Talkin Winter Ops

Latest Episodes:

Episode 129: 2025 National Briefing - Winter Weather Management TSP Jun 21, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the National Briefing features AASHTOs Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program, Formerly SICOP. Winter Weather Management work focuses on the identification, promotion, and collaboration efforts necessary to advance state of the practice winter maintenance and road weather techniques.

Check out the PRESENTATION SLIDE DECK and If you want more information about this Technical Working Group you can check out the WINTER WEATHER MANAGEMENT WEBSITE

or email Chair Brad Darr or their subject matter expert Rick Nelson

Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops

Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com
Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

Episode 128: 2025 National Briefing - Clear Roads Jun 21, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the National Briefing we feature the Clear Roads Pool Fund Study. Clear Roads focus is on all things winter maintenance from driver safety to liquid chemicals.

Check out the PRESENTATION SLIDE DECK and If you want more information about this Technical Working Group you can check out the CLEAR ROADS WEBSITE

or email the current Chair Todd Law or program support Greg Waidley

Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops

Episode 127: 2025 National Briefing - Aurora Jun 21, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the National Briefing we feature the Aurora Pool Fund Study. Aurora's work focus is on road weather, instrumentation, and forecasting among other related activities.

Check out the PRESENTATION SLIDE DECK and If you want more information about their work you can check out the AURORA WEBSITE

or email the current Chair Mike Chapman or Zach Hans project support

Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops

Episode 126: 2025 National Briefing - TRB Update Jun 21, 2025

Show notes

In just the past few weeks there have been big changes at TRB that include the Winter Maintenance and the Road Weather Committees. On this episode of the National Briefing Paul Pisano, former chair of the Road Weather Committee is here to share the changes and what you can do to stay engaged with the new committees.

If you want to submit your name to be considered for membership in the new Standing Committee on Winter Maintenance and Response to Weather Events follow this link to the interactive organization chart of committees and click on the Transportation Infrastructure Group (AK000) https://nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/other/trb/standing-technical-committees/. Once there click on Section-Management Systems for Construction and Maintenance (AKJ00), then to the Standing Committee On Winter Maintenance and Response to Weather Events (AKJ17).

You can also reach out to Paul Pisano at paul@allealle.com

Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops

Episode 125: 2025 National Briefing - Maintenance Operations TWG Jun 21, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the National Briefing we feature the Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group of AASHTOs Maintenance Committee. One of the 5 Technical Working Groups of this Committee, Maintenance Operations focuses on activities like winter maintenance, work zones, and safety.

Check out the PRESENTATION SLIDE DECK and If you want more information about this Technical Working Group you can check out the MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE WEBSITE

or email Chair Brad Darr or Vice Chair Jed Falgren

Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops

Episode 124: 2025 National Briefing - Introduction Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

The National Winter Maintenance and Road Weather Briefing is an annual event where organizations working in this space can highlight their activities and advancements in winter maintenance and road weather. This year 11 organizations will be sharing their accomplishments in this series and how you may benefit for their work.

These presentations are also available on our YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/@TalkinWinterOps
I hope you get an opportunity to listen in on all these episodes.

Episode 123: APWA Certification Program May 29, 2025

Show notes

We’ve been on a training theme for the last couple of episodes which, I think, is super relevant considering the average level of experience in the winter maintenance profession right now. As maintenance managers, where do you go to get relevant, state of the practice, training for you’re winter maintenance operators and supervisors?

One option is offered through the American Public Works Association. We just wrapped up a great conversation with Dan Schacher of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Northern Region Maintenance & Operations Manager and, more importantly, coordinator for APWAs Winter maintenance supervisors and operator certificate program.

Dan explains that this program is geared for state and local supervisors and operators alike. Listen in as we visit with Dan as he tells us about this certificate program and how it might be well suited for your staff.

For more information on the APWA Supervisor and Operator Certification Program you can email Dan at daniel.schacher@alaska.gov

Episode 122: The Maintenance Leadership Academy Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

When it comes to preparing your folks for leadership roles in highway maintenance the National Highway Institute Maintenance Leadership Academy is the gold standard. This comprehensive program and the experiences of the instructors provide a wealth of knowledge into all the aspects of highway maintenance a maintenance professional might face through 6 topic modules from administration to responding to severe weather events. Course coordinator Jeremy Birkey and certified instructor Greg Duncan of Applied Pavement Technology and Jim Weston of the Washington State DOT share their experiences and thoughts about this leadership academy and how folks can benefit for participation.

For more information about the National Highway Institute, The Maintenance Leadership Academy, and how you and your agency might benefit from hosting or attending a session you can reach out to Jeremy, Greg, or Jim. Check out the National Highway Institute at this link: https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/ and the Maintenance Leadership Academy at this link

Episode 121: Are you a Green SnowPro? Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

When New Hampshire began developing the I-93 widening project there was concern about the amount of salt that might be introduced into the environment due to winter operations and this became to impetus for the creation of the Green SnowPro Program through the Department of Environmental Services. Marilee Enus, Director of the New Hampshire Local Technical Assistance Program (NH LTAP), at the University of New Hampshire's Technology Transfer Center (UNH T2) and Scott Kinmond, Technology Specialist/Instructor explain the program and certification program.

For more information about the Green SnowPro visit the NH Department of Environmental Services website at https://www.des.nh.gov/land/roads/road-salt-reduction. And if you’re interested in more detail on the Green SnowPro program, including a good discussion of the legislative process (including a legislative partner who was in the winter maintenance industry), as well as a review of a recent legal case that “tested” the liability coverage, our webinar with the NHDES Green SnowPro team is now available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pf7k5LbvWYg

You can also reach out to Marilee at Marilee.Enus@unh.edu or Scott at Scott.Kinmond@unh.edu for more information about the training or program. Additional information on the certification program can be found on the New Hampshire Technology Transfer Center Website https://t2.unh.edu/

Episode 120: Machine learning pavement conditions Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

AI and Machine Learning will probably be the next disruptive technology that will spawn a quantum leap in the way we approach the provision of winter service. On this episode we’re heading to the University at Albany in New York to visit with Nick Bassill, director of the New York State Weather Risk Communication Center and Carly Sutter, graduate research assistant there at the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center about a project Carly has been working on with the New York State Department of Transportation to identify road conditions from images using machine learning and the results could have impacts well beyond.

They take some of the mystery out of AI and machine learning is a way that's easy to understand. For more info on this project, AI and machine learning reach out to Nick at nbassill@albany.edu or Carly at csutter@albany.edu

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