Determine Available Data Inputs, Potential Metrics, and Intended Audience When Developing Dashboards to Support Winter Maintenance Operations.
Recommendations From Surveys and Interviews Provided Insight for Transportation Agencies Looking to Establish or Enhance Operations Dashboards.
Minnesota, United States
Use of Dashboards for Winter Operations
Summary Information
Transportation agencies in cold regions must plan for winter maintenance operations, but the types and amounts of data gathered and performance measures used to track and monitor these operations vary. Data may include equipment location and information, material application rates and usage, operational status, road weather conditions from stations and mobile sources, and visuals or alerts from connected vehicles. This study reviewed the use of dashboards to support decision making for winter maintenance operations to serve as a reference guide for state departments of transportation (DOTs). It involved a literature review, an online survey of 23 agencies in states that experience snow and ice, and virtual interviews with five agencies in November 2023 and January 2024.
The study developed recommendations and best practices for dashboard developing, improving, and hosting, including the following:
- Determine available dashboard data inputs, potential metrics (material usage, speed, etc.), and the intended audience. These decisions will shape how an agency uses data to allocate resources and operate more effectively.
- Host dashboards on a trusted platform that can handle spikes in usage (e.g., during weather events) to prevent buffering issues.
- Have a plan for testing and updating dashboards if it is necessary to switch data vendors to prevent issues with outputs, as data previously being used in dashboards may be affected during the transition.
- Utilize a trusted partner for dashboard development, such as a university that has a long history with the agency, to minimize the need for internal resources.
- Use dashboard capabilities such as data exporting to help manage private contracts.
- Take advantage of real-time dashboards to provide up-to-date information about ongoing operations and communicate with the public and agency leadership.
- Note the upfront costs of developing a dashboard. However, the benefits of having dashboards for winter operation likely outweigh the costs of developing, implementing, and maintaining them.
