I'd like to start a thread for fog-related products, services, vendors, software, hardware. I'll start by posting the following information on the New Version (V2.0) of the "Best Practices for Road Weather Management CD-ROM" Now Available: Version 2.0 of the "Best Practices for Road Weather Management CD-ROM," released in May 2003, contains resources to help traffic, emergency, and maintenance managers improve roadway operations under inclement weather conditions. The CD contains 30 case studies of systems utilized in response to various weather threats including fog, high winds, rain, snow, ice, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, and avalanches. The CD also includes a web-based user interface, a listing of over 200 road weather publications, an environmental sensor overview, online resources (including 39 statewide road condition web sites) and a feedback form. To order free copies of this CD, simply fill out the on-line form found at the following web site, and then press the "Send" button. http://www.nawgits.com/fhwa/rw_mgt_cd_req.html Mark Chandler

From Transportation Communications Newsletter Tuesday, June 3, 2003 -- ISSN: 1529-1057 511 Deployment Coalition Releases Weather Content Report Link to story from ITS America: http://www.itsa.org/ITSNEWS.NSF/4e0650bef6193b3e852562350056a3a7/64b9b3242beac1e985256d3a006612a5?OpenDocument

An interesting article about a Caltrans fog-warning system came from Bernie Wagenblast (Transportation Communications Newsletter); see pages 4 - 7 at http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/aboutdist7/pubs/journals/jan_mar_2003/html/janmar03.htm

) Road Security: ANAS & Fiat Start Infonebbia Project Project designed to improve road safety in foggy conditions. Link to story from Agenzia Giornalistica Italia: http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200310242030-1201-RT1-CRO-0-NF30&page=0&id=agionline-eng.bnessitaly Thanks to Bernie Wagenblast for link. Mark

Allies in the Fight Against Fog Caltrans Advance Warning System alerts drivers to reduced visibility and other traffic problems. Link to story in The Modesto Bee: http://www.modbee.com/local/story/9305209p-10211660c.html From Bernie Wagenblast; Transportation Communications Newsletter; Tuesday, October 19, 2004 -- ISSN: 1529-105710) through Mark Chandler

Thanks to Bernie Wagenblast for an interesting note about a Caltrans
fog-warning system: "Test to Warn California Motorists About Fog"; Link to
story in The Fresno Bee:
www.fresnobee.com/384/story/627501.html

Mark

Mark R. Chandler, PE, CMfgE
U.S. DOT - FHWA Wisconsin Division
525 Junction Rd.
City Center West, Suite 8000
Madison, WI
53717

fax: 608-829-7526
office: 608-829-7514
office cell phone: 608-287-4226
mark.chandler@fhwa.dot.gov
www.fhwa.dot.gov/widiv/index.htm

Environmental and Design Engineer - WisDOT's NW & NE Regions

Highway Visibility CoP: knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/nhv

This PowerPoint presentation has been located in the Reference Topic, and is about a Self-illuminated Road Marker System, which may have applicability in some fog-related situations. It's a well done presentation - but 1.8MB in size and may take a moment to load. Does anyone else out there have any similar presentations to share or point toward? Mark Chandler

I don't have a presentation to share but we have done a little bit of testing on self illuminating road markers. Could you please direct me to or email me the PowerPoint presentation that your are refering to. Thank You Bill Ward

Dear Sir: Please go to http://www.itemltd.com for information on our products designed for fog delineation. We are distributors for Swarco LaneLight, a daytime-visible LED marker controlled externally, and Miracle Solarmarker, a low-light visible LED marker designed for activation in fog. I can be reached at (toll free) 866-466-4836 for further information, or by return email. Regards, Glenn W. Radford

Please refer to our website www.Silicon Constellations.com for information on our Road Star (TM) Self-illuminated Solar-Battery Self-powered Intelligent Road Marker Systems, which are ideal for railway grade crossings, auto-activated construction or detour warnings, bike & pedestrian intersections, and pedestrian crosswalks. Since Road Stars are software driven, any hue in the color spectrum at different intensity levels can be obtained from their RGB LED trio for any circumstances or conditions on the road.

Please refer to our website www.Silicon Constellations.com for information on our Road Star (TM) Self-illuminated Solar Self-powered Intelligent Road Marker Systems, which are ideal for railway grade crossings, auto-activated construction or detour warnings, bike & pedestrian intersections, and pedestrian crosswalks. Since Road Stars are software driven, any hue in the color spectrum at different intensity levels can be obtained from their RGB LED trio for any circumstances or conditions on the road.

I've got a presentation on wireless, self-powered inroad lights that can be used in some fog-related situations, as well as for a variety of other purposes. Please send me an email, and I will be happy to forward it to you. Cheers...

I have problems in a higway in Lima-Perú because it have a lot of dense fog. I would like to have some signals or devices that can let me sign the highway when occurs accidents.

Hello, We manufacture the Sentry Visibility Sensor that is used to detect fog on the highway. We can integrate with flashing warning lights, in pavement lighting markers, etc. Please contact me for more information. Regards, John Crosby www.envirotechsensors.com

self illuminated road marker for equatorial road construction wish to have a catalogue presenting the different types of road markers and their respective prices.

Greetings: I assume you saw the earlier postings on this topic thread for Self-illuminated Road Marker System, such as: Re: Self-illuminated Road Marker System Glenn W. Radford , iTEM Ltd , gradford@itemltd.com 12/05/2003 01:40 PM And some of those postings left their e-mail addresses and phone numbers, and you could contact them directly. I also did a www.google.com search on ["Self-illuminated" Road Marker System] and found a couple of other listing from http://www.amsterdam.intertraffic.com/_upload/intertraffic2004/docs/Innovation_Award_lijst.doc: G1 Advanced Light AS, tel. +47 23 100 130 Contact: Mr Herman Anker E-mail: herman@advancedlight.com Road In-Pavement Light Full flush illuminated road stud, resistant against snow chains and winter maintenance. The LEDs can be dimmed and have directional light output at an angle dependent on the application requested. Because of its full flush construction chemicals cannot gather into the aluminium cast alloy of the case. G2 Verenigde VTN Bedrijven BV (Royal BAM Group) , tel. +31 345 547 474 Contact: Mrs Magrita Noordmans E-mail: magrita.noordmans@vtn.bam-it.nl SmartStudÔ is a road marker guidance system that is highly visible under all road and weather conditions. LEDs come in various colours and are inductively powered with no direct wiring. The studs are visible from a distance of 500 m. A SmartStud system is extremely simple, quick and economical to install (1 km can be installed in 24 hours with minimal traffic disturbance). The system can be applied for traffic delineation in tunnels, motorway exits, roundabouts and intersections. Tight corners can be marked as well as unusual road conditions. SmartStuds make pedestrian and railway crossings a lot safer. best regards, Mark R. Chandler, PE, CMfgE Technology Transfer/Quality Engineer; Marketing U.S. DOT - FHWA Wisconsin Division 567 D'Onofrio Dr. - Suite 100 Madison, WI 53719-2844 office: 608-829-7514 fax: 608-829-7526 mark.chandler@fhwa.dot.gov http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/widiv/index.htm

Hello every one! I am from Shanghai china. I am very interested in road marking products. And I find that the web www.shk-lite.com is very interesting. There is many super products with low price. If there is anyone interested in reflective products, you may sign in the web and take a looking. Or you may contact me via msn hymer9@hotmail.com.

www.fogquest.org for information on the Fog Conferences, the FogQuest Newsletter, or the not-for-profit charitable organization FogQuest. Interesting that this website is dedicated to mitigating a highway-related fog hazard, and FogQuest is actively engaged in harvesting fog. Mark Chandler

From FHWA TECHNOLOGY TALKS (excerpts from weekly reports)Mid-August Report, 2003 Delaware: DelDOT Begins to Deploy the Infrastructure to Support Variable Speed Limits (VSL) The Delaware Department of Transportation has begun to install 23 variable speed limit (VSL) signs on Interstate 495, the first step towards an anticipated VSL deployment on approximately 150 miles of freeways and major highways in the state. Controlled by DelDOT's new "DelTrac" system, this new VSL capability will enable the agency to lower the maximum legal speeds on these highways to help reduce air pollution or manage incidents more effectively. Because VSL to date has been used in the U.S. primarily for localized corridor problems -- such as fog or ice and snow -- DelDOT plans to proceed cautiously with this deployment and to gain experience before implementing VSL statewide.

Does anyone have measurements of the time it takes for fog to form? I have seen fog form almost instantaneously and I have seen it take hours to build from the gound up. What is the time interval of the sensors used to detect low visibility? Will Variable Speed Limit signs be designed to react to density, cars per mile?

There are many possible answers to the question on " ... time it takes for fog to form." For instance, there are many types of fog: radiation fog, upslope fog (or mountain fog), frontal fog, advection fog, steam fog (also known as sea smoke), rain fog, and fog associate with reduced visibility in snow. All fog formation is related to the atmosphere becoming saturated (100% RH) under the right atmospheric conditions, which include light wind, stable atmoshpere, etc. But perhaps the real question is "when will visiblity in the highway environment be reduced to specific thresholds for VSL signing/warning. This question probably has as many or more answers as the previous question because fog can form and then move over the roadway rather than form over the roadway. To your second question about time interval of the sensors, the time interval is probably on the order of tens of seconds, but the more important issue may be how frequently sensors are polled and how. I can't address the last question, but another consideration through all of this is that highway visibility issues are equally problematic for smoke, dust, and blowing snow, as well as vehicle induced visibility restrictions in rain or wet pavement conditions, as well as snow covered roads. In addition, although fog tends to form in selected areas for any number of reasons, including nearby nuclear power plants, pulp mills, etc., fog is also of a transient nature and it is nigh unto impossible to detect fog everywhere with devices that measure optical effects in a few inches of the atmosphere along side or near, but not on roadways.

17 September 2003 Hi Mark, I have been away for the first two weeks of September, so this reply is a little slow. The answer to your question, unfortunately, will be annoyingly vague. This is because one can have fog formation in situ (e.g. radiation fog), which may take hours to form; fog formation due to the advection of a moving mass of fog or cloud (e.g. high elevation fog), which can appear in minutes; or fog produced by industrial emissions (e.g. cooling ponds), where fog might appear over a highway in minutes due to a shift in wind direction. The time for formation can have a large range of values, from perhaps 5 minutes to 8 hours. There are a lot of papers on fog formation and detection mechanisms as well as fog forecasting. Some of these are in the two proceedings volumes of the 1998 and 2001 International Fog Conferences. There is a new paper just coming out that should be of interest to your list. It deals with modelling the formation of the fog event near Windsor, Ontario, that led to a major accident on the highway just east of the city a few years ago. It focusses specifically on short time scales and small distance scales. Title: Analysis and modelling of an extremely dense fog event in Southern Ontario Source: Journal of Applied Meteorology (2003), Accepted Authors: M. Pagowski, I. Gultepe and P. King Contact: ismail.gultepe@ec.gc.ca In response to an earlier query on your list regarding the use of satellites, Joerg Bendix in Germany, among others, has done a lot of work on satellite observations of fog, including measurements of horizontal visibility from satellites. A couple of his papers are: Title: Fog Detection and Fog Mapping Using Low Cost Meteosat-WEFAX transmission Keywords: maps, Alpine, Europe Topic: Fog Reference: Meteorol. Appl. (1996) Vol 3, pp 179-187 Location: Germany FQ_Source: Toronto, Office Medium: Hardcopy Item Type: Journal Article Author(s): Bendix, J. Year: 2002 Title: A satellite-based climatology of fog and low-level stratus in Germany and adjacent areas. Keywords: Topic: Fog Reference: Atmospheric Research (2002) 64, Iss. 1-4, 3-18. Location: Germany FQ_Source: Toronto, Office Medium: Item Type: Journal Article These notes and the couple of references noted below may be of some help at least in illustrating that there has been considerable work done on fog formation and detection in the scientific community. Best regards, Bob Examples in the industrial emissions category mentioned above are: Author(s): Campbell M.N., L.E. Branscome and D.A. Stewart Year: 1998 Title: Impact of industrial emissions on local fog formation: part 1 - video monitoring Keywords water vapour, sources, formation Topic: Fog Reference: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Fog and Fog Collection, Schemenauer, R.S. and H. Bridgman, eds., Vancouver, Canada, 19-24 July 1998 ISBN 0-9683887-0-1, pp. 389-392 Location: USA FQ_Source: Toronto, Office Medium: Hardcopy Item Conference Proceedings Author(s): Hicks J., Sheppard A. and A. Binotto Year: 1998 Title: An analysis of local fog formation at an industrial wastewater treatment facility Keywords Topic: Fog Reference: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Fog and Fog Collection, Schemenauer, R.S. and H. Bridgman, eds., Vancouver, Canada, 19-24 July 1998 ISBN 0-9683887-0-1, pp. 393-395 Location: Canada FQ_Source: Toronto, Office Medium: Hardcopy Item Conference Proceedings Author(s): Hovsepyan, A. Year: 2001 Title: The influence of human activity on fog formation Keywords climatology, model, urbanization, air pollution Topic: Fog Reference: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Fog and Fog Collection, Schemenauer, R.S. and H. Puxbaum, eds. St. John's, Canada, July 15-20, ISBN 0-9683887-1-X, pp. 425-427 Location: Armenia FQ_Source: Toronto, Office Medium: Hardcopy Item Conference Proceedings A few more general papers are: Author(s): Roach, W.T. Year: 1994 Title: Fog: Part 2, The Formation and Dissipation of Land Fog Keywords collection, radiation fog, model Topic: Fog Reference: Weather (1994) pp 7-11 Location: England FQ_Source: Toronto, Office Medium: Hardcopy Item Journal Article ____________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Author(s): Roach, W.T. Year: 1995 Title: Fog: Part 3, The Formation and Dissipation of Sea Fog Keywords Topic: Fog Reference: Weather (1995) Vol 50, Iss 3, pp 80-83 Location: England FQ_Source: Toronto, Office Medium: Hardcopy Item Journal Article Author(s): Croft, P.J. Year: 1998 Title: A conceptual model approach to fog forecasting Keywords boundary layer, geographic information systems Topic: Fog Reference: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Fog and Fog Collection, Schemenauer, R.S. and H. Bridgman, eds., Vancouver, Canada, 19-24 July 1998 ISBN 0-9683887-0-1, pp. 285-288 Location: USA FQ_Source: Toronto, Office Medium: Hardcopy Item Conference Proceedings There are papers related to specific types and places of fog formation, e.g. : Author(s): Fedorova, N., E. Dal Piva and M.H. de Carvalho Year: 2001 Title: Investigation of radiation fog formation on the south coast of Brazil Keywords climatology, model, dew point, dissipation Topic: Fog Reference: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Fog and Fog Collection, Schemenauer, R.S. and H. Puxbaum, eds. St. John's, Canada, July 15-20, ISBN 0-9683887-1-X, pp. 395-398 Location: Brazil FQ_Source: Toronto, Office Medium: Hardcopy Item Conference Proceedings Many papers exist on satellite detection of fog, e.g. : Author(s): Gurka, J.J. Year: 1978 Title: The Use of Enhanced Vis Imagery for Fog Detection and Prediction Keywords Topic: Fog Reference: Satellite Applications Information Note (1978) Vol 4, Iss 1 Location: none FQ_Source: Medium: Hardcopy Item Journal Article ********************************************************************* -----Original Message----- From: Chandler, Mark [mailto:Mark.Chandler@fhwa.dot.gov] Sent: September 2, 2003 10:55 AM To: robert.schemenauer@ec.gc.ca Subject: FW: FHWA Highway Community Exchange - New Items Dr. Robert S. Schemenauer Emeritus Research Scientist, Environment Canada Tel. (1-416) 739-4606 Fax (1-416) 739-4211 robert.schemenauer@ec.gc.ca Bob: May I ask if you could provide some insight or reference to the Item 2 question below: Does anyone have measurements of the time it takes for fog to form? best regards, Bob Mark Mark R. Chandler, PE, CMfgE Technology Transfer/Quality Engineer; Marketing U.S. DOT - FHWA Wisconsin Division 567 D'Onofrio Dr. - Suite 100 Madison, WI 53719-2844 office: 608-829-7514 fax: 608-829-7526 mark.chandler@fhwa.dot.gov http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/widiv/index.htm

Variable speed limits seem to have a lot of potential, but why not use variable mandated speeds instead? Mandated speeds might significantly enhance safety because they would eliminate "rear ender" collisions due to large differences in speed between vehicles. Their use would also discourage passing, and might result in smoother, less stressful traffic flow. My experience has been that vehicles moving inordinately slow constsitute a major hazard during conditions of impaired visibility. If mandated speeds are set correctly, only incompetent drivers would be adversely affected. They should either not be on the roads, or should be in a lane dedicated to slower traffic.

Turnpike Getting Weather Network Link to story in The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pennsylvania): http://www.tribune-democrat.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10448765&BRD=2332&PAG=461&dept_id=484742&rfi=6 Thanks to Bernie Wagenblast for this link. Mark

This may be of interest, related to variable speed limits for fog conditions: We have developed programmable control of the LaneLight in-pavement marker that will "pace" traffic by "chasing" LED markers that delineate the road at either a pre-determined speed, or a variable speed determined by level of visibility. The speed - regulating markers appear as a steady delineating line along center and dividing lines on the roadway if the driver is matching their speed, but appear to be coming toward him if he exceeds their speed, and appear to be going away from him if he is travelling slower than their speed. The differential of speed between the visual appearance of the markers and the driver's actual speed tends to make the driver match the speed of the markers, therefore creating a safer condition of uniform traffic speed throughout a poor visibility (fog) hazard area. http:www.lanelight.com

The design sounds like the strobe lights used to help a pilot in a low visibility approach. This sounds like it needs an awful lot of human factors research. In fog conditions, there are practically no clues from peripheral vision. Drivers tend to speed up as a result. These lights may restore those peripheral clues. But if the desired speed is to have the lights appear stationary, the speed clues may be confusing. Another aspect is "blooming" of the fog ahead. I think I would prefer steady lights much as those installed on Skyline Drive in Oakland. But then there might be a speed variable that the strobe effect would solve. Lack of a visual horizon and strobing lights might induce vertigo or spatial confusion. Has this been tested in a simulator? Another factor is the driver workload in establishing a following distance in variable fog or in a platoon that has vehicles with different acceleration.

Glenn, Has this system been deployed by any state agencies? Lynette

Dear Lynette, Sorry I didn't respond earlier - one of my co workers brought your question to my attention! The answer is no, but we possess the technology to accomplish this effect. More importantly, we also have the LED marker for in road use that will stand up to in - road conditions and not fail, as has been the problem with other markers. We would welcome any state agency to install our system, and could provide the equipment at a very reasonable cost, given the important nature of the application, and the fact that it will be the first such system to be used. Glenn

Courtesy of Bernie Wagenblast, and the Transportation Communications Newsletter: California Highway Patrol Will Pace Traffic On Heavy-Fog Highways Link to story in The Modesto Bee (Modesto, California): http://www.modbee.com/local/story/7717883p-8620592c.html Bernie

This came through Bernie Wagenblast: While looking for a Caltrans news release on this story I came across these (weblinks to) brochures from Caltrans. The first is in English and the second is in Spanish. Fog - What You Can't See Can Kill You http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist6/fog/fogbrochure_english.pdf http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist6/fog/fogbrochure_spanish.pdf (many thanks, Bernie)

Hi Mark, How can I get our company listed on your fog-related products list? We manufacture the Sentry Visibility Sensor that can integrate with RWIS systems, lane delineation lights, etc. We have sold the Sentry for road weather applications in the US, Korea, Germany, China, Australia, and Scotland. Thanks, John Crosby

John: There isn't a fog-related products list, but you have almost done the next best thing by posting to this website. However, you might also provide a little more contact information for you and your company (addresses, phone numbers, and especially company URL or URLs); maybe URLs to other sites that make reference to your products or reports on use of your products. If you're inclined, you can come to the May 18-19 2004 fog-related 2004 National Highway Visibility Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, as vendor. See the NHVC website at www.topslab.wisc.edu/nhvc, and in the left column click on Exhibits/Sponsorships for further information. best regards, John. Mark Mark R. Chandler, PE, CMfgE Technology Transfer/Quality Engineer; Marketing U.S. DOT - FHWA Wisconsin Division 567 D'Onofrio Dr. - Suite 100 Madison, WI 53719-2844 office: 608-829-7514 fax: 608-829-7526 mark.chandler@fhwa.dot.gov http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/widiv/index.htm May 18-19 2004 fog-related 2004 National Highway Visibility Conference Conference website: www.topslab.wisc.edu/nhvc Related website: http://knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/nhv

Mark, We are exhibiting our Sentry Visibility sensor at the NHVC conference and will give a brief presentation about fog detection networks during the contractor portion on Tuesday afternoon. Contact info for us is: John Crosby jcrosby@envirotechsensors.com EnviroTech Sensors, Inc. P.O. Box 794 Clarksville, MD 21029 410.531.8596 ph / 410.531.7010 fax Visit our web site at www.envirotechsensors.com !!!

You might also be interested in the PWS100 present weather sensor that Campbell
Scientific manufactures as it is also a visibility sensor which adjusts
visibility output based on the identified obscurant or precipitation type.

The webpage is www.campbellsci.co.uk/index.cfm?id=1117, though more
information is available if required (the manual and some specification sheets
are also available on the website).

Thanks to Bernie Wagenblast for forwarding this article. Fog warnings could make I-40 safer By Mark Barrett, Staff Writer Nov. 22, 2004 10:50 p.m. RIDGECREST - Brenda Salsman never knows quite what to expect on the portion of Interstate 40 that traverses Old Fort Mountain when she drives from her home in Marion to her business in Asheville. "I'm leaving Marion and it is a bright, sunny day, and I get to the top of the mountain and it's all foggy," Salsman said. Starting in late summer of next year, motorists using the remote stretch of I-40 between Ridgecrest and Old Fort will have some warning if the key highway is fogged in. The state Board of Transportation awarded a $393,182 contract last month to Nu-Metrics of Uniontown, Pa., to install a fog detection and warning system on the highway. Work is to be completed by August. Sensors will determine when fog is heavy and activate flashing yellow lights on warning signs, said Rick Tipton, the Department of Transportation's division construction engineer. There is no good alternate route, but motorists will be alerted that they will have to slow down ahead, he said. I-40 reaches about 2,800 feet in elevation near the Buncombe-McDowell County line, and foggy conditions are not unusual. Motorists sometimes find themselves enveloped by fog relatively quickly, and there have been accidents on the highway because of poor visibility, Tipton said. "Sometimes you are into (the fog) before you realize it's going to be there," Salsman said. "It's almost like a wall sometimes." When it is foggy, "You really do have to slow down," Salsman said. "You never know when you're going encounter someone who's almost stopped." Tipton acknowledged that fog warning systems installed elsewhere have not always worked well. But technology has improved, he said, increasing confidence that this system will be effective. The stretch of I-40 involved is an important east-west route for long distance traffic and also serves a number of commuters. It carried about 30,000 vehicles a day in 2003. Contact Barrett at 232-5833 or MBarrett@CITIZEN-TIMES.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2004 Asheville Citizen-Times (North Carolina)

'Operation Fog' Tries to Slow Drivers When Going Gets Thick. California Highway Patrol escorts, high-tech alerts being used to avert pileups. Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/01/25/BAG0DAVPBA1.DTL Bernie Wagenblast sent 1/25/05, and URL still operational as of this posting.

"Foggy Fog Alerts" by Jessica Morris, link to: http://www.newschannel9.com/engine.pl?station=wtvc&id=379&template=breakout_story1.shtml Warning signs in Bradley and McMinn Counties, designed to alert drivers of fog on 1-75, aren't working properly. Transportation officials spent the day trying to pinpoint the problem. There's typically a lot of fog between mile markers 28 and 38. When that's the case, fog signs on the interstate come on to tell drivers to slow it down, but many times the signs aren't correct, flashing warnings that match conditions. A 91-car pile-up on I-75 fifteen years ago prompted the Tennessee Department of Transportation to address a area fog problem. Their solution... Install fog detectors and signs along a ten-mile stretch around Charleston and Calhoun to give warning of difficult driving conditions. "If it detects fog, automatically it'll put something on the signs: Fog ahead. Turn on high beams. And at the same time it'll send a warning to Tennessee Highway Patrol. They'll send a Higway Patrol out to physically see what's happening out here," explained Ray Rucker, TDOT. We wanted to know what drivers thought about the signs. "It has functioned. It does work," said Micheal Morelan. "Sometimes they're a little sensitive, but for the most part, yeah," agreed Laura Nicholls. Most drivers we talked to agreed with Nicholls. They said the signs often warn drivers of fog ahead when there actually isn't any fog lurking. "Yes. There are times when it doesn't work properly, and we're trying to investigate right now to see what we can do to rectify that situation," said Jennifer Osborne, TDOT. "We've got one message sign down cause it was hit twice, knocked down on the ground," said Rucker. "We've had the fiber optic cable that runs the whole length of the system, it's been cut two or three times." And the central computer system for the signs and detectors is almost thirteen-years-old. "There's bugs that come into it. The wiring gets a little brittle after a while," said Rucker. TDOT said they've already taken down one faulty detector, and it's possible they may have to replace the central computer. But they said the $2.8 million system is worth the every penny if it prevents another major accident from happening.

Bernie Wagenblast sent me the following story which might be of interest. While it has an aviation focus perhaps there are some benefits for ground transportation. New Water Vapor Sensing System Successfully Tested Sensors in aircraft help forecasters predict fog. Link to story in NWS Focus: http://www.weather.gov/com/nwsfocus/fs20050420.htm#watervapor Link to additional information from the Joint Office for Science Support: http://www.ofps.ucar.edu/wvss/spectrasensors.pdf Mark Mark R. Chandler, PE, CMfgE Technology Transfer/Quality Engineer; Marketing U.S. DOT - FHWA Wisconsin Division 567 D'Onofrio Dr. - Suite 100 Madison, WI 53719-2844 office: 608-829-7514 fax: 608-829-7526 mark.chandler@fhwa.dot.gov http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/widiv/index.htm

ITS Benefit of the Month: Fog Warning System: A fog warning system on a two-mile section of I-215 in Salt Lake City, Utah promotes uniform traffic flow among vehicles and aids travel safety. http://www.benefitcost.its.dot.gov/ITS/benecost.nsf/ByLink/BOTM-April2005 Thanks to FHWA's Kevin Connor for this information. Mark Mark R. Chandler, PE, CMfgE Technology Transfer/Quality Engineer; Marketing U.S. DOT - FHWA Wisconsin Division 567 D'Onofrio Dr. - Suite 100 Madison, WI 53719-2844 office: 608-829-7514 fax: 608-829-7526 mark.chandler@fhwa.dot.gov http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/widiv/index.htm

NOW AVAILABLE (and web based): Road Weather Information System Environmental Sensor Station Siting Guidelines: This document provides siting criteria that satisfy as many road weather monitoring, detection, and prediction requirements as possible. See http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/ess05/index.htm best regards, Mark Mark R. Chandler, PE, CMfgE Technology Transfer/Quality Engineer; Marketing U.S. DOT - FHWA Wisconsin Division 567 D'Onofrio Dr. - Suite 100 Madison, WI 53719-2844 office: 608-829-7514 fax: 608-829-7526 mark.chandler@fhwa.dot.gov http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/widiv/index.htm

An interesting story out of NM where they've done some work to decrease dust storms and also improved their warning system for drivers. Two items related to blowing dust in NM. 1) New Mexico DOT Takes Control of Dust Storms Near Interstates Link to story and video report on KOAT-TV: www.thenewmexicochannel.com/news/7894585/detail.html 2) this story from January on the Impaired Vision Alert Network. www.news-bulletin.com/news/58507-01-28-06.html Thanks to Bernie Wagenblast for forwarding these items to me. best regards, everyone Mark R. Chandler, PE, CMfgE
U.S. DOT - FHWA Wisconsin Division
567 D'Onofrio Dr. - Suite 100
Madison, WI 53719-2844
office: 608-829-7514
fax: 608-829-7526
mark.chandler@fhwa.dot.gov Field Operations Engineer
Asst Coord for WisDOT's SW & NE Regions Highway Visibility CoP: knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/nhv

Tennessee to Overhaul I-75 Fog Warning System Link to story in the Chattanooga Times Free Press: www.tfponline.com/QuickHeadlines.asp?sec=l&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fepaper%2Ewehco%2Ecom%2FWebChannel%2FShowStory%2Easp%3FPath%3DChatTFPress%2F2006%2F06%2F27%26ID%3DAr00803 Thanks to Bernie Wagenblast for this link. best regards, Mark Mark R. Chandler, PE, CMfgE
U.S. DOT - FHWA Wisconsin Division
office: 608-829-7514
mark.chandler@fhwa.dot.gov
www.fhwa.dot.gov/widiv/index.htm Field Operations Engineer
Asst Coord for WisDOT's SW & NE Regions

Many thanks to Bernie Wagenblast for this news item, and his continued
assistance with highway fog information. I had a little trouble with the 1st
URL (I had to scroll down to get to article), and 2nd URL seemed to have same
information and worked OK.

WiMax System Warns Drivers on Dangerous Highway Prone to Dense Fog
Link to story in Computerworld:


www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=91286
19&intsrc=hm_list

Link to news release from Proxim Wireless:
money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0477064.htm

best regards,

Mark

Mark R. Chandler, PE, CMfgE
U.S. DOT - FHWA Wisconsin Division
office: 608-829-7514
office cell phone: 608-287-4226
mark.chandler@fhwa.dot.gov

Environmental and Design Engineer - WisDOT's NW & NE Regions

SEEMS to me, once again, that the US needs a compulsory *rear fog lamp*
requirement for its new-market; car, van, SUV and truck/trailer fleet. (Of
course, this is not the responsibility of this agency).

That this did not happen very many years ago, considering the lamp is also
useful in 'road safety', when it is used in wildfire smoke, dust-storms,
torrential rain etc, is "serious negligence" in my view.

A change then for FMVSS-108 to effectively adopt SAE-J1319 - the US recommended
practice!

(SAE J1319 was created around twenty years ago, in performance, its virtually
harmonized with the Global land transport vehicle regulation for rear fog
lamps; UNECE 38).

A rear fog lamp offers up to 20 times the luminous intensity over a vehicles
standard-regular taillight performance, this means many seconds advanced
warning is given, the worse the visibility>> the greater the need.

The state driver tuition manuals, would of course THEN need to highlight the
correct use of the rear fog lamp. ONLY one US state has this tuition text, and
has had a number of years now, and that is New York State. Highway patrol to
then enforce correct use.

Readers will note increasing numbers of cars with rear fog lights, merely
'optionally' fitted. Simply change it to mandatory!

Regards all.

I thank Bernie Wagenblast (Transportation Communications Newsletter) again for
his consideration in sending fog-related articles to me for posting to this CoP.

California Fog Pilot Program Will Warn Drivers
Link to article in The Fresno Bee:
www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1700740.html

best regards, all

Mark

Mark R. Chandler, PE, CMfgE
U.S. DOT - FHWA Wisconsin Division
office: 608-829-7514
office cell phone: 608-287-4226
mark.chandler@dot.gov

Field Operations Engineer - Local Program Projects Statewide

Highway Visibility CoP: knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/nhv