A Comprehensive Approach to Environmental Safety During Ice and Snow Drift Control

Abstract

   Resolving the problem of snow control in urban areas is crucial for ensuring the comfort, safety, and functioning of the urban environment in winter. Key aspects of this problem include creating safe travel conditions, maintaining the operability of road and transport infrastructure, minimizing the environmental impacts of snow control, optimizing expended resources.    Purpose:  The objective of the work is to analyze and summarize existing materials to develop recommendations, the implementation of which will ensure a balance between the safety of people, urban infrastructure, and environmental protection in winter.    Methodology/approach:  To assess best practices and trends in effective snow control, scientific publications on means and methods of using devices and materials, the relevance of the legislative framework, and environmental impacts of their impact are reviewed. General (philosophical), general scientific, specific scientific, and specialized research methods are applied.    Research findings:  An analysis of the Russian and international experience in the snow control in urban environment is conducted, which meets the principles of the sustainable development of urban ecosystems. The main research areas for improving winter road and street maintenance as well as environmental consequences of storing contaminated snow and ice waste, are identified. The need is demonstrated for a systems approach to the joint activities of organizations responsible for ensuring environmental safety during ice and snow drift control in urban areas. Recommendations are given to the development of measures to manage an environmentally safe winter road and street maintenance system with economically feasible and environmentally sound disposal of ice and snow drift.    Value:  A comprehensive approach to minimizing the negative impact of ice and snow drift control is proposed, and current theoretical and practical directions for its implementation are characterized.