In June 2012 USDOT finalized Version 3.0 of the Best Practices for Road Weather Management report. This report contains 27 case studies of systems in 22 states that improve roadway operations under inclement weather conditions. Each case study has six sections including a general description of the system, system components, operational procedures, resulting transportation outcomes, implementation issues, as well as contact information and references.

The previous report, Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0 presented 30 case studies from municipal and state transportation agencies. At this point, those solutions are either mainstreamed or have been surpassed by even better solutions. The Version 3.0 report captures the state-of-the-art, presenting 27 all-new practices that build upon these agencies’ previous successes.

One case study includes a pump station monitoring system in Texas. The San Antonio District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) installed monitoring systems in six storm water pump stations in locations where the roadway is below natural ground level. The pump stations are used to lift storm water to an elevation where the outflow can enter the gravity flow storm drainage system. The Monitoring Systems are used to determine the status of the pumps, determine the level of water in the wet wells, and provide an approximate time until the location floods. Before the monitoring systems were installed, maintenance crews had to visit each pump location during rain events to ascertain the status of the pumping equipment. The monitoring systems allow the maintenance crews to visit only the sites where maintenance issues and/or flood conditions require. The units were originally installed in 2000, but were recently upgraded at a cost of $13,000 each.

System Components: The Pump Station Monitoring system consists of equipment located in the pump stations, communications to the TransGuide Operations Center, and an Internet display of the pump station data for TxDOT maintenance and operations staff. The equipment in the system includes the following elements:

• Field Computer
• Remote terminal unit
• Analog Input Module
• Pump Station Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
• Internet Protocol (IP) Network Interface
• Central/Master Software
• Internet display

System Operations: The Pump Station Remote Terminal Units (PRTU) are connected to the sonic detector installed at the top of the wet well, which is used to determine the level of the water in the wet well. The sonic detector is connected to the pumps, and activates the pumps based on the water level. The PRTUs are connected to the pumps using contact closures, and determine when the pumps are in operation. The PRTUs transmit data from the pump stations to the TransGuide Operations Center. The pump station data is processed by the central software, and is available to TxDOT operations and maintenance staff using a non-public Internet display. The maintenance staff operations staff can dispatch technicians to repair failed pumps, or dispatch crews to set barricades if flooding of the roadway is imminent. Operations staff can place warning messages on Dynamic Message Signs, notify TxDOT public information staff and the media of flood conditions, and notify emergency services when flood conditions are present.