MDSS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General Questions

  1. What are the major changes between Release-4.0 and Release-5.0?

    2. Read our Release 5.0 Updates.
  1. What is the primary objective of the MDSS Project?

    2. The primary objective of the MDSS project is to validate many of the Surface Transportation Weather Decision Support Requirements (STWDSR) through a rapid prototyping process.
  1. How is the MDSS supposed to become an operational capability and who is supposed to implement the operational version of an MDSS?
    It is expected that components of the prototype MDSS system will be further developed, integrated with other commercial components, and deployed by road operating agencies, including state departments of transportation (DOTs), and supplied by the private sector.
  1. Are the FHWA or State DOTs going to require any or all of the Lab-developed components to be used by the private sector in their own product lines?

    2. No, the MDSS prototype components can be used, discarded or modified. The Lab components are being provided "as is" and are available for reference or use in any manner desired by the implementer.
  1. Will there be any additional MDSS releases after Release-5.0?

    2. At this time, additional releases are not anticipated. However, there may be intermediate updates that address minor bug fixes (e.g., Release 5.1).
  1. Will the MDSS Release-5.0 documentation be updated after the initial shipment of CDs?

    2. Based on feedback received on the release materials, updated versions of the documentation may be posted to the MDSS web site. Updates will be announced (via e-mail) to the registrants of MDSS Release-5.0 materials.

Technical Questions:

  1. Is model output required to run the MDSS?

    2. No, numerical models are not required for the MDSS to operate. The MDSS does require a weather prediction dataset. The weather data could come from numerical models or from human generated time series data. The current MDSS is designed to ingest numerical model data, so to run the system using human generated times series, a user will likely be require to modify their input data so it matches the MDSS input data requirements.
  1. Will the Road Weather Forecast System part of the release, which only includes binaries, ever be made available in source form?

    2. Currently, there is no plan to release the source code for the Road Weather Forecast System. The core capability for this module was developed using non-government funds and it is proprietary.
  1. Will the Road Weather Forecast System binaries ever be released for operating systems other than Solaris?

    2. Yes, a Linux version of the Road Weather Forecast System is available.
  1. If I have technical questions about any particular module, who can I contact?

    2. The MDSS web page and Release-5.0 Technical Description document contain points of contact. Feel free to contact the individuals listed.