Improving Snowplowing Operations in Utah Through Optimization and Visualization

Abstract

This paper optimizes snowplowing routes across 12 regions in northern Utah, achieving reductions in total travel time, turnaround time, and deadhead miles by averages of 5.04%, 15.01%, and 14.84% respectively. It assesses tradeoffs between operational policies such as echelon vs. non-echelon routing and centralized vs. decentralized optimization, aiding local management decisions. Furthermore, the paper utilizes data visualization to showcase the effectiveness of new routes compared with current practice, providing valuable insights to the Utah Department of Transportation.