1. 1 Clarus Clarus Nationwide Surface Transportation Weather Observing & Forecasting System Paul Pisano Team Leader Road Weather Management Office of Transportation Operations Federal Highway Administration James Pol, PE ITS Coordinator ITS Joint Program Office U.S. Department of Transportation OFCM CEISC Briefing November 30, 2004

2. 2 USDOT ITS Initiatives

3. 3 Changing Current Practices Weather products today generally are insufficient for transportation operations –Too generalized –DOTs investment in road observations Surface weather forecasting benefits from more data from more sources –Ground observations are plentiful, but not managed to form coherent picture Managing all available ground data yields new products

4. 4 What is Clarus? What –Demonstration of a regional road weather observational data management and forecasting system & partnership to establish a nationwide road weather observation network. Why –To reduce the impact of adverse weather for all road and transit users and operators.

5. 5 Why now? State DOTs Vehicle technology Transportation Community NOAA Private sector Weather Community Growing demands for specific road weather products to offset safety impacts and impeded mobility New products and services for shared goals

6. 6 Unlimited Possibilities! Clarus Route Specific Radio & TV Broadcasts of Travel Conditions Credible & Precise Travel Advice Add Detail to HAR & VMS Spawn New technologies (in vehicle, PDA) Create New and More Effective Ways to Convey Surface Transportation Weather Information Enhanced decision making tools

7. 7 Who will benefit from Clarus? State and Municipal DOTs (Traffic & Maintenance Mgrs.) Public Weather “Forecasting” Agencies (NOAA/NWS) Public Weather “Consumer” Agencies (USDA, DHS, DOD) Private Weather Information Providers (data & forecasts) Electronic & Print Media (traffic reporters, USA Today) Road Users (Commuters, Tourists, CVO/Truckers) New innovations/VII (e.g., OnStar) Mass Transit Rail General Public

8. 8 Challenges to Address Broader modernization efforts within NWS/NOAA Data ownership & licensing VII and other emerging technology Institutional barriers for sharing Liability

9. 9 Clarus Roadmap Overview Stakeholder Coordination System Design FY04FY05FY06FY07FY08FY09 Multi-State Regional Demonstration Final Design, Model Deployment Track 2 Track 3 Track 4 Track 1

10. 10 Purpose –Promote multilateral stakeholder ownership, consensus in design & build partnerships. Activities –Establish partnership with NOAA –Create Interagency Coordinating Committee Directly engage stakeholders at key decision points and throughout the initiative Source of interdisciplinary expertise for design reviews and guidance Transportation; Weather; Private Sector Stakeholder Coordination

11. 11 Purpose –Establish data management for road weather observations and forecasts that serve the needs of disparate user communities. Activities –Create concept of operations –Identify possible constraints –Integrate state road weather data with NOAA data –Create engineering design documentation System Design

12. 12 Purpose –Achieve regional multi-state collection with quality control and enhanced forecasting capabilities. Activities –Selection criteria & location selection –Leverage VII proof of concept test to fully exploit VII capabilities to deliver real-time data –Develop regional system design –Implement multi-state regional demonstration –Evaluate demonstration Multi-State Regional Demonstration

13. 13 Purpose –Establish package of products that are readily implemented by stakeholders and that are solely supported by the stakeholders. Activities –Develop enhanced system design –Design & implement a more robust Internet data portal with hooks for new technologies such as CCTV & VII –Implement enhanced demonstration & evaluation –Create revised regional and nationwide Clarus system design –Document all lessons learned and design guidance Final Design, Model Deployment

14. 14 Where we are now Concept of Operations Development –Identified user needs –Developing Operational Scenarios –General Information requirements System Design Procurement –Proposals due next month –Completion within 20 months http://www.clarusinitiative.org

15. 15 Achievements through Clarus Enhanced forecasting for surface transportation Stable, reliable access to road weather information and other weather sources Broadened participation for NOAA/NWS in surface transportation weather A regional model deployment of the observation data-sharing network and a suite of forecasting tools enabled through the Clarus system design