Training
Principles and Tools for Road Weather Management, NHI Course Number: FHWA-NHI-137030A
In 2005 the Road Weather Management Program developed the NHI Course No. 137030A "Principles and Tools for Road Weather Management", a one-day course that provides training to help those involved in highway maintenance and operations develop tools and strategies for addressing road weather management issues. This course provides basic knowledge of meteorology and addresses the technological resources available to support highway personnel in making effective road weather management decisions. Key topics covered in the course include impact the impacts of weather on highway operations, fundamentals of meteorology including how it pertains to Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS), technical and institutional resources available for implementing RWIS and a range of effective and open solutions to various types of road weather conditions and for various management practices. The course focuses heavily on resources and solutions, and how those solutions can reduce the impact of adverse weather on the traveling public and highway agencies.
The Road Weather Management Program and the Consortium for ITS Training and Education (CITE) recently developed an interactive web-based version of the course. It is essentially the same material as the NHI Course No. 137030A, only it is converted to an on-line format. The course has been delivered a few times and received positive feedback from the participants.
Fundamentals of Road Weather Management CD-ROM: Professional Development Module
This professional development module was developed by FHWA in partnership with the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) to provide transportation practitioners with a quick, concise, and easy way to learn about the basics of road weather management. The training CD provides general information about the magnitude of the road weather problem, the types of management strategies that can be used, the technologies available to support road weather management, and actions that can be taken to address road weather incidents. It also describes some of the best practices in road weather management. The module includes a PowerPoint presentation that takes about an hour to complete as well as a supplemental guide. The CD-ROM can be purchased from the ITE Bookstore.
Anti-Icing/RWIS Computer-Based Training Program
A comprehensive, interactive training program for winter operations was jointly developed by the FHWA, AASHTO's Snow and Ice Cooperative Program (SICOP), and a pooled-fund research program known as Aurora. The computer-based training program incorporates scenario based training exercises for equipment operators, supervisors, and middle managers. The training program covers an introduction to anti-icing and winter maintenance, winter road maintenance management, winter roadway hazards and principles of overcoming them, weather basics, weather and roadway monitoring for anti-icing decisions, computer access to road weather information, and anti-icing practice in winter maintenance operations. Two versions of the training program are available, one generic and the other customized. The customized versions are specifically tailored to the strategies and chemicals used in the snow and ice control operations of a particular state. The training course is available from AASHTO and the American Public Works Association (APWA).
ITS Peer-to-Peer Program
The Intelligent Transportation Peer-to-Peer Program is a Technical Assistance Program that provides public sector transportation stakeholders with a convenient method to tap into the growing knowledge base of ITS experience. The program is designed to provide short-term assistance to address specific, technical issues.