National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Real-Time Transportation Infrastructure Information Systems: Applications

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Outline

• Why NOAA is Here• NOAA’s Mobile Sensing

Experience• NOAA Applications of

Probe Vehicle Data• Challenges

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Why NOAA is Here

• NOAA is responsible for protecting life and property and promoting safe and efficient commerce and transportation

• Existing national weather information is inadequate for highway operations

• Sensors on vehicles could provide continuous data on air and road surface temperature, visibility, precipitation, etc.

~1,400,000 weather-related highway crashes and ~7,000 deaths per year

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Experience: In the Air

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Experience: At Sea

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Experience: On Land

• Three fundamental deficiencies today– Lack of transportation system

relevant weather observations– Lack of understanding on how

to apply weather information in decision making

– Lack of capabilities for predicting and/or assessing surface level weather phenomena

• VII opens the opportunity for empirical data gathering not possible otherwise

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VII Decision Making Opportunities

– Immediate response(e.g. black ice, fog banks) conveyed in seconds to minutes

– Tactical response (e.g. thunderstorms, flash floods) forecast in minutes to hours

– Strategic response (e.g. blizzards, floods, heat) forecast in hours to days

• VII enables enhanced response and planning through improvements to weather observations, models, and predictions

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Probe Data

• GPS Data• Turn Signal• Speed• Odometer• Wipers• Headlights• Hazard Signal

• Traction Control• ABS• Airbag• Rain Sensor• Sun Sensor• Fog Lamps• Temperature

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HEAVY RAIN

GO SLOW

LOW VISIBILITY

MILE 20

MILE 25

RSU

VII Application: Heavy Rain/Low Visibility

Weather Indicators:

• Are Wipers on? What Rate?

• Are Headlights on?

• Is the Rain Sensor Detecting Rain?

Responses:In Vehicle Display Overhead “Slow Down” Sign

Driver ActionTake Immediate Action

10MILE 24

MILE 25

WARNING

GO SLOW

ICE AHEAD

VII Application: Ice

Weather Indicators:• Is traction control engaged?• Is the temperature near

freezing?• Are Hazard Lights on?

Responses:In Vehicle Display Overhead “Slow Down” Sign

Driver ActionTake Immediate Action

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NOAA Applications of Probe Vehicle Data

• Observations to assist warning decisions

• Input to weather models• Verification of warnings

and forecasts• Calibrates remote

sensors• Dissemination of

information back to the vehicle

State DOTServer

National Surface Transportation Weather Observation and

Forecast System

NOAA

Forecasts -Use for General

Awareness

Watch/Warning

/Advisory-county- or area-

specific

DMSRoad Section

Specific

VIIPoint

Private or Public Interface

Input

Output

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Challenges

• Overcoming technical obstacles– Translating observations into meaningful

information– Rural vs Urban

• Addressing privacy issues

• Integrating data – Other systems and applications

• Pulling together expertise– Partnerships are crucial for success

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NOAA Priorities

Focus on Public Safety• Validate requirements• Maximize existing data and

services• Work with transportation and

weather partners • Research to operations• Participate in Clarus & VII

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Conclusion

• Probe data can: – improve forecast decision

making, weather model predictions, forecast verification, remote sensor calibration

– enable a feedback loop bringing weather information to the dashboard

More info available at: surfaceweather.noaa.gov

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Real-Time Transportation Infrastructure Information Systems: Applications

1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-713-3222Charlie.Challstrom@noaa.gov