Dec 14, 2015
DANIEL PETERSON
Transportation Operations Supervisor II Alexandria Sub Area
MN/DOT Performance Measures:
Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management
2
3
5
4
7
8 9
6
MN/DOT Statistics
MN Highway Miles1: 11,933
Right-of-Way Acres2: 250,234
Acres of ‘Greenspace’: 175,000
D4 Highway Miles1: 1,824
Right-of-Way Acres: 38,036
Acres of ‘Greenspace’: 29,6001 US, State & Interstate Highways
2 Certified to GASB (Government Account Services Board)
Detroit LakesSub Area
Fergus FallsSub Area
MoorheadSub Area
AlexandriaSub Area
MorrisSub Area
Maintenance Manual Engineering Standards & Legislative Mandates
Through mid-1980’s
Maintenance Management Systems
1985-1990’s
Maintenance Business Planning
1990’s
Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Plans (IRVM)
1997-present
D4 GPS/GIS Measurements for Noxious Weed Management
2000-2003
Management Practices of Weed Control in Roadway DitchesMn/DOT-University of MN Research Project
2004-2008
Evolution of Performance Measures for Vegetation Management
Mn/DOT’s IRVM Program
M Legal basis …1994 Amendment (Chapter 558, Section 26) to the Ground Water Act of 1989
M Directed MN DNR and MN Dept. of Ag to prepare a plan for the optimum use of sustainable agriculture and integrated pest management techniques on land owned by the state
M The above plan provides the framework for Mn/DOT IRVM plans at the local level (District or Maintenance Area)
Source: Oct ’03 IRVM Video Conference Presentation
IRVM Plan--Key Elements
Mission ”Manage roadsides with environmental stewardship, using economical methods, for
public safety and visual quality.”
M Principles
M Goals
M Components
M Guidelines
M Action Plan
M Contact Personnel
“PLANNING STAGE”- PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
District 4’s IRVM Plan is updated each spring and defines the following:
M Mowing Rural
M Mowing Urban
M Spraying
M Tree or Brush Removal
**Mowers are set to cut vegetation at 6 inches**
Mowing and Spraying Acreage
10% (18,000)45,000Current
>5%60,000mid 80’s
>5%80,000mid 70’s
5%149,000late 60’s
Spraying AcresMowing AcresTime Period
Mowing acreage and frequency is decreasing and noxious weed and brush spraying acreage is increasing
Balance of acreage being treated with biological control and planting of native vegetation or deemed not a priority
Source: 2004 MACAL Presentation – Leo Holm (MN/DOT)
Customer SatisfactionStatewide Omnibus Survey in 1993
• Generally strong satisfaction with the appearance of roadsides—90%
• How much work should be done by Mn/DOT on roadside mowing– 62 % said the same – 28 % said more– 10 % said less– Interestingly Twin City residents preferred less
or the same amount of mowing while rural residents wanted more
Source: 2004 MACAL Presentation – Leo Holm (MN/DOT)
Customer SatisfactionStatewide Omnibus Studies 1994-2003
6.76.76.86.87.2
Keep roadside plants looking good
6.76.76.86.87.1
Eliminating weeds on roadside
02/0301/02200019961994Service
Statewide (Means)
Scale of 1 to 10 with 10=extremely good, 1=extremely poor
Mn/DOT Maintenance Division 1994 Business Planning Survey—Customer Satisfaction Study
LessLessKeeping Plants Looking Good
LessLessEliminating Weeds
MoreMoreKeeping Roads Smooth
MoreMoreClearing Roads of Ice & Snow
Importance Ratings
Spending AllocationsSERVICE
Source: Oct ’03 IRVM Video Conference Presentation
MAINTENANCE BUSINESS PLANNING
Implementation of Physical Surveys of Roadside Assets:
M Vegetation Height
M Noxious Weeds
M Litter
M Smooth Pavement
M Bare Pavement
2004
District 4
Alexandria Sub-Area1405 T.H. 27 WAlexandria, MN 563082000-2004
PROJECT DIRECTION2004
M MOUNTING GPS UNITS ON MOWERS
M MOUNTING GPS UNITS SPRAYERS
M ADDING TO THE NWM HISTORICAL DATA BASE
M COMPLETE INVENTORIES OF ALL D4 BIOLOGICAL RELEASE SITES
John Deere – 2 Gang Flail
1.7 Acres/Lane Mile
6.7 Acres/Mowing Hour
Bi-Directional – 3 Gang Flail
2.4 Acres/Lane Mile
5.8 Acres/Mowing Hour
John Deere – 2 Gang Rotary
1.5 Acres/Lane Mile
5.8 Acres/Mowing Hour
John Deere – 3 Gang Rotary
1.9 Acres/Mile
9.3 Acres/Mowing Hour
Auto-generated
Daily Record
for
Pesticide Application
To better manage resources and operations, having a thorough record of roadside assets is
vital. Incorporating GPS technology into maintenance activities takes the guess-work out
of inventories.
M D4 Control Segments
(7) three-mile Survey Sites
M University of MN Research Project (100) ¼-mile Random Sample Surveys
NWM Inventory Method Comparison 1999-2004
108.93
269.33
53.74
1.67
3.35 7.24
0.00
50.00
100.00
150.00
200.00
250.00
300.00
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Years Documented
Ac
res
Inv
en
tori
ed
GPS Method
"Drive-by" Method
*
* Incomplete Data
2004 NWM Weed Inventory
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Segment
Acres of Weeds
PI (Poison Ivy)
LS (Leafy Spurge)
CT (Canada Thistle)
SEGMENT CT (Canada Thistle) LS (Leafy Spurge) PI (Poison Ivy)40 1.305 0.119 0.08841 6.017 0 042 3.279 0.533 043 0.366 0.024 0.0944 1.125 0 2.24645 31.621 0 046 6.558 0.293 0.071
2004
INVENTORY
DETAIL
Spotted Knapweed
Leafy Spurge
Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil (Larinus Minutus)
Acres Treated: 75
Quantity Released: 1800
Knapweed Root Weevil (Cyphocleonus Achates)
Acres Treated: 50
Quantity Released: 80
Flea Beetle (Aphthona Nigriscutis)
Acres Treated: 19
Quantity Released: 150,000
Flea Beetle (Aphthona Lacertosa)
Acres Treated: 43
Quantity Released: 250,000
SUMMARYM Management tool for planning resources for maintenance activities
M Tested the practicality of collecting data
during mowing and spraying activitiesM Continue adding to existing historical data bases for planning control measures
M Establishing effective management and labor practices for increased results
M Accurate documentation of work completed
Future IRVM Needs for Mn/DOT
M More statewide guidance
M Continuous improvements and annual updates of local IRVM plans
M Better tracking of costs
M More stakeholder inputs
Source: Oct ’03 IRVM Video Conference Presentation