Citation

Tarleton J. APWA Reporter 2006; 73(10): 22-25.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Public Works Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In this article, the author provides a summary examination of the aspects of road pavement weather forecasting via Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) as well as vehicle-mounted pavement sensors. As pavement conditions can vary radically from the surrounding climate, it is necessary to provide accurate information regarding the road conditions for safety in the short term and maintenance in the long term. Such conditions are particularly problematic on bridges as these structures are exposed on every surface. However, certain factors, such as wind-chill, affect only the human body, and are not a source of altered bridge conditions. Three other conditions the authors list are solar radiation, moisture and heat from beneath the pavement. With the effect of solar radiation being manifestly evident, moisture affects road surfaces in few different ways such as frost and normal precipitation.