Transcript Where the Weather Meets the Road: A Research Agenda for

Where the Weather Meets
the Road: A Research Agenda
for Improving Road Weather
Services
AMS 20th Annual IIPS Conference
15 January 2004
Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate
Transportation Research Board
Where the Weather Meets
the Road: A Research Agenda
for Improving Road Weather
Services 2
John T. Snow
The University of Oklahoma
Amanda Staudt
National Research Council
AMS 20th IIPS Conference
15 January 2004
Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate
Transportation Research Board
About The Board on Atmospheric
Sciences and Climate
• BASC was established in 1982 by the NRC to:
– advance understanding of earth's atmosphere and
climate
– provide cogent and independent advice on critical
scientific issues
– help apply this knowledge to benefit the public
– advise the federal government
• Mission carried out through the activities of specialized
committees and panels
• BASC addresses issues ranging from narrowly defined,
highly technical problems to broad public policy concerns
Context
Weather impairs both safety and efficiency
of roadways
– Associated with over 1.5 million accidents
annually, accounting for 800,000 injuries and
7,000 deaths
– Associated with 500 million hours of driver delay annually
Few new roads and increasing vehicle miles traveled will
exacerbate already existing capacity problems
Numerous technological advances provide the
impetus to develop a road weather research program to
save lives and minimize congestion!
Statement of Task:
Road Weather Research
• Describe nature and scope of road weather issues and economic
impacts
• Characterize current state of road-related weather research
• Identify gaps in the scientific knowledge base where R&D is
needed
• Discuss how research can be designed to support operations and
lead to practical applications
• Identify needs within the meteorological infrastructure
necessary to establish effective road weather research and
operational capabilities
Overarching
Recommendation
Establish a focused, coordinated national road
weather research program
Program Goals:
• maximize use of available road weather information and
technologies;
• expand road weather research and development efforts to enhance
roadway safety, capacity, and efficiency while minimizing
environmental impacts; and
• effectively implement new scientific and technological advances
Program Implementation
Regional Research Centers
• To develop new technologies, foster technology implementation
on regional roadways, and facilitate interaction between
governments, the private sector, and academia
• Should bring together weather and transportation researchers,
and practitioners/service providers in the public and private
sectors
National Demonstration Corridors
• To demonstrate effectiveness of road weather improvements,
facilitate nationwide implementation of research results, and
provide a seamless stream of road weather information to users
• One running north-south (e.g., I-35)
• One running east-west (e.g., I-80)
Research Framework
5 Key Areas:
• a robust, integrated observational network and data
management system
• a coordinated research effort
• improved modeling capabilities and forecast tools
• mechanisms for communicating road weather information to
users
• an infostructure that takes advantage of new technologies
Infostructure
Support development of a robust national roadway
infostructure
– the infostructure (e.g., sensors, telecommunciations, modeling)
needs to overlay the infrastructure (e.g., concrete, steel)
Radio
100s miles
Cellular Data
1000ft – miles
Wireless LAN (802.11x)
500ft
Observations and Data Mgmt 1
Take advantage of existing/emerging
observation networks and databases
– leverage investments by federal
government, state agencies, others in
mesoscale observing networks
Improve the existing road weather
observation system
– RWIS, video
– standards, formats, archives
Observations and Data Mgmt 2
Improve road weather instrumentation
– establish standards and ensure compliance
– improve sensor technology for road weather applications
Maximize utility and quality of road weather
information
– standardize data format, presentation, quality control
– early and significant involvement of users is critical
Develop observing capabilities to measure
performance of road weather forecasts
Photo Credit: Jerry Waldman,
SSI, Inc.
– ideally sited along national corridors and at regional centers
– permanent and mobile platforms
Research Effort
Improve prediction and warning
of weather-influenced hazards
that rapidly impede roadway use
– flash floods, avalanches, mudslides
Archive and mine operational
traffic observations to assess
weather impacts
– traffic counters, video cameras
Undertake human factors
research
Advanced Traveler
Information System
Design
Driver Age
and Gender
Roadway
Environment
Intervening factors:
• Trust
• Self confidence
• Response time
• Mental effort
• Physical effort
Compliance
with warnings
Driver
Safety
Modeling and Forecasts 1
Improve empirical and numerical modeling of roadway
atmosphere interface and surrounding environment
– micrometeorological research needed to better understand energy and
moisture fluxes between road and atmosphere
– requires multidisciplinary teams
Improve accuracy and resolution of road weather forecast
products
– tactical (0–6 h) and strategic (> 6 h) decision making
Modeling and Forecasts 2
Integrate weather information into traffic planning and
management models
Integrate real-time weather information into routine
operation of the transportation system
Develop end-to-end models that assess and predict weather
impacts on roadway conditions and operations
– using current and forecast weather conditions; road conditions
(especially road temperature and traction); a traffic simulation model
Communication
Develop methods for estimating and conveying
confidence in road weather information
Develop means to effectively communicate road weather
information to users
= 511 “Live”
= 511 Assistance Funding
= Live & Assistance Funding
= Operational in 2003
= No Activity
D.C.
Alaska
Hawaii
Puerto
Rico
In Closing
The proposed national road weather research program
will lead to advances in knowledge and operational
capabilities that could improve the safety and efficiency of a
transportation system that is used by millions of people
every single day and is affected by weather every single day
Decision-makers have the ability to help achieve
this vision by capitalizing on the recommended
framework and bringing the road weather research
program to fruition
Committee Members
John Snow (chair), U of Oklahoma
Elizabeth Carter, WeatherExtreme, LLC
Brad Colman, NWS, Seattle, Washington
Dennis Christiansen, Texas Transportation Institute
Paul DeLannoy, Environment Canada
Francis Francois (ret), American Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
George Frederick, Vaisala, Inc.
Frances Holt, NOAA–NESDIS
Margaret LeMone, NCAR
Curt Pape, Minnesota DOT
Leland Smithson, AASHTO
Richard Wagoner, NCAR
Photo Credit: Curt Pape, Minnesota
Department of Transportation
For More Information…
Contact Amanda Staudt <[email protected]>
Or visit the BASC website:
www.nationalacademies.org/basc/