Road and Weather Information System (RWIS)

Project Description

Minnesota's R/WIS includes in-field detectors, communications to relay data to a central processing center, and display mechanisms to display data and resulting information to maintenance and traveler information providers, as well as the traveling public.

 Data gathered from a series of in-pavement sensors, sub-surface probes and meteorological equipment were combined with a weather forecast to predict pavement surface conditions up to 12 hours in advance. Advanced traveler information systems provided drivers and fleet operators with R/WIS data including up-to-the-minute warnings about changing conditions. Highway operations managers use R/WIS for timely and cost-effective snow plowing and deicing.