United States Department of Transportation
i
Final Report of the Evaluation of the Foretell Consortium Operational Test: Weather Information for Surface Transportation
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2003-04-01
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[PDF-6.59 MB]
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Alternative Title:Final Report of the FORETELL Consortium Operational Test: Weather Information for Surface Transportation
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Abstract:When weather turns wintry with snow and ice, it can be deadly. Over 17 percent of all fatal crashes occur during winter weather conditions. Of those, 60 percent happen in rural areas (most on non-interstate roadways). Weather information helps determine when and if to take a trip, the route, and expected travel time. It guides the actions of state departments of transportation (DOTs) that maintain the interstates and state highways. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Joint Program Office and the recently formed Road Weather Management Program support the supposition that more accurate and accessible weather information could improve road maintenance and decrease fatal crashes. FHWA awarded a rural ITS Operational Test (OT) to the FORETELL Consortium (Castle Rock Consultants, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri DOTs) in 1997 to develop an operational test of a multi-regional road and weather forecasting/dissemination system, in partnership with the National Weather Service (NWS) and Environment Canada (EC). FORETELL planned to establish an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Service Center to provide an interface between the raw weather data and ITS users to deploy the weather information. The fundamental functions of the service center were to: use NWS and EC data sources and models for providing nowcasts and forecasts; use transfer energy balance models developed in Europe along with solar gain and snow drift algorithms for pavement condition forecasts; adjust weather forecast and pavement condition predictions using real time field sensor information from stationary and mobile road weather information systems (RWIS); disseminate value-added tailored information to state DOT highway maintenance personnel, travelers, and others using available/emerging commercial and ITS traveler information media. FORETELL was a multi- state initiative bringing ITS together with advanced weather prediction systems to create operational highway maintenance management and traveler information systems throughout North America. The program envisions a widely accessible real-time weather and road condition information system that would support seamless information sharing for travelers and highway maintenance operators (HMOs). The FORETELL system has been constantly evolving since its conception. At the time of the evaluation, the FORETELL system was primarily an Internet website that displayed weather and road condition information for Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
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