The Federal Highway AdministrationPresents

The Maintenance Decision Support System

Paul PisanoTeam Leader, Road Weather Management

The Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS)

What is it?

- It is a Guidance Tool for Winter Road Maintenance Operators that

- Combines Customized Rules of Practice with

- State-of-the-Art Weather Models and Forecasting Techniques by

- Leveraging the talents of 5 National Laboratories

Goals of the MDSS Project

The National Perspective:• Foster a Collaborative Environment that focuses cutting edge research on Surface Transportation Weather• Maximize investments by building upon existing capabilities • Cultivate New Relationships with Private Sector Partners

For State Departments of Transportation, the Goals are to provide:• Better Road-specific Forecasts• A higher Level of Service• A Cost Savings from reduced use of Chemicals and Manpower• Less Impact on the Environment

• Continue Evolutionary Development of RWIS– Support High Risk R&D

• Integrate into an Operational Environment– Harden the Prototype– Via Public/Private Partnerships– Conduct Objective Verification and

Validation• Open Development Process

– No Preferential Treatment– Multi-Disciplinary– Multi-Constituency

Vision of Success

Architectural Overview of the MDSS Operational Prototype

NCAR

Road Weather Forecast System

CRREL

Road Temperature & Chemical ConcentrationAlgorithms

NSSLPrecipitation Type Algorithms

Web Server

MDSS Display Host

Content Generation

Stakeholder Remote Viewing

PC

Application

CRREL/LLRules of Practice Module

FSL

MesoscaleModels

Ensemble Forecasting System

NWS

NOAA PORTModels

OperationalWeatherData

DOT Database

TransportationSystem Database

RWIS & MesonetData

Data & Model Input Data Fusion & Algorithms User DisplayInternet

Quick Tour of the MDSS Alert Summary Screen

MDSS Alert Status Screen

Alert Status Screen Shows a Snapshot of Weather andRoad Hazards for a Forecast Period of up to 48 HoursAlert Status Screen Shows a Snapshot of Weather andRoad Hazards for a Forecast Period of up to 48 Hours

MDSS Parameter Selection Screen

Allows Selection of Forecast Alerts and Weather ParametersAllows Selection of Forecast Alerts and Weather Parameters

MDSS Animation Control Screen

Manual and Automatic Looping of Alerts and Weather Parameters Throughout the 48 Hour Forecast Period

Manual and Automatic Looping of Alerts and Weather Parameters Throughout the 48 Hour Forecast Period

MDSS State Alert Summary Screen

Roadway Forecast PointsDepicted by Colored Dots

Roadway Forecast PointsDepicted by Colored Dots

State DOT Forecast Zonesare Outlined in Black

State DOT Forecast Zonesare Outlined in Black

The Forecast Zone is Color Coded to Show the Worst Conditions

The Forecast Zone is Color Coded to Show the Worst Conditions

Local DOT CoverageRegions are Depictedby Blue Rectangles

Local DOT CoverageRegions are Depictedby Blue Rectangles

MDSS Local Area Summary Screen

Treatment Selections are shown against the Forecast Timeline

Treatment Options SelectionScreen Becomes Available

Weather and Road Alerts AreSpecific to the Local Region

Weather and Road Alerts AreSpecific to the Local Region

MDSS Local Area Summary Screen - Zoom

Place the Cursor over a Forecast Routeto see a Route Mobility Summary Screen

Place the Cursor over a Forecast Routeto see a Route Mobility Summary Screen

Place the Cursor over aForecast Point to see aSite Specific ConditionUpdate

Place the Cursor over aForecast Point to see aSite Specific ConditionUpdate

One of the Greatest Capabilities of the MDSS is its Ability toProvide Optimized Treatment Solutions or to allow Maintenance Managers to run “What-If” Scenarios.

One of the Greatest Capabilities of the MDSS is its Ability toProvide Optimized Treatment Solutions or to allow Maintenance Managers to run “What-If” Scenarios.

MDSS Local Area Summary Screen

MDSS Alternative Treatment Screen

Managers can Select Chemical TypesManagers can Select Chemical Types

Application AmountApplication Amount

and Application Start Timeand Application Start Time

Additional Material Types will Be Added in 2003

Treatment Selection Screen - Mobility

Mobility Forecasts are Presented for- The “Recommended” Treatment- A User-Selected “Alternative” Treatment- “No Treatment”

Treatment Selection Screen – Snow Depth

Snow Depth Forecasts are Presented for- The “Recommended” Treatment- A User-Selected “Alternative” Treatment- “No Treatment”

No Treatment Yet Selected

Treatment Selection Screen – Road Temperature

Road Temperature Forecasts are Presented for- The “Recommended” Treatment- A User-Selected “Alternative” Treatment- “No Treatment”

Treatment Selection Screen – Chemical Concentration

Chemical Concentration Forecasts are Presented for- The “Recommended” Treatment- A User-Selected “Alternative” Treatment- “No Treatment”

MDSS Operations Database Screen

Closest RWIS/AWOS or ASOS ObservationClosest RWIS/AWOS or ASOS Observation

Ground Truth Data EntryGround Truth Data Entry

Chemical Stocks DatabaseChemical Stocks Database Shift SchedulingShift Scheduling

- For the Latest News on the MDSS Project, Check the FHWA Road Weather Management web site at:

http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/index.htm

- MDSS Functional Prototype Demonstration Program is Available for Download from:

http://www.rap.ucar.edu/projects/rdwx_mdss/demo/index.html

- Release 1 of the MDSS Modules is Now Available from the NCAR site:

http://www.rap.ucar.edu/projects/rdwx_mdss/software_release1/index.html

MDSS Status and Future Plans

-The FHWA will hold a MDSS Field Demonstration in Iowa during the Winter of 2003

-The Next MDSS Stakeholder Meeting is planned for late June 2003 in Des Moines/Ames, Iowa

- Release 2 of the MDSS Modules will be available in Sept 2003

MDSS Status and Future Plans

Paul PisanoTeam Leader, Road Weather Managementemail: Paul.Pisano@fhwa.dot.govphone: 202-366-1301

Henry LieuTechnical Representative, Office of Operations Research and Developmentemail: Henry.Lieu@fhwa.dot.govphone: 202-493-3273

FHWA Road Weather Management Program Web Pagehttp://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/index.htm

NCAR MDSS Web Pagehttp://www.rap.ucar.edu/projects/rdwx_mdss/index.html

MDSS Contact Information