Surface Systems - Road / Runway Weather Information Systems

Surface Systems, Inc. (SSI®), a Quixote Transportation Technologies, Inc. company, is a leading full-service provider of high-tech pavement weather monitoring systems, weather forecasting and system maintenance for the transportation industry.

SSI designs and manufactures Road / Runway Weather Information Systems (RWIS), and provides a variety of advanced ITS applications as well as weather forecasting services for the transportation industry. RWIS data and weather forecasting services provide operations personnel with the ability to maintain safe and efficient conditions for the traveling public.

ROAD / RUNWAY WEATHER INFORMATION SYSTEMS

An RWIS consists of a full line of sensors for remote monitoring of atmospheric and pavement weather conditions. SSI's RWIS collect atmospheric, pavement surface, sub-surface and video data to provide accurate pavement specific information.

RWIS enables airport and roadway maintenance and operations personnel to monitor changing weather conditions in real-time to increase the safety of the traveling public. RWIS allows operations personnel to make informed and timely decisions in response to the effects of weather. RWIS information also enables maintenance and operations personnel to effectively plan and respond appropriately to the weather's effects on pavements through pavement-specific weather forecasts.

An RWIS can consist of multiple sites, each containing a suite of sensors that gather weather and pavement data and then report to a central location where authorized personnel can view the information.

SCAN WEB® SOFTWARE

SCAN Web is a software user interface for viewing data from RWIS. SCAN Web uses standard Internet technologies to display data elements from RWIS. SCAN Web provides powerful graphical data displays, and users can easily select various data views to display either concise summaries or detailed RWIS data. Site summary, site status and historical data pages are available to enhance operational effectiveness. In addition, SCAN Web integrates current video images where sites are configured with video cameras. SCAN Web can also display weather and pavement forecasts from SSI's SCAN*Cast® pavement weather forecast service.

PAVEMENT SENSORS

SSI offers a variety of pavement sensor options. SSI's FP 2000® passive surface sensor monitors pavement conditions on roadways and runways and determines if water or a chemical solution is present on the pavement. The SSI active surface sensor measures freeze-point temperature independently of chemical type or mixture. Thermo SCAN provides pavement temperature only and is a cost effective method to add more data points. The sub-surface temperature probe measures the temperature below the roadway surface to determine frost-depth and is utilized in pavement weather forecasting.

WEATHER FORECASTING SERVICES

The SSI weather center was the first weather center in the world established solely to provide pavement-specific weather forecast information to the transportation industry. The SSI weather center is staffed by experienced and professional transportation meteorologists.

SSI weather forecasting services provide customized, pavement-specific weather forecasts that can enhance public safety and provide a competitive advantage for companies within the transportation and utility industries. Products include, SCAN*Cast site-specific weather and pavement forecasts, NOW*Cast warning services, graphic weather products and displays, consultation with experienced meteorologists, and more.

INTEGRATION AND DEVICE CONTROL

Road / runway weather information systems are powerful, flexible and designed for expandability. Many ITS technologies can be integrated with RWIS, including traffic sensing, visibility systems, cameras, fixed anti-icing spray systems, wireless device control and variable message or flashing beacon signs. RWIS can integrate real-time data from the system and activate these devices based on customer-defined parameters.