1. FHWA Road Weather Management Program I-80 Corridor Coalition Meeting
Overview and Update
Roemer M. Alfelor
Office of Operations
Federal Highway Administration
I-80 Corridor Coalition Meeting
January 26, 2010

2. Road Weather Management
Day-to-day operations to manage the system under all types of weather
“Anytime, anywhere road weather information” is the program’s mission
This includes current and predicted information about weather’s affect on roads…
… and the decision support tools to aid road users and operators to make effective decisions, e.g.,
When to pre-treat roads for snow & ice control
When to post traveler advisories (fog, floods, rain, snow, etc.)

3. Weather Impacts on Transp. System
Safety
Approx 1.6M weather-related crashes, 673K injuries, 7K fatalities per year
Mobility
About 25% of non-recurring delays on freeways is due to weather
Congestion costs about $9.5B/yr. for 85 urban areas
Productivity
Weather-related delays add about $3.4B/yr. to freight costs
Environment
Chemicals used for anti-icing affect watersheds, air quality and infrastructure

4. RWM Program Highlights
The Clarus Initiative
IntelliDriveSM & Weather
MDSS
Weather Responsive Traffic Management
ITS Strategic Plan

5. What is the Clarus Initiative?
A database management system for all surface transportation weather observations in North America
One database removes borders
Provides advanced quality checking for both atmospheric & pavement data
Includes extensive metadata
Easy access via web portal & subscription
Once development completed, transfer to NOAA for operations

6. Clarus Development Milestones
Connection Incentive Program
System Design Description
Quality Checking Task Force
Proof of Concept Evaluation
Regional Demo Completed
Hi Level Req Task Force
Detailed Req Task Force
RFA ConOps Deliverables
Begin Clarus Initiative
Critical Design Review
Update QCh Algorithms
ICC #1 Oklahoma City
Metadata Task Force
Phase 3 RFP Posted
ICC #2 Las Vegas
NOAA/NSWOS IOC
NOAA/NSWOS FOC
Regional Demo Phase1
QCh Algorithm Development
Regional Demo Phase 2
Regional Demo Phase 3
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
ICC #8 TBD
RFA Solicitation
ICC #6 Reno, NV
ICC #5 Kansas City
ICC #3 Salt Lake City
ICC #4 Washington DC
Award RFA for ConOps
Proof of Concept Site Visits
Award System Design Contract
Concept of Operations Published
Hi Level Requirements Document
Proof of Concept State Selection
Regional Demo Phase 3 Awarded
Begin Clarus Concept of Operations
Regional Demo Eval Task Awarded
ICC #7 September, Charlotte, NC
“Where the Weather Meets the Road”
Multi-state Regional Demo
ConOps
Design
PoC
Transition to NOAA

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

8. Participation Status for Clarus
as of July 31, 2009
Canadian RWIN
Participation
Local DOT Participation
City of Indianapolis, IN
McHenry County, IL
City of Oklahoma City, OK
NY State Thruway
City of Denver, CO
Washington, DC
Clarus Connection Status
Connected
(32 States, 3 Locals,
3 Provinces)
Partially (2 States)
Pending
(4 States, 2 Locals)
Considering
(6 States, 1 Local)
Sensor & Station Count
1,897 Sensor Stations (ESS)
42,149 Individual Sensors

9. Clarus Coverage

10. Clarus Regional Demonstration 5 Use Case Scenarios
Enhanced Road Weather Forecasting Enabled by Clarus
Seasonal Weight Restriction Decision Support Tool
Non-winter Maintenance & Operations Decision Support Tool
Multi-state Control Strategy Tool
Enhanced Road Weather Content for Traveler Advisories
State Transportation Agency Partners

11. What is IntelliDriveSM?
IntelliDriveSM is a suite of technologies and applications that use wireless communications to provide connectivity:
With and between vehicles
Between vehicles and roadway infrastructure
Between vehicles, infrastructure and wireless consumer devices . . .
In order to achieve strategic goals in Mobility, Safety,and Convenience. 11 11

12. Vehicle-based Probe Data
Accelerometer
Data (steering
& yaw)
Windshield Wiper
State & Speed
Barometric
Pressure
GPS Position, Heading,
Elevation &
Vehicle Speed
Brake Status
& Boost
Headlight
Status
External Air
Temperature
Anti-lock
Braking
System
Vehicle
Traction
Control
Vehicle
Stability
Control
Tire
Pressure

13. RWM Research Objectives
To determine the value of vehicle probe data in improving road weather services
Can vehicle-based data tell us the road weather conditions?
Is the probe data of sufficient quality?
What are the minimum # of samples and minimum sampling period per road segment to get valid results?
To develop a Vehicle Data Translator (VDT)
Parse and filter probe data
QC probe data
Disseminate quality checked probe data (‘weather’ elements)
Generate statistically valid weather & road condition information per road segment 13

14. Initial Focus of Weather Research
Air temperature
Barometric pressure
Precipitation occurrence (yes, no)
Precipitation intensity (none to heavy)
Precipitation type (liquid, frozen)
Pavement condition (slippery yes/no)
Fog (likely, not likely) 14

15. Maintenance Decision Support System
MDSS is a winter maintenance decision-support
system that combines:
Advanced weather prediction
Advanced road condition prediction
Rules of practice for anti-icing and de-icing
The system generates winter treatment
recommendations on a route-by-route basis.

16. MDSS: Overview

17. MDSS Participation State DOT Participation in
Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS)
US & Intl Stakeholders who participated in Annual Meetings
Ontario Ministry of Transportation City & County of Denver CO.
Environment Canada New York State Thruway Authority
City of Grand Prairie Texas Austrian Road Authority
Dallas Area Rapid Transit E-470 Highway Authority Colorado
City of Virginia Beach DPW McHenry Cnty IL, Division of Transportation

18. MDSS Updates
Switched road temperature forecast model to METRo (Model of the Environment and Temperature of Roads)
Integrated support for fixed & mobile camera imagery
New alerting system for near term road weather hazards
Provide an archive playback for forecasts & treatment recommendations

19. MDSS Updates Incorporating AVL animation & playback support
Improved Graphical User Interface
Web-based access to updated software
Federal Prototype Release 5.1 available (software & documentation)
Open System/Open Source available to any interested party

20. MDSS Outreach Update
Publication #: FHWA-JPO EDL Number: 14439

21. MDSS Implementation in Indiana

22. MDSS Implementation in Indiana

23. FHWA – City of Denver MDSS Benefit/Cost
Annual snow budget ~$4.3M
2007/2008 savings ~$250k (5%)
Preliminary B/C ratio 4:1
monetary only from crew costs
materials not included
LOS benefits, harder to quantify

24. Weather Responsive Traffic Management
Goals: Develop strategies and tools to help agencies effectively manage traffic and highway operations during inclement weather.
WRTM Strategies:
Advisory
Control
Treatment

25. WRTM Activities Integration of Weather in TMC/TOC
Weather and Traffic Flow Studies

26. Weather Integration in TMC/TOC
Objectives:
Document existing practices, needs, opportunities and challenges associated with TMC weather integration
Assist TMC’s with their weather integration activities
Progress to Date:
Completed a State of the Practice Study on TMC Weather Integration(2006)
Developed a Weather Integration Self-Evaluation and Planning Guide (2008)
Manual and Electronic Versions
Downloadable from FHWA Website
Worked with 2 TMC’s (Sacramento and Milwaukee) in evaluating the guide and developing Wx integration plan.
Currently working with 6 TMC’s

27. Major Elements of the Guide
TMC team evaluates their needs and opportunities for enhanced weather integration
Identify weather conditions
Understand weather impacts
Identify TMC needs for weather information
An electronic version of the Guide sorts through the information provided by the TMC and identifies potential integration strategies
TMC develops a practical weather integration plan to implement those strategies

28. Next Steps Working with the Sacramento RTMC to implement their plan
Working with 6 TMC’s to conduct self- evaluation and develop integration plans
Louisiana (4 TMC’s) - Wyoming (Cheyenne)
Colorado Springs - Redding, CA
Kansas City
Evaluate and Update the Guide

29. Weather and Traffic Flow Studies
GOALS
Analyze and quantify how various weather events impact traffic flow (macro & micro levels)
Improve existing knowledge and practices on managing traffic flow under adverse weather conditions

30. Empirical Study on Weather & Traffic
Develop weather-sensitive traffic flow models using empirical weather and traffic data
Progress to date:
Completed and published in 2007
Developed capacity and speed adjustment factors for rain and snow
Final report available from FHWA website

31. Microscopic Analysis of Weather and Traffic
Analyze car following, lane changing and gap acceptance behavior during inclement weather, and develop models to incorporate in existing micro-simulation tools
Progress to Date:
Final Report for Phase 1 completed and available from FHWA website
Car following – developed models (snow), calibrated on arterial
Gap Acceptance – developed models for intersection (rain)
Lane Changing – theoretical model exists, no data for calibration
Follow-on work to develop new models and validate existing ones

32. Incorporating Weather Impacts in TrEPS
Traffic Estimation and Prediction Systems (TrEPS)
Update existing dynamic traffic assignment models (real-time & off-line) to account for weather effects
Progress to Date:
Completed and published on FHWA website
Literature on traffic response to weather and Wx responsive traffic management strategies
Review of DynaSMART and DynaMIT models - parameters that can be adjusted for weather
Incorporated weather impacts in DynaSMART-P

33. Human Factors Analysis of Weather Advisory and Control Information
Review, evaluate and recommend strategies for improving existing road weather messages and dissemination methods
Progress to Date:
Identified traveler requirements for Wx information and reviewed current practices
Reviewed and proposed methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of Wx information and dissemination methods
Developed research plan, including framework for road weather message design tool
Development of design tool in progress

34. Other WRTM Activities Data Mining and Gap Analysis for WRTM
Conduct a comprehensive search, analysis and documentation of data that exists for traffic and weather analysis
Collect additional field data to develop traffic models
Developments in WRTM Strategies
Update state-of-practice review on WRTM strategies
Identify potential improvements in WRTM strategies using recent knowledge/models/information (e.g., signal control, advisory messages, ramp metering, …)
Conduct field testing and evaluation of advanced WRTM strategies
Weather Module for the Traffic Analysis Tool (TAT) Program

35. ITS Strategic Plan

36. Contact Info:
Roemer Alfelor
FHWA Office of Operations
(202)