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

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.

Living snow fences for protection of roads: case study crest Čestobrodica

Snowdrifts caused by wind gusts reduce visibility on the road which endangers traffic safety, increases travel time and road maintenance costs. Based on previous experience and research it has been proven that living snow fence is an economical, ecological and efficient solution for protection of roads from snowdrifts. Living snow fences with their above-ground part, reduce the wind speed, act as a mechanical barrier for the snow and accumulate a certain amount of snow. This study presented use and efficiency of living snow fence in controlling snowdrifts on the road section Paraćin-Zaječar, locality – crest Čestobrodica. Analysis of environmental conditions, which are resented main endangering factor for snowdrifts, included the determination of indicators of possibility of snowdrifts: snowfall water equivalent (Swe), snow transport (Q) and ability of living snow fence to prevent snowdrifts: snow storage capacity of the fance (Qc). Snow storage capacity for living snow fence is analyzed for ten year period. Using equation for estimation of length of snowdrifts on downwind side of fance, a change in length of snowdrifts during the analyzed period are determin, and the efficiency of living snow fence in protection of the road from snowdrifts with increasing age.The results of this study represent a contribution to using living snow fence in solving the problem of roads protection from snowdrifts and increasing traffic safety during winter conditions.

Snow fence load on a house roof with tiles

Virtual modeling of mechanical structures, using computer performant software, is largely used in many fields. The paper presents some aspects regarding the loads on a snow fence mountig system, placed on a house roof with ceramic tiles. First, there are presented some general aspects of the snow fence types and mounting systems used. Then, there are Then there are presented the aspects about virtual modeling of these parts, using CATIA software. Also, there are presented some aspects about the Finite Element Analysis, respectively the results of this. In the paper final part, there are presented the conclusion.

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

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.

Use of Snow Fences to Reduce the Impacts of Snowdrifts on Highways: Renewed Perspective

In northern climates, snow fences are usually established in or beyond the right-of-way to eliminate blowing and drifting snow on roadways and thus improve road safety. To make snow fences more effective on highways and provide guidelines for the departments of transportation siting the fences, this work reviews the literature as well as survey responses from practitioners in northern states. This review combines information obtained from the resources to detail several aspects of snow fence use, including history, design protocols, siting policies, benefits, challenges, and numerical modeling. Particular attention is paid to living snow fences as an alternative to traditional structural snow fences. The survey results show that almost all the responding agencies have launched snow fence programs, which have various design and siting protocols that depend on the specific conditions.