Dynamic spreading
Automatically adjust your spreading rate based on real-time road conditions with MD30 mobile detector. No driver input needed.
Road weather conditions vary. Your spreading rate should too.
The winter road maintenance process has traditionally relied on predetermined, fixed material spreading rates based on the weather event. But since road conditions vary so much, even within short distances, fixed-rate applications can be expensive and may lead to excessive amounts of salt in the environment.
From fixed rates to dynamic spreading
Dynamic spreading is the next evolution for efficient winter road maintenance. Spreader trucks can be made weather-aware with Vaisala Mobile Detector MD30. It provides real-time information about road weather conditions to the spreader control system, allowing the use of adaptive spreading rates.
More than just surface temperature
Many spreaders already collect surface temperature. However surface temperature alone does not provide enough data for dynamic spreading. Factors like slush, ice, dryness, or water depth affect the application rate. Layer thickness or grip data is also needed for deciding how much treatment material to use.
Dynamic spreading: Is pavement temperature enough?
The impact of smarter spreading
More precise spreading means less waste, lower costs, and reduced environmental impact.
Reduce salt use by up to 50%
What pavement temperature tells you:
- When not to spread (if clearly above freezing)
What pavement temperature doesn’t tell you:
- Is there ice, snow, or slush on the road?
- How much material is actually needed?
The missing link: Layer thickness or grip
To spread salt dynamically, you also need to know:
- How much snow, ice, or water is on the road (layer thickness)
- How slippery the road is (grip)
Winter maintenance salt treatment suggestions
| Grip | .82 - .60 | .50 - .60 | .40 - .50 | .40 - .45. | .30 - .40 | <. 30 |
| Pavemement temperature | 30 – 34° F -1 – 1° C | 25 – 32° F -4 – 0° C | 20 – 25° F -7 – -4° C | 15 – 20° F -9 – -7° C | 15 – 20° F -9 – -7° C | 15 – 20° F -9 – -7° C |
| Roadway description | Dry to generally wet | Slushy to snow covered | Snow covered, perhaps wheel tracks | Snow covered, perhaps packed | Slippery, likely icy | Icy covered |
| Action: Rising pavement temperature | None | 50 – 100 lbs/lnm 14 – 28 kg/lkm | 100 – 150 lbs/lnm 28 – 42 kg/lkm | 150 – 200 lbs/lnm 42 – 56 kg/lkm | 200 – 300 lbs/lnm 56 – 85 kg/lkm | 350 – 400 lbs/lnm 99 – 113 kg/lkm |
| Action: Falling pavement temperature | 50 – 100 lbs/lnm 14 – 28 kg/lkm | 100 – 150 lbs/lnm 28 – 42 kg/lkm | 150 – 200 lbs/lnm 42 – 56 kg/lkm | 250 – 300 lbs/lnm 71 – 85 kg/lkm | 250 – 300 lbs/lnm 71 – 85 kg/lkm | 400 lbs/lnm 113 kg/lkm |
Case study: City of Fort Collins
Dynamic spreading is an exciting new frontier in winter maintenance operations, and the City of Fort Collins in Colorado, USA, has been at the forefront of exploring this technology.
Results:
- Implemented dynamic spreading based on MD30 grip data
- Now spreads 45-55% less salt with the same level of service compared to old, fixed rate spreading practices
MD30: World-class data and reliability for dynamic spreading systems
As the only mobile device designed and proven for snowplows and dynamic spreading use, MD30 reliably captures critical road state information: road surface state, grip, layer thicknesses, surface temperature and more, all from any vehicle driving the route.
MD30 ensures uninterrupted and precise data transmission, leveraging its advanced laser technology and integrated diagnostics for exceptional performance.
Industry collaboration advances dynamic spreading
Vaisala collaborates with many spreader truck manufacturers to integrate MD30 with their dynamic spreading systems. This unrivaled combination results in dramatic reduction in the amount of salt used — even over 50% over an entire winter season.
Downloads
Highways Today: Dynamic Spreading to optimizing Road Safety, Sustainability and Savings
American Public Works Association: Revolutionizing winter road maintenance with dynamic spreading
Resources
Ready to take your winter road maintenance to the next level?
Adopting dynamic spreading and integrating technologies like MD30 can transform how you manage winter road maintenance.
You’ll see improvements in road safety and cost management, all while contributing to environmental conservation efforts.
Contact us to get started with a free consultation.
