160 likes | 276 Views
Assessing the Social Impacts and Benefits of Weather Information for Transportation Users. Chris Cluett 3 rd National Surface Transportation Weather Symposium July 25, 2007. My objectives for this presentation. Understand the human side of transportation weather information
E N D
Assessing the Social Impacts and Benefits of Weather Information for Transportation Users Chris Cluett 3rd National Surface TransportationWeather Symposium July 25, 2007
My objectives for this presentation • Understand the human side of transportation weather information • Identify who the users are • Discuss linkages between information, users and impacts • Review selected findings on impacts and benefits • Suggest candidate research topics
AwarenessAccessUse / Decision Action / Behavior WeatherInformation Impact / Change Benefit Types of Wx Info Types of users Types of effects A simple social impact model The information user < Barriers and facilitators to achievement of benefits >
What aspects of Wx information are likely to be of interest? • What is going to happen? • Type of precipitation • Temperature (air, pavement) • Wind • Visibility • When is it going to happen? • Where will it happen? • How severe will it be? • How long will it last? Wx Information Content Wx Information Channels • Public weather service • Subscription weather service • Medium • Internet • Radio / TV • MDSS • On-site meteorologist • DMS; HAR; 511; Qualcomm • CVO Dispatcher • Wireless; handheld device • Phone
Who are the transportation community users of Wx information? • State DOT maintenance crews • TMC operators • Emergency managers • Transit operators • General travelers • Commuters • Elderly • Tourists • Commercial drivers • + others
What are some potential social impacts of weather information? • Social impacts include changes experienced by individuals or groups that have meaning or value – positive (a benefit effect) or negative (an undesired effect) • Safety / security / risk (experience and perceptions ) • Personal comfort or stress • Trust and confidence • Change in attitudes, preferences or behavioral norms • Change in behavior (how information is used and behavior in response to use) • Change in organizational culture or function • Individual efficacy (Can I use the information effectively?) • Preparedness • Distribution of benefits (equity)
What are some barriers to deriving social benefit from Wx information? • Lack of a champion or leadership to encourage adoption of new ways of using information • A belief that we already know the best ways to do things (Don’t confuse me with new information.) • Lack of awareness of opportunities • Lack of access to new technologies and approaches • Lack of trust in new approaches/technologies • Lack of training or understanding • Policies that are getting in the way • Reluctance to invest in facilitative infrastructure
Acceptance and use of weather information is likely to occur gradually • Technology is changing rapidly; individuals and organizations change slowly • Users need time to try out new information, experience the benefits, and accept the results • Experiencing accurate information and beneficial outcomes leads to trust building and buy-in • Need champions to emphasize the benefits and encourage tentative staff use • Early agency adopters can set a good example (encourage the risk takers) • Consider a step-by-step approach
Unaware of ATIS Used ATIS, changed trip plans Used ATIS Rarely orneveruse ATIS Use ATISregularly(1+ timesper week) Trips taken withoutusing ATIS Use ATISoccasionally • Most are aware of ATIS • 44% used ATIS regularly • ATIS used for 10% of all trips • Changed plans for 1% of trips Awareness and Use of ATIS in PSRC Representative Household Panel The User The Trip
Social factors may be more critical than technical factors for impacts & benefits • Protective data ownership, liability, and firewall issues may hinder information exchange • Cross-jurisdictional interaction may be hindered by conflicting laws and regulations • Strategies for integrating weather into operations are not yet well understood • Address social issues up front, along with the technical issues • Communication and social networking help share experience and find better ways to work with Wx information
Enhance awareness of Wx information availability, uses and benefits • Many travelers lack awareness of their transit or DOT agency’s information services – promotion is critical • Understand the tide of rising expectations – continuous improvement is critical • Address the needs of your “market segments” • Wx information bundled with other services may be attractive – willingness to pay issue
Strategies for increasing social benefit of weather information • With ATIS, travelers want coverage gaps to be filled • Travelers want dynamic information in their vehicles (en-route information) • What is happening? Why? What are my options? • How can we couple Wx information with dynamic traffic information? • CVOs concerned about Wx and long distance travel • Pre-trip ATIS users are looking 20 minutes ahead. How far ahead is Wx information needed? Spatial and temporal dimensions may be different. • Need ways to educate drivers in how to respond appropriately to Wx information
WSDOT Traffic Web Site: Winter 1998 Snow Storm
San Antonio Traffic Web Site: Flood 1998 Heavy Rainand Floods
Where could research take us from here? • Limited research has been done on the social impacts and benefits of weather information • Social metrics tend to be qualitative and costly to obtain data to measure • Candidate research topics: • Include Wx information more prominently in ATIS research • Develop a classification of the social impacts and benefits of Wx information and their associated metrics. • Assess driver decision making and behavioral response to road weather information (pre-trip versus en-route) • Assess preferred form, content, coverage, timing, and mode for conveying Wx information to different user groups • Conduct case studies of strategies and benefits of customizing Wx information to user groups, needs and circumstances
For More Information, Contact: Chris Cluett Battelle Seattle Research Center Cluett@battelle.org