Present operations to remove snow around barrier devices, such as guardrails, have the rotary snowplow in contact with the barrier device. This causes damage to the plow and to the infrastructure. There are also safety issues involved if the driver misses or contacts the end of the barrier device. This project develops an automated guidance system for rotary plows along barrier devices to insure that the plow does not contact the barrier device while removing snow as close as possible to the barrier device. (updated 7/7/01)

Active. The equipment is currently in the development stage and will be tested this winter with the goal of full automation in Winter 2003. (2/5/02). This project expired on 6/30/2005. The final report was published in August 2006. I am currently in the process of closing out the project.