Integration of Aviation Weather Information Systems with Roadside Weather Information Systems (RWIS)

Western Transportation Institute (WTI) at Montana State University, in partnership with the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San Jose State University, conducted a research and development study of the proof-of-concept system for integrating Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) with Roadside Weather Information System (RWIS). The project was started in 2008. The goal of the project is to meet the potential needs of providing airport managers, air traffic controllers, pilots, and related operators of air ambulance services with more comprehensive and accurate meteorological data by integrating currently used weather systems with systems used by related agencies. Implementing such an integrated system is expected to improve safety and increase efficiency. The project is targeted at small, underserved rural airfields and heliports. In particular, data from aviation AWOS, Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS) and surface transportation RWIS could be integrated to provide greater coverage for multiple agencies. Treating these (currently) independent systems as a larger, integrated system could achieve greater levels of efficiency and lead to cost savings through coordination of operations and maintenance as well as planning for future deployment. This relatively small intelligent transportation system (ITS) project follows a small scale systems engineering process. Literature review, AWOS/ASOS and RWIS sites analysis, user survey and requirements analysis, and cost benefits analysis research activities have been conducted during phase I of the project. In addition, a proof-of-concept system was developed and evaluated, and the second phase has been planned for expanded geographic coverage, improved functionality, and more extensive evaluation