1 Observation Data Requirements for Surface Transportation Paul Pisano Team Leader, Road Weather Management Federal Highway Administration 3 rd National Surface Transportation Weather Symposium Tysons Corner, VA July 26, 2007

2 Topics to discuss Adequacy of: –Sensors (coverage, type) –Archiving technologies, techniques Robustness of: –Collection processes –Assimilation processes Prospect of new or advanced sensors to meet needs Extent to which we can detect/predict extreme weather events

3 ESS Owned by State DOTs

4 25 State DOT Networks + E-470 Highway Authority, Colorado ,331 ESS available via MADIS State DOT ESS Available via NOAA MADIS 12

5 Anytime, Anywhere Road Weather Information Route Specific Radio & TV Broadcasts of Travel Conditions More Effective Websites Credible & Precise Travel Advice Add Detail to HAR & VMS Spawn New Technologies (PDA, cell) Enhanced decision making tools In-vehicle Information Clarus

6 The Clarus Initiative Clarus is an R&D initiative to demonstrate and evaluate the value of “Anytime, Anywhere Road Weather Information” that is provided by both public agencies and the private weather enterprise to the breadth of transportation users and operators. To do so, we needed to create a robust data assimilation, quality checking, and data dissemination system that can provide near real-time atmospheric and pavement observations from the collective states’ investments in environmental sensor stations (ESS).

7 The Clarus System State DOT RWIS Server Collector Services Quality Checking Web Portal 7 Day Data Cache Metadata Cache The Clarus System State DOT RWIS Server State DOT RWIS Server State DOT GPS/AVL VII Probe- Based Data Nationwide Data Management System for Surface Transportation Environmental & Pavement Condition Observations Observations Metadata Quality Flags Environment Canada RWIN Server

8 Vehicle-based Elements Hours of operation Elevation Accelerometer data Vehicle speed Heading Rate of change of steering wheel Exterior temperature Windshield wiper setting Rain sensor Sun sensor Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) radar Atmospheric Pressure Ambient noise level Headlights Relative humidity ABS Traction control Stability control Pavement temperature Brake

9 VII Data Weather Data Translator (Radar, ASOS) Other Weather Data QCh’d obs Info. Service Providers VII – A New Road Weather Source Road Weather Obs (fixed) Clarus (or other assimilator)

10 Research Needs & Challenges Data Volume, Fusion and Quality

11 Where are the gaps? Sensors –There are gaps in sensing, who should fund? –Road Condition –What about phased array? Observations Networks –Build interest/reliance within transportation agencies –Ownership of data / liability –Mobile sensing Weather Data Translator Path to operations

12 Contact Information Paul Pisano –Team Leader, Road Weather Management –Phone: –