AI-Based Optimization of
Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee
Meeting
April 13, 2001
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Meeting Agenda:
2:00 p.m.
2:15
2:25
2:40
2:50
3:20
3:50
4:00
Coffee/Refreshments
Welcome/Introductions -- Prof. Salim
Progress Report -- Prof. Salim
Software Issues -- Prof. Salim
Software Demo – Mr. Villavicencio
Mr. Zora
Panel Discussion -- All
Setting of Action Items -- Prof. Salim
Scheduling of Next Meeting
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Welcome/Introductions – Prof. Salim
Grant Participants:
Profs. Salim and Timmerman,
Industrial Technology
Profs. Emch and Strauss
Geography
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Welcome/Introductions – Prof. Salim
Advisory Board Members:
Budd Curttright
Dave Nelson
Public Works Director
Area Maintenance
Manager
City of Cedar Falls
Barbara Berquam
GIS Coordinator
Black Hawk County
Dennis Burkheimer
Maintenance Safety Services
DOT-Ames
DOT -Waterloo
Steve Decker
Street Department
City of Waterloo
Daron Van Helden
Public & Gov't Relations
AAA Minnesota / Iowa
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Project Progress – Prof. Salim
Technical Progress:
 Integration of Art * Enterprise and GIS
package.
 Creation of Databases for resources.
 Software development of a prototype system.
 Demonstration case for Cedar Falls.
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Project Progress – Prof. Salim
Educational Progress:
 Training of graduate students.
 Undergraduate research experiences.
 Project public website:
www.uni.edu/transport.
 New website exclusive to project under
development.
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Project Progress – Prof. Salim
Publicity Goals:

The following article will be orally presented at the indicated meeting
in Helsinki, Finland, June 6, 2001.
Title: A Communication-Based Paradigm for Construction Asset
Management
Authors: MD Salim and Marc A. Timmerman
Accepted for the proceedings of the 2nd Worldwide ECCE Symposium
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Practice of
Building and Civil Engineering.
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Project Progress – Prof. Salim
• Submitted for review for oral presentation and
conference proceeding publication at The Eighth East AsiaPacific Conference on Structural Engineering and
Construction in Singapore in December of 2001:
Title: Optimization of Construction Logistics Using
AI-based Heuristic Asset Management Tools
Authors: MD Salim and Marc A. Timmerman
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Project Progress – Summary Table
TASK
#
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
4
4.1
3.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
TASK DESCRIPTION
Software review and evaluation
Software acquisition
Lab set-up
Software integration
Preliminary software verification
GIS entry
Asset entry
Field data entry
Test case-optimization
Test case-validation
Preliminary manual
Final Software Verification
GIS entry
Asset entry
Field data entry
Test case-optimization
Tests case-validation
Final manual
Dissemination
Publication and presentation
Website implementation
Revised manual
Revised software
Commercialization
COMPLETION
DATA
EXPECTED/ACTUAL
% OF
TASK
COMPLETED
spring 2001/spring 2001
spring 2001/spring 2001
spring 2001/spring 2001
90%
100%
90%
summer 2001/summer 2001
summer 2001/summer 2001
summer 2001/summer 2001
summer 2001/summer 2001
summer 2001/summer 2001
summer 2001/summer 2001
80%
20%
5%
5%
5%
20%
spring 2002/spring 2002
spring 2002/spring 2002
spring 2002/spring 2002
spring 2002/spring 2002
spring 2002/spring 2002
spring 2002/spring 2002
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
spring 2002/spring 2002
spring 2002/spring 2002
spring 2002/spring 2002
spring 2002/spring 2002
spring 2002/spring 2002
30%
0%
0%
0%
0%
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Review of Project Software
ARTSCRIPT
(LISP)
User Interface Input
DATABASE
GIS
Problem Set-Up
DATABASE
ASSETS
Optimizer
ART *
ENTERPRISE
ArcView 3.20
No
OK?
Yes
User Interface Output
ArcView 3.20
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Software Issues – Prof. Salim
•Have just obtained GIS network integrator. This will be used
for networking snowplow routes.
•In process of developing better lab network interface with UNI
Computer support staff.
•In process of developing needed CD burn-in facilities and
software for final project distribution.
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Software Demonstration–
Mr. Villavicencio
Mr. Zora
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Snow Removal Asset/Resource
Management System

General prototype. Focus on integration of AI shell
with GIS and databases
 Use current information of DOT available through
WWW
 Simple rules for:
– Priority assignment of segments of roads, based on
interstate condition, truck route, high or low traffic volume
(based on Aadt of 5000 and 2000 respectively)
– Assignment of snow plower based on cost and capacity
criteria for each priority
– Requires a hierarchy of rules to provide correct results (non
monotonic logic)
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001

May be easily extended to include new
knowledge, restrictions, and other assets
 Can include Cases for learning on CBR engine
 Uses 6 rules, 350 objects, 24 functions/routines, 8
databases for input, and generates 2 databases
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Prototype Development
Knowledge Modeling
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Development of the Prototype

Implemented using Rapid Development Cycle method
adapted for AI steps.
2
different programming languages:
–ArtScript from Art Enterprise (Lisp-like). Implements logic and part
of database analysis
–Avenue from ArcView (VB-like). Graphic representation and data
preparation
for Expert
System shell
AI-Based Optimization
of the Management
of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Development of Prototype
Architecture of the System

General View
– User’s Perspective
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001

General View
– Developer’s perspective
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Output generated by the system

Initial
map
generated
for Cedar
Falls
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001

Priority
Assignment
and results
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Panel Discussion -All
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001
Wrap Up – Prof. Salim
•Setting of action items.
•Plan for next meeting.
AI-Based Optimization of the Management of Snow Removal Assets / Resources
Advisory Committee Meeting / April 13, 2001