Statewide Mobile Road Weather Information System (IN)

Statewide Mobile Road Weather Information System (IN)

The Hoosier Company Inc. (HCI) partners with Indiana Department of Transportation to install new Statewide Mobile Road Weather Information System (MARWIS) network.

For over 25 years, INDOT has utilized a traditional Statewide RWIS network as a key component of winter operations. A traditional RWIS is an Environmental Sensor Station (ESS) in the field that is used to collect weather data such as atmospheric parameters, pavement conditions, pavement friction, and visibility. INDOT uses the information gathered, as well as camera images, for maintenance decision support; much of which is essential for winter maintenance activities.

Benefits For Calculating Grip

  • Monitor Maintenance Performance by using observed Grip data.
  • Maintenance Targets can be based upon the minimum expected level of grip on any route.
  • Roadway treatment strategies an be verified based upon observed grip in the roadway.
Over the last two years, INDOT and The Hoosier Company Inc. has deployed a Mobile RWIS (MARWIS) mobile sensor network to enhance the traditional RWIS system and help manage route based winter weather operations.

Mobile Road Weather Information System
With the help of the MARWIS Mobile Pavement Sensor, INDOT will be able to not only collect all of the data necessary to determine the level of the grip in the roadway, but also have data containing the roadway temperature, condition, water film height & ice percentage. The data collected by the MARWIS can be used to identify problematic areas that need more attention, as well as help determine needed materials to keep maintenance programs operational. The Road Weather information is also used within INDOT’s Traffic Management Center for Dynamic Message Sign activations and as a key part of the statewide Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) program.

The introduction of roadway grip data continues to help improve and innovate winter operation practices. There are currently 44 RWIS stations and 14 mobile MARWIS systems deployed

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