Road Weather Applications Page Sections Winter Road ConditionsMobile WeatherLow Visibility Detection and AlertingFlooding and High WaterHigh WindsSand Storms Winter Road Conditions In most developed countries more people are killed in winter traffic crashes than any other weather related disaster. Monitoring the current conditions on roadways nearby and remote motorways is critical to performing winter maintenance operations. Ministries of transportations, departments of transportation, cities, counties, and townships all have a need to monitor road weather conditions. Road weather stations or Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) monitor winter conditions such as: Ice or snow formation Frost on bridges Black ice or refreezing of moisture Depth of water or snow Friction or grip Chemical concentration Freeze point of solution on the surface The fixed weather stations are usually located in areas identified as problem spots or cold regions through thermal mapping. Stations are also usually placed in locations of unusual weather or remote from other forms of communication. Since bridges and other elevated roadways typically freeze before road surfaces, sites are typically located near a bridge so both a road and bridge reading can be done at the same time. Vaisala offers fixed road weather stations and sensors that are customized to monitor winter road conditions. Reliable and accurate information is key, and the Vaisala road weather products provide solutions that meet your needs to keep the roads safe, reduce operational costs, and make your job easier. Page Sections Winter Road ConditionsMobile WeatherLow Visibility Detection and AlertingFlooding and High WaterHigh WindsSand Storms Mobile Weather Collecting weather data as we drive is not new. Many vehicles today display the air temperature outside as we drive; however, for transportation authorities this is not enough. Snow plows and gritters can be equipped with air temperature, pavement temperature, moisture sensors, and even road conditions to provide much more information about the road weather as they move and conduct operations. For the most part this data was only available to the driver themselves, or possibly the vehicle was equipped with some sort of data recorder for analyzing the data upon their return. Now with the ever increasing coverage and reduced cost of communications, agencies can transmit the data along with the vehicles coordinates, so that decision makers have an even better understanding of the surface weather. Ministry or government vehicles of all types can be equipped with sensors and communications systems, allowing for a huge network of mobile data filling in the gaps for the fixed road weather stations. Mobile data provides a different use than fixed roadside weather stations. Mobile data provides more of a higher level view of the road conditions over a metropolitan area or region. Vaisala offers several solutions specifically designed for mobile applications. The Vaisala systems allow for in-vehicle display or in your road weather software. Page Sections Winter Road ConditionsMobile WeatherLow Visibility Detection and AlertingFlooding and High WaterHigh WindsSand Storms Low Visibility Detection and Alerting Winter weather is not the only thing that can impact surface transportation. For vehicles another major concern is low visibility caused by fog, blowing snow and sand. The biggest problem with visibility issues is that they are typically very localized, which means drivers approach areas quickly and with little warning. The good news is that areas of poor visibility are typically areas of repeat offenses, meaning transportation officials know the areas where visibility problems occur. Vaisala RWIS offers a variety of visibility sensors to detect low visibility (no matter what the cause). This data can simply go back to the road authority for decision making or the decisions can be made automatically by Vaisala decision systems, and warnings can be relayed directly to the travelers through an Intelligent Transportation System, such as flashing beacons or Variable Message Signs. Page Sections Winter Road ConditionsMobile WeatherLow Visibility Detection and AlertingFlooding and High WaterHigh WindsSand Storms Flooding and High Water When most people think of RWIS they think of winter weather, but to get the most out of an RWIS network a year round approach should be considered. One condition to consider is high water or flooding. New or existing RWIS sites can be placed in areas prone to water over the roadway during times of heavy rain. Sensors on the RWIS can be installed to monitor water height, and can activate signs or send electronic alerts when conditions warrant. Page Sections Winter Road ConditionsMobile WeatherLow Visibility Detection and AlertingFlooding and High WaterHigh WindsSand Storms High Winds High winds can cause numerous problems for surface transportation. Blowing sand and snow can make visibility very low at the driving level. Winter maintenance crews can take special measures in many cases to lessen the effects of blowing snow. High winds can cause a danger to the vehicles themselves, especially high profile vehicles, such as trucks and vans. Vaisala RWIS stations can provide precise wind speed and direction measurements crucial to making important decisions. Like other weather variables, wind intensities can change quickly over a short distance, or in areas favorable to high winds, local measurements are key to success. Of course the operation does not need to stop there. Vaisala can design and deploy systems that automatically warn drivers and authorities of high winds, making sure the right action is taken quickly. Page Sections Winter Road ConditionsMobile WeatherLow Visibility Detection and AlertingFlooding and High WaterHigh WindsSand Storms Sand Storms Roadways cross nearly every climate on this earth, and a road through a desert is no exception. Although deserts see far less precipitation and “weather” than other climates, they do have one very real danger – sand storms. When strong winds are produced in a desert environment, blowing sand becomes a real problem. Sand storms create extreme low visibility conditions that can cause major disruption to the road network. By monitoring wind direction and speed at various levels and locations along the roadway, road weather stations can provide advance warning of pending sand storm conditions. This allows decision makers and road authorities to take action and warn motorists, preventing or minimizing the impact of the sand storm.
Winter Road Conditions In most developed countries more people are killed in winter traffic crashes than any other weather related disaster. Monitoring the current conditions on roadways nearby and remote motorways is critical to performing winter maintenance operations. Ministries of transportations, departments of transportation, cities, counties, and townships all have a need to monitor road weather conditions. Road weather stations or Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) monitor winter conditions such as: Ice or snow formation Frost on bridges Black ice or refreezing of moisture Depth of water or snow Friction or grip Chemical concentration Freeze point of solution on the surface The fixed weather stations are usually located in areas identified as problem spots or cold regions through thermal mapping. Stations are also usually placed in locations of unusual weather or remote from other forms of communication. Since bridges and other elevated roadways typically freeze before road surfaces, sites are typically located near a bridge so both a road and bridge reading can be done at the same time. Vaisala offers fixed road weather stations and sensors that are customized to monitor winter road conditions. Reliable and accurate information is key, and the Vaisala road weather products provide solutions that meet your needs to keep the roads safe, reduce operational costs, and make your job easier.
Mobile Weather Collecting weather data as we drive is not new. Many vehicles today display the air temperature outside as we drive; however, for transportation authorities this is not enough. Snow plows and gritters can be equipped with air temperature, pavement temperature, moisture sensors, and even road conditions to provide much more information about the road weather as they move and conduct operations. For the most part this data was only available to the driver themselves, or possibly the vehicle was equipped with some sort of data recorder for analyzing the data upon their return. Now with the ever increasing coverage and reduced cost of communications, agencies can transmit the data along with the vehicles coordinates, so that decision makers have an even better understanding of the surface weather. Ministry or government vehicles of all types can be equipped with sensors and communications systems, allowing for a huge network of mobile data filling in the gaps for the fixed road weather stations. Mobile data provides a different use than fixed roadside weather stations. Mobile data provides more of a higher level view of the road conditions over a metropolitan area or region. Vaisala offers several solutions specifically designed for mobile applications. The Vaisala systems allow for in-vehicle display or in your road weather software.
Low Visibility Detection and Alerting Winter weather is not the only thing that can impact surface transportation. For vehicles another major concern is low visibility caused by fog, blowing snow and sand. The biggest problem with visibility issues is that they are typically very localized, which means drivers approach areas quickly and with little warning. The good news is that areas of poor visibility are typically areas of repeat offenses, meaning transportation officials know the areas where visibility problems occur. Vaisala RWIS offers a variety of visibility sensors to detect low visibility (no matter what the cause). This data can simply go back to the road authority for decision making or the decisions can be made automatically by Vaisala decision systems, and warnings can be relayed directly to the travelers through an Intelligent Transportation System, such as flashing beacons or Variable Message Signs.
Flooding and High Water When most people think of RWIS they think of winter weather, but to get the most out of an RWIS network a year round approach should be considered. One condition to consider is high water or flooding. New or existing RWIS sites can be placed in areas prone to water over the roadway during times of heavy rain. Sensors on the RWIS can be installed to monitor water height, and can activate signs or send electronic alerts when conditions warrant.
High Winds High winds can cause numerous problems for surface transportation. Blowing sand and snow can make visibility very low at the driving level. Winter maintenance crews can take special measures in many cases to lessen the effects of blowing snow. High winds can cause a danger to the vehicles themselves, especially high profile vehicles, such as trucks and vans. Vaisala RWIS stations can provide precise wind speed and direction measurements crucial to making important decisions. Like other weather variables, wind intensities can change quickly over a short distance, or in areas favorable to high winds, local measurements are key to success. Of course the operation does not need to stop there. Vaisala can design and deploy systems that automatically warn drivers and authorities of high winds, making sure the right action is taken quickly.
Sand Storms Roadways cross nearly every climate on this earth, and a road through a desert is no exception. Although deserts see far less precipitation and “weather” than other climates, they do have one very real danger – sand storms. When strong winds are produced in a desert environment, blowing sand becomes a real problem. Sand storms create extreme low visibility conditions that can cause major disruption to the road network. By monitoring wind direction and speed at various levels and locations along the roadway, road weather stations can provide advance warning of pending sand storm conditions. This allows decision makers and road authorities to take action and warn motorists, preventing or minimizing the impact of the sand storm.
