FHWA Road Weather Management Program

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FHWA Road Weather Management Program
Advancing Road Weather Management Using Clarus
Data
December 1, 2009

• Welcome we will begin shortly

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www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/Weather/
FHWA Road Weather Management Team

• Paul Pisano Road Weather Management Team Leader,
  [phone] or Paul.Pisano_at_dot.gov
• Roemer Alfelor Road Weather Management, (202)
  366-9242 or Roemer.Alfelor_at_dot.gov
• David Yang FHWA Operations RD, [phone]
  or David.Yang_at_dot.gov
• Ray Murphy Resource Center, ITS Specialist,
  [phone] or Ray.Murphy_at_dot.gov

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Agenda

• Welcome and Introductions - Ray Murphy, FHWA
• The Clarus Initiative - Paul Pisano, FHWA
• Clarus Research Awards Broad Agency Announcement
  (BAA) - Roemer Alfelor, FHWA
• Clarus Data Applications - Art Handman,
  Transportation Consultant
• TRB Workshop - David Ridgley, ITS America
• Questions Answers - Paul Pisano, FHWA

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The Clarus Initiative
December 1, 2009 Paul Pisano Road Weather
Management FHWA, Office of Operations
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Presentation Contents

• Context
• The Clarus Initiative
• The Clarus Regional Demonstrations
• Closing Items

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Context

• Safety
• 1.57 million weather-related crashes/year
• 7,400 fatalities 690,000 injuries
• 24 of all crashes occurred on slick pavement or
  under adverse weather
• Mobility Cost of congestion is 9.45 billion/yr
  for the 85 major urban areas (weather causes 25
  of non-recurrent delay on freeways)
• Productivity Weather-related delay adds 3.4
  billion to freight costs annually
• Environment Chemicals effect watersheds, air
  quality and infrastructure

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The Clarus Initiative and System

• Clarus is an RD initiative to demonstrate and
  evaluate the value of Anytime, Anywhere Road
  Weather Information provided by both public
  agencies and the private weather enterprise to
  transportation users and operators.
• Clarus System provides near real-time atmospheric
  and pavement observations from participating
  states environmental sensor stations (ESS).
  Functions include
• data assimilation,
• quality checking, and
• data dissemination

www.clarusinitiative.org
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Unlimited Possibilities!
Spawn New Technologies (PDA, cell)
In-vehicle Information
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Clarus System Data Flows
Environment Canada RWIN Server
State DOT GPS/AVL
State DOT RWIS Server
VII Probe- Based Data
State DOT RWIS Server
State DOT RWIS Server
Collector Services

• Observations
• Metadata
• Quality Flags

Quality Checking
7 Day Data Cache
Web Portal
Metadata Cache
The Clarus System
Nationwide Data Management System for Surface
Transportation Environmental Pavement Condition
Observations
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Participation Status for Clarus as of November
30, 2009
Canadian RWIN Participation
Local DOT Participation City of Indianapolis,
IN McHenry County, IL City of Oklahoma City, OK
NY State Thruway City of Denver, CO Washington,
DC
Clarus Connection Status
Pending (6 States, 2 Locals) Considering (4
States, 1 Local)
Connected (34 States, 3 Locals, 3
Provinces) Partially (1 State)
Sensor Station Count 1,995 Sensor Stations
(ESS) 46,126 Individual Sensors
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The Clarus System Portal
www.clarus-system.com
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Clarus Coverage
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Clarus Development Milestones
Connection Incentive Program
Proof of Concept Evaluation
Quality Checking Task Force
System Design Description
Regional Demo Completed
RFA ConOps Deliverables
Detailed Req Task Force
Hi Level Req Task Force
Update QCh Algorithms
Begin Clarus Initiative
Critical Design Review
ICC 1 Oklahoma City
Metadata Task Force
Phase 3 RFP Posted
NOAA/NSWOS FOC
NOAA/NSWOS IOC
ICC 2 Las Vegas
Regional Demo Phase1
QCh Algorithm Development
Regional Demo Phase 2
Regional Demo Phase 3
2005
2008
2004
2006
2007
2009
2010
2011
ICC 8 TBD
RFA Solicitation
ICC 6 Reno, NV
ICC 5 Kansas City
ICC 3 Salt Lake City
Award RFA for ConOps
ICC 4 Washington DC
Proof of Concept Site Visits
Award System Design Contract
ICC 7 September, Charlotte, NC
Concept of Operations Published
Proof of Concept State Selection
Regional Demo Phase 3 Awarded
Hi Level Requirements Document
Regional Demo Eval Task Awarded
Begin Clarus Concept of Operations
Where the Weather Meets the Road
Multi-state Regional Demo
ConOps
Design
PoC
Transition to NOAA
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Clarus Regional Demonstrations - Objectives

• Ensure that the Clarus System works as designed
• Demonstrate the ability of the Clarus System to
  process data from large numbers of ESS
• Promote/educate on metadata collection
• Foster proactive transportation system management
• Encourage improved private sector services for
  road weather information enabled with data from
  the Clarus System

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Regional Demonstration Phases

• Phase 1 Request for Applications (RFA)
• Team approach/public transportation agencies
• Creation of ConOps tailored to agencies needs
• Requires providing ESS data into the Clarus
  System
• Phase 2 Connection Incentive Program (CIP)
• Expand public agency participation in Clarus
• Offset some costs for metadata data access
• Phase 3 Development Deployment
• Private sector to build test ConOps scenarios
• Independent evaluation of the Clarus System
  developed innovations

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Clarus Regional Demonstration5 Use Case Scenarios

• Enhanced Road Weather Forecasting Enabled by
  Clarus
• Seasonal Weight Restriction Decision Support Tool
• Non-winter Maintenance Operations Decision
  Support Tool
• Multi-state Control Strategy Tool
• Enhanced Road Weather Content for Traveler
  Advisories

State Transportation Agency Partners
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Next Steps for Clarus

• Enhanced QC Algorithms by Q2 2010
• New QC algorithms for precipitation estimation
  and pavement and subsurface readings
• Improvements to existing QC algorithms
• Mobile Sensing Research
• Develop prototype weather data translator (WDT),
  Q2 2010
• Leverage IntelliDrive activities
• Transition Clarus to NOAA by 2011
• Integrate Clarus functions into NOAAs planned
  operational system (MADIS)
• Initial Operating Capability (IOC), Q3 2010
• Final Operating Capability (FOC), Q4 2011

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Contact Information

• Paul Pisano
• Team Leader, Road Weather Management
• FHWA, Office of Operations
• paul.pisano_at_dot.gov, 202-366-1301
• Helpful Links
• FHWA Road Weather Management
• www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/index.asp
• Clarus Initiative
• www.clarusinitiative.org

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Clarus Research Awards Broad Agency
Announcement (BAA)

• Roemer M. Alfelor
• FHWA Office of Operations

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Clarus Research Awards

• USDOT intends to make up to seven (7) research
  awards
• Maximum of 80K per award
• Open and Full Competition
• University/Academic Institutions
• Private agency or research organizations
• - are welcomed to apply
• Cost-sharing permitted and preferred
• Cost share Grant or Cooperative Agreement
• - Minimum of 20 matching
• No cost share Contract

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Clarus Research Objectives

• Develop tools and applications that utilize
  Clarus System data in order to
• Demonstrate that the Clarus system works and
  Clarus data is usable
• Enable proactive transportation system management
  using Clarus data
• Provide an environment to innovate and create new
  and improved services

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Clarus Tools and Applications

• Including but not limited to
• System interface
• Visualization
• Data Validation
• Decision-support
• Information dissemination
• Tools and applications are expected to help
  agencies manage the transportation system before,
  during or after adverse weather conditions.

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Types of Applications/Tools

• Business to Government (B2G)
• Generated to improve public transportation agency
  strategies and operations
• Business to Traveler (B2T)
• Provided directly to travelers via some
  communication medium (e.g. web browser, PDA, text
  message, satellite or cellular link) to aid their
  decision-making

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Anticipated Evaluation Criteria

• Technical Approach relative to Objectives
• Problem Statement
• Work Plan
• Products and Deliverables
• Capability to perform work
• Qualifications and Experience
• Research Facilities
• Collaboration
• Cost-sharing
• Partnership with transportation agency

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Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

• Also called general solicitations
• A competitive solicitation procedure used to
  obtain proposals for basic and applied research
  not related to the development of a specific
  system or hardware
• Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) of 1984
  issued as Public Law that authorizes use of
  general solicitations or BAA's. The use of
  general solicitations is limited by CICA to
  "basic research proposals"
• The type of research solicited under a BAA
  attempts to increase knowledge in science and/or
  to advance the state-of-the art

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BAA vs. Request for Proposals (RFP)

• Type of Research and Development
• RFP - Focusing on a specific system or hardware
  solution. BAA- Scientific study and
  experimentation directed toward advancing the
  state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or
  understanding.
• Statement of Work RFP- The Government drafts a
  common SOW to which all offerors propose. BAA-
  The Government drafts a statement of the problem
  or general research interest. Each offeror
  proposes its own statement of work and technical
  approach.
• Proposal Comparison RFP -All proposals are
  supposed to do the same thing. Winner is selected
  by comparing proposals. BAA- Proposals contain
  stand-alone unique solutions. They are not
  compared to one another.

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BAA vs. RFP (Continued)

• Nature of the CompetitionRFP- Proposals address
  common SOW and compete, one against another.
  Cost, price, or best value, is often the deciding
  factor. BAA- Each proposal presents a separate
  approach to solving the problem. There is
  technical competition in the marketplace of
  ideas. Cost or price is rarely the deciding
  factor on the winning proposal.
• Evaluation ProcessRFP- An RFP follows very
  closely a predetermined source selection plan.
  BAA- Proposals undergo a scientific review
  process. A proposal that is otherwise weak could
  be selected if it shows great technical promise,
  such as a risky but perhaps revolutionary
  approach.
• Additional info Section 6.102 of the Federal
  Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

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BAA for Clarus Research

• Estimated release January 2010
• Contains detailed information and instructions on
  submitting proposals
• Estimated limit of 10 pages for technical
  proposal
• Will be posted on Federal Business Opportunities
  website
• https//www.fbo.gov/
• QA on BAA at the TRB Workshop, Jan 10, 2010
• Anticipated proposal deadline Feb-Mar 2010

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Clarus Data Applications

• Art Handman
• Transportation Consultant

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Clarus Data Applications

• Improve meso-scale weather forecasts
• Provide input to MDSS and MODSS

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Clarus Data Applications (Cont.)
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Clarus Data Applications (Cont.)

• Provide input to road weight restriction models

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Clarus Data Applications (Cont.)

• Provide inter-jurisdictional weather information

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Clarus Data Applications (cont.)

• Provide input to traveler information services

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Clarus Data Applications (cont.)

• Provide a collection, quality checking, and
  distribution mechanism for weather observations
  taken from mobile platforms

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Vehicle Data in IntelliDriveSM
http//www.intellidriveusa.org
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Clarus Data Applications (cont.)

• Provide input to Weather Responsive Traffic
  Management models used by TMCs, e.g.

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Clarus Data Applications (cont.)

• Support research and development activities
• Instrumentation
• Forecasting
• Traffic management assistance
• New uses

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Contact Information

• Art Handman
• alhandman_at_hotmail.com
• [phone]

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Advancing Road Weather Management Using Clarus
Data

• Sunday, January 10 at the 2010 TRB Annual Meeting
  in Washington DC, Marriott Wardman Park, Virginia
  C
• Sponsored by TRB Committee on Surface
  Transportation Weather, FHWA Road Weather
  Management Program and ITS America
• The workshop is open and free to all TRB
  registrants on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Advancing Road Weather Management Using Clarus
Data

• Goal is to brainstorm ideas for innovative Clarus
  research projects.
• FHWA is interested in funding several research
  projects that are multidisciplinary and use
  Clarus data to improve the surface transportation
  system.
• Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for these
  research projects to be posted on or before
  January 2010

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Workshop Agenda
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Workshop Agenda
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More Information

• Registration and more information under Workshops
  www.trb.org/Meeting
• 131 - Advancing Road Weather Management with
  Clarus Data
• ITS America Contact
• David Ridgley, dridgley_at_itsa.org, 202-721-4228.
• TRB Contact
• Frank Lisle, FLISLE_at_nas.edu

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Questions Answers
December 1, 2009 Paul Pisano Road Weather
Management FHWA, Office of Operations