Road Weather Messaging on Dynamic Message Signs (DMS)

Part 1 of 2: This part is a survey to support the programming design. Nearly 300 DMS are deployed across the state and are used for displaying real-time information to warn motorists of incidents, roadwork, or congestion downstream that may be a potential safety hazard or may cause delays. When it comes to weather-related messages, MnDOT has limited DMS usage to blizzard warnings or unexpected/isolated conditions that may catch a motorist by surprise. Concerns over displaying weather-related messages on DMS are the timeliness of these messages and the potential overuse of these messages. If weather-related messages could be tied to National Weather Service reports, Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) data and/or roadside weather sensors, the messages could be more timely and accurate. Thresholds based on weather data could also be established so there are only particular situations where a weather-related message is displayed rather than leaving it up to the discretion of an operator on-duty. This would improve customer trust in the message being displayed and reduce erroneous or overused messages.

Record URL:

Language

English

Project

Status: Completed
Funding: $55,181.79
Contract Numbers:
1031327
Sponsor Organizations:
Minnesota Department of Transportation

395 John Ireland Boulevard
St Paul, MN United States 55155
Performing Organizations:
CTC & Associates LLC

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Principal Investigators:
Casey, Patrick
Start Date: 20180822
Expected Completion Date: 20191031
Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Guidelines; Road weather information systems; Variable message signs
Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

Accession Number: 01670189
Record Type: Research project
Source Agency: Minnesota Department of Transportation
Contract Numbers: 1031327
Files: RiP, STATEDOT
Created Date: May 24 2018 11:14AM