FHWA R d W thFHWA Road Weather Management Program

Overview and Update

Roemer M. AlfelorRoemer M. AlfelorOff f OOff f OOffice of OperationsOffice of Operations

Federal Highway AdministrationFederal Highway Administration

II--80 Corridor Coalition Meeting80 Corridor Coalition MeetingJanuary 26, 2010 January 26, 2010

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Road Weather ManagementRoad Weather Management

• Day-to-day operations to manage the system y y p g yunder all types of weather– “Anytime, anywhere road weather information” is

h ’ the program’s mission– This includes current and predicted information

about weather’s affect on roadsabout 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.)

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Weather Impacts on Transp. System• Safety

– Approx 1.6M weather-related crashes, 673K injuries 7K fatalities per yearinjuries, 7K fatalities per year

• Mobility– About 25% of non-recurring delays on About 25% of non recurring delays on

freeways is due to weather– Congestion costs about $9.5B/yr. for 85

urban areasurban areas• Productivity

– Weather-related delays add about y$3.4B/yr. to freight costs

• EnvironmentCh i l d f i i i ff

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– Chemicals used for anti-icing affect watersheds, air quality and infrastructure

RWM Program HighlightsRWM Program Highlights

• The Clarus InitiativeThe Clarus Initiative• IntelliDriveSM & Weather

MDSS• MDSS• Weather Responsive Traffic Management• ITS Strategic Plan

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What is the Clarus Initiative?What is the Clarus Initiative?

• A database management system for all surface g ytransportation 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

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NOAA for operations

Clarus Development Milestones

Regional Demo Phase1 QCh Algorithm Development

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Regional Demo Phase 2Regional Demo Phase1 QCh Algorithm Development

Regional Demo Phase 3

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

6ConOps Design PoCMulti-state Regional Demo

Transition to NOAA

Clarus System Data FlowsClarus System Data FlowsEnvironment Canada

RWIN Server

State DOTRWIS S

State DOTGPS/AVL

State DOTRWIS Server

RWIS Server

State DOT

VII Probe-Based Data

CollectorServices

QualityChecking

7 DayData Cache

RWIS Server

•ObservationsM dChecking

WebPortal

MetadataCache

The Clarus System

•Metadata•Quality Flags

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Nationwide Data Management System forSurface Transportation Environmental & Pavement Condition Observations

Participation Status for ClarusClarus

as of July 31, 2009

Canadian RWINParticipation

Local DOT ParticipationCity of Indianapolis INCity of Indianapolis, INMcHenry County, ILCity of Oklahoma City, OK NY State ThruwayCity of Denver CO

Connected(32 States 3 Locals

Clarus Connection Status

City of Denver, COWashington, DC

Sensor & Station Co ntPending(4 States 2 Locals)

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(32 States, 3 Locals,3 Provinces)

Partially (2 States)

Sensor & Station Count1,897 Sensor Stations (ESS)42,149 Individual Sensors

(4 States, 2 Locals)Considering(6 States, 1 Local)

Clarus CoverageClarus Coverage

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Clarus Regional Demonstration5 Use Case Scenarios5 Use Case Sce a os

1. Enhanced Road Weather Forecasting Enabled by Clarus2. Seasonal Weight Restriction Decision Support Tool2. Seasonal Weight Restriction Decision Support Tool3. Non-winter Maintenance & Operations Decision Support Tool4. Multi-state Control Strategy Tool5. Enhanced Road Weather Content for Traveler Advisories

State Transportation Agency Partners

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What is IntelliDriveSM?What is IntelliDrive ?

• IntelliDriveSM is a suite of technologies and gapplications that use wireless communications to provide connectivity:– With and between vehicles– Between vehicles and roadway infrastructure

B t hi l i f t t d i l – Between vehicles, infrastructure and wireless consumer devices . . .

In order to achieve strategic goals in Mobility, Safety,and Convenience.

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Safety,and Convenience.

Vehicle-based Probe DataVehicle based Probe Data

Windshield WiperAccelerometer Windshield WiperState & SpeedBarometric

Pressure

Brake Status

GPS Position, Heading,Elevation & Vehicle Speed

Data (steering& yaw)

Headlight

Brake Status& Boost

HeadlightStatus

External AirT t Anti lockTemperature

VehicleTractionControl

VehicleStabilityControl

Anti-lockBrakingSystem

TirePressure

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RWM Research ObjectivesRWM Research Objectives

• To determine the value of vehicle probe data i i i d th iin improving road weather services– Can vehicle-based data tell us the road weather conditions?– Is the probe data of sufficient quality?

Wh h i i # f l d i i li – What are the minimum # of samples and minimum sampling period per road segment to get valid results?

• To develop a Vehicle Data Translator (VDT)• To develop a Vehicle Data Translator (VDT)– Parse and filter probe data– QC probe data

Disseminate quality checked probe data (‘weather’ elements)– Disseminate quality checked probe data ( weather elements)– Generate statistically valid weather & road condition

information per road segment

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Initial Focus of Weather ResearchInitial Focus of Weather Research

• Air temperatureAir temperature• Barometric pressure

Precipitation occurrence (yes no)• Precipitation occurrence (yes, no)• Precipitation intensity (none to heavy)• Precipitation type (liquid, frozen)• Pavement condition (slippery yes/no)( pp y y )• Fog (likely, not likely)

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Maintenance Decision Support System

MDSS is a winter maintenance decision-supportsystem that combines:• Advanced weather prediction• Advanced road condition prediction• Rules of practice for anti-icing and de-icing

The system generates winter treatmentrecommendations on a route-by-route basis.

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MDSS: OverviewMDSS: Overview

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MDSS ParticipationSt t DOT P ti i ti i State DOT Participation in

Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS)2000-2009

US & Intl Stakeholders who participated in Annual MeetingsOntario Ministry of Transportation City & County of Denver CO.Environment Canada New York State Thruway Authority

f d d h

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City of Grand Prairie Texas Austrian Road AuthorityDallas Area Rapid Transit E-470 Highway Authority ColoradoCity of Virginia Beach DPW McHenry Cnty IL, Division of Transportation

MDSS UpdatesMDSS Updates

• Switched road temperature forecast Switched road temperature forecast model to METRo (Model of the Environment and Temperature of Roads)Environment and Temperature of Roads)

• Integrated support for fixed & mobile camera imagerycamera imagery

• New alerting system for near term road weather hazardsweather hazards

• Provide an archive playback for forecasts & d i

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& treatment recommendations

MDSS UpdatesMDSS Updates

• Incorporating AVL animation & playback Incorporating AVL animation & playback support

• Improved Graphical User Interface• Improved Graphical User Interface• Web-based access to updated software

d l P R l 5 1 il bl • Federal Prototype Release 5.1 available (software & documentation)– Open System/Open Source available to any

interested party

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MDSS Outreach Update

Publication #: FHWA-JPO-08-059 Publication #: FHWA JPO 08 059 EDL Number: 14439

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MDSS Implementation in Indiana

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MDSS Implementation in Indianap

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FHWA – City of Denver MDSS Benefit/Costy

• Annual snow budget ~$4 3M• Annual snow budget ~$4.3M• 2007/2008 savings ~$250k (5%)• Preliminary B/C ratio 4:1• Preliminary B/C ratio 4:1

––monetary only from crew costsmonetary only from crew costsmaterials not includedmaterials not included––materials not includedmaterials not included

––LOS benefits, harder to quantifyLOS benefits, harder to quantify

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Weather Responsive Traffic Managementp g

• Goals: Develop strategies and tools to help i ff ti l t ffi d agencies effectively manage traffic and

highway operations during inclement weather.

• WRTM Strategies:– Advisory– Control– Treatment

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WRTM ActivitiesWRTM Activities

• Integration of Weather in TMC/TOCIntegration of Weather in TMC/TOC

• Weather and Traffic Flow Studies

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Weather Integration in TMC/TOCWeather Integration in TMC/TOC• Objectives:

– Document existing practices needs opportunities and 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)g ( )

– Developed a Weather Integration Self-Evaluation and Planning Guide (2008)

M l d El t i V i• Manual and Electronic Versions

• Downloadable from FHWA Website

– Worked with 2 TMC’s (Sacramento and Milwaukee) in

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Worked with 2 TMC s (Sacramento and Milwaukee) in evaluating the guide and developing Wx integration plan.

– Currently working with 6 TMC’s

Major Elements of the GuideMajor Elements of the Guide

• TMC team evaluates their needs and opportunities for h d th i t tienhanced weather integration

– Identify weather conditions

U d t d th i t– Understand weather impacts

– Identify TMC needs for weather information

An electronic ersion of the G ide sorts thro gh the • 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

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Next Steps Next Steps

• Working with the Sacramento RTMC to gimplement their plan

• Working with 6 TMC’s to conduct self-• Working with 6 TMC s to conduct selfevaluation and develop integration plans

Louisiana (4 TMC’s) Wyoming (Cheyenne)– Louisiana (4 TMC s) - Wyoming (Cheyenne)

– Colorado Springs - Redding, CA

– Kansas City

• Evaluate and Update the Guide

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Evaluate and Update the Guide

Weather and Traffic Flow Studies• GOALS

A l d tif h i – Analyze and quantify how various weather events impact traffic flow (macro & micro levels)(macro & micro levels)

– Improve existing knowledge and practices on managing traffic flow under practices on managing traffic flow under adverse weather conditions

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Empirical Study on Weather & Traffic

• Develop weather-sensitive traffic flow pmodels using empirical weather and traffic data

• Progress to date:– Completed and published in 2007p p– Developed capacity and speed adjustment

factors for rain and snow– Final report available from FHWA website

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Microscopic Analysis of Weather and T ffiTraffic• Analyze car following, lane changing and gap

t b h i d i i l t th d 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

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ones

Incorporating Weather Impacts in T EPSTrEPS

• Traffic Estimation and Prediction Systems • Traffic Estimation and Prediction Systems (TrEPS)

• Update existing dynamic traffic assignment d l ( l ti & ff li ) t t f models (real-time & off-line) to account for

weather effects• Progress to Date:Progress to Date:

– Completed and published on FHWA website– Literature on traffic response to weather and Wx

responsive traffic management strategiesresponsive traffic management strategies– Review of DynaSMART and DynaMIT models -

parameters that can be adjusted for weatherIncorporated weather impacts in DynaSMART P

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– Incorporated weather impacts in DynaSMART-P

Human Factors Analysis of Weather Advisory and Control InformationAdvisory and Control Information

• Review, evaluate and recommend strategies , gfor improving existing road weather messages and dissemination methods

• Progress to Date:– Identified traveler requirements for Wx

i f ti d i d t tiinformation and reviewed current practices– Reviewed and proposed methodology for

evaluating the effectiveness of Wx information evaluating the effectiveness of Wx information and dissemination methods

– Developed research plan, including framework for d th d i t l

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road weather message design tool– Development of design tool in progress

Other WRTM Activities

Data Mining and Gap Analysis for WRTM1. Conduct a comprehensive search, analysis and 1. Conduct a comprehensive search, analysis and

documentation of data that exists for traffic and weather analysis

2. Collect additional field data to develop traffic models

Developments in WRTM Strategies

p

1 Update state of practice review on WRTM strategies 1. Update state-of-practice review on WRTM strategies

2. Identify potential improvements in WRTM strategies using recent knowledge/models/information (e.g., signal control advisory messages ramp metering )control, advisory messages, ramp metering, …)

3. Conduct field testing and evaluation of advanced WRTM strategies

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Weather Module for the Traffic Analysis Tool (TAT) Program

ITS Strategic PlanITS Strategic PlanITS Strategic Plan – Road Weather Management

Purpose Research Questions:?To facilitate and improve the value of road

weather information provided by both public and private sector weather communities to all transportation users and operators through robust data assimilation, quality

What vehicle-based data is available?What is the data quality & validity?How can vehicle-based data be integrated with existing weather & road-weather data?

checking and effective dissemination Objective

Applications for public sector managers and more robust data for the weather enterprise Note:

Road Weather Management is an earmark

What public sector applications are needed and what are their benefits?

Headline gin current legislation. It will be incorporated into Dynamic Mobility Applications for future work.

2010 2011 2012 2013Fiscal Year

HeadlineCombining vehicle-based, road-weather and weather data to improve safety and mobility

Approach

2010 2011 2012 2013Fiscal Year

Data Capture Data Analysis and Integration

ApplicationDevelopment

DemonstrationsEvaluations

Real-Time Data Demonstrations

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Incorporate Into Dynamic Mobility Apps

Dynamic Mobility Apps Demonstrations

FY 2010 investment up to $4,600,000

Contact Info:Contact Info:

Roemer AlfelorRoemer AlfelorFHWA Office of Operations(202) 366-9242roemer.alfelor@dot.gov

http://ops fhwa dot gov/Weather/index asphttp://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/Weather/index.asp

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