Indra and Sacyr develop an innovative snowplow machine simulator

Together with the infrastructure maintenance subsidiary of Sacyr, Valoriza Conservación de Infraestructuras, and InfoNorte, Indra has developed an innovative simulator for the operation of snowplows, allowing drivers of these vehicles to be trained both in their driving skills and also in the use of accessories, the scoops and blade for removing snow from roadways and the salt container for spraying snowmelting material. This type of machinery is an essential part of infrastructure maintenance.

This simulator is the result of an R&D+i project, which has received funding from the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI), and which is designed to have a system which allows drivers of these vehicles to be trained without having to be dependent on weather conditions, preventing any risks both for them and for other drivers, so that they can learn how to cope with and resolve difficult winter road situations before going out on the roads.

This is a cutting-edge simulator which faithfully reproduces all the vehicle's features: not only does it have real parts of the truck and of the control panel for the accessories, but it has also been developed using the instructions of many of Valoriza's drivers and winter road specialists. The driving position is mounted on a platform with six degree of movement, thereby accurately reproducing the behavior and movement of a real machine under real operating conditions.

State of the art graphic engine

One of the most innovative features of the simulator is the new graphic engine which not only satisfies the general requirements for driving simulators but also adds those needed to view the snow's movement. This technology can be used to achieve a greater sense of reality and quality in graphic 3D effects. New graphic programming technologies have also been used to redesign scenarios in order to improve technical aspects, making it easier to develop new scenarios in much less time than was needed until now.

The realism of the effects allows the driver to train at any time of the day or night, and also under different environmental conditions, such as rain, fog, blizzards or with different degrees of snowfall. The simulator also reproduces effects such as the work lights of the snowplows, the accumulation of snow on glass or the effect of a cloud of snow removed by the blade.

Because of the display system, the student can practice in different work areas: town centers, entries and exits to tunnels, car parks, twin-direction roads, freeways and mountain roads.

Furthermore, in order to make the simulation more realistic, a traffic model has been implemented so that other vehicles independent from the one driven by the student can move in an accurate and realistic way.

Removal of snow and spraying of snowmelting material

To train in snow removal, the student can determine the thickness of the initial layer. The system detects the driver's actions on the bucket and the blade controls and represents them in simulated form in the visual system, accurately reproducing their movements, so that the student can get feedback about his actions.

The system uses a complex algorithm to be able to modify the thickness of the snow as the snowplow passes with the blade. It also reflects the mark made and the movement of the snow, so that if the machine returns to a modified area, this will remain as it was since the last time the vehicle moved through it.

A mathematical model has been developed for the spraying of salt or saltwater, which calculates the type and amount of snowmelting material sprayed and its action area, in accordance with the actions performed by the student on the real control unit, and of the vehicle's trajectory and speed. This information, together with the weather conditions and the state of the road selected by the instructor, can be used to determine the student's efficiency in this task.

Advantages of the simulator

With the Indra simulator, students can not only be trained in different scenarios, but they can do so without any risks to them or other drivers in different situations which often occur when driving this vehicle. From his position, the instructor can have real time control of the entire simulation, introduce incidents or breakdowns, change visibility, weather conditions or traffic density, as well as other factors, so that drivers can practice in different environments and so prevent accidents. With this system, the classes can also be recorded, in order to create a historical archive and complete management of data and management reports.

In Spain, there is not currently any kind of qualification or specific training for drivers of these kinds of vehicles and they are only required to have a type “C” driving license, which is valid for any kind of truck. The new simulator developed by Indra will enable drivers of this kind of machinery to carry out specific training, allowing them to take decisions more efficiently and to optimize their work, so that when they go out on the roads they are able to cope with the most adverse situations to be found in winter roads and the inertia of the load material, which is usually a snowmelting material which changes the truck's center of gravity with each movement.

Thanks to the snowplow simulator, Valoriza Conservación de Infraestructuras has received the ACEX (Association of Infrastructure Maintenance and Operation Companies) National Safety Prize.

Indra, 30 years of experience in simulation

Indra is one of the world's most important simulator manufacturers, and can boast over 30 years' experience in this field. The company develops simulation systems for training in operating aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aircraft, submarines, buses, cars and trucks, trains and subway and public works machinery. It has over 200 simulators in 23 countries all over the world, which have carried out over one million hours of training.

Indra, with Fernando Abril-Martorell as Chairman & CEO, is Spain's leading consulting and technology multinational and one of the most prominent in Europe and Latin America. Innovation and sustainability are the cornerstones of its business. In the last three years it has spent more than €570 million on R&D&i, making it one of the biggest European investors in the industry. With a revenue of approximately €3 billion, 61% of its income is generated by the international market. It has 43,000 employees and customers in over 138 countries.

Valoriza Conservación de Infraestructuras

This subsidiary of Sacyr specializes in complete maintenance of all kinds of roadway infrastructures (over 4,000 kilometers ), in addition to reservoirs, ports, irrigation channels and hydro-electrical power plants. It is leader in its sector in terms of innovation, and is one of the companies with the highest volume of R&D+i spending in Spain: since 2006, the R&D+i department of this subsidiary of Sacyr has developed over 24 lines of research in 14 projects approved by different public administrations, with an economic allocation of €8.1 million.

Sacyr is a multinational infrastructures and services company which is listed on the Ibex 35 index. Its commitment to innovation and international expansion have made it a benchmark in the construction and management of infrastructure and industrial projects, rental property and services, in over 20 countries with 23,000 employees.