Project
COST 344 - Improvements to snow and ice control on European roads and bridges
Funding origin:
European
STRIA Roadmaps:
Network and traffic management systems (NTM)
Transport infrastructure (INF)
Transport mode:
Road
Duration:
Start date: 01/04/1999,
End date: 01/04/2002
Status: Finished
Funding details:
Overview
Background & policy context:
COST 344 aimed to review snow and ice control methods and examine ways of improving them to provide ‘best value’ in terms of road network management and maintenance and assessment of the efficiency of the methods adopted.
Effective snow and ice control is a vital service for European governments to ensure road users can travel safely and with minimum disruption in very cold and severe climatic conditions. It is important that the service is provided at an affordable price and best value achieved with minimum environmental impact.
Objectives:
Objectives were:
- to review snow and ice control methods and examine ways of improving them to provide ‘best value’ in terms of road network management and maintenance and assessment of the efficiency of the methods adopted,
- to reduce environmental impact and harmonise safety and environmental standards, thus providing guidance to decision makers, and
- to ensure that improved snow and ice control methods are based on best practice.
Methodology:
- Assessment of snow and ice control methods.
- Identification of improvements to snow and ice control methods and management of the process.
- Assessment of the safety and economics of road traffic in winter conditions.
- Assessment of real time information to road users through telematics.
- Assessment of de-icer products and their environmental impact.
- Assessment of developments in Road Weather Information Systems.
- Development of objective criteria and benchmarks at European level.
- Establishment of terms of reference for the development of safety and environmental standards at European level.
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