Statewide implementation of Maintenance Decision Support System estimated at $496,952.

Estimated cost of Minnesota implementation of MDSS from 2009 benefit cost analysis

Made Public Date
05/12/2011
Identifier
2011-SC00210
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Summary Information

The costs associated with MDSS use are presented in the table below (in 2008 dollars):
 

Component
Costs ($/year)
Assumptions

Software and operations costs
$41,082

2 computers/shed; 15 min of MDSS installation time

Communication costs for Mobile Data Collection (MDC)
$60,000

$40/month; 5 months/winter season

In-vehicle computer hardware investment (capital and maintenance of MDC)
$180,000

300 MDCs; $2,000/MDC; used for 5 years; maintenance cost is 10% of the capital cost per year

Training
$116,480

40 training sessions/year; Trainer labor costs is $560/session; 30 people trained in each shed for 4 hours/session; training costs for trainer and maintenance personnel

Additional weather forecast provider costs
$0

Administrative costs
$99,390

25% of direct costs

Total
$496,952

Assumptions:

  • Software and Operations Costs - It is assumed that MDSS was deployed on all 150 sheds, two computers were installed with MDSS software in each shed, and the duration for each MDSS installation is 15 minutes.
  • In-vehicle Computer Hardware Investment - It is assumed that the state DOT would use MDC to provide an automated feedback mechanism (maintenance activity information transmitted from MDC to MDSS server) and a means of preserving the chain of communication between MDSS and the vehicle operator. The cost per MDC is about $2,000; it is assumed that each MDC can be used for 5 years, and the maintenance costs per year is 10 percent of the capital cost. Two trucks are assumed to be used in each shed.
  • Communication Costs - The communication cost of MDC is $40 per month, 5 months per winter season.
  • Training Cost - This cost is estimated for duration of 5 years. One training session to the personnel on each route will be conducted every year; each training session lasts for 4 hours for the first 2 years, and 2 hours for the rest; 30 personnel are trained during each traning session. Costs of the trainer and maintenance personnel are included.
  • Additional Weather Forecast Provider Costs - This cost is minimal, since states that do not use MDSS also purchase weather services for winter maintenance.
  • Administrative Costs - Twenty five percent of the total costs discussed above is assumed for agency administration (including support from agency staff, e.g. route configuration, call-in technical support).

Analysis of Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) Benefits & Costs

Analysis of Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) Benefits & Costs
Source Publication Date
05/13/2009
Author
Zhirui Ye, Christopher Strong, Xianming Shi*, and Steven Conger
Publisher
South Dakota Department of TransportationOffice of Research700 East Broadway AvenuePierre, SD 57501-2586
System Cost

The total cost per winter season was $496,952 (in 2008 dollar vaues) for statewide deployment of MDSS.