Idaho 511 system enhanced
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January 4, 2014 |
Idaho continues to improve its 511 Traveler
Services system at
511.idaho.gov
by automating road-condition alerts.
A few other states incorporate data gathered by
remote weather sensors into their highway
reports, but Idaho might be the only state
generating automated road-condition alerts,
explained Tony Ernest, coordinator of the Idaho
Transportation Department’s 511 system.
Recent enhancements to more than 100 Road
Weather Information Stations (RWIS) monitoring
highways throughout the state provide new tools
for motorists to make safe driving decisions.
Down-looking optical sensors added to the RWIS
monitors can determine actual road-surface
conditions, including whether a road surface is
dry, snow-covered, icy or slushy. The sensors
also can calculate road-surface friction,
classified as good, slick or very slick.
Standard weather sensors at each site detect
hazardous weather conditions such as high winds
or fog.
The newest enhancement to the RWIS monitors
allows the stations to generate real-time active
roadway and hazardous weather-condition alerts
and alert icons directly to ITD’s 511 system
that can be accessed through the full-feature
site. Work to provide similar automated alerts
on the 511 trucker’s site soon will be complete.
Automating the process of updating ITD’s 511
site provides faster updates -- every 15 minutes
on average -- and more accurate information.
When accessed, an RWIS displays camera images,
weather data and a pink banner identifying any
current alerts. A mouse hover over an RWIS
station will highlight the area of influence for
roadway conditions. A grey circle represents
weather condition areas.
“I’m really pleased with the way these
enhancements worked out,” said Ernest. “It’s up
and working well.”
“The system additions will be useful to
travelers during all seasons, not just winter,”
he added. |
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