Spatial Mapping of Winter Road Weather and Surface Conditions

作为一个北方国家，冬季条件是许多加拿大人每年都面临的问题。由于积雪、结冰或被洪水淹没，道路状况恶化，它们使得危险的驾驶变得更加危险。为了减轻这种影响，城市和道路管理部门根据手头的信息和经验，努力尽其所能维护这些道路。然而，需要监测和维护的公路网非常大，成本也很高，这增加了他们在努力维护道路的同时降低成本所面临的困难。认识到现有知识和方法的差距，该项目旨在开发一种可重复但可转移的方法，使用最重要的公路智能交通系统设施之一-道路天气信息系统(RWIS)来估计路面状况。该项目利用大数据和先进的建模技术，为城市道路和维修工人提供他们需要的工具，以便更好地评估其道路状况，并及时动员冬季道路维修服务。该项目的受益者将是每一个加拿大人，因为道路对城市的日常生活很重要。延误和碰撞在环境、经济和社会上都是代价高昂的；因此，以及时和经济的方式为道路提供服务符合每个人的最佳利益。城市和道路当局将受益于成本的降低，而道路使用者将在冬季享受安全的驾驶体验。这不仅有助于改善运输安全和可达性，而且还有助于减少对环境的影响和冬季维护业务成本。因此，该项目将帮助加拿大在冬季道路维护、大数据分析和先进人工智能技术领域的市场技术和技能的进步和发展方面走在前列。该项目的成果将有助于建立加拿大创新的学术声誉和行业优势，同时有助于进一步实现经济多元化和发展。

Being a northern country, winter conditions are a problem that many Canadians face each year. They make fortreacherous driving as the road conditions deteriorate by becoming snow-covered, ice-covered, or impassibledue to inundation. To mitigate such effects, cities and road authorities strive to maintain these roads to the bestof their abilities based on the information and experience on hand. However, the road network that needs to bemonitored and maintained is vastly large, and the costs are high, adding to the difficulties they face when tryingto service the roads while also keeping costs down. Acknowledging the gap in existing knowledge andmethodologies, this project aims to develop a repeatable yet transferrable method for estimating road surfaceconditions using one of the most important highway intelligent transportation system facilities - road weatherinformation systems (RWIS). The project utilizes big data and advanced modelling techniques to provide citiesand maintenance workers with a tool they need to better assess their roads' conditions and mobilize winter roadmaintenance services in a timely manner. The beneficiaries of this project will be every Canadian, as roads areimportant for everyday life in the city. Delays and collisions are environmentally, economically, and societallycostly; thus, it is in the best interest of everyone that the roads are serviced in a timely and economical way.Cities and road authorities will benefit from reduced costs while road users will enjoy safe driving experiencesduring winter. This will not only contribute to improving transportation safety and accessibility but alsoreducing environmental impacts and winter maintenance operational costs. Therefore, this project will helpCanada lead the way in the advancement and development of marketable technologies and skills in the field ofwinter road maintenance, big data analysis, and advanced artificial intelligence techniques. The outcomes ofthis project will contribute to building up Canada's innovative academic reputation and industrial excellencewhile help further diversify and advance its economy.