SENAVIS ‑ Sensor technology for smart de‑icing

Maintenance of winter roads and airports requires the use of large amounts of chemicals that are expensive and hazardous to the environment. Climate change causes more frequent temperature variations around zero, which increases the need for de-icing. This project will conduct research and development of sensor technology for optical measurement of the concentration of chemicals in the liquid covering the asphalt.

Smarter, more accurate dispersion of chemicals that take into account local variations in concentration has the potential to reduce the total amount applied. In this way, the burden on the environment is reduced while costs are reduced.

An innovation network for research and development will be formed as a result of the project. The aim of the network is to commercialize the developed sensor technology in the long term and thereby achieve long-term effects on the maintenance of roads and airports.

Why is the project needed?

Maintenance of winter roads and airports requires the use of large amounts of chemicals for better friction. Chemicals for de-icing are expensive and hazardous to the environment. After an outlay, plow crews have no way of knowing how long the measure will last, and how much is left at a given time. Because of this uncertainty, chemicals are added too often and/or with too high a dosage than necessary. Ongoing climate change indicates that more frequent temperature variations around zero will increase the need for de-icing.

The SENAVIS project wants to develop and test an optical chemical sensor that can be used to measure the chemical concentration in the liquid that covers an asphalt surface. It is the liquid that risks freezing and causing slipperiness if the temperature and chemical concentration are low. With better spatial information about current concentrations, chemicals can be dosed more accurately based on needs and local variations, and not, as is the case today, on the basis of a rough general estimate. Through a long-term change in the way we work with chemicals to increase friction on roads and airports, the goal is to limit the release of chemicals into the environment, while reducing operating costs.

Objectives of the project

The project will develop and investigate sensor technology for smarter use of chemicals when roads and other asphalt surfaces are to be de-iced. At the end of the project, the following milestones have been achieved:

• Developed sensor technology for improved characterization of an asphalt surface,
• Investigation and evaluation of developed technology,
• An innovation network has been formed by companies, authorities and research practitioners in the field of winter maintenance of roads and airports, as well as in sensor technology and digitalisation.