Road Weather Messaging on Dynamic Message Signs (DMS)

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:
  http://dotapp7.dot.state.mn.us/projectPages/pages/projectDetails.jsf?id=20837&type=CONTRACT

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• 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

  ,    
• Principal Investigators:

  Casey, Patrick

• Start Date: 20180822
• Expected Completion Date: 20190831
• 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