This paper was presented at the session titled `Road weather information systems (RWIS): an emerging technology'. The presentation examines the importance of the ground transportation sector and the impacts of winter weather in Canada on the ground transportation system. Some characteristics of Canadian winters are reviewed in detail along with the increasing usage of road treatment chemicals in a number of provinces. The use of Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) is discussed. The characteristics of RWIS are presented along with a few examples and variations. The current status of RWIS technology in Europe, the United States, and Canada is discussed. Road weather services required to derive the maximum benefits from RWIS are then presented with particular emphasis on the road weather forecast services. Training is amongst the other services required. The inclusion of road weather in the recently completed ITS Architecture for Canada will be reviewed, a world first for national ITS architectures, as well as what this bodes for the future. Finally, the Meteorological Service of Canada's role in assisting transportation agencies will be briefly described. The road weather area will continue to be one of the most exciting areas of development for the application of meteorology in the years to come. (A)
Abstract