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Weather Information for Surface Transportation (WIST): Update on Weather Impacts and WIST Progress

ITS America Annual Meeting Session 42: Road Weather Information Applications, Part 2. Weather Information for Surface Transportation (WIST): Update on Weather Impacts and WIST Progress. Samuel P. Williamson Federal Coordinator for Meteorology June 6, 2007. Overview.

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Weather Information for Surface Transportation (WIST): Update on Weather Impacts and WIST Progress

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  1. ITS America Annual MeetingSession 42: Road Weather Information Applications, Part 2 Weather Information for SurfaceTransportation (WIST):Update on Weather Impacts and WIST Progress Samuel P. Williamson Federal Coordinator for Meteorology June 6, 2007

  2. Overview • Importance of Surface Transportation Weather • OFCM Background • WIST Update • Challenges • Next Steps • 2007 Symposium Details • Summary

  3. Fatalities Per Year 7000 24 53 58 18 237 27 44 521 Flood Lightning Tornado Hurricane Heat Cold Winter Storm Total Adverse Road Weather Importance of Surface Transportation Weather Safety and Efficiency • Roadways: Weather-related safety and cost data estimates • Over 7,400 fatalities per year • Over 690,000 injured • $42 billion in economic costs • Trucking companies/CVOs lose an est. 32.6 billion vehicle hours/year due to weather-related congestion • Marine transportation: 7% of recreational boating accidents are weather-related • Railways: 309 weather-related accidents, $46 million in damages, 3 deaths, 75 injuries, periodic delays & delays due to extreme temperature events (2001) • Pipelines: Impact of Hurricane Katrina was 90% of oil platforms in Gulf were shut down and 20 rigs reported missing

  4. Importance of Surface Transportation Weather Safety and Efficiency • Roadway sector: • Speed reductions can range from 10 to 25% on wet pavement; from 30 to 40% on snowy or slushy pavement • Estimated that 23% of non-recurrent delay on highways across nation due to snow, ice, and fog • State / local agencies spend more than: • $2.3 billion/yr on snow & ice control operations • $5 billion to repair snow & ice infrastructure damage • Trucking companies and other CVOs lose an estimated 32.6 billion vehicle hours a year due to weather-related congestion • Estimated cost of weather-related delay to trucking companies ranges from $2.2 billion to $3.5 billion annually

  5. Importance of Surface Transportation Weather Numerous Users, Providers, and Needs Source: December 2002 WIST Report

  6. OFCM Background Mission • To ensure the effective use of federal meteorological resources by leading the systematic coordination of operational weather requirements, services, and supporting research, among the federal agencies • High-level focus on: • Needs and Requirements • Issues and Problems • Studies, Reports, Plans, and Handbooks • Crosscut Reviews, Assessments, and Analyses

  7. Independent agencies: Departments of: • Environmental Protection Agency • National Aeronautics and Space Administration • National Science Foundation • National Transportation Safety Board • Nuclear Regulatory Commission • Agriculture • Commerce • Defense • Energy • Homeland Security • Science & Technology • FEMA • Coast Guard • Interior • State • Transportation Executive Office of the President: • Office of Management and Budget • Office of Science and Technology Policy OFCM Background Partners

  8. Aviation Weather Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services Cooperative Research Environmental Services Urban Meteorology Information Technology and Communications Modeling and Prediction Observing Capabilities Space Weather Weather Information for Surface Transportation OFCM Background Key Focus Areas – Agency Priorities

  9. OFCM Background Federal Meteorological Coordinating Infrastructure Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (FCMSSR) Federal Coordinator for Meteorology Program Councils Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (ICMSSR) National Space Weather National Aviation Weather Standing Committees Environmental Services, Operations, and Research Needs Environmental Information Systems and Communications National Operational Processing Centers Integrated Observing Systems Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services Working Group for Urban Meteorology Cooperative Research

  10. OFCM Background Affiliations National Research Council (NRC) Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC) Climate Research Committee (CRC) University Corp. for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) American Geophysical Union (AGU) US Weather Research Program (USWRP) American Meteorological Society (AMS) US Climate Change Science Program (USCCSP) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction (SDR)

  11. WIST Update WIST: First Report Issued in December 2002 • Just over 4 years ago, NOAA and FHWA released first report on improving surface transportation safety and cost efficiency • The 2002 WIST Report, Weather Information for Surface Transportation (WIST)—National Needs Assessment Report • Provided roadmap for Nation’s surface weather activities • Helped launch a rapid expansion of interagency, intergovernmental, and public-private efforts • Designed to enhance safety and the Nation’s economy with better use of “transportation weather”

  12. WIST Update WIST Favorable Progress • Available data indicates favorable progress may be occurring • Increased focus and attention in the functional area of weather information for surface transportation • Promoted initiatives may be resulting in reduced deaths/injuries, improved operations efficiency, and reduced property damage on our Nation’s transportation systems • Enhanced the Nation’s economy

  13. WIST Update WIST Impacts and Progress • Roadway Weather and WIST • On average, there are over 6,442,000 vehicle crashes yearly. More than 24 % of these crashes (approximately 1,571,500) are weather-related • Nearly 7,400 people are killed and over 690,000 people are injured in weather-related crashes each year • Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that weather-related crash injuries declined by 3.5 % (21,023 injuries) in the first 2 years following the release of the WIST Report in 2002 • During the same period, vehicle miles increased 3.7 %. • Reduction in injuries equates to ~ $0.5 billion in reduced economic costs1 1Estimated economic costs are based on a weighted average cost of $23,704 per injury, which is based on applying the distribution of injury severity levels and costs estimated by NHTSA in 2000 for all crashes to the NHTSA weather-related crash data. See reference [4], especially Tables 2 and 3, pg. 9.

  14. WIST Update WIST Impacts and Progress • Railway Weather and WIST • Annual avg railway weather-related fatalities are much lower than roadways • Between 1995 and 2005, 865 weather-related accidents or incidents occurred on America’s railways, causing 8 deaths, 1,242 injuries, and property damage costs of more than $189 million • Between 2002 and 2005, property damage attributed to weather-related railway accidents decreased by $1,016,378 • Most weather-related deaths (62.5 %) and injuries (91.1 %) between 1995 and 2005 were associated with accidents or incidents associated with extreme temperature variations • Majority of property damage (1995 to 2005) caused by extreme high temperatures (30.8 %), liquid precip (22.8 %), and high wind events (16.9 %)

  15. WIST Update WIST Impacts and Progress • Marine Transportation System Weather and WIST • Between 1996 and 2000, weather-related causes accounted for 11 % of marine transportation accidents and 3.6 % of all recreational boating accidents • While not all weather-related, the annual totals for marine transportation accidents, fatalities, and property damage all decreased between 2002 and 2004 • Fatalities were cut in half (from 62 to 36) • Weather-related recreational boating accidents decreased from 228, including 66 fatalities, in 2002 to 178 (43 fatalities) in 2004 • Since 2002, weather has dropped below the “Top Ten Contributing Factors” for recreational boating accidents

  16. WIST Update WIST Impacts and Progress • Rural and Urban Transit Weather and WIST • Data on weather-related fatality, injury, and property damage are currently not available from the Federal Transit Administration’s Safety and Security Database • However, overall safety incidents (accidents, crashes, mishaps) decreased by 9,392 from 2002 to 2004, resulting in a decrease of 32 fatalities and 278 injuries • Some of this decrease may be due to improved use of weather information

  17. WIST Update WIST Impacts and Progress • Pipeline Systems Weather and WIST • Between 2002 and 2005, the pipeline systems sector experienced 4 weather-related fatalities and 14 weather-related injuries, all occurring in 2005 • In 2005, the number of pipeline incidents caused by “natural forces” (defined as heavy rains/floods, high winds, lightning, temperature, earth movement, and various other causes) increased dramatically due to hurricane damage • Three of the fatalities were attributed to incidents caused by temperature and one to high winds; all four incidents were in natural gas distribution activities • Overall, between 2002 and 2005, natural forces accounted for 8.1 % of liquid pipeline accidents, 17.4 % of gas transmission accidents, and 13.6 % of gas distribution accidents

  18. WIST Update WIST Impacts and Progress • Airport Ground Operations Weather and WIST • National statistics on weather-related fatalities, injuries, and property damage in airport ground operations are not currently available • However, there are ample anecdotal examples of weather’s impact • Lightning affects airport ground operations (e.g., baggage loading and unloading, refueling, ramp activities, passenger transport to aircraft) cease when lightningis detected within a certain distance of an airport • At SEATAC (Seattle-Tacoma) airport in February 2006, an airport worker was dazed when lightning struck the plane he was loading on the tarmac • Snow or freezing precipitation affects vehicles involved in airport ground operations much as it affects roadway vehicles • When the access ways and tarmac are wet or slippery, travel speeds are decreased, the risk of mishaps increases, and the efficiency of operations decreases

  19. Challenges Focusing Resources • Focusing our resources on the top priority needs in R&D and application development, in such areas as: • Lessening weather’s impact in causing congestion • Meeting travelers’ need for timely, local weather information • Improving access to WIST before and during travel • Enhancing surface transportation weather observation collection • Incorporating WIST into warning and decision support processes • Increasing user understanding of how to use WIST products

  20. Challenges Partnering and Leveraging • Exploiting opportunities to partner and leverage other R&D and application development activities to meet WIST needs: • Urban Meteorology • Aviation Meteorology • Tropical cyclone R&D • MPAR Risk Reduction Program • University Transportation Centers • Commercial weather vendors • Automobile manufactures • State and local DOTs and road maintenance activities • Social science

  21. Next Steps Build on Recent efforts • Mini-workshops held in June 2006 • 18 organizations reported on 49 WIST-related R&D activities underway (see next slide for details) • Organizations: federal, state, and local • Type: private, public, and academic • Focus: observations, forecasts, data management, etc. • Not all inclusive--more work to be discovered • Attendees discussed other R&D needs still needing work • Attendees felt Web-based workshops were a success

  22. Next Steps Build Upon Ongoing R&D Activities

  23. Symposium Details Theme 3rd National Surface Transportation Weather Symposium July 25-27, 2007 Improving commerce and reducing deaths and injuries through innovative, weather-related R&D and applications for the surface transportation system

  24. Rain/Snow/Sleet/Hail Wind Fog Flooding Ice Pipelines Marine Roadways Transit Rail Airport Ground Data Collection & Analysis Modeling & Prediction Information Dissemination Stakeholder Response Cross-Cutting Themes Symposium Details Approach -- R&D Needs

  25. Symposium Details Objectives • Overarching Objective: Provide a forum for the surface (sfc) transportation weather and transportation research and user communities to work together to enhance collaboration and partnerships, ultimately helping to improve sfc transportation weather products/services for those who use, operate, and manage sfc transportation infrastructure • Enhance understanding of social / economic benefits derived from increased use of improved sfc transportation weather and climate info • Review, validate, and prioritize sfc transportation weather research and development needs • Define and prioritize the products / services needed to support sfc transportation community • Provide recommendations for weather and sfc transportation communities on way ahead to meet needs using attendee input / feedback • Provide information on sfc transportation weather and climate activities to enhance decision-making processes

  26. Symposium Details Logistics • Location – Tentatively selected in Northern Virginia • Agenda – 25-27 July 2007 • July 25th • Keynote Session • Social & Economic Impacts & Benefits • R&D Priorities • Leveraging R&D • July 26th • Observations • Modeling & Prediction • Information Dissemination • Pathway to Operations • July 27th • Closing Session on the Keys to Success – Creating Synergy

  27. Symposium Details • Symposium Web Site • Symposium web site is located at http://www.ofcm.gov/wist/wist.htm • Please check the web site often for updated information and to register for the event • Please help spread the word !!

  28. OFCM Web Site WIST Report is available on OFCM Web Site Click on “Publications” and navigate to the desired location http://www.ofcm.gov/

  29. Summary • Lots of work already done • WIST efforts may be having positive impact • Need to further coordinate WIST efforts • Real and growing need for improved surface weather data, forecasts, integration, dissemination, and education • Safe, efficient movement of goods/people • Need a prioritized, integrated, end-to-end approach to ongoing and planned R&D activities

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