Mack Corbin Jr. / Vice President / M.H. Corbin, Inc. / Plain City, OH, USABrent Cobb / Territory Sales Manager / Vaisala / Durham, NC, USA
Custom Solution RWIS Grid
across Ohio
A network of 173
RWIS stations across
the state of Ohio
help make intelligent
operational decisions
for winter road
maintenance.
20 184/2010
50
128
264
27127
132
749
52
126
4
22
125
50
32
52
222
133
505 221
52
62
68
353
743
232
132
222
222
222
756
232
774
125
133
131
28
48
132
276
50
727
131
133
505
774
3268
125
134 321
286
12368
251
138
131
50
135
134
126 748
732
129
27
128
127
130177
732
73
177
725
732
127
503
122
4 4B
129
747
4
73
42
744
122
725
122
73
123
4
122
35
121
121
40
726127
722
36
502
571
121 503
49A
127 121
503
35
40
722721
49
36
721
55
571
718
185
4841
22
48
63
123
123
132
22
350
48
73 42
835
725
35
133
28
380
730
73
134
350
380
68
134
72
49
48
35
4
201
202
4
571
40
55
201
589
235 68
369 4
370
42
794
72
41
235
36
55
334
68
560
41
52
136
763
125
136
247
41
52
125
62136
247
137
32
770
785
138
247
124
73
138
41
73
32
124
506753
753
50
124
41
371 73
852
239
73
23139
52650
522
335
140
772
348
104
728
104
220
50
551
552
220
220
772
372
23
32
139 279
776
335
35
50 327 671
73
729
28
72
72771
22
62
729
35
35
41
734
323
729
41
41
753
138
38
753
734
22
323
41
54
38
42
4
54
296
29
814
56
187
161
36
4
559
56
142
665
40
29
38
161
36 38
42
736
161
28
35
207
56
316
104
23
159
361
180
327
180
56
22
316
752
159
188
762
62
104
665
23
104
33
745 750
315
3
23
710
317
674
40
33
204
62317
605
161
62
37
47
49 118
705
319
219
49
29
119
118
242
185
716
66
47
362
363
274
364
219
703
197
364
29 33
119
66 29
707
154
33
127
117
81
118
30
50049
224
49
114
707
709
11666
116
66
116
30
697
127 637
114
224
189
66
70529
589
29
706
47
65
219
119
274
65
235
29
508
245
47
720
274
235
365
33
67
366
196
708
368
366
33
117273
235
385
197
198
501
117
309
81
65
190
30
189
634
114
694
115
115 65
224
196
117
309
81
235195
696
12
235
103
224
235
613
24
49
111
500
18
49
2
249
18
6
2
613
637127
111
24
66
637
111
127 15
15
6
2
66
19134
49
107
34576
20
576
15
127
15
20A
191
2
127
634
15
18
15
613
108
281
24
66
6
424
108
6
65
109
18
65
235
109
65
109
110
6
578235
295
24
2
20A
66
20
108
108
120
20A
109
20
64
2
64295
68
507
245
287
540
47533
245
559
347
292
739
638274
68
67
273
29231
245
33
31
33
36
4
347
31 739
37
47
95
701
309
30
67
81
53
698 68103
37
15
568
37
293
294
309
67
53
199
23
330
23
199
587 53
42
257
37
315
36
521
42
257203
47
203
4 423
23
746
98529
746
3
61
229
36
656
314
61
95
19
42
231
423
23
294
182
231
30
29498
67
231
103
231
19
67 19
309
100
61
19
30
96
288
97
598
309
181
61
602
98
39
103598
186
613
18
281
25
65
64
25
582
6
105
199
12
199
23
224
18
635
635 590590
281
420
23
6
600
300
51
105
20A
20
23
51
20
25 2
18424
51
163
579
2
101
53
12
18
778
19
228
101
523
510
163
53
224
162
4
18
20
269
99
547
20
11399
412
6
2
4
101
59019
2
358
269
53
163
357
52
243
93
141
52
7
243
217
378
775
373
93
141
233
607
775243
217
553 7
775
790
325141
218
218
588
13993
35
32
279
327
93 788
327
50
683
124
349
160
93 324
677
554
850
160
35735
325
554
124
160
32689
278
50
143 692
356681
50
7
143
338
7
684
33
681
33
248
50
824
338124
124
681
144
144
7
124
50
56664
374
678
328
93
374
664
374
33
793
180
664
56
328278
56
691
278
93
312
37
668
595
216
93
13
158
25637
188
22
664
256
204
360
40
16
310
79
37
661
657
668
383
13757
13
669
668
345
204
16
586
682
550
13
685
690
329
329
377
155
555
13
669
555
78
37
555
550
676
792
339
266
377 376
376
78
266
6083
284
345
93
22
40
669
55560
146
797
146 60
60
666
93
208
284
313
83
340340
83
83
93
40
209
662
658
541
618
7
550
676
60821
339
530
821 145
564260
26
807
7
565
260
260
537
26
78
821
285
146
215
672
313821
147146
285
566574
313
313
761
660
40
285
265
724
513
78
147 379
145
800
26
513
22
800
147
331
149
800
255
536
26
78
145
9
556 7
148
149
40
331 9
147
149
872
647
657
229
36
661
13
586
95
314
546
13
768
13
95
62
541
308
62
79
229
36
715
206
36
3 205
97
514
206
39
31439
430
39
430
61
96
603
224
13
545
603
511
603
60179
30
89
250
60
511
511
42
302
58 89
58
224
79
715
16
541
36
62
520
179
60
754
6083
62
541
621
751
93
643
651
557
241
51593
514
226
226
95 3
83
250302
539
604
539
301
421
42
83
3
42
250
30
62
94
30A
93
585
604
57
94
21
261
162
61250
601
60
18
61
20
250 13
6
61
113
2
511
511
162
18
303
58
60
6
58
20
113
2
301
303
83
57
162
57
252
20
82
10
57
6 301
83
252
20
254
57
3
42
606
18
21
162
303
237
29142
3
17
6
82
17621
94
422
258
751
36
258
416
39
516
250
259
211
800
342
799
800
22
250
646
39
151
212
212
542
542
164
332
39
212
21
241
172
30
800
627
172
236
93
619
241
68743
183
43
44
171
43
30
153
183
172
62
173
224
44
619
183
519
9
151
250
150
9 43
524
646
164
150
152
151
22
152
7
43
43
213
213
152
7
9
39
644518
30
172
62 534
14
534
9
165
45
45
224
45
30
164
517
11
154
267
39
7 170
558
344
11
164
46
625
7
46
14
165
170165
170
630
224
289
18
8
91
261
59
43
8
14
43
87
8243
306
422
91
87
303
88
82
44
422
28288
700
87
528
6
322
175
306
615
2
283
6
44
322
608
86
166
528
44535 84
20
225
5
534
45
169
422
88
87
305
45
11
422
82
46
193
62
616
422
304
62
82
5
11 7
305
609
88
5
86
534
6
45 46
534
531
307
322
193
307
85
6
11
167
84
20
531
7
167
84
275 74
74
275
471
7571
75
275
75
71
675
71
70
70
7575
71
70
270
670
270
71
75
75
80
275
75
475
75
75
475
280
75
80
80
70 70
77
90
77
70
77
470
70
71
71
76
77
80
90
480
71
271
90
77
490
480
77
77
76
76
680
680
80
480
271
90
90
80
80
80
HAMILTON
CLERMONT
BROWN
BUTLER
PREBLE
MONTGOMERY
DARKE
WARREN
GREENE
MIAMI
ADAMS
HIGHLAND
SCIOTO
PIKE
ROSS
CLINTON
FAYETTE
CLARK
MADISON
PICKAWAY
FRANKLIN
DELAWARE
SHELBY
MERCER
AUGLAIZE
CHAMPAIGN
ALLEN
VAN WERT
PAULDING
WILLIAMS
DEFIANCE
PUTNAM
HENRY
FULTON
LOGAN
UNION
HARDIN
MARION
WYANDOT CRAWFORD
MORROW
WOOD
HANCOCK
SANDUSKY
LUCAS
SENECA
OTTAWA
JACKSON
GALLIA
VINTON
HOCKING
MEIGS
ATHENS
FAIRFIELD
LICKING
PERRY
MUSKINGUM
MORGAN
NOBLE
WASHINGTON
GUERNSEY
MONROE
BELMONT
KNOX
RICHLAND
COSHOCTON
HOLMES
WAYNE
ASHLAND
HURON
ERIE
LAWRENCE
MEDINA
LORAIN
TUSCARAWAS
STARK
HARRISON
JEFFERSON
CARROLL
COLUMBIANA
SUMMIT
PORTAGE
CUYAHOGA
GEAUGA
MAHONING
LAKE
TRUMBULL
ASHTABULA
CINCINNATI
MIDDLETOWN
DAYTON
SPRINGFIELD
COLUMBUS
LIMA
YOUNGSTOWN
TOLEDO
HUNTINGTON-ASHLAND-IRONTON
NEWARK - HEATH
BELPRE-PARKERSBURG
MANSFIELD
AKRON
CLEVELAND
BRIDGEPORT-WHEELING
STEUBENVILLE
CANTON
WILMINGTON
OXFORD
EATON
UNION CITY
GREENVILLE
SIDNEY
NEW CARLISLE
PIQUA
URBANA
HILLSBORO
GREENFIELD
PORTSMOUTH
JACKSON
CHILLICOTHE
WELLSTON
WASHINGTONCOURT HOUSE
LONDON
CHOCTAW LAKE
MARYSVILLE
CIRCLEVILLE
ASHVILLESOUTH BLOOMFIELD
CELINA
NEW BREMEN
ST. MARYS
WAPAKONETA
EAST PALESTINE
VAN WERT
DELPHOS
BELLEFONTAINE
RUSSELLS POINT
ADA
BRYAN
DEFIANCE
NAPOLEON
BOWLINGGREEN
WAUSEON
MAYSVILLE
KENTON MARION
FINDLAY
UPPERSANDUSKY
DELAWARE
BUCYRUS
GALION
WILLARD
FOSTORIA
TIFFIN
FREMONT
BELLEVUE
CLYDE
NORWALK
PORT CLINTON
GALLIPOLIS
MIDDLEPORT
ATHENS
LANCASTER
LOGAN
ZANESVILLE
CROOKSVILLE
COSHOCTON
CAMBRIDGE
MARIETTA
ST MARYS WVA
ASHTABULA
NEW MARTINSVILLE
MOUNT VERNON
SHELBY
ASHLAND
NEWPHILADELPHIA
WOOSTER
ORRVILLE
RITTMAN
SANDUSKY
LORAIN - ELYRIA
MEDINA
ALLIANCE
EAST LIVERPOOL
LISBON
SALEM
COLUMBIANA
185
69
113
184
72
70
24
112
73
51
20
52
59
74
71
40
105
75
76
53
19
23
25
30
28
29
60
15
61
54117
16
182
116
119
118
62
180
181
97 115
120
121
103
111
98
22
5
77
78
4
79
3 90
127
1
133
128 129
130
134
135
136
138
131
137
132
21
18
2
6
157
17
114
63
7
160
144
145
158
148
149
153
139
140
146147
141142
150
143
159
154
151
156
155
152
32
26
37
34
31
33
12
14
55
36
56
80
81
35
82
83
57 58
13
64 104
65
41
11
66
67
99
8
85
27
86165
161
170
125
12268
166
171
167
162
106
107
38
84
9
126
92
108
100
109
42
110
39
95
123
124
168172 173
163
169
164 175
177
178
179
91
174
10
94
176 101
87
88
102
89
Ohio RWIS Locations
Legend
ODOT
City of Cincinnati
Delaware County Engineer
Site # District Location143 2 SR 2 SLM 31.8 Lucas144 2 I-75 @ Eagleville Rd.145 2 I-75 SLM 18.4 Wood146 2 I-75 @ I-475 Wood147 2 I-75 @ I-80 Wood 148 2 US 6 @ US 23149 2 US 20 @ Lemoyne Rd.150 2 I-280 @ Libbey Rd.151 2 SR 2 @ Portage River Bridge152 2 SR 2 SLM 28.5 Bay Bridge Ottawa153 2 US 20 @ Sugar Creek154 2 US 6 @ Sandusky River Bridge155 2 US 6 @ Pickeral Creek156 2 US 20 @ Hayward Rd. SLM 31.0 Sandusky157 2 US 23 SLM 5.5 Seneca158 2 SR 12 SLM 7.0 Seneca159 2 US 224 @ SR 53 Seneca160 2 SR 4 SLM 2.4 Seneca161 12 I-90 @ SR 252162 12 I-90 @ Abbey Ave.163 12 I-90 @ E. 140th St.164 12 I-271 @ I-90165 12 I-480 @ SR 10166 12 I-71 @ Snow Rd.167 12 I-77 @ I-480168 12 I-480 North @ Miles Rd.169 12 I-271 @ US 322170 12 I-71 @ Drake Rd.171 12 I-77 @ SR 82172 12 US 422 @ Chagrin River Rd.173 12 US 422 @ SR 44174 12 SR 528 @ SR 87175 12 SR 44 @ Mentor Rd.176 12 SR 528 @ SR 166177 12 I-90 @ Hermitage Rd.178 12 I-90 @ Paine Rd.179 12 US 20 @ Parmly Rd.180 6 I-270 @ US 33181 Home Rd. @ SR 257182 6 I-71 @ SR 665 Grove City Outpost184 SR 562 (Norwood Lateral) @ Reading Rd.185 River Rd. (US 50) @ Kibby Lane
Site # District Location99 3 US 30 @ Dalton Lake
100 4 SR 225 @ Berlin Reservoir101 4 SR 45 @ Rock Creek 102 4 SR 7 @ SR 167 East103 5 US 33 @ Pickerington Rd.104 5 SR 3 @ Knox/Ashland Line105 7 I-70/I-75106 11 SR 39 @ Sugar Creek107 11 US 250 @ Ulrichsville108 11 SR 183 @ Minerva109 11 SR 22 @ SR 151110 11 SR 7 @ SR 213111 5 I-70 MM 114112 8 SR 27 SLM 21 Butler113 8 I-275 @ US 52114 6 I-71 @ US 36115 6 I-71 @ Shrock Rd.116 6 I-70 West @ I-270117 6 I-70 @ SR 29118 6 I-70/I-71/SR 315119 6 I-71 South @ I-270120 6 US 33 @ Hamilton Rd.121 6 I-670 over Airport Connector122 4 Medina Line Rd. over I-271123 4 Steels Corner Rd. @ Mud Creek124 4 Old Mill Rd. over I-480125 4 Ridgewood Rd. over SR 21126 4 Killian Rd. over I-77127 2 US 6 Williams County128 2 US 20 SLM 1.5 Williams129 2 US 20 SLM 11.5 Williams130 2 US 20 SLM 2.5 Fulton131 2 US 20 SLM 9.5 Fulton132 2 SR 64 SLM 6.0 Fulton133 2 US 6 SLM 0.5 Henry134 2 SR 108 SLM 0.5 Henry135 2 US 6 @ Maumee River136 2 SR 65 South Henry County137 2 SR 64 SLM 7.5 Lucas138 2 US 24 Near Grand Rapids139 2 I-475 @ I-80 Lucas140 2 I-475 @ US 23 Split141 2 I-75 SLM 4.9 @ I-475 Split Lucas142 2 I-280 @ Veteran Glass City Skyway
Site # District Location53 7 I-70 @ I-67554 7 I-70 MM 6255 5 I-70 MM 14256 5 I-70 MM 16957 5 I-70 MM 19858 11 I-470 MM 659 8 I-71 MM 3460 6 I-71 MM 6061 6 I-71 MM 7562 6 Cemetary Rd. over I-27063 6 I-71 MM 144.164 3 I-71 MM 15865 3 I-71 MM 17466 3 I-71 MM 195.667 3 I-71 MM 20968 4 I-271 @ I-7769 8 I-275 MM 2170 8 I-275 @ Hamilton/Clermont Line71 8 I-675 @ Montgomery/Greene Line72 8 I-75 MM 18 @ Hamilton/Butler Line73 8 I-75 MM 2974 7 I-75 MM 4075 7 I-75 MM 6576 7 I-75 MM 8477 7 I-75 MM 10578 1 I-75 MM 11979 1 I-75 MM 14180 10 I-77 MM 081 10 I-77 MM 1682 5 I-77 MM 3683 5 I-77 MM 5984 4 I-77 MM 9385 3 SR 2 @ Huron River86 3 I-90 @ SR 5787 4 I-90 @ Ashtabula/Lake Line88 4 I-90 @ SR 1189 4 I-90 @ PA Line90 4 I-80 @ PA Line91 4 I-76 @ Mahoning/Portage Line92 4 I-76 @ Portage/Summit Line94 4 SR 11 @ Ashtabula/Trumbull Line95 4 SR 11 @ Mahoning/Columbiana Line97 6 SR 315 @ I-27098 6 I-270 SB Ramp to SR 161 EB
Site # District Location1 1 SR 127 @ SR 2492 1 Hardin County Garage3 1 US 24 @ Indiana Line4 1 US 224 @ SR 1905 1 US 30 @ SR 49 North6 1 US 23 SLM 11.2 Wyandot7 3 US 30 Bypass @ SR 48 3 Huron County Garage9 4 I-77 MM 109 @ Belden Village10 4 Trumbull County Garage11 5 Coshocton County Garage12 5 US 33 @ SR 79313 5 Knox County Garage14 5 Perry County Garage15 6 Fayette County Garage16 6 Pickaway County Garage17 6 US 23 @ E. Fairground Rd. Overpass18 6 US 33 @ SR 73919 7 US 68 SLM 1.4 Champaign20 7 SR 502 SLM 0.5 Darke21 7 US 33 @ SR 54022 7 SR 29 SLM 0.8 Mercer23 9 Adams County Garage24 9 Brown County Garage25 9 Highland County Garage26 9 SR 32 SLM 14.5 Jackson27 9 US 52 @ Ice Creek28 9 US 23 SLM 6.5 Pike29 9 US 35 SLM 14.8 Ross30 9 US 23 SLM 9.2 Scioto31 10 Athens County Garage32 10 Gallia County Garage33 10 Hocking County Garage34 10 Meigs County Garage35 10 Monroe County Garage36 10 Morgan County Garage37 10 Vinton County Garage38 11 Carroll County Garage39 11 Columbiana County Garage40 8 Clinton County Garage41 11 Holmes County Garage42 11 Jefferson County Garage51 8 I-70 MM 152 8 I-70 MM 18 @ Motgomery/Preble Line
The Ohio Department of Transporta-tion’s (ODOT) Road Weather Infor-mation System (RWIS) grew from a handful of RWIS stations around one city in the early 1990s to 66 stations in three cities by 2002. But even after proving its effectiveness for better road winter maintenance at lower costs by shifting to anti-icing operations that prevent or delay ice formation instead of traditional de-icing operations that remove ice, the RWIS was still concentrated in three of Ohio’s urban areas. The rest of the state, including most rural areas, remained underserved.
“RWIS contributed to intelligent operational decisions for anti-icing in the Columbus, Cleveland, and Toledo areas only,” said Abner Johnson, ODOT RWIS Coordinator.
To extend the system to rural areas, ODOT faced four significant barriers, three having to do with cost. First was the cost of the sta-tions themselves; RWIS stations can be expensive purchases especially if deployed in large quantities. Second was the high cost of supplying con-ventional power along the interstates in some rural areas. Third, using tra-ditional landline phone carriers with long distance service can become very expensive for some sites.
Before a statewide RWIS deploy-ment could take place, ODOT needed to address these costs by finding a solutions-oriented supplier willing to work with them on each of these barriers while still meeting ODOT’s specifications.
Expansion to Rural Ohio
The need for expansion was sup-ported by a comprehensive study, “Evaluation of ODOT Roadway/Weather Sensor Systems for Snow and Ice Removal Operations”, by Ohio University. The study estimated
that by enabling preventative anti-icing techniques instead of reactive de-icing techniques, benefits outweighed costs by factor of 5 to 1, primarily from reductions in labor and materials required for winter maintenance.
Anecdotal evidence on the ben-efits of improved safety by reducing accidents made an even stronger case for expanding RWIS. The report recommended expansion with an implementation plan.
Breakthroughs to move forward came in technology, economics, and a supplier willing to innovate and focus on the customer’s application. Commercially available cellular tech-nology and solar power could reduce infrastructure costs making remote stations feasible. As opportunities to reduce costs looked bright, the need to achieve a more cost-effective solu-tion was pushed forward by truck snow plow costs that significantly increased along with increasing salt prices and ongoing budget cuts.
ODOT identified pavement sensors as the single RWIS compo-nent that could provide the most added value. Pavement sensors are critical since they provide site-specific, surface-level information not provided in standard weather reports
In the beginning, the RWIS was concen-trated around Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo while most rural areas remained underserved.
Ohio’s Road Weather Information System (RWIS) grew from a handful of stations around one city to a network of 173 RWIS stations across the state. Map courtesy of the Ohio Department of Transportation.
184/2010 21
from government or commercial weather forecasting services.
Customizing the Right Solution
M.H. Corbin, a supplier that special-izes in integrated traffic system and highway safety products, won the bid to expand the system by 100 stations. M.H. Corbin partnered with Vaisala (then NuMetrics and SSI, divi-sions of QTT) to provide a custom solution to meet ODOT’s budget and operational requirements.
The Permanent Wireless Traffic Analyzer was selected to monitor road surface temperature, wet/dry conditions, vehicle count, speed, and vehicle classification.
“The sensor didn’t require trenching or re-trenching during paving or repair work, which reduced ODOT’s road construction and maintenance costs and added valu-able traffic data,“ said Johnson. The self-contained sensor collects data without any external sensors, loops or tubes and uses vehicle magnetic imaging technology to detect vehicle count, speed and classification.
Next, the suppliers engineered a custom solution by adapting the Remote Processing Units (RPUs) to cellular technology and lowering power consumption to 230 watts so each station could be operated entirely by solar panels, eliminating the need for fixed wire communica-tions and power utility service to the stations. This reduced installation and operational cost barriers for the stations.
The Wireless Pavement sensor, wireless communications, and solar power meant the stations could be self-contained and lower their total operational cost. ODOT was also able to reduce station cost by focusing sensing accuracy on two param-eters, precipitation on the ground and pavement temperature, and was willing to compromise sensor accuracy on the other parameters. By customizing the system to meet their operational requirements and
budget, ODOT was able to expand RWIS statewide on an approximately 30-mile grid.
Implementing the New Standard Statewide
In 2005, M.H. Corbin also won the bid to retrofit the original 66 stations to bring all stations to the new standard with wireless pavement sensors, wireless RPUs, and solar panels, along with wind turbines as a supple-mental power source, having deter-mined that Ohio has inconsistent and inefficient solar energy during the winter months.
Along with the technology, train-ing of maintenance organizations across the state was important to successful implementation.
“The key to training is teaching folks how to turn data into informa-tion. ODOT’s winter maintenance goal is to provide a safe and passable highway system. Helping front line managers understand how RWIS could help them make intelligent
decisions on resource management and scheduling, allowed ODOT to overcome the fourth significant challenge to a statewide system: user resistance,“ Abner Johnson said.
Data Valuable to Multiple Users
The RWIS data is shared and moni-tored by maintenance operations in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. Typical winter storm conditions can change in as little as 30 miles and move at 30 to 35 miles per hour. Maintenance garages across the state have access to RWIS’ near real-time conditions, as well as ODOT contracted weather forecasts and reports, alerts, and blogs through its internally developed buckeyetraf-fic.org website. These tools help managers monitor storm conditions and plan their anti-icing operations accordingly.
ODOT’s RWIS has gained support from other government agencies and departments and has increased its value as a year-round resource. Resurfacing and road repair opera-tions check pavement temperatures as part of their chip sealing, mill and fill and overlay efforts. Wind direc-tion and wind speed are important factors in maintenance operations such as herbicidal spraying, bridge painting and highway striping.
The Ohio Emergency Management Agency includes RWIS in response planning for severe weather such as tornados and blizzards and planning related to Ohio’s two nuclear power plants. ODOT’s Office of Innovation uses vehicle counts from RWIS sta-tions as a supplement to their array of automated traffic recorders for traffic data required for federal funding.
The system has also created a valuable link between ODOT and partnering governmental agencies. By lowering costs, being innovative, and working for support and coop-eration, ODOT now has a snow and ice optimization process that helps it efficiently reach its goal of safe and passable roads statewide.
Vaisala Permanent Traffic Analyzers are installed with each RWIS wireless station. Photo courtesy of the Ohio Department of Transportation.
22 184/2010
