Chapter 2 - Guidelines for the Collection of Long-Term Pavement Performance Data, FHWA Report No. FHWA-RD-06-067 - LTPP - Pavements

Chapter 2. Automated Weather Stations

2.1 Introduction to AWS

Beginning in 1994, AWS were installed near almost all SPS–1, SPS–2, and SPS–8 projects to collect data on onsite weather conditions at each location. Data collected by the stations include air temperature, relative humidity, windspeed and direction, solar radiation, and precipitation. These data are recorded at intervals of 15 minutes and stored. The accumulated data are downloaded at a frequency not to exceed 6 months.

The short interval data are accumulated into hourly statistics of mean, minimum, and maximum temperature and windspeed, minimum and maximum humidity, and total amount of precipitation and solar radiation. These hourly statistics are then accumulated into a set of daily statistics, and at the highest level, monthly values are available for each of these parameters. These monthly statistics are directly comparable to those contained in the climatic data module.

2.2 References for AWS

2.2.1 Installation of AWS Instrumentation

The following document provides a description of the installation process and the first installation of an AWS for LTPP.

LTPP-SPS Automated Weather Stations: Automated Weather Station (AWS) Installation, Arizona Department of Transportation Open House, Phoenix, AZ, July 20–21, 1994.

A directive that governs the installation and collection of data from the AWS instruments was prepared and submitted to the RSCs.

Installation, Data Collection, and Maintenance of Automated Weather Stations at SPS–1, SPS–2, and SPS–8 Projects, Directive AWS–1, FHWA, Pavement Performance Division, McLean, VA, September 12, 1994.

A second directive submitted to the RSCs required the installation of modems at each of the AWS locations to allow for remote data collection.

Remote Collection of AWS Data, Directive AWS–9, FHWA, Pavement Performance Division, McLean, VA, November 17, 1997.

2.2.2 AWS Software

The following document describes the use of the software program that performs the initial quality control checks on the AWS data. This program was created to detect anomalies and other equipment-related issues in the collected data while in the field, allowing onsite corrective actions to be performed.

LTPP-SPS Automated Weather Stations: AWSScan Program Background and Users Guide, Version 0.5, FHWA, Pavement Performance Division, McLean, VA, October 1995.

In February 1996, the AWSScan software and the user's guide were updated, and a revised version of the 1995 document (referenced below) was submitted to the RSCs.

LTPP-SPS Automated Weather Stations: AWSScan Program Background and Users Guide, Version 1.11, FHWA, Pavement Performance Division, McLean, VA, February 1996.

The AWSCheck program was written to automate quality checks and process weather station data collected as part of the LTPP program. This software program performs the basic quality control checks on the data before its upload into the LTPP database, data backup and archiving, and creation of data files that are filtered into the database.

LTPP-SPS Automated Weather Stations: AWSCheck Users Guide, Version 1.0, FHWA, Pavement Performance Division, McLean, VA, August 1996.

In November 1996, the AWSCheck software and the user's guide were revised and submitted to the RSCs for all future use.

LTPP-SPS Automated Weather Stations: AWSCheck Users Guide, Version 1.1, FHWA, Pavement Performance Division, McLean, VA, November 1996.

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Data Collection Analysis Products Pooled Fund Studies Operations/Analysis Feedback Reports LTPP Customer Survey	Chapter 2. Automated Weather Stations 2.1 Introduction to AWS Beginning in 1994, AWS were installed near almost all SPS–1, SPS–2, and SPS–8 projects to collect data on onsite weather conditions at each location. Data collected by the stations include air temperature, relative humidity, windspeed and direction, solar radiation, and precipitation. These data are recorded at intervals of 15 minutes and stored. The accumulated data are downloaded at a frequency not to exceed 6 months. The short interval data are accumulated into hourly statistics of mean, minimum, and maximum temperature and windspeed, minimum and maximum humidity, and total amount of precipitation and solar radiation. These hourly statistics are then accumulated into a set of daily statistics, and at the highest level, monthly values are available for each of these parameters. These monthly statistics are directly comparable to those contained in the climatic data module. 2.2 References for AWS 2.2.1 Installation of AWS Instrumentation The following document provides a description of the installation process and the first installation of an AWS for LTPP. LTPP-SPS Automated Weather Stations: Automated Weather Station (AWS) Installation, Arizona Department of Transportation Open House, Phoenix, AZ, July 20–21, 1994. A directive that governs the installation and collection of data from the AWS instruments was prepared and submitted to the RSCs. Installation, Data Collection, and Maintenance of Automated Weather Stations at SPS–1, SPS–2, and SPS–8 Projects, Directive AWS–1, FHWA, Pavement Performance Division, McLean, VA, September 12, 1994. A second directive submitted to the RSCs required the installation of modems at each of the AWS locations to allow for remote data collection. Remote Collection of AWS Data, Directive AWS–9, FHWA, Pavement Performance Division, McLean, VA, November 17, 1997. 2.2.2 AWS Software The following document describes the use of the software program that performs the initial quality control checks on the AWS data. This program was created to detect anomalies and other equipment-related issues in the collected data while in the field, allowing onsite corrective actions to be performed. LTPP-SPS Automated Weather Stations: AWSScan Program Background and Users Guide, Version 0.5, FHWA, Pavement Performance Division, McLean, VA, October 1995. In February 1996, the AWSScan software and the user's guide were updated, and a revised version of the 1995 document (referenced below) was submitted to the RSCs. LTPP-SPS Automated Weather Stations: AWSScan Program Background and Users Guide, Version 1.11, FHWA, Pavement Performance Division, McLean, VA, February 1996. The AWSCheck program was written to automate quality checks and process weather station data collected as part of the LTPP program. This software program performs the basic quality control checks on the data before its upload into the LTPP database, data backup and archiving, and creation of data files that are filtered into the database. LTPP-SPS Automated Weather Stations: AWSCheck Users Guide, Version 1.0, FHWA, Pavement Performance Division, McLean, VA, August 1996. In November 1996, the AWSCheck software and the user's guide were revised and submitted to the RSCs for all future use. LTPP-SPS Automated Weather Stations: AWSCheck Users Guide, Version 1.1, FHWA, Pavement Performance Division, McLean, VA, November 1996. Previous \| Table of Contents \| Next	Events View all Upcoming Pavements Events More Information Pavement Publications Contact Aramis Lopez Turner Fairbank 202-493-3145 E-mail Aramis
	This page last modified on 06/08/06

Chapter 2. Automated Weather Stations

2.1 Introduction to AWS

2.2 References for AWS

Events

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