Where the Weather Meets the Road: A Research Agenda for Improving Road Weather Services

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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!

5. 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

6. Overarching Recommendation • 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 Establish a focused, coordinated national road weather research program Program Goals:

7. 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)

8. 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

9. Radio 100s miles Cellular Data 1000ft – miles Wireless LAN (802.11x) 500ft 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)

10. 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

11. 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 • ideally sited along national corridors and at regional centers • permanent and mobile platforms Photo Credit: Jerry Waldman, SSI, Inc.

12. 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 TravelerInformation SystemDesign • Intervening factors: • Trust • Self confidence • Response time • Mental effort • Physical effort Driver Age and Gender Roadway Environment Driver Safety Compliance with warnings

13. 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

14. 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

15. Communication Develop methods for estimating and conveying confidence in road weather information Develop means to effectively communicate road weather information to users

16. In Closing The proposed national road weather research program will lead to advances in knowledge and operational capabilities that could improve thesafety and efficiency of a transportation system that is used by millions of peopleevery single day and is affected by weatherevery 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

17. 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

18. For More Information… Contact Amanda Staudt <astaudt@nas.edu> Or visit the BASC website: www.nationalacademies.org/basc/