00738825

Component

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has investigated the benefits arising from the use of Road/Weather Information Systems (R/WIS) and found them to be quite substantial. These systems are specialized computer networks which collect, process and disseminate information about weather conditions relating to highway transportation. R/WIS information is used by highway maintenance managers to help insure that snowplowing and deicing operations are timely and cost-effective. R/WIS data will also provide warnings to travelers and fleet operators through traveler information systems. Presently, Mn/DOT has 16 R/WIS stations deployed throughout the state. The information from these stations is site specific and is not available at a central location for coordinated forecasting and monitoring activities. Thus, it is extremely difficult to utilize the information obtained from the stations in wide scale operations such as snow and ice control and maintenance activities. In an effort to address these limitations, Mn/DOT is working to establish a coordinated R/WIS that will integrate the existing systems as well as add several new sites throughout the state. This paper describes the methodology utilized by the Mn/DOT for the development of a statewide R/WIS in Minnesota. It briefly discusses the findings of more than ten years of investigation of R/WIS technology and the decision to go ahead and implement an R/WIS throughout the state. A detailed analysis of the public/public as well as public/private partnerships that are essential to a fully integrated R/WIS is provided. Additionally, the numerous technological requirements of such a detailed system are addressed. The document goes on to identify the next steps for the installation of the system and concludes with a summary of observations and recommendations by members of the team assigned the task of implementing the statewide system.

This preprint was duplicated from a camera-ready copy provided by the author(s) and has not been subjected to the formal TRB peer review process or edited.

PREPRINT E-1

English

40p

1997

Eighth AASHTO/TRB Maintenance Management Conference

Figures (4) ; References (15) ; Tables (2)

Highway transportation; Implementation; Information systems; Integrated systems; Maintenance management; Public private partnerships; Technology; Weather; Winter maintenance

Systems integration

Minnesota

Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Research; I62: Winter Maintenance

TRIS, TRB

Jul 3 1997 12:00AM