National Oceanic

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National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration

• Real-Time Transportation Infrastructure
  Information Systems Applications

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Outline

• Why NOAA is Here
• NOAAs Mobile Sensing Experience
• NOAA Applications of Probe Vehicle Data
• Challenges

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Why NOAA is Here
1,400,000 weather-related highway crashes and
7,000 deaths per year

• 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.

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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

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

• 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

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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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VII Application Heavy Rain/Low Visibility

• Weather Indicators
• Are Wipers on? What Rate?
• Are Headlights on?
• Is the Rain Sensor Detecting Rain?

ResponsesIn Vehicle Display Overhead Slow
Down Sign Driver ActionTake Immediate Action
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VII Application Ice

• Weather Indicators
• Is traction control engaged?
• Is the temperature near freezing?
• Are Hazard Lights on?

ResponsesIn 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

National Surface Transportation Weather
Observation and Forecast System
NOAA
State DOT Server
Input Output
Forecasts -Use for General Awareness
VII Point
Watch/Warning /Advisory-county- or area-specific
DMSRoad Section Specific
Private or Public Interface
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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
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National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration

• Real-Time Transportation Infrastructure
  Information Systems Applications

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