33rdrd National Surface Transportation National Surface Transportation Weather SymposiumWeather Symposium

Improving commerce and reducing deaths and injuries through innovative weather-related R&D and applications for the surface transportation system

July 25, 2007July 25, 2007

Welcoming RemarksWelcoming Remarks

Mr. Samuel P. WilliamsonMr. Samuel P. WilliamsonFederal Coordinator for MeteorologyFederal Coordinator for Meteorology

Hosted by:Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (OFCM)

Sponsors and SupportersSponsors and SupportersSponsors:• Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services

and Supporting Research (OFCM), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

• Road Weather Management Program , Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Professional Partners:• Surface Transportation Weather Task Force, Transportation

Research Board • Intelligent Transportation Systems and Surface Transportation

Committee, American Meteorological Society • Weather Information Applications Special Interest Group, ITS

America

OverviewOverview

• Special WelcomeSpecial Welcome• Why We Are HereWhy We Are Here• WIST ImprovementsWIST Improvements• Symposium GoalsSymposium Goals• Logistics & Ground RulesLogistics & Ground Rules• Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda• Keynote AddressKeynote Address

Special WelcomeSpecial Welcome

Keynote SpeakerKeynote Speaker

Mr. Jeffrey N. ShaneMr. Jeffrey N. ShaneUndersecretary of Undersecretary of

Transportation for Policy, Transportation for Policy, Department of TransportationDepartment of Transportation

Special WelcomeSpecial Welcome

Keynote SpeakerKeynote Speaker

Vice Admiral Conrad C. Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.)Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Undersecretary of Commerce Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administratorand NOAA Administrator

Special WelcomeSpecial Welcome

Keynote SpeakerKeynote Speaker

Dr. Gene WhitneyDr. Gene WhitneyRepresentingRepresenting

Dr. Sharon L. HaysDr. Sharon L. HaysAssociate Director of the Office Associate Director of the Office

of Science and Technology of Science and Technology PolicyPolicy

• Roadway: Over 6,442,000 vehicle crashes per year on average – More than 24% are weather-related (1.57 million)– More than 7,400 people killed & 670,000 people

injured– ~25% of non-recurrent freeway delays are weather-

related– Weather-related delay adds $3.4B to freight costs

annually

• Railway: 865 weather-related crashes between 1995 and 2005– 8 deaths, 1,242 injuries, and $189M in property

damages– Most crashes related to extreme temperature

variations

• Marine Transportation System: Between 1996 and 2000– Weather-related causes accounted for 11% of

marine transportation mishaps and 3.6% of all recreational boating mishaps

Why we are here…

• Transit: National weather-related mishap statistics not available– However, overall safety incidents decreased from

2002 to 2004, by 32 fatalities and 278 injuries

• Pipeline: In 2005, 4 weather-related fatalities and 14 injuries– Three fatalities were attributed to incidents

caused by temperature and one to high winds

• Airport Ground Operations: National statistics not available– There are anecdotal examples of weather’s impact– For example, all airport grounds operations

cease when lightning is detected within a certain distance of an airport

Why we are here…

• Over 4 years ago, first report on improving surface transportation safety and efficiency with improved weather/climate information

– 2002 WIST Report, Weather Information for Surface Transportation (WIST)—National Needs Assessment Report

• Public, private, and academic coordination and collaboration on WIST programs has increased and may be starting to show progress

WIST Improvements

• Data collection and incident monitoring is limited, however, available, raw data show that progress may be occurring. For example:

– Roadways:

• Weather-related roadway crash injuries declined 3.5% (21, 023 injuries) in the first 2 yrs following WIST Report release in 2002

• During the same period, vehicle-miles driven increased by 3.7%

• The 21,023 fewer injuries equate to about $500M saved in direct and indirect economic consequences

– Marine Transportation System:

• From 2002 to 2004, weather-related recreational boating accidents decreased from 228, with 66 fatalities, to 178 with 43 fatalities

• Since 2002, weather has dropped out of the Coast Guard’s “Top Ten Contributing Factors” for recreational accidents

WIST Improvements

• Railway:– Annual average railway weather-related fatalities are much

lower than roadways

– Between 2002 and 2005, property damage attributed to weather-related railway accidents decreased by $1,016,378

• 511 and local TV/Radio broadcasts:– User surveys of State “511” road information services show

that users use weather condition information for travel route planning

– Local television and radio stations now routinely carry combined traffic and weather updates specific to their broadcast area

• Trucking and automobile manufactures:– Some roadway freight lines are equipping their trucks to

receive NOAA Weather Radio anywhere on the Nation’s highways

– Automobile manufacturers equipping cars with radios that can receive NOAA Weather Radio

WIST Improvements

Symposium GoalsSymposium Goals

• Articulate a clear observation strategy for Articulate a clear observation strategy for surface transportation weather that surface transportation weather that defines the types of data that are needed defines the types of data that are needed and the optimal mix of observing and the optimal mix of observing platforms required to meet those needs.platforms required to meet those needs.

Symposium GoalsSymposium Goals

• Identify the priorities, challenges, and Identify the priorities, challenges, and opportunities for research and opportunities for research and development that will contribute to development that will contribute to saving lives, reducing injuries, and saving lives, reducing injuries, and improving efficiency in the Nation’s improving efficiency in the Nation’s surface transportation infrastructure.surface transportation infrastructure.

Symposium GoalsSymposium Goals

• Define the needs for Define the needs for advanced computing advanced computing capacity required for capacity required for surface transportation surface transportation weather modeling and weather modeling and for the assimilation of for the assimilation of data from multiple data data from multiple data sources. sources.

Symposium GoalsSymposium Goals

• Identify the needs for new products and Identify the needs for new products and services driven by current operations or services driven by current operations or concepts for future surface concepts for future surface transportation systems. transportation systems. – Are there existing capabilities or emerging Are there existing capabilities or emerging

research and development that can be research and development that can be leveraged and/or transitioned into leveraged and/or transitioned into operations to meet these needs? operations to meet these needs?

– How can probabilistic forecasts be used to How can probabilistic forecasts be used to meet these needs?meet these needs?

Symposium GoalsSymposium Goals

• Investigate opportunities to document Investigate opportunities to document and substantiate the socioeconomic and substantiate the socioeconomic impacts of improved surface impacts of improved surface transportation weather products and transportation weather products and services. services.

Symposium GoalsSymposium Goals

• Identify the potential and emerging Identify the potential and emerging information dissemination technologies information dissemination technologies available to get the “right message” to available to get the “right message” to surface transportation weather surface transportation weather stakeholders.stakeholders.

Symposium GoalsSymposium Goals• Establish partnerships with the Establish partnerships with the

stakeholder community to ensure that stakeholder community to ensure that customers and stakeholders understand customers and stakeholders understand how to effectively use surface how to effectively use surface transportation weather products and transportation weather products and services in their decision-making services in their decision-making processes.processes.

Logistics

Chair: Mr. Samuel P. Williamson

Logistics

Logistics

Icebreaker and Exhibits

Symposium Sessions

Sheraton Premierat Tyson’s Corner

• Questions welcomed...time permittingQuestions welcomed...time permitting

• Significant issues reviewed daily at Significant issues reviewed daily at OFCM staff meeting OFCM staff meeting

• Results of discussions and any action items will be summarized during the final session

Ground Rules

This Morning’s Agenda

9:00 AM Keynote Addresses

10:30 AM Break

11:00 AM Session 1: Improving Economic and Life Decisions: Social and Economic Impacts and Benefits

Moderator: Dr. Denise Stephenson Hawk, NCAR

12:30 PM Lunch

This Afternoon’s Agenda

1:30 PM Session 2: Priorities for Surface Transportation Weather R&D

Moderator: Ms. Mary Glackin, NOAA

3:00 PM Break

3:30 PM Session 3: Leveraging Related R&D Activities to Benefit Surface Transportation

Moderator: Mr. Leon F. Osborne, Jr., Univ. of ND

5:00 PM Administrative Remarks

5:30 PM Icebreaker

Keynote AddressKeynote Address

Keynote SpeakerKeynote Speaker

Mr. Jeffrey N. ShaneMr. Jeffrey N. ShaneUndersecretary of Undersecretary of

Transportation for Policy, Transportation for Policy, Department of TransportationDepartment of Transportation

Keynote AddressKeynote Address

Keynote SpeakerKeynote Speaker

Vice Admiral Conrad C. Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.)Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Undersecretary of Commerce Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administratorand NOAA Administrator

Keynote AddressKeynote Address

Keynote SpeakerKeynote Speaker

Dr. Gene WhitneyDr. Gene WhitneyRepresentingRepresenting Dr. Sharon L. HaysDr. Sharon L. HaysAssociate Director of the Office Associate Director of the Office

of Science and Technology of Science and Technology PolicyPolicy

Break 10:30 – 11:00 a.m.Break 10:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Session 1Session 1

Improving Economic and Life Decisions: Improving Economic and Life Decisions: Social and Economic Impacts and BenefitsSocial and Economic Impacts and Benefits

Dr. Denise Stephenson HawkDr. Denise Stephenson Hawk NCAR Associate Director NCAR Associate Director

and Director of the and Director of the Societal-Environmental Societal-Environmental Research and Education Research and Education LaboratoryLaboratory

Session 1Session 1Dr. Christopher CluettDr. Christopher Cluett

Battelle Memorial Institute, System Evaluation Battelle Memorial Institute, System Evaluation

Mr. James WrightMr. James Wright511 Travel Information Service Coordinator, American Association of State 511 Travel Information Service Coordinator, American Association of State

Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

Ms. Julie DemuthMs. Julie DemuthAssociate Scientist, NCAR Societal Impacts Program/Institute for the Study of Associate Scientist, NCAR Societal Impacts Program/Institute for the Study of

Society and Environment/Research Applications Laboratory Society and Environment/Research Applications Laboratory

Dr. Betty Hearn MorrowDr. Betty Hearn MorrowConsulting Sociologist Consulting Sociologist

Lunch 12:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Lunch 12:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Session 2Session 2

Priorities for Surface Priorities for Surface Transportation Weather R&DTransportation Weather R&D

Ms. Mary GlackinMs. Mary Glackin Acting Assistant Acting Assistant

Administrator for Weather Administrator for Weather Services and Acting Services and Acting Director, National Director, National Weather Service National Weather Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Oceanic and Atmospheric AdminitrationAdminitration

Session 2Session 2Dr. Nelson KeelerDr. Nelson Keeler

Director, Office of Aviation Programs, John A. Volpe National Transportation Director, Office of Aviation Programs, John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S. Systems Center, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S.

DOT DOT

Ms. Shelley J. RowMs. Shelley J. Row Director Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office, Director Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office,

Research and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S. DOTResearch and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S. DOT

Mr. Richard EdwingMr. Richard EdwingMarine Transportation System Program Manager, Marine Transportation System Program Manager,

National Ocean Service, NOAANational Ocean Service, NOAA

Dr. Alexander E. MacDonaldDr. Alexander E. MacDonaldDeputy Assistant Administrator for NOAA Research Laboratories and Deputy Assistant Administrator for NOAA Research Laboratories and

Cooperative Institutes, and Director of the NOAA Earth System Research Cooperative Institutes, and Director of the NOAA Earth System Research LaboratoryLaboratory

Break 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.Break 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Session 3Session 3

Leveraging Related R&D Activities Leveraging Related R&D Activities to Benefit Surface Transportationto Benefit Surface Transportation

Mr. Leon F. Osborne, Jr.Mr. Leon F. Osborne, Jr. Professor – Atmospheric Professor – Atmospheric

Sciences, University of Sciences, University of North DakotaNorth Dakota

Session 3Session 3

Mr. Kenneth M. LeonardMr. Kenneth M. LeonardDirector, Aviation Weather Office, Operations Planning Services, Director, Aviation Weather Office, Operations Planning Services,

Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration

Mr. Jay J. AdamsMr. Jay J. AdamsGlobal Product Marketing ManagerGlobal Product Marketing Manager

Entertainment and Communications at DelphiEntertainment and Communications at Delphi

Mr. Mark GunzelmanMr. Mark GunzelmanSenior Scientist, Science and Technology CorporationSenior Scientist, Science and Technology Corporation

Mr. Bob DreisewerdMr. Bob Dreisewerd

Vice President and Director of Forecast Services, Baron Services Vice President and Director of Forecast Services, Baron Services Mr. Jon PollackMr. Jon Pollack

Vice-President GeoDecisions, Army’s IRRIS Program Vice-President GeoDecisions, Army’s IRRIS Program

IcebreakerIcebreaker

5:30 – 7:00 PM5:30 – 7:00 PM

Session 4Session 4

Observation Data Requirements for Observation Data Requirements for Surface TransportationSurface Transportation

Dr. Walter DabberdtDr. Walter DabberdtDirector, Strategic Director, Strategic Research, Vaisala Research, Vaisala GroupGroup

Session 4Session 4Dr. Walter DabberdtDr. Walter Dabberdt

Director, Strategic Research, Vaisala GroupDirector, Strategic Research, Vaisala Group

Mr. Chris BunceMr. Chris BunceManager, Geotechnical Engineering, Canadian Pacific RailwayManager, Geotechnical Engineering, Canadian Pacific Railway

Mr. Paul A. PisanoMr. Paul A. PisanoTeam Leader, Road Weather Management Program, Federal Highway Team Leader, Road Weather Management Program, Federal Highway Administration Administration

Dr. James O’SullivanDr. James O’SullivanProgram Manager, NOAA Surface Weather Program, and Acting Chief, NWS Program Manager, NOAA Surface Weather Program, and Acting Chief, NWS Observing Services Division Observing Services Division

Colonel Michael BabcockColonel Michael BabcockDeputy for Federal Programs, Directorate of Weather, United States Air Deputy for Federal Programs, Directorate of Weather, United States Air ForceForce

Break 9:35 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.Break 9:35 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.

Session 5Session 5Modeling and Prediction: Required Modeling and Prediction: Required

Products and ServicesProducts and Services

Mr. Kenneth GrahamMr. Kenneth GrahamChief, Meteorological Chief, Meteorological Services Division, Office of Services Division, Office of Climate, Water and Climate, Water and Weather Services, NOAA Weather Services, NOAA National Weather ServiceNational Weather Service

Session 5Session 5Dr. Stephen Lord, DirectorDr. Stephen Lord, Director

Environmental Modeling Center, National Centers for Environmental Environmental Modeling Center, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, NOAA National Weather Service Prediction, NOAA National Weather Service

Dr. Kevin PettyDr. Kevin PettyScientific Program Manager, National Center for Atmospheric Research Scientific Program Manager, National Center for Atmospheric Research

Mr. Ralph PattersonMr. Ralph PattersonTraffic Operation Center (TOC), Utah DOT Traffic Operation Center (TOC), Utah DOT

Dr. Richard ShirkeyDr. Richard ShirkeyU.S. Army Research Laboratory, CISD/Battlefield Environment Division, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, CISD/Battlefield Environment Division,

White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico

Mr. Jeffrey JohnsonMr. Jeffrey JohnsonChief Science Officer, DTN/MeteorlogixChief Science Officer, DTN/Meteorlogix

Lunch 11:35 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Lunch 11:35 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Session 6Session 6

Weather Information Dissemination in Weather Information Dissemination in Support of Effective Decision MakingSupport of Effective Decision Making

Mr. Dave JonesMr. Dave JonesCEO, President and CEO, President and Founder of StormCenter Founder of StormCenter Communications, Inc.Communications, Inc.

Session 6Session 6Mr. John OgrenMr. John Ogren

Deputy Director, Central Region, NOAA National Weather Service Deputy Director, Central Region, NOAA National Weather Service

Dr. Patrick WelshDr. Patrick WelshExecutive Director Advanced Weather Information Systems Laboratory, Executive Director Advanced Weather Information Systems Laboratory, University of North Florida University of North Florida

Mr. Dave LuskMr. Dave LuskSenior Manager, Global Operations Control, FedEx Express Senior Manager, Global Operations Control, FedEx Express

Mr. Paul TrotterMr. Paul TrotterMeteorologist-in-Charge, New Orleans/Baton Rouge WFO (Slidell) Louisiana Meteorologist-in-Charge, New Orleans/Baton Rouge WFO (Slidell) Louisiana

Mr. Mike SteinbergMr. Mike SteinbergSenior Vice-President, AccuWeather, Inc.Senior Vice-President, AccuWeather, Inc.

Break 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Break 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Session 7Session 7Research to Operations: The Research to Operations: The Pathway to Operational Pathway to Operational

ImplementationImplementation

Mr. Richard WagonerMr. Richard Wagoner Deputy Director, Research Deputy Director, Research Applications Laboratory, Applications Laboratory, NCARNCAR

Session 7Session 7Ms. Gloria KulesaMs. Gloria Kulesa

Program Manager, Weather Research and Development Program, Federal Program Manager, Weather Research and Development Program, Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Administration

Mr. Leland D. SmithsonMr. Leland D. SmithsonAmerican Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Snow American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Snow

and Ice Pooled Fund Cooperative Program Coordinator and Ice Pooled Fund Cooperative Program Coordinator

Dr. Lars Peter RiishojgaardDr. Lars Peter RiishojgaardDirector, Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation Director, Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation

Dr. Walter D. Bach, Jr.Dr. Walter D. Bach, Jr.Program Manager, Environmental Sciences Division, Army Research Office, Program Manager, Environmental Sciences Division, Army Research Office,

United States Army United States Army

Ms. Mary M. CairnsMs. Mary M. CairnsSenior Staff Meteorologist, Office of the Federal Coordinator for Senior Staff Meteorologist, Office of the Federal Coordinator for

Meteorological Services and Supporting ResearchMeteorological Services and Supporting Research

Exhibits and Exhibits and ReceptionReception

5:00 – 7:00 PM5:00 – 7:00 PM

Session 8Session 8Keys to Success:Keys to Success: Creating Synergy in All Components of Creating Synergy in All Components of

Surface Transportation Weather Surface Transportation Weather ApplicationsApplications

Dr. Paul D. TryDr. Paul D. TrySenior Vice President, Senior Vice President, Science and Technology Science and Technology CorporationCorporation

Session 8Session 8Dr. Elbert W. (Joe) FridayDr. Elbert W. (Joe) Friday

Professor Emeritus, University of Oklahoma Professor Emeritus, University of Oklahoma

Dr. John T. SnowDr. John T. SnowProfessor of Meteorology, Dean, College of Atmospheric and Professor of Meteorology, Dean, College of Atmospheric and

Geographic Sciences, and Administrator, National Weather Center, University Geographic Sciences, and Administrator, National Weather Center, University of Oklahoma of Oklahoma

Dr. Alexander E. (Sandy) MacDonaldDr. Alexander E. (Sandy) MacDonaldDeputy Assistant Administrator for NOAA Research Laboratories Deputy Assistant Administrator for NOAA Research Laboratories

and Cooperative Institutes, and Director of the NOAA Earth System Research and Cooperative Institutes, and Director of the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory Laboratory

Mr. Anthony T. (Tony) FurstMr. Anthony T. (Tony) FurstDirector, Office of Freight Management and Operations, and Acting Director, Office of Freight Management and Operations, and Acting

Director, Office of Transportation Operations, Federal Highway Director, Office of Transportation Operations, Federal Highway AdministrationAdministration