Who We Are
Aurora is an international program of collaborative research, development and deployment in the field of road and weather information systems (RWIS), serving the interests and needs of public agencies. The program, launched in 1996, brings together a number of U.S., Canadian, and European agencies.
The Aurora vision is to deploy RWIS to integrate state-of-the-art road and weather forecasting technologies with coordinated, multi-agency weather monitoring infrastructures. It is hoped this will facilitate advanced road condition and weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities for efficient highway maintenance, and the provision of real-time information to travelers.
What We Do
Aurora's initiatives are conducted and funded by member agencies, for member agencies.
Three times a year, Aurora members meet to set the agenda for RWIS research. Selected initiatives are led by "champion" member agencies, managed by committees of Aurora members, and funded out of the Aurora pooled fund.
Through these meetings and monthly teleconferences, members keep informed about progress on Aurora initiatives and other RWIS-related activities around the world, share their agencies' accomplishments, and learn solutions for common in-the-field problems.
Lee Smithson, AASHTO SICOP coordinator at the Iowa Department of Transportation, compares Aurora meetings to mini "international RWIS scanning tours."
Because current members include international leaders in RWIS research, technology, and deployment, many of whom are also affiliated with AASHTO's Snow and Ice Cooperative Program (SICOP) and other RWIS-related programs, the breadth and quality of information exchanged at these meetings is invaluable.