1	Use Case #5: Enhanced Road Weather Content Enabled by Clarus Sept. 8, 2011 Leon F. Osborne leono@meridian-enviro.com
2	Clarus Use Case #5 Overview Goal: Use Clarus data to develop enhanced road weather information for travelers. Methods: by leveraging the multi-state nature of Clarus to create a multi-state traveler information platform by applying Clarus data to develop enhanced road / weather forecasts that can alert drivers of conditions before they occur
3	Use Case #5 Design
4	Message Generation Engine
5	Message Generation Engine For a given information ‘segment’: Identify which data are available DOT, Clarus ESS, road/weather analyses/forecasts Separately analyze data streams to determine if a problematic condition is indicated Progress through appropriate path in a decision tree Based on data availability and consistency (or lack thereof) Generate a message and GIS attributes appropriate for the ending point in the decision tree
6	Multi-State Web Portal
7	ATIS Web Portal
8	ATIS Web Portal Text Content
9	ATIS Web Portal Text Content
10	Multi-State Travel Weather
11	Findings Algorithms for making sense of incomplete and/or conflicting data are vital Need to provide actionable information without providing too much information Overstating what is known can lead to distrust in the system and heightened liability concerns. Conditions vary over both time and space – how do you convey the threat without overwhelming the user?
12	Findings There may be more value in multi-state and forecast information via a web portal relative to telephony systems “a picture is worth a thousand words” With current data availability, the system holds more promise for alerting travelers to imminent travel problems than for predicting the return of good travel conditions Early sensor- or model-based detection Forecast conditions
13	DOT Perspectives The concepts have been well-received by both the participating DOTs and public evaluators Reducing liability, rather than increasing it, is a major consideration in deciding whether or not to implement The system would potentially benefit from more detailed agency data (e.g., IT-equipped snowplows) Agreement on conditions and color schemes elusive
14	Research Needs/Gaps There could be considerable benefit to closing more of the ‘loops’ in the system Assimilate DOT road condition reports into pavement model Track and apply data on maintenance activities The concept may be more amenable to smartphone applications than to telephony-based traveler information
15	Contact Information John Mewes - Meridian Environmental Technology, Inc. jmewes@meridian-enviro.com Leon Osborne - Meridian Environmental Technology, Inc. leono@meridian-enviro.com Julie Theisen - Meridian Environmental Technology, Inc. theisen@meridian-enviro.com