Developing a Department of Transportation Winter Severity Index

AbstractAdverse weather conditions are responsible for millions of vehicular crashes, thousands of deaths, and billions of dollars per year in economic and congestion costs. Many transportation agencies utilize a performance or mobility metric to assess how well they maintain road access; however, there is only limited consideration of meteorological impacts to the success of their operations. This research develops the Nebraska winter severity index (NEWINS), which is a daily event-driven index derived for the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT). The NEWINS includes a categorical storm classification framework to capture atmospheric conditions and possible road impacts across diverse spatial regions of Nebraska. A 10-yr (2006–16) winter season database of meteorological variables for Nebraska was obtained from the National Centers for Environmental Information. The NEWINS is based on a weighted linear combination applied to the collected storm classification database to measure severity. The NEWINS results were compared to other meteorological variables, many used in other agencies’ winter severity indices. This comparison verified the NEWINS robustness for the observed events for the 10-yr period. An assessment of the difference between days with observed snow versus days with accumulated snow revealed 39% fewer snow-accumulated days than snow-observed days. Furthermore, the NEWINS results highlighted the greater number of events during the 2009/10 winter season and the lack of events during the 2011/12 winter season. It is expected that the NEWINS could help transportation personnel allocate efficiently resources during adverse weather events. Moreover, the NEWINS framework can be used by other agencies to assess their weather sensitivity.

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The Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI)

Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology ◽

10.1175/jamc-d-14-0217.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 54 (8) ◽

pp. 1693-1712 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Barbara E. Mayes Boustead ◽

Steven D. Hilberg ◽

Martha D. Shulski ◽

Kenneth G. Hubbard

Keyword(s):

Snow Depth ◽

Meteorological Parameter ◽

Winter Season ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Severity Index ◽

Winter Weather ◽

Site Specific ◽

Teleconnection Patterns ◽

Temperature And Precipitation ◽

Parallel Index

AbstractThe character of a winter can be defined by many of its features, including temperature averages and extremes, snowfall totals, snow depth, and the duration between onset and cessation of winter-weather conditions. The accumulated winter season severity index incorporates these elements into one site-specific value that defines the severity of a particular winter, especially when examined in the context of climatological values for that site. Thresholds of temperature, snowfall, and snow depth are assigned points that accumulate through the defined winter season; a parallel index uses temperature and precipitation to provide a snow proxy where snow data are unavailable or unreliable. The results can be analyzed like any other meteorological parameter to examine relationships to teleconnection patterns, determine trends, and create sector-specific applications, as well as to analyze an ongoing winter or any individual winter season to place its severity in context.

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Forecasting a meteorological indicator of pollutant dispersion in surface air

Hydrometeorological research and forecasting ◽

10.37162/2618-9631-2021-3-131-149 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 131-149

Author(s):

I.N. Kuznetsova ◽

◽

Yu.V. Tkacheva ◽

I.Yu. Shalygina ◽

M.I. Nakhaev ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Pollutant Dispersion ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Atmospheric Conditions ◽

Probabilistic Forecasting ◽

Pollution Dispersion ◽

Temperature Changes ◽

Adverse Weather Conditions ◽

Adverse Weather ◽

Accumulation Of Pollutants

An improved algorithm for calculating a meteorological indicator of pollution dispersion in surface air (MIPD) using the COSMO-Ru7 configuration forecast data with a discreteness of 1 hour is presented. Using the MIPD as a function of the transport rate and thermal stratification in the atmospheric boundary layer, precipitation and advective temperature changes, the entire range of atmospheric conditions affecting the dispersion of pollutants is divided into three types: weak (the first type), moderate (the second type), and strong (the third type) dispersion. The worst conditions for the pollutant dispersion are provided by the MIPD of the first type; the set of meteorological parameters that determines it corresponds to adverse weather conditions (AWC) that contribute to the accumulation of pollutants in surface air. The proposed detailing within each type of MIPD in the form of subtypes can be useful for predicting AWC for single sources. Illustrations of the MIPD connection with fluctuations in the level of air pollution during the AWC episodes are given using automated measurements of pollutant concentration and fixed network measurements. An algorithm for the probabilistic forecasting of the MIPD, that allows taking into account the uncertainty of the forecast when issuing AWC warnings, is proposed and implemented. Keywords: meteorological conditions of air pollution, adverse weather conditions, numerical prediction

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Will Weather Dampen Self-Driving Vehicles?

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society ◽

10.1175/bams-d-19-0035.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 101 (11) ◽

pp. E1914-E1923

Author(s):

Curtis L. Walker ◽

Brenda Boyce ◽

Christopher P. Albrecht ◽

Amanda Siems-Anderson

Keyword(s):

Emergency Services ◽

Situational Awareness ◽

Transportation Network ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

The United States ◽

Environmental Damage ◽

Automated Vehicles ◽

Emergent Technologies ◽

Adverse Weather ◽

Vehicular Crashes

AbstractInnovative technologies that support implementation of automated vehicles continue to develop at a rapid pace. These advances strive to increase efficiency and safety throughout the global transportation network. One important challenge to these emergent technologies that remains underappreciated is how the vehicles will perform in adverse weather. Each year, weather-related vehicular crashes account for approximately 21% of all highway crashes in the United States. These crashes result in over 5,300 fatalities, injure over 418,000 people, and cost billions of dollars in insurance claims, liability, emergency services, congestion delays, rehabilitation, and environmental damage annually. Automated vehicles have the potential to significantly mitigate these statistics; however, public, private, and academic partnerships between the meteorological and transportation communities must be established to develop solutions to weather impacts now. To date, such interactions have been sparse and largely contribute to a lack of awareness in how these two communities may collaborate together. The purpose of this manuscript is to call the meteorological community to action and proactive engagement with the transportation community. A secondary goal is to make the transportation community aware of the advantages of teaming with the weather enterprise. Automated vehicles will not only increase travel safety, but also have benefits to the meteorological community through increasing availability of high-resolution surface data observations. The future challenges of these emergent technologies in the context of road weather implications focus on vehicle situational awareness and technological sensing capability in all weather conditions, and transforming how drivers and vehicles are informed of weather threats beyond sensing capabilities.

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A Cost-Effective Photonic Radar Under Adverse Weather Conditions for Autonomous Vehicles by Incorporating a Frequency-Modulated Direct Detection Scheme

Frontiers in Physics ◽

10.3389/fphy.2021.747598 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Abhishek Sharma ◽

Sushank Chaudhary ◽

Jyoteesh Malhotra ◽

Muhammad Saadi ◽

Sattam Al Otaibi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autonomous Vehicles ◽

Direct Detection ◽

Signal To Noise Ratio ◽

Autonomous Vehicle ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Atmospheric Conditions ◽

Detection Scheme ◽

Available Bandwidth ◽

Adverse Weather

In recent years, there have been plenty of demands and growth in the autonomous vehicle industry, and thus, challenges of designing highly efficient photonic radars that can detect and range any target with the resolution of a few centimeters have been encountered. The existing radar technology is unable to meet such requirements due to limitations on available bandwidth. Another issue is to consider strong attenuation while working under diverse atmospheric conditions at higher frequencies. The proposed model of photonic radar is developed considering these requirements and challenges using the frequency-modulated direct detection technique and considering a free-space range of 750 m. The result depicts improved range detection in terms of received power and an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio and range under adverse climatic situations.

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Assessing the effect of a white Portland cement admixture on the early frost-thaw resistance of NHL-based masonry mortar

Materials and Structures ◽

10.1617/s11527-021-01848-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Frowin Ruegenberg ◽

Martin Schidlowski ◽

Franz Brunner ◽

Erik Kirkwood ◽

Thomas Bidner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Portland Cement ◽

Setting Time ◽

Winter Season ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Atmospheric Conditions ◽

Hydraulic Lime ◽

Natural Hydraulic Lime ◽

Excess Moisture ◽

Speed Up ◽

Framework Conditions

AbstractWell preserved mortars based on natural hydraulic lime are widely spread in historical buildings throughout the alpine area of Tyrol, Austria. These are frequently restored with mortars oriented on historical models. Portland cement is also commonly used to modify these materials on building sites to speed up the setting time to improve the early frost-thaw resistance, primarily when they are applied around the winter season. Therefore, it was our objective to specify the application potentials of those materials, respecting the intended use and the atmospheric conditions. Moreover, we tried to figure out the possible benefits and risks when using NHL-based materials, optionally modified by cement, yielding stable recommendations for the work with corresponding mortars. Hence, we examined the development of strength and water transport, also the frost-thaw durability in a temporal context. The obtained results were compared with findings of assessing both materials under variable weather conditions around the winter season. Accordingly, the use of pure NHL-based lime mortars resulted as being critical mainly until about two months before intense frost conditions. Cement effectively contributes to the rapid hydraulic setting reaction in NHL-based materials. Hence, we recommend measured cement additions in areas where strong frost is expected after a few weeks and especially targeted in areas where carbonation is hindered because of excess moisture. Nevertheless, the potential use of Portland cement should be properly controlled in historic building preservation. A systematical approach that considers the framework conditions and the corresponding application to an area is essential to assure an appropriate conservation outcome.

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Driver Preference and Level of Trust Related to Real-Time Road Freezing Risk Information

Journal of Advanced Transportation ◽

10.1155/2020/4791657 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Moataz Bellah Ben Khedher ◽

Choong Heon Yang ◽

Jin Guk Kim ◽

Duk Geun Yun ◽

Sung Pil Shin

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Information Service ◽

Winter Season ◽

Surface Friction ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Risk Information ◽

Navigation Systems ◽

Adverse Weather ◽

Driver's License ◽

Bad Weather

Bad weather conditions can affect normal driving by substantially hindering visibility. Among all adverse weather conditions, road freezing is probably the most dangerous to drivers because slippery roads reduce surface friction and can lead to loss of vehicle control. This paper evaluates driver preference of receiving real-time road freezing risk information and explores the factors that would most influence drivers’ trust in a future road freezing information service. A survey was conducted in the metropolitan areas of South Korea during January and February 2019. The survey was completed by 231 driver’s license holders of 18 years or older, and the results were used for statistical analysis. According to the survey results, the variable message sign (VMS) is a very important system from the perspective of public benefit. Car-navigation systems are preferred for age categories of 21∼30 and over 50. In addition, ordinal regression was used to analyze the causal relationship between the level of trust regarding road freezing risk information and its controlling factors. The ordered log odds of drivers with previous accident experience due to slippery roads exhibit a higher level of trust in road freezing risk information because the coefficient is positive. Moreover, drivers with a constant commute time show a lower level of trust in road freezing risk information. These findings provide a foundation for planning the scope of future road freezing risk information service, as well as the specific service targets and type of information, especially during the winter season.

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The Agro-Meteorological Caused Famines as an Evolutionary Factor in the Formation of Civilisation and History: Representative Cases in Europe

Climate ◽

10.3390/cli9010005 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 5

Author(s):

Ioannis Charalampopoulos ◽

Fotoula Droulia

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Significant Contribution ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Critical Parameters ◽

Atmospheric Conditions ◽

Adverse Weather Conditions ◽

Adverse Weather ◽

Proximate Causes ◽

Weather Changes

Throughout history, food adequacy has been one of the most critical parameters for the survival of human societies. The prevailing atmospheric conditions have always been recognised as the primary and most uncontrolled factors that determine crop production, both quantitatively and qualitatively. However, this is only a part of the effects chain. In order to assess the magnitude of the potential cultural impacts of weather changes in a region, it is crucial to comprehend the underlying mechanism of successive consequences that relate the proximate causes, which in our case are the adverse Agro-Meteorological Conditions (AMC), to their effects on society. The present study focuses on the analysis of the impacts’ mechanism on human societies. Moreover, several characteristic agro-meteorological events that have led to significant changes in European civilisation are presented as case studies. The results highlight the linkage between weather and its impact on history evolution based on Agro-Meteorological Famine (AMF). The proposed concept and its analysis by the schematic presentation are in corroboration with the documented historical events of European history. Moreover, the presented connections between weather, agricultural production, and society revealed the significant contribution of the short-term adverse weather conditions on the mechanism of the human civilisation evolution.

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