RESEARCH PAYS OFF. WISCONSIN'S WINTER WEATHER SYSTEM

In the fall of 1985, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) solicited a request for proposals for a project to research and develop a Wisconsin Winter Weather System (WWWS). Surface Systems, Inc., of St. Louis, Missouri, was selected as the contractor. WWWS equipment was installed on the Hoan Bridge, the accuracy of the system was verified, and further experimentation followed by implementation of the WWWS ensued. Data collected from the modern sensing devices are stored by the remote processing unit (RPU). The RPU is accessed via telephone by the central processing unit (CPU), by which the data can be analyzed and used directly or combined with other information to help make more accurate weather predictions. During the winter of 1989-1990, the WWWS was used at 29 sites, providing data and assumptions directly to 8 highway districts and 57 of the 72 county supervisors who make winter highway maintenance decisions. After a six-hour training program in WWWS use, supervisors are given access to a programmed portable PC equipped with a modem that allows access to the WWWS. Cost savings are achieved principally by reduced personnel overtime costs and decreased use of deicing chemicals and abrasives.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/trnews/rpo/rpo.trn147.pdf
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• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07386826
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

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• Publication Date: 1990-3

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 22-23
• Serial:
  • TR News
  • Issue Number: 147
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0738-6826
  • Serial URL: https://doi.org/10.17226/895

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Cost effectiveness; Information processing; Meteorology; Remote sensing; Weather forecasting
• Geographic Terms: Wisconsin
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I62: Winter Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00496810
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM