MDSS Welcome Presentation Oct 05

1
Implementation and Evaluation of RWIS ESS Siting
Guidelines
Clarus ICC Meeting 5 September 21, 2007 Kansas
City, Missouri Roemer Alfelor (FHWA) Kyle
Garrett (Mixon/Hill, Inc.) Dan Krechmer
(Cambridge Systematics)
Road Weather Management
2
Agenda

• Overview of RWIS ESS Siting Guidelines
• Plan for Implementation and Evaluation of ESS
  Siting Guidelines
• Objectives
• Management/Staffing Plan
• Tasks and Schedule
• Evaluation and Implementation Status

3
FHWA Road Weather Management Program Goals

• Better understand the impacts of weather (i.e.
  snow, rain, fog, wind, heat, etc.) on highway
  operations
• Develop, promote and implement strategies and
  tools to mitigate those impacts

4
RWIS ESS Siting Guidelines

• Developed in 2005 in partnership with AASHTO and
  Aurora Pooled Fund Program
• Provide sensor siting criteria and checklist
  based on research and interviews (not standards)
• Address local and regional considerations for
  road weather data

5
Guidelines Contents

• Introduction
• Assessing Road Weather Information Requirements
• Site Selection
• Recommended Siting Criteria
• Additional Considerations
• Conclusions

6
Guidelines Metadata and Clarus

• ESS metadata are a significant part of Other
  Considerations in Guidelines
• Support the collection and application of road
  weather observations
• Support maintenance of ESS
• Clarus depends on accurate metadata to assure
  timely and seamless aggregation of road weather
  observations
• Metadata Checklist developed for Clarus
  supplements Guidelines

7
Implementation and Evaluation Project Objectives

• Evaluate the usefulness and practicality of the
  guidelines in the field
• Assist agencies with implementation
• Identify gaps or needed changes in the guidelines
• Serve as example for implementation by other
  agencies

8
Implementation and Evaluation Project Overview

• 18 months (Sept 2006 March 2008)
• Contractors
• Cambridge Systematics and Mixon-Hill Inc.
• Evaluation
• New Hampshire DOT
• Idaho Transportation Department
• Implementation and Evaluation
• Michigan DOT

9
Evaluation Process

• Describe stakeholder participation in siting
  process
• Assess impact of Guidelines on decisions
• Assess value and usability of Guidelines
• Identify potential gaps in Guidelines
• Describe potential discrepancies between FHWA and
  State Guidelines note resolutions

10
Implementation Process

• Provide support in procurement for resolution of
  differences between FHWA and State Guidelines
• Document questions and resolutions
• Provide Guideline support during deployment
• Facilitate and document collection of metadata

11
Evaluation New Hampshire

• Guidelines had not been issued when siting was
  planned used vendor guidance and checklists
• Planning involved multiple NHDOT groups FHWA NH
  Highway Patrol Plymouth State U. meteorology
• Guidelines might have helped in two (out of 12)
  particular sitings
• One not representative of roadway conditions
• One located in median

12
Evaluation Idaho

• Used Guidelines extensively in ESS deployment
  planning
• Developed Location Data Collection Checklist from
  Guidelines
• Suggestions for Guideline improvement
• RFP preparation guidance
• Site environmental assessment (e.g., soil,
  geology, archaeology)
• Clear zones and storm water management

13
Implementation Michigan

• First 6 MDOT RWIS ESS being sited in the Superior
  region
• Guidelines being used by MDOT and contractors
• Guidelines could potentially be enhanced with
• Siting scenarios
• Discussion of integration with DMS and other ITS
  components

14
Project Next Steps

• Monitor and assist implementation in Michigan
• Prepare and issue evaluation and implementation
  report
• Revise Guidelines based on recommendations from
  the report

15
Project Contact

• FHWA Project Manager
• Roemer Alfelor, 202-366-9242 roemer.alfelor_at_dot.go
  v
• Consultants
• Kyle Garrett, 913-239-8400 j.kyle.garrett_at_mixonhi
  ll.com
• Dan Krechmer, 617-354-0167 dkrechmer_at_camsys.com