Institute for Transportation

Real-Time Analytics of Transportation Data (REACTOR) Laboratory Co-Director Anuj Sharma is leading a research project funded by the Iowa DOT to develop, test, and prove the concept of a snowplow navigation system to aid operators in the worst winter conditions.

“From a direct request for support by the snowplow drivers, I am enhancing the machines to meet their needs, reduce their workload stress, and maximize the efficacy of each plow,” said Sharma, who is also Pitt-Des Moines Inc. Professor in Civil Engineering.

The guiding principles of the project, started in 2021 and expected to conclude in 2025, are the economic efficiency and field readiness of the solution. Sharma and his research team are keeping that balance in mind as they work toward developing a fleet of smart snowplows by collecting data simultaneously with radar, lidar, road sensors, thermal imaging, and computer learning.

“The idea is that we use tools already unlocked and available but informed by data for this use-case and integrate them into the machines to do things like lane keeping assistance or imminent collision detection, increasing the safety of drivers and lowering hazard risks,” said Sharma.

The navigation system won’t change who is driving the snowplow. It’s designed to help drivers maintain their position in a lane. Sharma said that a second phase of the project is designed to help drivers avoid collisions with snow-covered cars or debris in the roadway.

“Driving a snowplow is a very tough job,” said Institute for Transportation (InTrans) Associate Director Neal Hawkins, who is co-PI on the project. “Agencies want to do anything they can to lower the stress levels for their operators. If they can’t keep plowing, we’re all in trouble.”

More about the research can be found on the project page.