1 Working Group for Weather Information for Surface Transportation (WG/WIST) Meeting January, 2005 Paul Pisano Federal Highway Administration Road Weather Management Program

2 WG/WIST Objectives Establish a Working Group for WIST –Led by FHWA and NOAA –Meet WIST needs of federal agencies Develop a federal WIST Research Program Plan –Federal weather and surface transportation research communities –Vision for public/private sectors for planning Develop Federal Multi-Agency WIST Implementation Plan

3 The Process Jan’05 Define Vision & Goals Jul’05Jan’06 Develop Program Plan Develop Implementation Plan

4 Step 1 – Define Vision & Goals Start with the Vision from the Partnering Plan Provide the nation with timely, accurate & relevant surface weather & condition information that supports improvements in safety & efficient movement of people & goods. Initial research efforts will focus on highway needs as a priority & for prototype purposes.

5 Step 1 (cont.) – Goals (1 of 3) Major Goals from Partnering Plan Sustained year-to-year reduction in: –weather related surface transportation deaths & injuries through the application of improved surface weather products, services & training –weather related delays & operating costs through the application of improved surface weather products, services & training.

6 Introduction of new products, services & training that are available to all surface transportation operators before & during their surface transportation activities. This is expected to lead to improvements in the application of weather information to surface transportation operations. Step 1 (cont.) – Goals (2 of 3) Immediate (Measurable) Goal from Plan

7 As we define the goals, we will also need to define the ways in which they would be measured Outputs vs. Outcomes Step 1 (cont.) – Goals (3 of 3) Defining Performance Metrics

8 Step 2 – Develop Program Plan 1.Synthesize R&D needs 2.Define a structure for the needs 3.Prioritize needs a.Align R&D needs with goals b.Account for constraints: funding, staffing, time to completion, path to deployment 4.Document prioritized needs in a Program Plan (with accompanying time line) 5.Set Stage to Develop an Implementation Plan

9 Step 1 – Synthesizing R&D Needs Based on References ICMSSR Meeting, 2004 NRC Report, 2004 NOAA Strategic Plan, 2004 Iowa DOT/CTRE Report, 2004 AMS Policy Forum, 2003 WIST Report, 2002 Symposia Proceedings WIST I & II 00/99 FCMSSR Meeting, 1998

10 One Example of Road Weather Research Needs Transportation ModelingWeather/Road ModelingAdvanced Sensor Development Observation NetworksHazard Detection/PredictionIn-Vehicle Info Systems Information DisseminationStandard Development  Control strategy development Signal timing Ramp metering Variable speed limits Positive control strategies Dynamic message signs Optimal routing  Road weather data assimilation  Boundary layer physics  Mesoscale modeling  Ensemble modeling  Probabilistic products  Land surface modeling  Verification and validation  Pavement surface modeling  ESS improvements Pavement temperature Chemical concentration/freeze temp. Pavement contamination Precipitation type and rate Visibility Camera/Video processing Local radar  Mobile sensors  Data acquisition  Quality control  Data integration  Data dissemination  Fixed and mobile sensors  Interoperability  Formats and standards  Snow  Black ice  Fog  Hail  Heavy rain  High winds  Dashboard electronics  Navigation systems  Communications  Product generation  Product content and format  Human factors  Product data sources  Quality control  Communication protocols  Seamless operations  Presentation media  Human factors 511 Web Television DMS In-vehicle Decision support system  ESS reporting standards  ESS siting standards  Metadata standards  Data accuracy standards  QC process standards  Presentation standards Decision Support Systems Tactical and Strategic DSS Development  Winter maintenance  Non-winter maintenance  Traffic management  Incident management  Emergency management  Construction  Traveler information systems  Snow drifting  Road frost  Tornado  Flooding  Freezing precip.  Low friction [Partial listing only]

11 Step 3 – Develop Implementation Plan 1.

12 Funding As we develop the plans we will have to build the case for funding surface transportation research –Cost sharing arrangements between WG members? –Investments by other surface transportation stakeholders? Consider non-traditional partners such as the insurance and trucking industries