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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Statement of Task." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2004. Where the Weather Meets the Road: A Research Agenda for Improving Road Weather Services. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10893.
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Appendixes

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Statement of Task." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2004. Where the Weather Meets the Road: A Research Agenda for Improving Road Weather Services. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10893.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Statement of Task." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2004. Where the Weather Meets the Road: A Research Agenda for Improving Road Weather Services. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10893.
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A Statement of Task

This study will examine the research opportunities and required services needed to support improved weather-related information for the nation’s roadways. It will investigate the current state of knowledge regarding road weather conditions (observed and predicted) and recommend key areas of research to enhance operational production of weather-related information for roads. In addition, it will identify possible agency requirements and the observational, computing, and communication infrastructure needed to best provide this information to users. It will have a practical focus, stressing not just research opportunities but how to make this information useful for improved operations and implementation. In essence, the study will provide a framework and recommendations to engage the transportation and weather communities (and other stakeholders) in the development of a strategic plan to guide road weather research and, where appropriate, surface transportation more generally. Topics to be addressed will include:

  1. Briefly describe the nature and scope of road weather issues and general economic impacts.

  2. Characterize the current state of road-related weather research, including status of ongoing Federal Highway Administration activities and other federal and state activities, status of activities within the meteorological community, and challenges presented by the interdisciplinary nature of the problems.

  3. Identify gaps in the scientific knowledge base needed to support improved weather-related information for roadways and recommend research areas to increase understanding of weather specific to roads.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Statement of Task." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2004. Where the Weather Meets the Road: A Research Agenda for Improving Road Weather Services. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10893.
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  1. Discuss how research can be designed so it clearly supports operations and leads most efficiently to practical applications and discuss the scientific and technical feasibility of developing useful weather information.

  2. Identify needs within the meteorological infrastructure that would be necessary to establish effective road weather research and operational capabilities.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Statement of Task." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2004. Where the Weather Meets the Road: A Research Agenda for Improving Road Weather Services. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10893.
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Page 163
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Statement of Task." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2004. Where the Weather Meets the Road: A Research Agenda for Improving Road Weather Services. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10893.
×
Page 164
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Statement of Task." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2004. Where the Weather Meets the Road: A Research Agenda for Improving Road Weather Services. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10893.
×
Page 165
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Statement of Task." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2004. Where the Weather Meets the Road: A Research Agenda for Improving Road Weather Services. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10893.
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Page 166
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Weather has broad and significant effects on the roadway environment. Snow, rain, fog, ice, freezing rain, and other weather conditions can impair the ability of drivers to operate their vehicles safely, significantly reduce roadway capacity, and dramatically increase travel times. Multiple roadway activities, from roadway maintenance and construction to shipping, transit, and police operations, are directly affected by inclement weather.

Some road weather information is available to users currently, however a disconnect remains between current research and operations, and additional research could yield important safety and economic improvements for roadway users. Meteorology, roadway technology, and vehicle systems have evolved to the point where users could be provided with better road weather information through modern information technologies. The combination of these technologies has the potential to significantly increase the efficiency of roadway operations, road capacity, and road safety. Where the Weather Meets the Road provides a roadmap for moving these concepts to reality.

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