“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” is not always a positive phrase. Not only does the Christmas season bring good cheer, but it also can be accompanied by extreme weather conditions.

To combat winter weather, the Center for Transportation Research and Education (CTRE) at Iowa State and the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) have created a prototype snowplow. The snowplow uses advanced technologies to improve safety and efficiency.

Lee Smithson, director of the maintenance division for the Iowa DOT, explained the technology. “There is an infrared pavement temperature device, a friction wheel and a global positioning system,” he said.

The technology provides a range of new features. “The plow will be able to measure the temperature and friction of the highway,” he said.

Duane Smith, director of outreach at CTRE, said this ability is very important.

“The snow plow will be able to indicate the need to distribute anti-icing techniques as pavement temperatures approach freezing. Before, the operator of the plow was required to recognize this,” he said.

In addition, Smithson said the plow has a unique engine power booster.

“It uses a hydras ethanol engine power booster which will give the