GOOD OLE TECHNOLOGY: Roadway weather surveillance

The New Jersey Turnpike is spending about $2 million on a roadway weather surveillance (RWS) system and attributes to a high official the statement that they are “proud to be leading the way in this new technology.” It is very helpful equipment, which can measure road pavement and bridge deck temperatures, and assess the chemical state of water on the road surface to assess the freeze point, as well as gather air data. The typical roadway weather station usually by the side or the road will control a number of pavement sensors up to 2500’ away and also collect air data, temperature, humidity, precip and visibility, and forward these to a highway management center where they can be interlinked with software to forward automatic warnings to designated beepers and alter variable message signs on the roadway.

Such systems can help highway authorities deploy their expensive snow crews more precisely, reduce waste salt and overime bills, and improve the accuracy and timeliness of warnings to the public. The NJ Turnpike is in good company, but it is hardly “leading the way.” Industry sources say CO, MN, MT and ND led the way several years ago now, and that the Oklahoma Turnpike was one of the earliest of the toll roads to go for it. Pikes in IN, OH, MA, IL have it too. There are over 2000 roadway weather stations deployed in about 200 systems spread over most states of the US. Here in the US Surface Systems Inc is the market leader but there are extremely good European and other systems out there and proven also. There has been progressive development of software, sensors and communications but the gear has been around in much its present state for 25 years.

The equipment is available off the shelf at a cost of between $50,000 and $80,000/station. In our little state Maryland the DOT has 46 stations in operation. Colorado has about 120. Lots of airports have the same good stuff. (Ann Buchmann, SSI 314 569 1002)