Momoko KOBAYASHI

A Feasibility Study of Road Surface Snow Depth Measurement Using Mobile Mapping Systems in Snow Removal Patrols

Kazuyoshi TAKAHASHI

 This study examined the potential of utilizing a Mobile Mapping System (MMS) for efficient snow depth measurement in snow removal patrols by recording roadside and road surface snow conditions.
 First, a simplified MMS (N-Quick) was used to acquire 3D point cloud data of roadside snow accumulation, and the feasibility of measuring snow depth while taking into account the snow surface shape was investigated. The results showed that the difference between the snow depth measured using N-Quick and the actual measured value was approximately 5 cm, and the standard deviation decreased when the snow surface shape was taken into account. This demonstrated the effectiveness of roadside snow depth measurement while considering the snow surface shape.
 Next, a low-cost MMS developed in our laboratory was used to acquire 3D point cloud data of snow sections placed on the road surface, and the feasibility of measuring snow depth and distinguishing differences in snow depth among sections was examined. In an indoor experiment using styrofoam boards as a substitute for snow, the 3D point cloud data obtained by the low-cost MMS tended to underestimate height compared to the reference 3D scanner (BLK). Similarly, in the measurement of snow sections, the DSM differencing method yielded snow depths 0.9 cm to 2.3 cm lower than those measured with BLK, but differences in snow depth between sections were distinguishable. The road surface position estimation method showed a smaller difference from BLK, ranging from -1.6 cm to 0.9 cm, compared to the DSM differencing method. Furthermore, statistical analysis confirmed that both methods detected statistically significant differences in snow depth, indicating that if there is a difference of 2 cm or more, it can be distinguished.
 These findings suggest that MMS has the potential to be utilized for snow depth measurement in snow removal patrols. However, for practical implementation, further investigation is needed to improve data processing efficiency and measurement accuracy. In the future, experiments on actual road snow conditions should be conducted to assess the applicability of MMS under different snow and road conditions.