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: [email protected]: 202-366-1301
Henry LieuTechnical Representative, Office of Operations Research and Developmentemail: [email protected]: 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