Weather Information for Surface Transportation WIST Update on WGWIST Activities and the 3rd National

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Weather Information forSurface Transportation
(WIST)Update on WG/WIST Activities and the 3rd
National WIST Symposium
31 May 2007

• Paul Pisano
• Federal Highway Admin.

Jim OSullivan National Weather Service
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Overview

• Purpose
• Background
• Symposium Details
• Summary

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Purpose

• To update ICMSSR on Working Group WIST (WG/WIST)
  activities and seek ICMSSR support of upcoming
  surface transportation weather symposium (July
  2007) and follow-on WG/WIST efforts

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Background Current State

• Roadway Over 6,442,000 vehicle crashes per year
  on average
• More than 24 are weather-related (1.57 million)
• Nearly 7,400 people killed and over 690,000
  people injured
• About 25 of non-recurrent delays on freeways are
  weather-related
• Weather-related delay adds 3.4 billion to
  freight costs annually
• Railway 865 weather-related crashes between 1995
  and 2005
• 8 deaths, 1,242 injuries, and 189 million in
  property damage costs
• Most crashes were associated with extreme
  temperature variations
• Marine Transportation System Between 1996 and
  2000
• Weather-related causes accounted for 11 of
  marine transportation mishaps and 3.6 of all
  recreational boating mishaps
• Transit National weather-related impact
  statistics not available
• However, overall safety incidents decreased from
  2002 to 2004, resulting in a decrease of 32
  fatalities and 278 injuries
• Pipeline In 2005, 4 weather-related fatalities
  and 14 injuries
• Three fatalities were attributed to incidents
  caused by temperature and one to high winds
• Airport Ground Operations National statistics
  not available
• There are anecdotal examples of weathers impact
• For example, all airport grounds operations cease
  when lightning is detected within a certain
  distance of an airport

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Background Deaths by Weather Type
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Background The WIST Charge

• Lessening weathers impact in causing congestion
• Meeting travelers needs for timely, local
  weather information
• Improving access to WIST before and during travel
• Enhancing surface transportation weather
  observation collection
• Incorporating WIST into warning and decision
  support processes
• Increasing user understanding of how to use WIST
  products

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Background WIST RD Activities

• WIST Mini-workshops held in June 2006
• 18 organizations reported on 49 WIST-related RD
  activities underway (see slide below for details)
• Not all inclusive--more work to be discovered

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Background Roadway Progress Opportunities

• Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS)
• 22 State DOTs evaluating/deploying the system
• 511 and other broadcasts
• Road Weather Information is the most requested
• System users have altered their route or their
  travel plans to avoid hazards
• Emerging in-vehicle products
• Committed stakeholders, investing their time
• Capitalizing on leveraging opportunities
• Urban Met., MPAR, Univ. Trans. Centers, etc.

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WIST A Brief History

• Stage 1 The Early Years (1999-2003)
• Two WIST symposia (1999, 2000)
• WIST National Needs Assessment Report (December
  2002)
• AMS Policy Forum, Weather and Highways (November
  2003)
• Stage 2 Storming (2004-2005)
• NRC report, Where the Weather Meets the Road-A
  Research Agenda for Improving Road Weather
  Services (January 2004)
• OFCM WIST Working Group Charted by ICMSSR (2004)
• Stage 3 The SAFETEA-LU Years (2006-2009)
• Section 5308 Road Weather RD Program
• The Clarus initiative
• Vehicle Infrastructure Integration

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Symposium Details - Theme
3rd National Surface Transportation Weather
Symposium Improving commerce and reducing deaths
and injuries through innovative, weather-related
RD and applications for the surface
transportation system
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Symposium Details - Approach
Surface Transportation RD Needs
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Symposium Details - Objectives

• Overarching Objective Provide a forum for the
  surface transportation and weather communities to
  work together to
• Enhance collaboration and partnerships,
• Review, validate and prioritize research and
  development needs, and
• Draft plans and paths to address the unmet needs
• Ultimately improve surface transportation weather
  products/services for those who use, operate, and
  manage surface transportation infrastructure

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Symposium Details - Logistics

• Agenda 25-27 July 2007
• July 25th
• Keynote Session
• Social Economic Impacts Benefits
• RD Priorities
• Leveraging RD
• July 26th
• Observations
• Modeling Prediction
• Information Dissemination
• Pathway to Operations
• July 27th
• Closing Session on the Keys to Success Creating
  Synergy

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Summary

• Need to continue bridging WIST efforts to
  overcome challenges and leverage existing
  resources
• WG/WIST is developing a WIST RD and
  Implementation Plan
• Supported by ICMSSR to provide focus and
  structure to WIST improvement efforts
• 3rd National Surface Transportation Weather
  Symposium in July
• WG/WIST seeks ICMSSR support of symposium and
  follow-on efforts