Blizzards and heavy snow rates are common in Iowa and cause whiteout conditions that make plowing a challenge. In those conditions, snow accumulates quickly on the pavement, covering lane lines and eventually obscuring the road. Currently, plow drivers must pick their way carefully by slowing down and using roadside features to navigate. As plowing speeds slow, it takes longer for a plow to cycle its route, allowing even more snow to build up on the road by the time the plow returns. It is not uncommon for drivers to lose track of the lane location and start drifting over centerline or into the ditch. In very bad visibility, plows cease operations due to safety concerns until visibility improves – in which case it is quite common for the road to drift shut entirely, leading to stranded vehicles, road closures, and a lengthy dig-out process after the storm subsides. Navigation systems are now commercially available to provide by-the-inch vehicle positioning to a mapped “path”. During operation, the system locates the position of the plow truck on an in-cab display and provide feedback to the operator if the vehicle deviates a set lateral distance from its programmed path. These systems reduce the impact of bad visibility or deep snow on plowing efficiency, allowing us to better keep up with conditions and providing safer conditions for plow drivers and safer roads for travelers.
