New tech to keep North Yorkshire roads running this winter
It will help in severe weather conditions
New state-of-the-art technology is due to be used to monitor North Yorkshire’s road network throughout the winter and ensure routes remain open.
Artificial intelligence, computer modelling, live data and cutting-edge sensors to check road surface temperatures and moisture levels will be used by North Yorkshire County Council to closely monitor thousands of miles of roads.
The county council’s highways team has already invested in equipment to provide it with the most up-to-date weather information.
They also have a network of 27 weather stations at key locations across England’s largest county provide real-time information so they can make accurate, informed decisions about when and where to grit roads.
The stations include solar-powered cameras that relay live images of road conditions to the county council’s website, where they are viewed hundreds of thousands of times each winter to help people plan their journeys.
The authority is also trialling a system that uses real-time weather information, historic weather and road condition data alongside computer modelling to help identify required winter treatments.
This technology will help highway officers drive the network and video technology will automatically survey the roads and identifies defects within a few hours.
With a visual snapshot of the whole network, capturing useful data about the road condition and road signs will quickly enable them to target resources most efficiently.
North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways and transportation, Cllr Keane Duncan, said:
“North Yorkshire’s extensive highways network, which includes many rural roads, is vital to the everyday lives of the county’s residents, its businesses, tourism industry and wider economic prosperity.
“That’s why we have a strong track record in putting ourselves at the forefront of technological advances that enable us to make quick, well-informed decisions to help to keep our roads open and people on the move during winter weather.
“These latest developments with Vaisala continue that long-standing approach and demonstrate our commitment to ongoing improvement to enable our dedicated teams to support residents, businesses and visitors across the county.”
Jarkko Sairanen, Vaisala’s executive vice president for weather and the environment, said:
“I am convinced the county and its people will benefit from the latest advances in mobile and Internet of Things technologies to help keep the road network safe and accessible, while minimising the cost and carbon footprint of efficient winter maintenance operations.”