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Consensus Definition of MDSS

Paul Pisano, Team LeaderRoad Weather Management

Federal Highway AdministrationWashington, DC

MDSS Stakeholder MeetingFalls Church, VA

August 10-11, 2006

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Motivation

• With the success of the MDSS prototype and the interest and investments made by the private sector, many different types of systems using the MDSS name have been brought to market:– Should we as a community agree on a

definition of MDSS?– Should we base this on the original

federal vision of MDSS or a mix of current capabilities?

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STWDSR

• MDSS was originally called STWDSR or the “Surface Transportation Weather Decision Support Requirements”

• Compiled and composed 1999-2000 during two stakeholder meetings

• Requirements for functionality, reliability and capabilities were developed

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Types of Decision Support Needed

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MDSS: Initial Vision

• Remove “Stovepiping” and “Swivel Chair Integration”. Provide a one-stop system for route-specific weather and pavement forecasts and treatment recommendations

• Focus on the strategic scale (out to 48 hrs) rather than the immediate (tactical) scale

• Integrate RWIS ESS into a common format and location

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MDSS: Initial Capabilities

• Easy to use graphical user interface• Higher resolution weather forecasts

utilizing national and mesoscale models• Use RWIS ESS as input into weather and

pavement prediction models• Customize forecast and treatment

recommendations for routes• Provide a “what-if” generator to allow for

changing values input to the road condition treatment module

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Enhancements in the Prototype• Ensemble modeling• Hot-start model initialization• Fuzzy logic/data fusion engine• Improved storm characterization in

algorithms• Forecast summary page• Improved/higher resolution graphics• Storm history page

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Improvements by Industry

• Adding short term (tactical) tools such as radar, satellite and lightning data to the display

• Utilizing telemetry to receive mobile observations

• Linking MDSS with personnel or equipment/chemical stocks databases

• Incorporating MDSS functionality seamlessly into commercial products

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Discussion

• Should we as a community define MDSS to:– Remove ambiguity?– Specify a minimum technical

capability?– Make it easier for State and local DOTs

to create RFPs?– Assist those new to the industry to

understand where the bar has been set?