Stic FFY25 low-cost winterized camera research for atigun rwis

The Federal Highway Administration awarded the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities $125,000 on January 20, 2026, under the Technology and Innovation Deployment Program (CFDA 20.227) to improve the reliability and cost-effectiveness of off-grid road weather information system (RWIS) stations along Atigun Pass on the Dalton Highway.

The project delivers four major tasks: project initiation and hardware procurement; pre-installation metadata, programming, and mobilization; field installation and upgrades; and recommendations and reporting. Deliverables include an improved statewide RWIS power budget estimation tool, specifications for winterized low-cost cameras designed for extreme cold environments, integration of power-control methods into RWIS infrastructure, and a final project report with recommendations to support expansion and long-term sustainability of Alaska's RWIS network.

Work is performed in Alaska with a period of performance through December 31, 2027. The project focuses on enhancing power budgeting methodologies and testing and winterizing low-cost cameras for deployment at critical winter hazard monitoring locations.

Project description

This project will improve the reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of off-grid road weather information system (RWIS) stations, focusing on atigun pass along the dalton highway. The scope includes enhancing power budgeting methodologies, testing and winterizing low-cost cameras for extreme cold environments, and deploying new and upgraded RWIS infrastructure to address critical winter hazard risks. The project will be executed through four major tasks: task 1 - project initiation & hardware procurement; task 2 - pre-installation metadata, programming, mobilization; task 3 - field installation & upgrades; and task 4 - recommendations & reporting. Deliverables will include an improved statewide RWIS power budget estimation tool, specifications for winterized low-cost cameras, integration of power-control methods, and a final project report with recommendations to support the expansion and long-term sustainability of alaska's RWIS network.