Clarus Initiative Background

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Road Weather Management Program, in conjunction with the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office established the Clarus Initiative in 2004 to reduce the impact of adverse weather conditions on surface transportation users.

Clarus is a research and development initiative to demonstrate and evaluate the value of “Anytime, Anywhere Road Weather Information” that is provided by both public agencies and the private weather enterprise to the breadth of transportation users and operators. The goal of the initiative is to create a robust data assimilation, quality checking, and data dissemination system that can provide near real-time atmospheric and pavement observations from the collective state's investments in road weather information system, environmental sensor stations (ESS) as well as mobile observations from Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) equipped trucks and eventually passenger vehicles equipped with transceivers that will participate in the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) Initiative.

During 2004-2005, the Clarus System was designed and constructed. During 2006, the system was extensively tested during a Proof of Concept Demonstration utilizing ESS data from three States. The system is now ready to be populated and for its data to be utilized by the transportation community and the weather enterprise.

The Clarus two-page flier describes the basics of the U.S. Department of Tranportation's Clarus Initiative, one of nine ITS "tier one" initiatives that are currently under way.  You may also link to the Clarus System to develop an understanding of the system's "real world" application.

A Clarus FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) document is available for reference or you may contact Paul Pisano, Road Weather Management Program, FHWA, U.S. Department of Transportation, if you have further questions.

Questions or comments? Contact the webmaster

Last update: Friday, September 14, 2007 3:06 PM