An integrated model to solve the winter asset and road maintenance problem

Winter road maintenance operations require many complex strategic and operational planning decisions. The main problems include locating depots, designing sectors and routes, and configuring and scheduling vehicles. The complexity involved in each of these decisions has generally resulted in research that approaches each of the problems separately, which can lead to isolated and suboptimal solutions. In addition to being integrated, a successful approach to these problems must consider the necessary practical aspects of each problem and include a straightforward, easily executable solution methodology; otherwise, it is unlikely to be implemented. This research proposes a systematic, heuristic-based optimization approach to integrate the winter road maintenance planning decisions. The approach is illustrated using an example of the state highway road network in Boone County, Missouri, which is maintained by the Missouri Department of Transportation.