Weather has an enormous effect on travel and road conditions. Drifting snow, ice, fog, and gusty winds are some of the weather events that contribute to the deaths of more than 3900 U.S. and Canadian highway users every winter. Adverse conditions cut surface friction, impact highway capacities and reduce accessibility, damaging industry and rural economies alike. Over $2 billion US is spent on snow and ice control each year in North America. Despite this, estimates indicate that between 25 and 35 percent of inter-urban incidents occur during adverse weather conditions; accidents increase during adverse weather by factors of between two and five; and U.S. injury accidents alone exceed 402,000 annually due to adverse road conditions.
To help address these difficulties, various agencies within the U.S. and Canada are currently working together in the FORETELL™ project to develop an integrated strategy for providing detailed, up-to-the-minute weather information dissemination services. However, these efforts will not solely concern winter weather conditions information, and will not target surface transportation alone. In addition to providing information to travelers, industry, and agencies charged with transportation infrastructure maintenance, it is envisioned that links can be forged with the railroad, aeronautical and waterways sectors. Beyond transportation even, is it hoped that by progressive diversification it will be possible to meet the routine and disaster needs of farmers, emergency management agencies, flood control districts, and many others.
The FORETELL™ project will disseminate information to all types of users using the most common and flexible methods in order to maximize the usefulness and timeliness of road and weather condition information. Surface transportation agencies can use this information for traffic control, within traffic management centers and to assist in road maintenance activities. Commercial vehicle operators will be able to make decisions regarding vehicle routing and schedules based on the most up-to-date road and weather condition information. Other transportation users will be capable of making more informed decisions regarding whether to travel and the conditions they will face.
The overall contents of the paper are as follows. First, the premise, goals and participants of the project will be identified. Next, the needs for road and weather condition information of various users are outlined. Finally, the methods for collection, processing and dissemination of information are then expanded to illustrate the benefits to all potential users of FORETELL™