MDSS Developmental Strategies

1. MDSS Developmental Strategies 2003 MDSS Stakeholder Meeting Wednesday, June 18, 2003 Des Moines, Iowa Andy Stern Mitretek Systems FHWA Weather Team

2. Project Objectives in Support of Broader Program Goals Through the development and implementation of MDSS technologies and broad stakeholder interaction, the FHWA seeks to: • Increase visibility to focus resources on surface transportation weather • Foster an environment that focuses cutting edge research • Leverage investments & diverse scientific expertise

3. We believe that we have done all three! We have dramatically increased the visibility of surface transportation weather Recent MDSS presentations were (or will be) held at: American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting (several presentations) American Meteorological Society Washington DC Chapter Meeting Intelligent Transportation Society of America (2002 & 2003) Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) (2002) ITS World Congress (2002) Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS) (2003) Transportation Research Board (2003) APWA North American Snow Conference (2003) Eastern Winter Road Maintenance Symposium (2003) SSI Winter Weather Workshop (2003)

4. MDSS = Visibility • Recent Interviews: • National Geographic • Federal Computer Week • USA Today • WBZ Boston • National Public Radio • DOC/Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology released their WIST Report (Weather Information for Surface Transportation) in March • Several Private Companies are showing an interest in DSS technologies • 41 Private Companies, Universities, State and Foreign Governments have requested copies of the MDSS Release-1 Source Code

5. Cutting Edge Research! • Using the resources of the National Labs Consortium, the MDSS has leveraged existing technologies such as: • Road Weather Forecast System • SNTHERM Road Temperature Forecast Algorithm • And combined them with new technologies such as: • Hot Start mesoscale model ensembles • The Road Condition and Treatment Module • Real-time interactive Java-based client server applications

6. What Does Success Look Like? • The FHWA measures success against gains in safety, mobilityandproductivity. • Success in the MDSS project can be summarized by these series of milestones: • #1 MDSS Modules become mature enough for VAMS to integrate them and states to invest in them • #2 Further research and module development could be accomplished through partnering/cost sharing (e.g. pooled-fund arrangements) • #3 Use MDSS core technologies to begin to solve problems in other areas of transportation (e.g. TM/EM)

7. MDSS Development Strategies • FHWA began an analysis of different possible paths for the MDSS project – Where do we go from here? • Developed a structure approach of possible outcomes • Created roadmaps for each outcome • Estimated relative costs and probabilities of success • A total of 12 roadmaps were presented to FHWA upper management ranging from continuing the current track to public and private partnering to just throwing it “over the fence” 3 out of 12 survived!

8. MDSS Option A1: Continue current track with multi-tiered development, a winter demonstration and full technology transfer activities in 2004. Most expensive but offers best chance of having mature/validated components

9. MDSS Option A2: Modest reduction in level of effort both in component development and scope of the winter demonstration. Still has full technology transfer. Less expensive but delivery will not be as advanced or thoroughly tested.

10. MDSS Option D1: After FY03, create a cost sharing pooled fund study with several states and continue MDSS development focused on their major issues. Pluses: Reduced cost to FHWA, allows project to continue, maintains open distribution/technology transfer – but influenced by a set of states

11. Objectives and Comparison Table