weather & the connected vehicle 092811

Intelligent Transportation Society of Connecticut 14th Annual Meeting September 28, 2011

Intelligent Transportation Society of Connecticut 14th Annual Meeting September 28, 2011

FHWA +10 yrs - program support: Road Weather Management

Emergency Transportation Operations

Real – Time Data Management

+ 20 yrs Illinois Dept. of Transportation:

Operations, Maintenance, & Construction

ITS Project Manager

CEC Officer/Seabees & Engineer Mentor

Ray Murphy

Weather Technologies…

Clarus and the Connected Vehicle

Ray MurphyFederal Highway Administration

September 28, 2011 Intelligent Transportation Society of Connecticut

Intelligent Transportation Society of Connecticut 4

Existing RWIS installations:1. East Hartford2. Middletown3. Groton4. New London5. Lebanon6. Sikorsky Bridge7. New Haven8. Stamford9. North Canaan10. Torrington11. Avon Mountain12. Seymour13. Danbury

Road Weather Information System (RWIS)Environmental Sensor Station (ESS)


Environmental Sensor Stations

6

2,253 Sensor Stations (ESS) 52,471 Individual Sensors


The Clarus Initiative• Clarus is an R&D initiative to demonstrate and

evaluate the value of “Anytime, Anywhere Road Weather Information” that is provided by both public agencies and the private weather enterprise to transportation users and operators.

• To do so, FHWA created a robust data assimilation, quality checking, and data dissemination system

that can provide near real-time atmospheric and pavement observations from the collective states’ investments in environmental sensor stations (ESS).

www.clarusinitiative.org


The Clarus System A database management system for

all surface transportation weather observations in North America

One database removes borders

Provides advanced quality checking for both atmospheric & pavement data

Includes extensive metadata

Easy access via web portal & subscription

2011 National ITS Update

www.clarus-system.comFHWA Road Weather Management Program, in conjunction with the US DOT ITS Joint Program Office established Clarus in 2004 to reduce the impact of adverse weather conditions on surface transportation users. Clarus is the 21st Century’s answer to the need for timely, high-quality road weather information.

Participation Status for Clarusas of September, 2011

CanadianParticipation

Clarus Connection Status

Local ParticipationCity of Indianapolis, INMcHenry County, ILCity of Oklahoma City, OKKansas Turnpike Authority Parks Canada

Sensor & Station Count2,253 Sensor Stations (ESS)52,471 Individual Sensors 81 Vehicles

Connected (37 States, 5 Locals, 4 Provinces)

Connected plus vehicles (1 state)

Pending (4 States, 3 Locals, 1 Province)

Considering (3 States, 1 Local)

*1st time showing mobile data sources!

*

*Intelligent Transportation Society of Connecticut

Over 75% of State DOTs Participate in Clarus


Clarus System Observations


Clarus Users in 2010

4993 unique addresses gaining access (3,524,702 hits) from 67 countries government agencies (federal, state, local) academic institutions weather providers TV stations private sector firms unknown sources (Internet providers, etc.)

Clarus Users in 2009 - 314 unique addresses gaining access (59,000+ hits) from 19 countries


Clarus Survey

Conducted by ITSA from 15 June - 15 July 2011

Intent was to increase understanding of how Clarus is used by system customers

28 Participants: 13 State DOTs6 private sector companies4 academic institutions3 Federal agencies1 weather service provider 1 transit agency


Clarus Access Methods

Map: 48%

On-demand request: 26%

Subscription: 22%

Other: 4%

Intelligent Transportation Society of Connecticut

New Data Preferences

Mobile Data: 81%

Air Quality: 50%

ASOS/AWOS: 46%Other: 20%

Response Frequency

14


Clarus System Survey - Summary

Clear primary indicators:

State DOTs are primary users

Main use of data is monitoring current weather

Map is the main access method

Mobile data most desired of new sources


Clarus Regional Demonstrations

Ensure the Clarus System works as designedDemonstrate the ability of the Clarus System to

process and provide data from large numbers of Environmental Sensor Stations (ESS)

Promote/educate on metadata collection

Foster proactive transportation system management in response to the weather

Encourage improved private sector services for road weather information enabled with data from the Clarus SystemNew software GOTS/open source

Objectives


Clarus Regional Demonstration

1. Enhanced Road Weather Forecasting Enabled by Clarus

2. Seasonal Load Restriction Tool

3. Non-winter Maintenance Decision Support System

4. Multi-state Control Strategy Tool

5. Enhanced Road Weather Content for Traveler AdvisoriesState Transportation Agency Partners

Mixon Hill Team includes IA, IL & IN

Scenarios 1, 3, 4

Meridian Team includes ID, MT, WY, ND, SD & MNScenarios 1, 2, 5

5 Use Case Scenarios


Assess the impact of Clarus road weather observations (RWIS/ESS data) on various weather and road-weather models

Provide Clarus-enabled forecasts to the four use case scenarios that use applications and decision support tools

Primary Objectives

Use Case #1: Enhanced Road Weather Forecasting Enabled by Clarus


Quicker agency deployment

Multi-state interaction & awareness

• Enables regional restrictions

• Uses established state notification formats & procedures

Restriction Generation

Current Seasonal Load Restriction (SLR) by county Overview A multi-state view of active SLR information

Web-Client…

• State participants found value in . . .– Multiple displays of sub-pavement conditions– Site specific sub-pavement profile forecasts– Less ad-hoc approach potential– Multi-state display of restriction status

Use Case #2: Seasonal Load Restriction Tool


Use Case #3: Non-winter Maintenance and Operations Decision Support Tool

Primary Objectives

Clarus SystemNon-winter

DSSTool

Weather Service Provider

Input Configuration

System Configuration

ExistingLegend: NewSystem

Boundary

Use Case #3 Non-winter Maintenance and

Operations Decision Support Tool

Output Configuration

UserWorkstations

Other Data Provider

– Continue to bridge the current gap between road weather information and proactive maintenance

– Expand decision support beyond snow and ice control


To provide data and strategies which will improve the coordination between agencies with respect to the imposition of controls and dissemination of associated advisories.

This coordination will assist agencies in:

proactively responding to situations,

allow for timely dissemination of safety-related information, and thus mitigate the impact to travelers.

Objectives…

i.e. chemical spill – tool monitors the weather data – chemical plume – general process graphic

Use Case 4: Multi-state Control Strategy Tool


Services for current and predicted pavement conditionsExpands traveler planning with

future conditions

Delivered through state DOT website

Generate enhanced pavement condition information for travelers using Clarus data & enhanced forecasts from UC1

Support for multi-state trip planningConnect state 511 system info

Use Case 5: Enhanced Road Weather Content for Traveler Advisories


Good Driving ConditionsFair Driving ConditionsDifficult Driving ConditionsRoad Closed/BlockedUnknown

Observed Road Conditions

Use Case #5

May Change from Good to Fair Driving ConditionsMay Change from Good to Difficult Driving Conditions

Sensors indicate Conditions May Vary From Observed Road Conditions

Enhanced Road Weather Content for Traveler Advisories

Web-Portal

Analysis Suggests Road Conditions

Connected Vehicles and Weather The Vehicle Data Translator (VDT) Version 3.0

Weather Observations from Connected Vehicles


The Connected VehicleImproving Road Weather Awareness


Connected Vehicle Applications

• Safety– Collision warning– Traffic signal violation warning– Emergency notification

26

• Mobility– Adaptive traffic signals– Intermodal transfers– Event and emergency planning/response– Parking location assistance

• Environmental– Eco-routing– Multi-modal routing– Adaptive roadway lighting– Smart intersections

Intelligent Transportation Society of Connecticut27

Connected Vehicle ScenariosDaily operations - Recurring congestion and peak ridership conditions (i.e., the baseline for activities)

Major traffic incidentExtended closures/fatalities/ major structural damage occurring on either freeway or arterials with impacts for freeway, arterial, transit, and parking management

Major EvacuationMajor evacuation of large numbers of people caused by unpredictable events (e.g., wild fire, terrorist attack)

Major Winter Weather EventMajor winter weather event (ice and snow) with a regional impact

Special EventPlanned major event impacting corridors and downtown area

http://www.noiseboxmedia.com/dad/uploaded_images/Alabama-Spring-Football-Game---April-2007-729856.jpg


Obtain a thorough picture of current weather and road conditions by including mobile sources• Higher resolution observations that spatially

augment fixed sensors• Take advantage of existing standards and on-board

sensors

Improve weather-related decision support tools to mitigate safety and mobility impacts of weather• Based on ability to better detect and forecast road

weather and pavement conditions

Weather & the Connected Vehicle

Objectives…


Weather Observations from Connected Vehicles

29

Intelligent Transportation Society of Connecticut 30Intelligent Transportation Society of Connecticut

1. Develop and improve the Connected Vehicle “Anytime, Anywhere Road Weather Information”

2. Better Characterization of current weather and road conditions

3. Accurate Quality Checking and/or Quality Control of vehicle data

4. Development of inferred road segment specific weather and road-weather information for end-user applications

Vehicle Data Translator (VDT)

Objectives…


Vehicle Data Translator (VDT)

Mobile data

ingesters

Parsed mobile data

Output data

handler

QC Module

Segment module

Ancillary data

ingesters

Basic road segment data

Output data

handler

Inference Module

Advanced road segment data

Output data

handler

Apps and Other Data Environments

Stage I Stage II Stage III

VDT 3.0

Ancillary: Radar, Satellite, RWIS, Etc.

QC Module

QC Module

Vehicle Data Translator (VDT) – Version 3.0

Mobile data

ingesters

Parsed mobile data

Output data

handler

Apps

Stage I Ingest vehicle data from aftermarket sensors

Data parsed, sorted/binned Light Quality Control Sorted by time, road segment

and grid cell Segments & grids user defined

All processed data available for other applications

Stage I


QCh Module

Statistics

module

Ancillary data ingeste

rs

QC’d data, Basic road segment data

Output data

handler

Apps

Stage II

Ancillary: Radar, Satellite, RWIS, Etc.

Ingest ancillary data for QC and Stage III

Quality Checks From Clarus: Sensor Range,

Spatial, Climate Range

New Mobile Data Tests: Data Filtering (tunnel, slow speeds), Model Analysis, Neighboring Vehicle, Combined Algorithm

Combines point data into basic road segment products Temp range, speed, etc

Stage II


Inference

Module

Advanced road segment data

Output data

handler

Stage III

More sophisticated road impact information

Precipitation Type and Intensity: combines basic vehicle (e.g. wiper, temp), weather radar and satellite data

Visibility: combines basic vehicle (e.g. headlight, wiper, temp), satellite and fixed weather station data

Pavement Condition: combines more vehicle (e.g. ABS, traction, etc) , weather radar and satellite

Apps

Stage III


What Can You Do With VDT-based Data?

There are any number of road weather dynamic applications that could use vehicle-based observations:

State DOT-based applications

Transportation-specific applications

Broad Weather & Transportation applications


State DOT-based Applications

Observation assimilation□ Fill in the gaps between

fixed stations□ Collect real-time pavement

temperatures

Maintenance Decision Support□ What are the current roads conditions?□ Accurate pavement temperature

modeling

Manage Maintenance Actions□ End of Shift Reports□ Materials Management

VDT-based data


VDT-based weather alerts: Impending weather hazards Alerts from other vehicles Re-routing

Transportation-specific Applications

*Simulated screen –

designed to not distract the driver

*


Winter Maintenance – Which roads have been treated?

Tornado Warning! I70 Denver to LimonDelay Until 3:30pm

Route Specific Impact Warnings for…

School Buses

Truckers EMS

Broad Transportation ApplicationsVDT-based data


Numerical Weather Modeling

Traffic Modeling and Alerting

Weather Modeling – complex terrain

Other surface transportation users

Weather-related Applications


Future - Optimized Winter Maintenance

• Use of Connected Vehicle network and data allows more effective and efficient deployment of pre-treatment, treatment, and plowing operations

• Local weather information from Connected Vehicle network– From vehicles:

• Temperature, barometric pressure, precipitation sensors, head lights

• Activation of ABS, Stability control, traction control– From roadside equipment:

• Pavement temperatures, humidity, etc.

• From on-board equipment in maintenance vehicles– Application rates– GPS, Time

40


Clarus

Connected Vehicle Data

Capture

VDT(NCAR)

State DOT & Private Vehicle Data

Other Connected Vehicle Applications

Integrated Mobile Observing & Dynamic Decision Support


FHWA Road Weather Mgmt. Team

Paul Pisano, Team Leader Dale ThompsonFHWA Office of Operations USDOT RITA, JPO202-366-1301 [email protected] [email protected]

Roemer Alfelor C.Y. David YangFHWA Office of Operations FHWA Off. of Operations R&D202-366-9242 [email protected] [email protected]

Gabriel GuevaraRay MurphyFHWA Office of Operations FHWA Off. of Tech. Services202-366-0754 [email protected] [email protected]

weather & the connected vehicle 092811

Technology

annual meeting

yrs illinois

yrs program support

road weather management

real time data management

ray murphy fhwa

project manager