Citation

Boselly S. Transp. Res. Circular 2004; (E-C063): 58-59.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, U.S. National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Weather impacts nearly all highway maintenance activities. Consequently, maintenance managers and operators need accurate and reliable weather information in order to manage their resources effectively and efficiently. In addition, these decision makers need to have weather information presented in a user-friendly manner so that they are not forced to try to integrate information from many sources in order to make decisions. Under contract to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), researchers at the University of Washington (UW) developed a capability to gather data from the many networks of weather instrumentation around the state. They integrated these data into a user-friendly format and developed a website for data display. The original website, called rWeather, is available on the Internet for public viewing, as well as for use by maintenance personnel. The second generation of this product is available as the WSDOT Traffic and Weather page, also on the Internet. However, neither rWeather nor the Traffic and Weather websites provide key forecast information needed by decision makers. The UW researchers developed a new capability for maintenance operations decision making. The product, the Automated Real-Time Road Weather System, takes numerical weather prediction output and presents the forecast information in a format for easy use and understanding by maintenance personnel. The high-resolution modeled output, the integration of other weather information sources, and the development of the presentation format are described. Initial results from the first winter's operational use by WSDOT personnel are also discussed.