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The National Academies

NCHRP IDEA 20-30/IDEA 239 [Active (IDEA)]

A Real-Time Ice Warning System Empowered by Dielectric Ice Sensors for Bridges
[ NCHRP 20-30 (NCHRP-IDEA) ]

  Project Data
Funds: $135,000
Staff Responsibility: Inam Jawed
Research Agency: University of Texas at Arlington
Principal Investigator: Xinbao Yu
Fiscal Year: 2021

This project will develop an active real-time flashing warning sign for icy bridges, based on a new dielectric ice sensor. The work will be carried out in two stage Work in Stage 1 iwill focus on developing ice-time domain reflectometer (TDR) sensors, signal analysis algorithm, and a control module. Dielectric sensors to provide accurate and reliable ice and water film conditions on concrete pavement will be designed, fabricated, and evaluated for optimizing the design. The sensors will be evaluated for ice development on concrete surface in a freezer box. An automatic signal analysis algorithm for sensor signal measurement and interpretation and a control module for an active warning sign system with LED flashing lights, based on integrated sensor and weather information, will be developed. Work in Stage 2 will involve integrating the sensor system and the control module to develop a prototype of the ice waring system and testing it on a mock-up bridge in the Texas DOT Fort Worth district. The control module will be optimized using the obtained field data. Finally, the ice-TDR sensor will be tested during ice winter events on outdoor pavements, such as the Dallas Fort Worth airport. The final report will provide all relevant data, methods, models, and conclusions along with guidance on how to use the system to collect pedestrian facility data by state DOTs.

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