John T. Snow

The University of Oklahoma

Amanda Staudt

National Research Council

AMS Second Annual Users Conference

13 January 2004

Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate

Transportation Research Board

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 1

About The Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate

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

ContextContext

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

Numerous technological advances provide the impetus to develop a road weather research program to

save lives and minimize congestion!

– Associated with 500 million hours of driver delay annually

Few new roads and increasing vehicle miles traveled will exacerbate already existing capacity problems

Statement of Task:Road Weather Research

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

Overarching Recommendation

Overarching Recommendation

Establish a focused, coordinated national road weather research program

Program Goals:• 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

Program Implementation 1

Regional Research Centers• To develop new technologies, foster technology

implementation on regional roadways, and facilitate interaction between governments, the private sector, and academia

Photo Credit: Jon Hankey, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

• Should bring together weather and transportation researchers, and practitioners/service providers in the public and private sectors

Program Implementation 2

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)

Program Management

Centralized leadership at the federal level is essential for setting research priorities, administering grants, providing a central repository for research findings, and ensuring accountability

• FHWA should have lead role; NOAA should be leading partner• Federal government should establish new interagency

coordinating council to guide program with participation from FHWA, NOAA, and NSF at a minimum

• Must foster effective partnerships with state and local agencies and with private sector

New long-term dedicated funding within FHWA is essential• ~$25 million per year• Long-term commitment (more than a decade)• FHWA should manage these funds• Funds from other relevant initiatives should be highly leveraged

Must foster public-private-academic partnerships• Essential partners include FHWA, NOAA, NSF, AASHTO,

academia, state and local governments, the private sector, and NGOs such as ITS America and AMS

Program Management 2

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

Research EffortResearch 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

CommunicationCommunication

Develop methods for estimating and conveying confidence in road weather information

Develop means to effectively communicate road weather information to users

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Other Key Program ElementsOther Key Program Elements

Enable efficient technology transfer– user communities must be involved at every step– private sector an important partner

Improve education and training of road weather information users

Seek out synergies and efficiencies between road weather research and parallel efforts regarding other modes of transportation

– aviation (in particular), rail, transit

In ClosingIn Closing

The proposed national road weather research program will lead to advances in knowledge and operational

capabilities that could improve the safety and efficiency of a transportation system that is used by millions of people

every single day and is affected by weather every 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

Committee MembersCommittee Members

John Snow (chair), U of OklahomaElizabeth Carter, WeatherExtreme, LLCBrad Colman, NWS, Seattle, WashingtonDennis Christiansen, Texas Transportation InstitutePaul DeLannoy, Environment CanadaFrancis Francois (ret), American Association of State Highway

and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)George Frederick, Vaisala, Inc.Frances Holt, NOAA–NESDISMargaret LeMone, NCARCurt Pape, Minnesota DOTLeland Smithson, AASHTORichard Wagoner, NCAR Photo Credit: Curt Pape, Minnesota

Department of Transportation

For More Information…For More Information…

Contact Amanda Staudt <astaudt@nas.edu>

Or visit the BASC website:

www.nationalacademies.org/basc/