Potential impacts of solar arrays on highway environment, safety and operations.

Details

• Creators:
  Paudel, Ananda ; Hirsch, Arthur
• Corporate Creators:
  Colorado State University-Pueblo
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Environmental impacts
  • Highway maintenance
  • Highway safety
  • Right of way (Land)
  • Solar collectors
  • Risk analysis
  • Case studies
  • Recommendations
• Publication/ Report Number:
  CDOT-2015-08
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Colorado
• Corporate Publisher:
  Colorado. Dept. of Transportation. Research Branch
• Abstract:
  The advent of solar energy utilization in highway infrastructure around the country has been increasing in ; recent years. Right of Ways (ROWs) have several advantages for energy development such as the existing ; electrical infrastructure aligned with the major highways, a secured boundary, and easy maintenance access. It ; has been identified by various Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and the Federal Highway Administration ; (FHWA) that solar array deployment along the ROW is possible after adequate site evaluation and impact ; study. With higher solar insolation available, CDOT can generate electricity from solar arrays on its ROWs ; across much of the State of Colorado. Political climate, public cooperation with energy providers, commitment ; of utility companies and potential impacts are some of the major concerns in successful solar array deployment. ; The potential impact of photo voltaic (PV) arrays on driver safety, highway operation and maintenance, and the ; environment are the focus of this research study. Changes in driver’s expectations, glare, maintenance practices ; due to snow drifting along the roadside, and local ecosystems are some of the impacts that are evaluated in this ; report. ; To understand the potential impacts on driver safety, environmental resources, and maintenance operations, case ; studies are presented from national and international projects. A base line study was performed pertaining to the ; current ROW’s physical characteristics, operational conditions, regulatory requirements and PV array design ; criteria. Factors associated risk impacts are analyzed qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Mitigation measures ; are recommended to minimize the undesirable impacts in the planning, design, construction, operation and ; maintenance of solar array. This document provides guidance for CDOT Management, Project Engineers, ; Operation and Maintenance personnel and energy generators who are interested in installing and maintaining PV ; arrays in the CDOT ROW. The following are the main objectives of this project: ;  Develop a general model of a solar highway focusing on user safety and maintenance activities ;  Study and analyze the impact of highway solar array on driver’s safety ;  Study and analyze the impact of highway solar array on road maintenance ;  Evaluate and assess the impact of the highway solar array on the environment ;  Identify and list the critical risk factors in solar array and array deployment and develop risk reduction ; strategies ;  Provide CDOT with a guidance manual that will provide basic considerations and requirements to address ; CDOT environmental, safety, and operation and maintenance expectations ;  Make design and safety guidance recommendations pertaining to highway PV array design, installation, ; operation and maintenance
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  32.08
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/29719/dot_29719_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.21 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:1c73253842775c25070ba8a08f36f4361ecde78466107303ab2a92e16df67efb