Investigators will develop a comprehensive guide to pre-wetting that will enable departments of transportation; public works agencies; and superintendents, supervisors and other practitioners involved in snow and ice control to incorporate pre-wetting into their snow and ice control equipment. Specifically, the guide will provide optimal application rates for meeting pre-wetting goals and will quantify the benefits of different rates, speeds and other delivery factors. The guide will also present the findings of using two to four salt spreader configurations and delivery systems (e.g., auger, Monroe hopper, zero-velocity spreader). The evaluation will include a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each in meeting pre-wetting goals. Clear Roads member states may be able to make resources available to assist with field testing. Tasks Responders should detail their approach to this project and outline the steps they would take to achieve the project’s goals and anticipated deliverables. Anticipated Deliverables The following is a list of deliverables expected to be provided by the successful responder: 1. Kick-off teleconference at the start of the project to review project tasks and goals, and discuss the plans for all of the tasks. 2. Check-in teleconferences with Clear Roads to review deliverables as appropriate. 3. Review / revise task deliverables that were submitted by the previous investigator. This may include additional research. Review and revise as appropriate the literature review, survey, initial synthesis, and draft experimental design submitted by the previous research team. These documents will be provided once the contract for this project has been executed. 4. Develop laboratory and field test procedures to achieve each of the project goals (reduced bounce and scatter of solids, activation of solid salt as a melting agent and reduction in corrosion). 5. Specifications for moisture content. Before testing, investigators will determine the moisture content of the untreated dry salt and the moisture content of the material dispersed by the truck. 6. Test results to include target application rates and evaluation of delivery methods. 7. Development of a comprehensive, step-by-step guide that will include the purpose of pre-wetting solid materials, gains achieved from pre-wetting, and preferred methods, best practices, and application rates. The guide will also include graphics and illustrations to succinctly explain how the research was conducted and interpret the research results. 8. Final report documenting the research methodology and findings. The report will include an executive summary, conclusions and recommendations. 9. Virtual webinar summarizing project findings. 10. Quarterly reports that document progress should be submitted to the Clear Roads TAC at the end of each quarter of the year (March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31) for the duration of the contract.
