The existing Guide provides a wealth of information for DOTs deploying ESSs. It has been useful to DOTs as reference material and in providing specific guidance in siting and design. Significant new opportunities in ESS deployment are presenting themselves, however, to the transportation and meteorological communities. Expansion and clarification of the Guide in key areas would substantially assist in capturing those opportunities.
Specific recommendations for changes to the Guide are shown in Table 2.
| Guide Section |
Recommendation (including section of this report in which it is discussed) |
Disposition |
Change to Guide?
(Y or N) |
| 2.2; 5.3 |
Include discussion of bridge anti-icing systems (Section 3.1.1) |
Deployment of an ESS in conjunction with an anti-icing system would be part of a discussion of local site requirements and should be part of Section 2.2. It is also similar to ESS deployment with other ITS as described in Section 5.3. The discussion there should include anti-icing systems. |
Y |
| n/a |
Include discussion of mobile sensors (Section 3.1.2) |
The purpose of the Guide is to assist in siting of fixed ESSs. Mobile sensors, while providing some of the same meteorological data, do not have any of the same siting issues. The recommendation is out of scope for this Guide. |
N |
| 1 |
Add a discussion of “How to Use this Guide” (Section 3.2) |
The Guide would benefit from implementation of this recommendation as part of the introductory material in Section 1. |
Y |
| 1 |
Include a description of how the Guide fits the systems engineering of ESS deployments and the National ITS Architecture (Section 3.2) |
This is entirely consistent with FHWA guidelines for ITS deployments and should be added to Section 1. |
Y |
| 5.4 |
Include more information on maintenance of ESS (Section 3.2.1) |
Discussion of how maintenance consideration may impact siting is relevant and can be an expansion on the text already in Section 5.4 of the Guide. Detailed discussion of maintenance procedures is, however, out of scope of the Siting Guide. |
Y |
| 2.3 |
Include discussion of Clarus in the Guide (Section 3.2.1) |
A discussion of Clarus can be added to the existing discussion of meteorological information partnerships in Section 2.3. |
Y |
| Appendix D |
Include items for (a) constraints and prioritization (Section 3.2.1) and (b) integration with other ITS (Section 3.2.2) in the ESS Checklist (Section 3.2.6) |
Additional checklist items, consistent with other changes being made to the Guide, are appropriate. |
Y |
| 2.2; 5.3 |
Include discussion of ESS deployment in conjunction with other ITS (Section 4.1.3) |
Deployment of an ESS in conjunction with any other ITS (in this case, DMS) could be part of a discussion of local site requirements and should be part of Section 2.2. ESS deployment with other ITS is already described in Section 5.3. |
Y |
| 4.2 |
Update the discussion to include new sensor designs (Section 4.1.3) |
While it might be desirable to cover all sensor designs in the Guide, siting criteria originate with the manufacturers of those sensors. The Guide should be updated to direct readers to the manufacturer’s guidelines for installation and calibration. |
Y |
| n/a |
Include discussion of creating RFPs for ESS procurement and deployment (Section 4.2.3) |
Creation of the RFP is outside the scope of this Guide, although the Guide may support or be referenced in an RFP. |
N |
| 5.4 |
Include discussion of archaeological constraints (in this case, ancient human migration routes) in siting (Section 4.2.3) |
The discussion of Section 5.4 should be expanded (and renamed) to include siting considerations that are not specific to meteorology (which is discussed in Section 5.1) and supporting services (power in Section 5.2 and communication in Section 5.3). |
Y |
| 5.4 |
Include discussion of soil conditions in siting (Section 4.2.3) |
The discussion of Section 5.4 should be expanded (and renamed) to include siting considerations that are not specific to meteorology (which is discussed in Section 5.1) and supporting services (power in Section 5.2 and communication in Section 5.3). |
Y |
| 5.4 |
Include discussion of clear zones in siting (Section 4.2.3) |
The discussion of Section 5.4 should be expanded (and renamed) to include siting considerations that are not specific to meteorology (which is discussed in Section 5.1) and supporting services (power in Section 5.2 and communication in Section 5.3). |
Y |
| 4.1, 5.4 |
Include a reference to the NPDES Stormwater Guide for stormwater management at the ESS site (Section 4.2.3) |
Stormwater is relevant to both the discussion of standing water in Section 4.1 and to discussion of “other” siting considerations in Section 5.4, and should be added in both places. |
Y |
| 2.1 |
Include more information on camera and sensor descriptions and applications (Section 4.2.3) |
The discussion in Section 2.1 provides substantial discussion of cameras, sensors, and their applications. More detailed information than is already given in that section would be better obtained from the manufacturers of those instruments. |
N |
| 3.0 |
Include some examples of tradeoffs or limitations created by compromised siting (Section 4.3.3) |
The two examples mentioned by NHDOT in this report should be added to the Guide in Section 3.0. |
Y |
