System and method for de-icing a communication tower

A method for mitigating the accumulation of snow and ice on a component of a communication tower, comprising:

• affixing a plurality of de-icing assemblies to a plurality of components of a communication tower, the de-icing assembly having a backing member, and at least one pneumatic tube disposed on a front facing of said backing member and defining an expandable chamber configured to be selectively inflated and selectively deflated;
• detecting the presence of an accumulation of one or more of snow or ice on the component of the communication tower or the at least one de-icing assembly, the detecting step comprising:
• monitoring, by at least one sensor, one or more conditions at the position of the de-icing assembly on the communication tower, the at least one sensor including one or more of a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a pressure sensor, or a wind sensor, wherein said monitoring step includes measuring, by the wind sensor, a direction and a speed of a prevailing wind at the communication tower;
• sending a signal from the at least one sensor to a controller configured to control operation of the de-icing assembly, the signal corresponding to a current state of the condition being monitored;
• determining, by the controller, the signal meets a predefined threshold criteria indicative of the presence of one or more of snow or ice on one or more of the component of the communication tower or the de-icing assembly;
• determining, by the controller, which of the plurality of de-icing assemblies to cycle based in part on a wind sensor signal received in the controller;
• and
• periodically cycling inflation and deflation of the at least one pneumatic tube in response to a detection of the presence of one or more of snow or ice on the component of the communication tower or the de-icing assembly, causing the snow or ice to break free from, and fall off of, the component of the communication tower and pneumatic tube affixed thereto.