears.Teamaccomplishmentsfarexceededthisgoal.Leadstatesteamactivitiesincludedprovidingpresentationsatconferences,regionalworkshops,andothermeetings.TheteamalsodevelopedapresentationCD/DVDandanMDSSinformationalbrochure.TheCD/DVDwasdistributedtoconferenceattendees,whowereencouragedtousethepresentationwithintheirownorganizationstoeducateandinfluenceotherkeypersonnel.Finally,theteamdevelopedseveralcasestudiesandtestimonialstatementsandofferedlivewebcastsofstormeventstoassistotherstatesinunderstandingbenefitsofferedbyMDSS.

TheextentofsuccessinimplementingMDSSacrossthecountrywasgreatlyfacilitatedbyTransportationPooledFundStudyTPF-5(054),an18-stateefforttopromotebroaduseofMDSS.Theworkofthisstudyandtheleadstatesteamwaswellcoordinated,withSouthDakotaleadingbothefforts.TheFHWAwasalsogreatlyinvolved,offeringtwoversionsoftheirMDSSroadshows.

What Was Accomplished

ASHT1101.0112.20

David Huft, Chair, South Dakota Department of Transportation

Phillip Anderle, Colorado Department of Transportation

David Cornett, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Tony McClellen, Indiana Department of Transportation

Ray Murphy, Federal Highway Administration

Steve Palmer, Michigan Department of Transportation

Allen Williams, Virginia Department of Transportation

The MDSS is a critical support tool for making winter maintenance decisions.

 

Activity Period2007-2010

Cost of LST Effort$59,427

LST Members

In the BEFORE map, darker shading indicates lead state team involvement. Darker shading in the AFTER map indicates use of MDSS as of April 2011 (information courtesy of FHWA).

500 Miles0

Parallel scale at 40˚N 95˚W

500 KM0

BEFORE AFTER