MDSS In Iowa Forecast Contracts

Iowa’s Forecast MDSS This summer, Iowa DOT required MDSS capabilities for its 3-year winter forecast service MDSS capability requirements increase over the years for a “phased-in” system This summer, Iowa DOT required MDSS capabilities for its 3-year winter forecast service MDSS capability requirements increase over the years for a “phased-in” system

Why Now? Iowa has been interested in MDSS for several years –2 Years in Functional Prototype with Federal Highways –3 Years with Pooled Fund Study Present MDSS concept has had a chance to mature and spread We wanted an MDSS as part of the regular forecast –MDSS recommendations based on same forecast –Could be presented as another forecast tool –We didn’t know what to expect from the PF MDSS We didn’t want to wait 3 more years Iowa has been interested in MDSS for several years –2 Years in Functional Prototype with Federal Highways –3 Years with Pooled Fund Study Present MDSS concept has had a chance to mature and spread We wanted an MDSS as part of the regular forecast –MDSS recommendations based on same forecast –Could be presented as another forecast tool –We didn’t know what to expect from the PF MDSS We didn’t want to wait 3 more years

MDSS Concerns MDSS is an emerging technology No company we knew of had a fully functional MDSS system –Companies were starting to develop MDSS would take time to develop No previous product to try or evaluate –Limits the number of bidders –Price MDSS is an emerging technology No company we knew of had a fully functional MDSS system –Companies were starting to develop MDSS would take time to develop No previous product to try or evaluate –Limits the number of bidders –Price

The Phased Approach 3 years – 3 sets of requirements –Allow vendors time to develop –Open opportunity for more vendors –Gradual introduction and training for supervisors Good or bad? Less overwhelming First impression of MDSS - is it useful? Basic at first and more advanced in future 3 years – 3 sets of requirements –Allow vendors time to develop –Open opportunity for more vendors –Gradual introduction and training for supervisors Good or bad? Less overwhelming First impression of MDSS - is it useful? Basic at first and more advanced in future

The phases Year 1 – Non-interactive display showing hourly calculated road conditions and suggested maintenance actions MDSS in simplest form Forecast in form of graphs and tables No GIS maps Uses generic road segment in each county for calculating maintenance actions Provides Strategic actions but not good tactical actions Assumes you do the maintenance action recommended and then calculates future maintenance actions Year 1 – Non-interactive display showing hourly calculated road conditions and suggested maintenance actions MDSS in simplest form Forecast in form of graphs and tables No GIS maps Uses generic road segment in each county for calculating maintenance actions Provides Strategic actions but not good tactical actions Assumes you do the maintenance action recommended and then calculates future maintenance actions

The Phases Year 2 –Interactivity begins What-if scenarios –Road treatment –Weather Still no data entry of maintenance actions –Assumes you do the maintenance action Forecast all snow runs on interstate routes Ability to change plowing cycle time Ability to change service levels and apply different rules of practice Year 2 –Interactivity begins What-if scenarios –Road treatment –Weather Still no data entry of maintenance actions –Assumes you do the maintenance action Forecast all snow runs on interstate routes Ability to change plowing cycle time Ability to change service levels and apply different rules of practice

The Phases Year 3 –All snow runs –Begin incorporating past maintenance input –Alternate chemical selections –Blowing Snow modeling –Possible use of Pooled Fund MDSS Year 3 –All snow runs –Begin incorporating past maintenance input –Alternate chemical selections –Blowing Snow modeling –Possible use of Pooled Fund MDSS

Luck So Far RFP sent to 14 vendors 3 companies returned bids –Meridian Environmental, SSI, Freeze - Notice –1 declined bidding on RFP citing concerns providing MDSS (Meteorlogix/DTN) –Many questions from other forecasting services Meridian Environmental awarded bid Forecast start-date: October 13,2005 We’ll have to wait for supervisor feedback –Questionnaires will be sent out and face to face meeting –Using strictly as a support system - NOT telling supervisors how to do their job! RFP sent to 14 vendors 3 companies returned bids –Meridian Environmental, SSI, Freeze - Notice –1 declined bidding on RFP citing concerns providing MDSS (Meteorlogix/DTN) –Many questions from other forecasting services Meridian Environmental awarded bid Forecast start-date: October 13,2005 We’ll have to wait for supervisor feedback –Questionnaires will be sent out and face to face meeting –Using strictly as a support system - NOT telling supervisors how to do their job!

Questions ?