Citation

Knight P, Aguero-Valverde J, Jovanis PP. Transp. Res. Circular 2008; (E-C126): 140-154.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, U.S. National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper describes the outcome of a project that built a crash and weather system database for use in a prototype weather early warning system for roadway managers and motorists within Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 2-0. The system is based on analysis of past crashes in the region along with historical records of significant weather events. Historical records of crashes in the region were searched from PennDOT files to systematically identify locations of high weather-related crash risk. The safety analysis was conducted using crash data from 1997 through 2004, excluding 2002. The final output of the project was the determination of areas and travel corridors that should be considered to be served by weather-based warnings as part of the traveler information system planned for District 2-0 ITS deployment. Once the crash locations were identified, meteorology staff at Pennsylvania State University searched background weather data (using gridded data fields) for those dates and times to determine the predictability of the weather events in the District 2-0 region. While the specific findings of this particular study are applicable to PennDOT District 2-0, the methodology is applicable to any other PennDOT district with comparable data.