Iowa Snow Plow Technology

When keeping Iowa roads safe during the winter, there are several aspects to consider including cost of equipment, removing snow and ice without damaging roads, and safety of personnel. This video covers a short tour of the various technologies used to solve winter road problems in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Video

West Des Moines

Iowa Core Standard

HS-ETS1-3

Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.

Driving Question

What are some possible ideas for advancement/improvement in this technology?

Probing Questions

If this system is improved for its cost-effectiveness, what effects would it have on the environment?
If being more environmentally friendly will cost more money for the city, how do we decide how much should be spent on the environmental upgrades?
How does this technology compare to your city's winter road management strategy and why do these similarities and differences exist?

Classroom Suggestions

Students could:

Create a cost-benefit analysis of a snow removal system.
Create a rubric to evaluate other snow removal solutions.
Evaluate the effectiveness of removal process on water quality.

Resources

Wired | The Mathematics Behind Getting All That Snow Off Your Street: Website showing the link to the mathematics behind efficiencies of plowing streets.
Popular Science | 11 Ways Science and Technology Are Waging War on Winter: Follows up with additional ideas for snow removal technologies. Great way to spark ideas for future improvements to snow removal systems.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst | Debating Science: The Effects of Snow Removal on the Environment: Website detailing the environmental impacts of snow removal.

Contributors

Submitted by Ryan Lensing.