A Clear Roads project examined a range of existing and emerging approaches to measuring indoor salt stockpiles, including automated and semi-automated systems using LiDAR, photogrammetry, surveying, acoustic sensing, and drone technology. The data-driven insights can help agencies make informed decisions for managing their salt inventories.
Many state and local transportation agencies with winter maintenance programs purchase their road salt before the winter season to secure the best prices and assure availability. However, measuring and monitoring the quantity of salt in widely distributed stockpiles—including many sites without regular staff on-site—can be both challenging and time-consuming.
Three solutions from different vendors were evaluated: a mounted LiDAR scanner, a mounted photogrammetry system, and an unmanned aerial system (UAS) with an onboard camera system. Of the three technologies, the two fixed-installation systems functioned as intended with little or no involvement from DOT staff after installation. The UAS-based system also worked well, investigators say, but because it relied on data collected by a manually operated drone, it cannot be considered an automated or semi-automated solution.