Investigating Safety Effectiveness of Wyoming Snow Fence Installations Along a Rural Mountainous Freeway

2017 ◽  
Vol 2613 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Peel ◽  
Mohamed Ahmed ◽  
Noriaki Ohara
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Bayes ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Control Surface ◽  
Blowing Snow ◽  
Snow Fence ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
Safety Effectiveness ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Snow Fences

Drifting and blowing snow is a problematic and dangerous aspect of Interstate travel in the state of Wyoming. The control of snow and the maintenance of roadways is an essential and significant task for many state and local agencies. Many significant factors—such as vehicle control, surface conditions, and visibility—can be affected by hazardous winter weather. In areas such as the inspected 19-mi section of Interstate 80, snow fences have become a common and practical method of mitigating the problems caused by large quantities of snow near or on the traveled way. Wyoming deals with a high rate of adverse weather–related crashes during the winter season. Naive before–after analyses of snow fence installations have historically indicated a slight decrease in such crashes. In this study, the safety effectiveness of snow fence installations was investigated; more rigorous quantitative-based approaches were used and included a before–after analysis with empirical Bayes—in which Wyoming-specific safety performance functions were used—and odds ratio analyses. Crash modification factors were estimated for various crash types and severity levels. The results from this study indicate that the installation of snow fences contributes to a significant increase in the safety effectiveness of Interstate use during the winter. Specifically, it was found that during adverse weather conditions, snow fences decreased total crashes and fatal and injury crashes by about 25% and 62%, respectively.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Snow Fences in Illinois: Phase 2

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Qi ◽  
◽  
Ryan Fries ◽  
Shambhu Saran Baral ◽  
Pranesh Biswas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Private Landowners ◽  
Blowing Snow ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Cost Analyses ◽  
Crash Data ◽  
Snow Fence ◽  
Snow Fences ◽  
Benefit Cost

Serving as a windbreak, properly sited and designed snow fences have been proven effective in mitigating the negative impacts of blowing snow. To achieve the best snow-control effects, the ideal locations for snow fences are usually outside the roadway right-of-way. Few efforts have been made to examine the economic efficiency of snow fences and explore ways to reward private landowners. The objective of this project was to develop methodologies for evaluation of the costs and benefits of snow fences in Illinois and identify ways to encourage private landowners’ participation in the snow fence program while keeping it cost-effective. The researchers conducted a literature review as well as agency and landowner surveys. They also acquired crash data, snow fence and blowing snow segment inventory data, and blowing snow removal expenditure data as well as performed benefit-cost analyses of three types of snow fences following Federal Highway Administration guides. The survey results suggested that standing corn rows (SCRs) and structural snow fences (SSFs) were the least intrusive options for landowners and living snow fences (LSFs) with trees were the most intrusive. Some concerns related to LSFs could be reduced by allowing landowners to play a role in the design and plant-selection process. The crash data indicated that no fatal and severe crashes occurred at snow fence segments, while several fatal and severe crashes occurred at blowing snow segments during 2012–2016. The results of the benefit-cost analyses showed that the benefit-cost ratios for LSFs and SSFs are comparable. However, LSFs are favorable over SSFs because little maintenance is needed after the plants are mature. Although SCRs have the highest benefit-cost ratio, the need to renew the agency-landowner agreement annually and the alternating of crops planted may limit their snow-control effectiveness and large-scale implementation. A tool was developed using MS Excel to facilitate the benefit-cost analysis of snow fences.

scholarly journals Economics of Living Snow Fences in the Intermountain West

1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 132-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron R. Kelson ◽  
Robert J. Lilieholm ◽  
Michael R. Kuhns
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Blowing Snow ◽  
Intermountain West ◽  
Efficiency Gains ◽  
Snow Fence ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
Snow Fences ◽  
Harsh Climate

Abstract Past research has found that living snow fences are the most cost-effective option for controlling blowing snow along transportation corridors. Despite this, living snow fences are an underutilized forestry practice throughout much of the Intermountain West, even though these fences can be successfully maintained in the region's harsh climate. Decision-makers may be encouraged to establish more living snow fences in the region when economic efficiency gains can be demonstrated. Efficiency gains from living snow fences, evaluated using the annualized cost approach, demonstrate that the benefits to society outweigh the costs. An example is presented using an average-sized, 1,040-ft-long, 3 row snow fence, and a discount rate of 8%. To offset snow fence costs over a 50 yr expected life, the fence need only reduce traffic accidents by as little as one every 23 yr, or reduce snow plowing by about 6 hr/yr. Other likely but less quantifiable benefits make the benefits of living snow fences even more economical to society. Private expenditures may need to be subsidized if these social benefits are to be provided at optimal levels, however. West. J. Appl. For. 14(3):132-136.

scholarly journals Simulation of wind-induced snow transport in alpine terrain using a fully coupled snowpack/atmosphere model

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 2191-2245 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Vionnet ◽  
E. Martin ◽  
V. Masson ◽  
G. Guyomarc'h ◽  
F. Naaim-Bouvet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Coupled Model ◽  
Deposition Process ◽  
Atmospheric Model ◽  
Horizontal Resolution ◽  
Blowing Snow ◽  
Erosion And Deposition ◽  
Atmospheric Flow ◽  
Snow Transport

Abstract. In alpine regions, wind-induced snow transport strongly influences the spatio-temporal evolution of the snow cover throughout the winter season. To gain understanding on the complex processes that drive the redistribution of snow, a new numerical model is developed. It couples directly the detailed snowpack model Crocus with the atmospheric model Meso-NH. Meso-NH/Crocus simulates snow transport in saltation and in turbulent suspension and includes the sublimation of suspended snow particles. A detailed representation of the first meters of the atmosphere allows a fine reproduction of the erosion and deposition process. The coupled model is evaluated against data collected around the experimental site of Col du Lac Blanc (2720 m a.s.l., French Alps). For this purpose, a blowing snow event without concurrent snowfall has been selected and simulated. Results show that the model captures the main structures of atmospheric flow in alpine terrain, the vertical profile of wind speed and the snow particles fluxes near the surface. However, the horizontal resolution of 50 m is found to be insufficient to simulate the location of areas of snow erosion and deposition observed by terrestrial laser scanning. When activated, the sublimation of suspended snow particles causes a reduction in deposition of 5.3%. Total sublimation (surface + blowing snow) is three times higher than surface sublimation in a simulation neglecting blowing snow sublimation.

scholarly journals The effect of wind direction on drift control by snow fences

2001 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 159-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukari Takeuchi ◽  
Shun’ichi Kobayashi ◽  
Takeshi Sato ◽  
Kaoru Izumi ◽  
Kenji Kosugi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Wind Velocity ◽  
Wind Direction ◽  
The Other ◽  
First Case ◽  
Snow Fence ◽  
Snow Fences ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Cold Wind ◽  
Drift Control

AbstractSnowdrifting processes and the wind-velocity profiles around a collector and a blower snow fence were investigated in a cold wind tunnel. The purpose was to ascertain the effect of wind direction on drift control by snow fences. Three different cases were studied for both types of snow fence, and the resultant snowdrifts were compared. In the first case, the snow fence was perpendicular to the wind direction. In the second and third cases, it was tilted by 30° and 45°. When the collector snow fence was tilted, the amounts of snowdrift were much less than when the fence was perpendicular to the wind direction, because the area with low wind velocity was reduced to half behind the tilted fence. On the other hand, the blowing effect of the blower snow fence increased when it was set up at an angle to the wind direction. It is necessary to investigate the position where the blown snow is deposited by the tilted blower snow fence.

scholarly journals Field experiments on “living” snow fences

1998 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 217-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Naaim-Bouvet ◽  
Pierre Mullenbach
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Snow Accumulation ◽  
Real Problem ◽  
Effective Height ◽  
Natural Plant ◽  
Drifting Snow ◽  
Snow Fence ◽  
Limited Scale ◽  
Living Fences ◽  
Snow Fences

In Franee, drifting snow is generally controlled using artificial snow fences. Living snow fences are not a new concept but they have only been used on a limited scale. Research directly related to natural plant barriers is limited. We therefore decided to study the behaviour of species that would survive and grow satisfactorily in the French Alps.In the first experiment, we compared the storage capacity of several different kinds of living fences consisting of pruned spruces, unpruned spruces and sorbs.Field observations during the winter of 1995-96 proved that deciduous trees such as sorbs are effective, and that pruning the lower 50 cm is not effective at the end of the season because of the weight of snow on low branches.However, the use of natural plant barriers has disadvantages: a living snow fence takes time to reach an effective height and is difficult to establish on windy sites at a high altitude. This is a real problem. Therefore, in a second experiment, we studied the death rate of larches planted behind a fence. We noticed that the snow fence had several effects, snow accumulation (until the planted trees grew up) and protection of the planted trees.

scholarly journals Safety Effectiveness of Converting Conventional Intersections to Roundabouts: Case Study in the City of Niš

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 529-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Vujanić ◽  
Milan Savićević ◽  
Boris Antić ◽  
Dalibor Pešić
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Bayes ◽  
Safety Problem ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The World ◽  
Safety Effectiveness ◽  
The City ◽  
Positive Effect

Intersections present a big safety problem in traffic since there has been an increased risk of crashes because of conflicts in the flows intersecting. A great number of studies done in the world show that roundabouts are safer than conventional intersections since it has been recorded that after the conversion to roundabouts the number of crashes has been decreasing. The research on applying Empirical Bayes (EB) method has been conducted by using 15 two-lane intersections in the city of Niš (Serbia), which have been converted into large compact two-lane roundabouts during the period of 2005-2013. The results show that the conversion of conventional intersections into roundabouts has positive effect on reducing the number of crashes. For all intersections, the reduction of crashes is estimated at around 76% for all crashes, i.e. 80% for the crashes with injuries. For different groups of intersections the effects are determined separately.

scholarly journals Adverse-Weather Trends in the Canadian Arctic

2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 3140-3156 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Hanesiak ◽  
Xiaolan L. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Precipitation Amount ◽  
Canadian Arctic ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Blowing Snow ◽  
Homogenization Procedure ◽  
Almost Everywhere ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Weather Observations ◽  
Adverse Weather

Abstract This study provides an assessment of changes in the occurrence frequency of four types of adverse-weather (freezing precipitation, blowing snow, fog, and low ceilings) and no-weather (i.e., no precipitation or visibility obscuration) events as observed at 15 Canadian Arctic stations of good hourly weather observations for 1953–2004. The frequency time series were subjected to a homogenization procedure prior to a logistic regression–based trend analysis. The results show that the frequency of freezing precipitation has increased almost everywhere across the Canadian Arctic since 1953. Rising air temperature in the region has probably resulted in more times that the temperature is suitable for freezing precipitation. On the contrary, the frequency of blowing snow occurrence has decreased significantly in the Canadian Arctic. The decline is most significant in spring. Changes in fog and low ceiling (LC) occurrences have similar patterns and are most (least) significant in summer (autumn). Decreases were identified for both types of events in the eastern region in all seasons. In the southwest, however, the fog frequency has increased significantly in all seasons, while the LC frequency has decreased significantly in spring and summer. The regional mean rate of change in the frequency of the four types of adverse weather was estimated to be 7%–13% per decade. The frequency of no-weather events has also decreased significantly at most of the 15 sites. The decrease is most significant and extensive in autumn. Comparison with the adverse-weather trends above indicates that the decline in no-weather occurrence (i.e., increase in weather occurrence) is not the result of an increase in blowing snow or fog occurrence; it is largely the result of the increasing frequency of freezing precipitation and, most likely, other types of precipitation as well. This is consistent with the reported increases in precipitation amount and more frequent cyclone activity in the lower Canadian Arctic.

Development and Practical Application of High-Performance Snow Fence for Prevention of Blowing-Snow Disasters

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003.43 (0) ◽  
pp. 74-75
Author(s):  
Tomohiro HATANO ◽  
Hiroshi SAKAMOTO ◽  
Kazunori TAKAI ◽  
Yoshihiro OBATA
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Blowing Snow ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Snow Fence

scholarly journals Snow-Collection Mechanisms and the Capacities of Snow Fences

1989 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 248-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masao Takeuchi
Keyword(s):  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Drift Length ◽  
Snow Fence ◽  
Scale Models ◽  
Snow Fences ◽  
Sheltering Effect ◽  
Threshold Wind Speed

The shapes of equilibrium lee drifts formed by snow fences are scaled in proportion to height of snow fences independent of the snow and weather conditions, even in small-scale models, but those of up-wind drifts are not. Field studies have been made of the snow-collection mechanisms of a snow fence. It has been observed that particles of saltated snow piled up to windward, and that it was the previously suspended particles that were heaped up in the lee drift. It can be shown that the shapes of up-wind drifts vary in different snow and weather conditions because threshold shear stress and drift-snow saltation depend on the physical properties of the surface snow. Equilibrium lee drifts are scaled in proportion to fence height, because snow and weather conditions have less effect on threshold wind speed for suspension, and the sheltering effect of a fence is scaled in proportion to the height of the fence. The dimensions of the equilibrium drifts at snow fences were measured, and maximum snow-retention capacity and lee-drift length presented as a function of fence height, fence density, and depth of snow cover.

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