SICOP Talks Winter Ops

We've been on a training theme for the last couple of episodes which, I think, is super relevant considering the average level of experience in the winter maintenance profession right now.  As maintenance managers, where do you go to get relevant, state of the practice, training for you're winter maintenance operators and supervisors?  One option is offered through the American Public Works Association.  We just wrapped up a great conversation with Dan Schacher of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Northern Region Maintenance & Operations Manager and, more importantly,  coordinator for APWAs Winter maintenance supervisors and operator certificate program. Dan explains that this program is geared for state and local supervisors and operators alike. Listen in as we visit with Dan as he tells us about this certificate program and how it might be well suited for your staff.For more information on the APWA Supervisor and Operator Certification Program you can email Dan at daniel.schacher@alaska.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!

When it comes to preparing your folks for leadership roles in highway maintenance the National Highway Institute Maintenance Leadership Academy is the gold standard.  This comprehensive program and the experiences of the instructors provide a wealth of knowledge into all the aspects of highway maintenance a maintenance professional might face through 6 topic modules from administration to responding to severe weather events.  Course coordinator Jeremy Birkey and certified instructor Greg Duncan of Applied Pavement Technology and Jim Weston of the Washington State DOT share their experiences and thoughts about this leadership academy and how folks can benefit for participation.  For more information about the National Highway Institute, The Maintenance Leadership Academy,  and how you and your agency might benefit from hosting or attending a session you can reach out to Jeremy, Greg, or Jim.  Check out the National Highway Institute at this link: https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/ and the Maintenance Leadership Academy at this linkSign 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!

When New Hampshire began developing the I-93 widening project there was concern about the amount of salt that might be introduced into the environment due to winter operations and this became to impetus for the creation of the Green SnowPro Program through the Department of Environmental Services.  Marilee Enus, Director of the New Hampshire Local Technical Assistance Program (NH LTAP), at the University of New Hampshire's Technology Transfer Center (UNH T2) and Scott Kinmond, Technology Specialist/Instructor explain the program and certification program.For more information about the Green SnowPro visit the NH Department of Environmental Services website at https://www.des.nh.gov/land/roads/road-salt-reduction.  And if you're interested in more detail on the Green SnowPro program, including a good discussion of the legislative process (including a legislative partner who was in the winter maintenance industry), as well as a review of a recent legal case that “tested” the liability coverage, our webinar with the NHDES Green SnowPro team is now available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pf7k5LbvWYgYou can also reach out to Marilee at Marilee.Enus@unh.edu or Scott at Scott.Kinmond@unh.edu for more information about the training or program.  Additional information on the certification program can be found on the New Hampshire Technology Transfer Center Website https://t2.unh.edu/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!

AI and Machine Learning will probably be the next disruptive technology that will spawn a quantum leap in the way we approach the provision of winter service.  On this episode we're heading to the University at Albany in New York to visit with Nick Bassill,  director of the New York State Weather Risk Communication Center and Carly Sutter, graduate research assistant there at the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center about a project Carly has been working on with the New York State Department of Transportation to identify road conditions from images using machine learning and the results could have impacts well beyond.They take some of the mystery out of AI and machine learning is a way that's easy to understand.  For more info on this project, AI and machine learning reach out to Nick at nbassill@albany.edu or Carly at csutter@albany.eduSign 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!

We've been talking about electrification of the maintenance fleet for some time now and the conversation always turns to the challenges facing the rollout of this technology particularly when it comes to winter maintenance.  Diminished load carrying capacity due to the weight of the batteries, battery performance in cold operating environments, range anxiety, and the lack of rapid charging infrastructure re just a few.  Well, Edison Motors Ltd based in Merritt, British Columbia has found the answer to these challenges and are in the process of developing a plugin hybrid electric snowplow for Emcon Services Inc, the largest maintenance contractor in Canada.  Frank Rizzardo, President of Emcon Services is here along with the founders of Edison Motors, Chace Barber and Eric Little to tell us all about their plugin hybrid electric snowplow project.  check out the progress of the hybrid snowplow build and other vocational trucks Edison Motors have built on their YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@EdisonMotors.  If this episode has got your interest up in hybrid snowplows you can reach out to Frank at  emcon1@emconservices.ca, Chace at chace@edisonmotors.ca, or Eric at eric.little@edisonmotors.ca to continue the discussion.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!

Road Weather Information Systems unlocked a whole host of opportunities when it comes to performing winter maintenance.  Paul Bridge is an important player when it comes to RWIS from his early days at the Met UK through stints with RWIS vendors. His understanding of the technology and how it is used to help highway agencies do good winter maintenance is the topic of this episode from the early days of RWIS deployments in the US through AI as a force multiplier.You can reach out to Paul by email at pbridge@campbellsci.com to continue the discussion or learn more about the technology in its various forms.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!

APWA's Western Snow and Ice Conference and Snow Roadeo is one of the premier events in the world of winter maintenance and it happens every year in Loveland, Colorado.  In addition to the indoor activities and huge equipment and vendor display, hundreds of operators put their mastery of equipment operation on display at the National Snow Roadeo.  Pete Adler and Tim Brady join us to discuss this event and particulars of the Snow Roadeo. For more information about this event head over to their website at https://www.westernsnowandice.com/ or you can contact Pete Adler at rockies325@gmail.com or Tim Brady timothy.brady@cityofloveland.orgSign 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 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 Professional Snowfighters Association. 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:Wilf Nixon at wilf@psassoc.orgKathrine Nixon at kathrine@psassoc.orgWatch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops  Visit the APWA website at https://professionalsnowfightersassociation.orgSign 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 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 American Meteorological Societies ITS and Surface Transportation Committee. 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:Amanda Anderson at aander@ucar.eduWatch 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.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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 APWA Snow & Ice Committee. 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:Matt Morreim at mmorreim@ci.shorewood.mn.usWatch 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.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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 FHWA Road Weather Management 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:Jeremy McGuffey at jeremy.mcguffey@dot.govWatch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops Visit the FHWA Road Weather Management website at https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/index.aspSign 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 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 World Road Associations Winter Service Technical Committee. 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 :Peter Nutz at peter.nutz@wien.gv.atWatch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops Visit the PIARC Winter Service Technical Committee website at this link PIARC Winter Service. 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 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 Transportation Research Board Road Weather Committee. 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:Paul Pisano at paul@allealle.comWatch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops Visit the TRB Road Weather Committee website at:https://sites.google.com/view/trbcommitteeakr50/homeSign 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 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 Transportation Research Board Winter Maintenance Committee . 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:Anna Arvidsson at anna.arvidsson@vti.seWatch 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.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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 No Boundaries Pooled Fund Study. 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: Jim Fox at james.fox@state.co.us Kirsten Seeber with CTC and Associates at  kirsten.seeber@ctcandassociates.comWatch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops Visit the No Boundaries website at: 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 Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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 Decision Support System (MDSS) Pooled Fund Study.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:Dave Huft at Dave.Huft@state.sd.us Shawn Truelson with DTN at shawn.truelson@dtn.comWatch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops Visit the MDSS Pooled Fund Study website at: https://mdss.dtn.com/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 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 Clear Roads Pooled Fund Study. 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:Craig Bargfrede at craig.bargfrede@iowadot.us Greg Waidley with CTC and Associates at  greg.waidley@ctcandassociates.comWatch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops  Visit the Clear Roads Pooled Fund Study website at: https://www.clearroads.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 Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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 Aurora Pooled Fund Study. 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:Jason Norville at janorville@pa.gov Zach Hans with Iowa State University at zhans@iastate.eduWatch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops Visit the Aurora Pooled Fund Study website at:https://aurora-program.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 Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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 how it came to be.For more information on this project and the new Guide you can reach out to Brad Darr at  bdarr@nd.gov John Habermann at j-habermann@tti.tamu.edu and/or Diana Clonch at dwclonch@gmail.comSign 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!

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 management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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 TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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 for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO's Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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 for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO's Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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 for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO's Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.comThanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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 .If you'd like to be a guest on SICOP Talks Winter Ops or you have an idea for an episode send an email to Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.govSign up for email notifications for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO's Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at https://subscribe.talkinwinterops.org We'll never spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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-machine-learning or you can email Tom Brummet directly at brummet@ucar.edu.If you'd like to be a guest on SICOP Talks Winter Ops or you have an idea for an episode send an email to Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.govSign up for email notifications for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO's Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at https://subscribe.talkinwinterops.org We'll never spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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.govIf you'd like to be a guest on SICOP Talks Winter Ops or you have an idea for an episode send an email to Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.govSign up for email notifications for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO's Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at https://subscribe.talkinwinterops.org We'll never spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.Thanks 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 If you'd like to be a guest on SICOP Talks Winter Ops or you have an idea for an episode send an email to Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.govSign up for email notifications for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO's Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at https://subscribe.talkinwinterops.org We'll never spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.Thanks 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.If you'd like to be a guest on SICOP Talks Winter Ops or you have an idea for an episode send an email to Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.govSign up for email notifications for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO's Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at https://subscribe.talkinwinterops.org We'll never spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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 recognition45:13 the applicant pool & recruiting50:09 Key outcomesIf you'd like to be a guest on SICOP Talks Winter Ops or you have an idea for an episode send an email to Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.govSign up for email notifications for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO's Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at https://subscribe.talkinwinterops.org We'll never spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

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.If you'd like to be a guest on SICOP Talks Winter Ops or you have an idea for an episode send an email to Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.govSign up for email notifications for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO's Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at https://subscribe.talkinwinterops.org We'll never spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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-answersIf you'd like to be a guest on SICOP Talks Winter Ops or you have an idea for an episode send an email to Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.govSign up for email notifications for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO's Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at https://talkinwinterops.org/subscribe We'll never spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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.infoSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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/SICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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.htmSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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 Professional Snowfighters Association.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.View the video at this link:https://youtu.be/QTvb9WKyhtQFor more information contact:Wilf Nixon at wilf@psassoc.orgKathrine Nixon at kathrine@psassoc.orgVisit the Professional Snowfighters Association website at this link:https://professionalsnowfightersassociation.orgSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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 American Public Works Association (APWA) Snow and Ice Committee.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/gMCRJ3PMykYFor more information contact:Matthew Morreim at mmorreim@ci.shorewood.mn.usSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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 American Meteorological Society's ITS and Surface Transportation CommitteeThis 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.View the video at this link:https://youtu.be/vMZG45uFHosFor more information contact:Amanda Anderson at aander@ucar.eduFHWA Road Weather Management Resources website mentioned can be found at this link:  https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/resources/publications.htmSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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 PIARC Winter Service Technical CommitteeThis 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/De8zNEfaFHoFor more information contact: Peter Nutz peter.nutz@wien.gv.atVisit the Winter Service website:https://www.piarc.org/en/PIARC-knowledge-base-Roads-and-Road-Transportation/Road-Safety-Sustainability/Winter-ServiceSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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 Transportation Research Board Road Weather Committee AKR50.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/csfDKR6oN7QFor more information contact:Paul Pisano paul@allealle.comTo become a friend of the Road Weather Committee follow this link:https://sites.google.com/view/trbcommitteeakr50/membershipSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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 Transportation Research Board Winter Maintenance Committee.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/8WP7n5MzBv0For more information Contact:Chair Anna Arvidsson at anna.arvidsson@vti.seBecome a friend of the Winter Maintenance Committee AKR40 by following this link to create a MyTRB account and register as a friend:https://www.nationalacademies.org/trb/get-involvedSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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 Maintenance Decision Support System 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/x1ZTNzOm41EFor more information contact:Dave Huft Dave.Huft@state.sd.usShawn Truelson shawn.truelson@dtn.comVisit the MDSS website at https://mdss.dtn.comSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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 Aurora 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 https://youtu.be/iJo_v1GmRXMFor more information Contact :Tonya Lohman tonya.lohman@modot.mo.govZach Hans zhans@iastate.eduVisit the Aurora website at https://aurora-program.org/SICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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 Clear Roads 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 https://youtu.be/Aqa0KU0dguMFor more information Contact :Craig Bargfrede craig.bargfrede@iowadot.usGreg Waidley greg.waidley@ctcandassociates.comVisit the Clear Roads website at https://clearroads.org/SICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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 Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program - SICOP.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 https://youtu.be/YbPUTsB7C9oFor more information Contact :Rick Nelson rnelson@aashto.orgBrad Darr bdarr@nd.govJoe Thompson Joe.Thompson@dot.ny.govHeath Patterson hpatterson@mdot.ms.govBecky Allmeroth Rebecca.Allmeroth@modot.mo.govDoug McBroom dmcbroom@mt.govVisit our website at https://sicop.transportation.orgSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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 Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group.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 https://youtu.be/L9k7pcz4sZYFor more information Contact:Brad Darr bdarr@nd.govEmily McGraw emcgraw@ncdot.govNatalie Roark Natalie.Roark@modot.mo.govSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

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 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 https://youtu.be/j1WtA32tVKsFor more information about this national briefing or the Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group contact:Brad Darr bdarr@nd.govRick Nelson rnelson@aashto.orgSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

When your agency is responsible for vast amounts of infrastructure and performs hundreds of activities with thousands of employees having a robust management information system is imperative.  On this episode Michael Middleton of the Missouri Department of Transportation and Project Director for MoDOT Management System talks about the development and implementation of their new maintenance management system.  Easy to input data for the employees, easy to extract information for managers, this system is a one-stop shop for employees.  It's not just maintenance activity based, this system includes a safety management component focusing on employee safety.  This MMS has become such a powerful tool for the agency that it has become the MODOT Management SystemChapter marks0:00 Intro with Becky4:10 Kicking off the project / system requirements9:55 COTS vs develop in house?  18:31 Roll out - champions22:54 initial system functions28:51 Safety module40:28 Additional resources-videos43:44 wrap upFor more information on the MoDOT Management System contact the Project Director, Michael Middleton at michael.Middleton@modot.mo.govor Check out these MODOT videos on the MODOT Management SystemMMS Phase 1 – Documentation and Dashboardshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjPBFRuxwlAMMS Phase 2 - Work Plans and Budget module.https://youtu.be/lcOjUlCxe1ESafety Management Modulehttps://www.youtube.com/embed/BZJMQ8evSco?rel=0%20Story Board for Safety Modulehttps://youtu.be/kkNf06eGDroNew Incident reporting modulehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx1Edm6EShs&t=3sSICOP Talks Winter Ops is always looking for interesting topics and guests to visit with regarding winter maintenance and road weather. If you have any ideas for future episodes contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or our our co-producer Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov