Data Driven Winter Safety: The Next Generation of Smart Salt Trucks
Each winter, northern communities depend on road salt to keep drivers safe; more than 20 billion kilograms of salt are applied each year across North America and northern Europe. With that much salt being used, municipalities need to find smarter ways to balance public safety with the protection of freshwater ecosystems and groundwater sources. At University of Guelph, a collaborative research team led by Dr. Bahram Gharabaghi in the College of Engineering is developing a transformative solution: smart salt truck technology designed to deliver precise, data‑driven winter road maintenance.
This innovative system integrates real-time road weather monitoring and forecasting, and location-specific environmental considerations for salt-vulnerable areas, to determine how much salt should be applied and actively changes the spread rates accordingly. By optimizing salt use based on road class and road weather conditions - taking into account salt vulnerable areas - the technology enhances road safety while reducing environmental impact and lowering operational costs for municipalities.
The project stands as a powerful example of meaningful, applied industry and community partnership engagement at the University of Guelph. Municipal and industry collaborators have played a central role in the project to ensure it meets real operational needs. As Eleanor Gillon from the City of Guelph’s Public Works department notes, “This ‘Smart’ salt technology will optimize winter road maintenance through precise, data‑driven decisions about where, when, and how much salt to apply, while improving operational efficiency, safety outcomes, and environmental stewardship. The project team’s work represents advancement for the winter maintenance sector and could position all municipalities as industry leaders with this technology.”
Industry partner Flodraulic Controls Ltd. has also strengthened its commercial offerings through the collaboration. “Dr. Gharabaghi and his engineering team at the University of Guelph has helped Flodraulic advance our winter operations products,” says Chris Passmore, Director of Technologies. “Thanks to the University, we have an even stronger commercial offering that helps municipalities and contractors use less salt, reducing budgets and environmental harm.”
This research has been supported in part by the Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence program, whose investment has been vital in advancing technologies with significant societal and environmental benefit.
Prospective collaborators interested in partnering with University of Guelph experts can explore opportunities by contacting its Industry Liaison experts, who can provide assistance connecting with relevant scientific experts to engage in a project.