Within the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program, two
sources of data are used to characterize the climatic conditions
for each test section. For the majority of the test sections, data
for nearby national weather stations are obtained from the National
Climatic Data Center (NCDC) and are used to compute estimated data
for a virtual test section located at the test section. In
addition, onsite instrumentation is used to obtain site-specific
climatic data for the test sections included in the Seasonal
Monitoring Program and for the Specific Pavement Studies (SPS)–1,
–2, and –8 project sites.
This report documents a study undertaken to examine the
reliability and accuracy of the LTPP climatic data. The study
confirmed that accurate daily, monthly, and yearly estimates of
climatic data for a project location can be derived by using the
NCDC weather data for several nearby weather stations. The
variation in the climatic data also was characterized.
Gary L. Henderson
Director, Office of Infrastructure
Research and Development
NOTICE
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S.
Department of Transportation in the interest of information
exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for its contents
or use thereof. This report does not constitute a standard,
specification, or regulation.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers.
Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein only because they are
considered essential to the objective of this document.
QUALITY ASSURANCE STATEMENT
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality
information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a
manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies
are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility,
and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality
issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous
quality improvement.
1. Report No
FHWA-RD-03-092 |
2. Government Accession No.
N/A |
3. Recipient's Catalog No.
N/A |
4. Title and
Subtitle
Verification of Long-Term Pavement Performance Virtual Weather
Stations: Phase I Report—Accuracy and Reliability of Virtual
Weather Stations |
5. Report Date
May 2006 |
6. Performing Organization Code
N/A |
7. Authors(s)
Alaeddin Mohseni, Ph.D., P.E. |
8. Performing Organization Report No.
N/A |
9. Performing Organization Name
and Address
Alaeddin Mohseni, Ph.D., P.E.
6105 Maiden Lane
Bethesda, MD 20817 |
10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
N/A |
11. Contract or Grant No.
DTFH61-95-Z-00086 |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Final Report
March 2001–January 2002 |
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and
Address
Office of Research and Technology Services
Federal Highway Administration
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101 |
14. Sponsoring Agency Code |
15. Supplementary Notes
Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR): Monte
Symons, HRDI-13 |
16. Abstract
Within the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program, two
sources of data are used to characterize the climatic conditions
for each test section. For the majority of the test sections, data
for nearby national weather stations are obtained from the National
Climatic Data Center (NCDC) and are used to compute estimated data
for a virtual test section located at the test section. In
addition, onsite instrumentation is used to obtain site-specific
climatic data for the test sections included in the Seasonal
Monitoring Program and for the Specific Pavement Studies (SPS) –1,
–2, and –8 project sites.
This report documents a study undertaken to examine the reliability
and accuracy of the LTPP climatic data. The study confirmed that
accurate daily, monthly, and yearly estimates of climatic data for
a project location can be derived by using the NCDC weather data
for several nearby weather stations. The variation in the climatic
data was also characterized. |
17. Key Words
Pavements, weather stations, LTPP, climatic data, temperature,
precipitation. |
18. Distribution Statement
No restrictions. This document is available to the public through
the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA
22161. |
19. Security Classif. (of this
report)
Unclassified |
20. Security Classif. (of this
page)
Unclassified |
21. No. of Pages
91 |
22. Price
N/A |
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page
authorized (art. 5/94)
| AASHTO |
American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials |
| AC |
asphalt concrete |
| ACI |
American Concrete Institute |
| ASTM |
American Society for Testing and Materials |
| CN |
construction numbers |
| CPR |
concrete pavement restoration |
| CRCP |
continuously reinforced concrete pavement |
| ESAL |
equivalent single axle load |
| FHWA |
Federal Highway Administration |
| FWD |
falling weight deflectometer |
| GPS |
General Pavement Studies |
| HMAC |
Hot-mix asphalt concrete |
| IMS |
Information Management System |
| JCP |
jointed concrete pavement |
| JPCP |
jointed plain concrete pavement |
| JRCP |
jointed reinforced concrete pavement |
| LTE |
load transfer efficiency |
| LTPP |
Long-Term Pavement Performance |
| PCC |
portland cement concrete |
| RSC |
Regional Support Contractor |
| SAMI |
stress-absorbing membrane interlayers |
| SHA |
State highway agency |
| SHRP |
Strategic Highway Research Program |
| SMP |
Seasonal Monitoring Program |
| SPS |
Specific Pavement Studies |
| TSSC |
Technical Support Services Contractor |
| VMA |
voids in mineral aggregate |
