Product category:
Environment
News Release from: Vaisala | Subject: IceCast plus traffic W/s
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 June 2005
Highways are safer thanks to Vaisala
technology
To support winter maintenance Maine Department of Transportation has chosen Vaisala products along two important routes known for their difficult driving conditions
To support winter maintenance Maine Department of Transportation has chosen Vaisala products along two important routes known for their difficult driving conditions A Vaisala IceCast system has been installed, including 3 Vaisala remote traffic weather stations, two of which are located along Highway 9 and a third on the Interstate 95 near Bangor
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 4 Apr 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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The transportation weather network was first installed in the late fall of 2001.
The system comprises a Vaisala IceCast system and 3 Vaisala remote traffic weather stations.
Two of the stations are located along Highway 9 and a third station is located on Interstate 95 near Bangor.
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In Maine, winter road maintenance is challenging and driving conditions are frequently difficult.
The weather in Maine is known to be unpredictable throughout the year, but drivers experience the most difficult conditions in wintertime.
In general, snow falls in mid-October and heavy snowstorms and blizzards occur throughout the winter, shutting down schools and businesses a few times a year.
Consequently, efficient and timely winter maintenance is crucial for traffic safety.
Each weather station has a full compliment of sensors - wind speed and direction, relative humidity, air temperature and dew point, present weather and pavement sensors as well as video monitoring equipment at two of the sites.
The present weather sensor measures both visibility and different types of precipitation.
The pavement sensor incorporates a state-of-the-art fiber optic sensor which physically measures the thickness of water, frost, ice and snow layer on the pavement surface, as well as surface and ground temperature and surface condition.
The road weather stations in two of the locations communicate with the Vaisala central server, utilising the State's Wide AreaNetwork (WAN), ensuring fast and reliable transmission of information.
IceView software displays both real-time and NowCast data in varying formats, including tables, graphics and maps, which assist the decision-makers in determining the concentration of anti-icing agents on the highway as well as on any on-coming adverse weather conditions.
In addition to the equipment, Vaisala provided system user and data interpretation training for DOT personnel, as well as providing on-going maintenance of the sites.
The IceCast system is proving to be the key to safer roads in Maine - keeping it operational is of the utmost importance. Request a free brochure from Vaisala ...
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