Method and system for collecting data concerning thermal properties of roads for a geographic database and use thereof in a vehicle safety system

摘要

A method and system of collecting data concerning thermal properties of roads and using the collected data to form a geographic database that can be used in a vehicle safety system to implement a safety process when the vehicle approaches a location of a potential ice hazard. Data indicative of the thermal properties of roads are collected by driving along roads in a vehicle equipped with equipment that senses thermal properties of the roads upon which the vehicle is being driven. Using the collected data, a geographic database is formed that relates positions along roads to thermal properties of the roads at the positions. A vehicle safety system uses the geographic database, a positioning system that determines a position of the end user's vehicle along the roads represented by the geographic database, and an ice hazard application to implement a safety procedure when the vehicle approaches a location at which a potential ice hazard