Statewide, Indiana, United States
Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS): Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) - Statewide Implementation - Final Report for FY09
Summary Information
A Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) is a tool that utilizes weather forecasts and observations to assist managers in making appropriate decisions to best utilize resources when planning for and treating snow and ice. In 2002, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) joined a new pooled fund study (PFS) group to develop an operational MDSS following the same principles of an earlier FHWA MDSS prototype. INDOT participated in the PFS MDSS field trials that showed significant savings in salt usage. Therefore the INDOT’s Commissioner decided to implement MDSS statewide for the 2008-2009 winter at a cost of $529,000.
The decision to implement statewide during the winter season of 2008-2009 was based on the savings reported by the maintenance units utilizing the program under the PFS and the fact that INDOT was facing declining revenues.
In addition to cost savings on salt usage and overtime hours, MDSS became a powerful management tool improving overall performance. The implementation of the MDSS improved:
- The ability to specify a desired level of service.
- The ability to plan treatment recommendations instead of reacting to weather conditions.
- Consistent and timely information about the activity of individual trucks.
Managers reported saving material and man hours by relying on the information that MDSS provided. By the end of the 2008-2009 snow and ice season, MDSS had helped INDOT realize savings of $12,108,910 (228,470 tons) in salt usage and $1,359,951 (58,274 hours) in overtime compensation from the previous winter season as shown in the table below.
Salt Savings Comparing FY 08 to FY 09
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FY 08 (Tons)
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FY 09 (Tons)
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Difference (Tons)
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Savings @ $53/Ton
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All Districts |
558,274
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329,804
|
228,470
|
$12,108,910
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Overtime Savings Comparing FY 08 to FY 09
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All Districts |
FY 08 (Hours)
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FY 09 (Hours)
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Difference (Hours)
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Savings @ $23.33/hour
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226,484
|
168,210
|
58,274
|
$1,359,591
|
Since winter conditions vary between years, the table below shows the cost savings when normalizing for varying winter conditions. The INDOT realized savings of $9,978,536 (188,274 tons) in salt usage and $979,136 (41,967 hours) in overtime compensation.
Salt Savings Normalized for Winter Conditions
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FY 08 (Tons)
(Reduced by 7.2%) |
FY 09 (Tons)
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Difference (Tons)
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Savings @ $53/Ton
|
|
All Districts |
518,078
|
329,804
|
188,274
|
$9,978,536
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Overtime Savings Normalized for Winter Conditions
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All Districts |
FY 08 (Hours)
|
FY 09 (Hours)
|
Difference (Hours)
|
Savings @ $23.33/hour
|
210,177
|
168,210
|
41,967
|
$979,136
|