1. Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII): Scientific Challenges
Kevin R. Petty
Bill P. Mahoney
Richard R. Wagoner
National Center for Atmospheric Research
VII Weather Applications Workshop
Boulder, Colorado
Feb. 22, 2006

2. Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII)
BENEFIT: VII enables tactical and strategic response to weather related surface transportation hazards.
Synoptic Scale
Highs, Lows, Fronts
Nor’easters
Hurricanes, tropical storms
Thunderstorms
Mesoscale
Tornadoes
Microscale
Black ice, Fog

3. VII Weather Application Development: Expected Challenges
Data comprehension
Data quality and accuracy
Data volume
Spatial distribution
Complex terrain
Data fusion
Quality checking
Algorithm and Concept Development

4. Data Quality and Accuracy
Sensor placement
is likely to result in variability in certain
parameters (e.g. temperature, rain, sun)

5. Data Quality and Accuracy
Sensor type can also lead to differences in measured parameters:
Range
Data type
Precision
Resolution
Accuracy
Account for biases
Vehicle knowledge
Privacy
Rain Sensor Suppliers:
Bosch
Denso
Kostal
TRW
Valeo
Thermister
Thermocouple

6. Data Volume Determine how to utilize large amounts of data Averaging
Wipers=on/high
Averaging
Over distance
Over time
Equivalent to a point measurement
(replicating ASOS)
28°F
36°F
Wipers=off
Wipers=on/low
35°F
Wipers=off

7. Urban Versus Rural Environments
A major challenge exists in terms of rural regions. How do we create applications that work equally well in urban and rural environments?
38°F
Wipers=on/high
28°F
36°F
Wipers=off
Wipers=on/low
Regional car types
35°F
Wipers=off

8. Urban Versus Rural Coverage
Population Centers
Snow/Ice
Light rain
Thunderstorms Heavy rain Tornadoes
Dust storms Fog

9. Complex Terrain Data variations Elevation Terrain separation
Quality checking

10. Data fusion 6 mins./10 mins. Disparate Data Processing time
Algorithm initiation intervals
15 minutes
1 hr with specials
Model Dependent
38°F
28°F
36°F
35°F

11. Quality Checking What is truth?
28°F
38°F
Quality checks on mobile platform data (Clarus like)
Sensor test range
Spatial test (terrain)
Climatology
Persistence (privacy)
Step test
36°F
35°F
Mobile Sensors
ASOS/AWOS
What is truth?
Radar
Satellite