Lesson
Integrate weather information into Transportation Management Center (TMC) operations to enhance the ability of operators to manage traffic in a more responsive and effective way during weather events.
Experience from 38 TMCs across the country.
2/28/2006
California,United States; Maryland,United States; Pennsylvania,United States; Florida,United States; Minnesota,United States; Texas,United States; Georgia,United States; New Jersey,United States; Utah,United States
Background (Show)
Lesson Learned
TMC personnel frequently lack critical weather information and the needed procedures to incorporate weather information into effective decision-making to improve the efficiency of traffic operations. This study demonstrates how integrating weather information and systems across multiple agencies and organizations can help TMCs conduct their operations more effectively.
Based on their interviews with thirty-eight TMCs, the study team identified seven concepts of weather integration. For each concept, a range of implementation methods is presented. According to the authors, TMCs must evaluate which concepts and specific methods will work best for them in meeting their needs. The seven concepts of weather integration, along with some of the implementation methods, are presented below as a set of lessons learned.
- Provide a mechanism for weather information coordination. The management and integration of weather information in a TMC is an important consideration. At a minimum, an intra-TMC committee or staff person should be responsible for weather information coordination. To meet complex organizational and weather information needs, a dedicated weather operations supervisor may be necessary.
- Continuously update weather information. TMCs should have an automated process or other robust structure in place for the continuous updating of weather information. While this function may be performed using weather information from the Internet, more highly integrated methods include contractor-provided surface transportation weather forecasts, field observers or probes providing scheduled weather and driving condition information, and meteorology staff located within the TMC forecasting and interpreting weather information. Some specific examples noted in the study include:
- On the Pennsylvania Turnpike there are scheduled reports around the clock from the field and constant display of weather radar images for each segment of the turnpike across the state.
- In Salt Lake City, a partnership between a surface transportation weather service provider and dedicated statewide weather operations group provides a natural flow and alertness to weather conditions.
- Implement automated thresholds or escalation notification. An automated notification system that triggers a weather situation alarm serves to notify operators of a potentially dangerous condition and enables them to respond more effectively.
- In Houston, TranStar provides a flood gauge map and alarm system.
- Integrate information from multiple sources and subsystems. Automating the collation of weather and traffic related information from multiple sources (or in disparate forms) enables transportation operators to more effectively perform their tasks. Geographic visualization of weather information is one mechanism for providing easy mental integration and understanding. Examples include:
- In Salt Lake City, an Internet, GIS-based webpage shows the driving impacts of weather and/or restrictions on specific route segments throughout the state.
- In Cherry Hill, NJ, maintenance staff uses a magnetic whiteboard to track and organize their snow plowing efforts.
- By integrating data from three ESS (Environmental Sensor Station) servers and incoming road conditions and restrictions, TMCs in Salt Lake City are able to make informed decisions based on information from multiple sites.
- In Maryland, graphic user interfaces of ESS information are used to transfer surface transportation weather forecasts and weather imagery from one vendor to another.
- Utilize TMCs as the operations center and clearinghouse for weather information. TMCs perform a critical function in synthesizing and delivering weather information. To the extent that the systems that collect and distribute weather information (such as Road Weather Information System, Automated Local Event Reporting in Real Time, Flood Emergency Warning System, and 511) are located in-house this will ensure that the data is readily available at all times. Further benefits can be obtained by integrating weather operations staff within the TMC. In this case, traffic operations data can by used by maintenance staff and weather forecasters to confirm conditions and improve emergency responses. Examples of such successes include:
- In Los Angeles, traffic operations personnel identified and tracked major traffic incidents and provided this information to maintenance dispatchers who deployed incident response teams.
- In Salt Lake City, the weather operations group uses CCTV images and road condition reports from traffic operations to confirm weather conditions and refine forecasts provided to statewide maintenance dispatchers.
- In Cherry Hill, NJ, the ATMS tools present in the control room (CCTV) become some of the key sources of weather information.
- In Austin, EOC staff can determine how to route a helicopter air ambulance around localized thunder cells.
- In Houston, heavy towing vehicles are relocated to heavy flooding areas in preparation for expected flooding.
- Build community awareness between the TMC and weather communities. Efforts are needed to educate TMC management on how integrated weather information can support TMC operational effectiveness. Informal gatherings of professionals from both the TMC and weather communities can foster such an understanding. In addition, education materials and training are recommended to enrich the application of weather information in TMCs.
- Utilize decision support tools. In Salt Lake City and Minneapolis, current best practices include the use of quick-reference flip cards at workstations. These flip cards contain specific information related to field conditions that require response, criteria for contacting service providers, summary operational actions or checklists, and contact numbers. Further research is required to develop automated support tools that can assist TMC operators in transportation operation decision-making during, or prior to, weather events.
Lesson Categories
Management & Operations > Operations
Management & Operations > Maintenance
Leadership & Partnerships > Leaders & Champions
Leadership & Partnerships > Partnerships & Agreements
Leadership & Partnerships > Organizational Management & Structure
Technical Integration > Functional
Technical Integration > Jurisdictional
Technical Integration > Legacy Systems
Application Areas
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Emergency Management > Response & Recovery > Response Management
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Emergency Management > Response & Recovery > Evacuation & Re-Entry Management
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Emergency Management > Response & Recovery > Emergency Traveler Information
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Freeway Management > Lane Management > Emergency Evacuation
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Freeway Management > Information Dissemination > Dynamic Message Signs
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Freeway Management > Information Dissemination > Highway Advisory Radio
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traffic Incident Management > Surveillance & Detection > Imaging/Video
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traffic Incident Management > Mobilization & Response > Service Patrols
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traffic Incident Management > Information Dissemination > Dynamic Message Signs
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traffic Incident Management > Information Dissemination > Highway Advisory Radio
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Road Weather Management > Traffic Control > Lane Use/Road Closures
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Road Weather Management > Traffic Control > Vehicle Restrictions
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Road Weather Management > Information Dissemination > Dynamic Message Signs
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Road Weather Management > Information Dissemination > Highway Advisory Radio
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Road Weather Management > Information Dissemination > Internet/Wireless/Phone
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Roadway Operations & Maintenance > Asset Management > Fleet Management
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traveler Information > En Route Information > 511
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traveler Information > Pre-Trip Information > 511
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traveler Information > Pre-Trip Information > Internet/Wireless
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Transportation Management Centers > Permanent TMCs > Multi-Agency/Co-Located
Countries
Systems Engineering
Show the V
Regional Architecture(s)
Feasibility Study / Concept Exploration
Focus Areas
Major Initiatives > Mobility Services for All Americans
Major Initiatives > Integrated Corridor Management Systems
Major Initiatives > Nationwide Surface Transportation Weather Observing and Forecasting System - Clarus
Major Initiatives > Emergency Transportation Operations
Major Initiatives > Electronic Freight Management
Other Program Activities > 511 Travel Information
Other Program Activities > Amber Alert
Other Program Activities > Public Safety
Other Program Activities > Real Time Traveler Information
Other Program Activities > Rural ITS Deployment
Goal Areas
Safety
Mobility
Productivity
Efficiency
Customer Satisfaction
Keywords
contra flow, contra flow lanes, managed lanes, DMS, CMS, VMS, Changeable Message Signs, Variable Message Signs, HAR, CCTV, closed circuit television cameras, road monitoring, camera imaging, freeway service patrol, courtesy patrols, highway helpers, freeway service patrols, automated gate closure
Lesson Comments
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