Improved Decisionmaking Using Geographic Information Systems
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Problem: Geographic information systems
(GIS) are underutilized in the transportation
decisionmaking process
Transportation planners must incorporate a
diversity of information into the planning process;
however, this information often takes time
to collect, is not centralized, and is not easily
presentable. An accessible information tool would
be useful in the planning, scoping, permitting,
and evaluating processes associated with
transportation decisionmaking.
Solution: GIS can inform transportation
planning
What is GIS?
GIS is a system of computer hardware and
software that collects, stores, analyzes, and
disseminates information about areas of the earth.
While GIS often helps users create maps, the true
power of GIS allows the user to maximize the
quality and use of spatial data to answer questions
of where, how far, how many, what size, and
within what area.
Why is GIS useful?
GIS offers significant advantages over
conventional computer programsand can be used
in a wide range of transportation applications.
In addition, GIS enables users to visualize
the spatial relationships between various
geographically referenced features, such as the
location of clusters of highway crashes. GIS also
facilitates the integration of different databases.
Transportation planners, for example, could use
GIS to integrate a database with information
on the location of transportation projects with
another database that includes information on
local land characteristics to produce a map that
identifies land parcels and environmentally
sensitive areas that may be affected by a new
highway corridor. GIS also helps transportation
staff present findings to policymakers and the
general public using visually attractive and
understandable thematic maps.
| Putting It in Perspective
By using GIS to more efficiently bring
information together, transportation planners
are in a better position to review, analyze, and
understand the problems they are addressing.
This efficiency can save time and money, and
can lead to improved decisionmaking.
|
Benefits
- Encourages partnerships and data sharing.
- Helps identify potential problems early in
the planning process.
- Provides users with access to quality data.
- Improves feedback with maps and summary
reports.
|
Successful Applications: States get results
from GIS
Arkansas
The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation
Department (AHTD) used GIS to streamline the
transportation decisionmaking and permitting
processes for the Southeast Arkansas I-69
Connector (I-69 SE-Connector) project. GIS
enabled AHTD to share and consolidate
environmental and engineering data, and
refine and analyze large amounts of study area
information. AHTD also used GIS to foster
early coordination with resource agencies,
the public, and Native American tribes while simultaneously addressing the requirements
of the environmental review process. Agencies
partnering with AHTD supported the use of GIS
because it enabled the project to move forward
faster. In addition, AHTD produced maps and
analyses using GIS that provided the partnering
agencies and communities with tangible examples
of how various project alternatives would impact
environmental, cultural, and economic resources.
Through the use of GIS, AHTD reduced the
amount of time from publication of the Notice
of Intent for the I-69 SE-Connector project
to the issuance of the Record of Decision by
approximately 60 percent.
Nevada
The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
developed the Safety Management System (SMS),
a transportation GIS, to merge crash data with a
roadway base map. To create the system, NDOT
staff compiled partial datasets from several State
and local offices into a single, consistent base
map in a new database. SMS can locate crashes
using a nearby address, the distance from an
intersection, the distance from a milepost, or
other methods that the police use. After locating
the crashes, the system then can identify them on
a roadway base map. The relationship between
the location and the attributes of a crash and the
roadway are maintained in the SMS.
With the new SMS, NDOT staff can perform
numerous applications, such as corridor analyses
and midblock analyses. Dataset merges help
identify relationships between crashes and other
factors, such as pavement conditions.
In the future, NDOT will incorporate other data
and features into the SMS. NDOT plans to include
global positioning system data in the system and
make the system accessible from the agency's
intranet.
Deployment Statement
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
views GIS as an important tool in making better
informed transportation decisions.
Deployment Goal
FHWA aims to:
- Increasing 10 percent the number of GIS
applications reported in American Association
of State Highway and Transportation Officials'
(AASHTO) annual GIS for Technology (GIS-T)
survey.
- Increase the number of GIS applications
designed to help agencies make planning,
environmental streamlining, and right-of-way
decisions.
- Enlist every State's participation in the 2006
AASHTO GIS-T survey.
Deployment Status
FHWA is in the process of receiving results from
the AASHTO annual GIS-T survey, which should
be completed by April 2006.
Additional Resources
FHWA's National Highway Institute (NHI) offers a
training course titled, Applying GIS and Spatial
Data Technologies to Transportation (NHI 151039).
The goal of the course is to train and prepare
participants in how to plan for and evaluate the
implementation of a variety of transportation
planning applications that rely on GIS and spatial
data technologies. For more information on the
course, visit http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/training/course_detail.aspx?num=FHWA-NHI-151039
&cat=&key=&num=151039&loc=&sta=%25&tit=&typ=&lev=&ava=&str=&end=&drl=.
In addition, FHWA's "GIS in Transportation" Web
site, found at http://gis.fhwa.dot.gov, highlights innovative transportation-related applications
of GIS across the country and serves as a portal to GIS activities sponsored by FHWA and its partners and customers. The site also is home to
detailed descriptions of featured GIS applications, a searchable database of GIS applications, links to upcoming events, GIS data sources, publications, and FHWA contacts.
For More Information Contact:
Mark Sarmiento, FHWA Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty
mark.sarmiento@fhwa.dot.gov, 202-366-4828
Lindsay Banks, FHWA Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty
lindsay.banks@fhwa.dot.gov, 202-366-3286
Ben Williams, FHWA Resource Center
ben.williams@fhwa.dot.gov, 404-562-3671
To request additional copies of this publication, contact:
Carin Michel, FHWA Resource Center
Phone: 410-962-2530
Email: carin.michel@fhwa.dot.gov
TaMara McCrae, FHWA Corporate Research and Technology
Phone: 202-493-3382
Email: tamara.mccrae@fhwa.dot.gov
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