Statewide Data and Information Systems Committee

Final Version
February 24, 2003 

2003 Transportation Research Board
Statewide Transportation Data and Information Systems
A1D09

Washington Hilton, Georgetown West Room
January 14, 2003

Follow Up Items are indicated in Bold.

1) Agenda Item #1 -

Anita Vandervalk, P.E., Chair, opened the meeting at 8:00 a.m. and adjourned at noon.  The participant total was 55 with 23 members and 32 friends in attendance.  The agenda and list of participants are attached.

For the 82nd annual meeting, the committee co-sponsored a "Data Linkages and Operations" workshop on Sunday, January 13th and sponsored a paper session on "Roadway and Traffic Inventory Techniques" on Wednesday, January 15th.  The committee also sponsored a session on "Spatial Data Tools and Technology" on Wednesday, January 15th.  Kim Hajek, also reported on the "Data Linkages and Operations" workshop at the Wednesday evening ITS Committee Open meeting, on behalf of Anita, A1D09 Committee Chair.

Presentations:

2)  Agenda item #3 -

Barna Juhasz, FHWA, Director, OHPI, presented information on the importance of both Motor Fuel data and HPMS data as this data relates to apportionments, policies, and decision-making at the federal level.  There is a new electronic data submittal tool, now used by all but three states, for submitting the Motor Fuel data to FHWA.  There will be a state review of the data in February and Motor Fuel Workshops scheduled later this year.  FHWA anticipates more use of gasohol by the states in the coming year.  Regarding HPMS, the quality of the data continues to improve.  IRI issues have been resolved.  Attention is now focusing on TRAFFIC data.  GIS is being used at the federal level to review HPMS for such data as percent change in interstate VMT, percent change in Lane Miles, percent change in Federal-aid Lane Miles, and percent change in VMT on Federal-aid Highways.  GIS will continue to be used to review all HPMS data and the states should do the same in order to locate anomalies in the data.  There will be a data issues workshop this summer in Chicago.  The new Highway Statistics 2001 is on the web-site and a hardcopy will be available in March.  There was a question regarding the "Data Quality Act".  Barna explained that this legislation has emphasis on giving the public the opportunity to challenge data used for decision-making at the Federal level.  FHWA has issued its guidelines regarding this act and it is available on the FHWA, BTS, and OST web-sites.  Regarding plans for any formal TMG training, Barna stated that FHWA will work with individual states to help them as needed.  Ed Kashuba later indicated that there is a formal TMG training course: It is 151018A (Application of the FHWA Traffic Monitoring Guide in the National Highway Institute training offerings).

3)     Agenda Item #4 -

Jonette Kreideweis, Minnesota DOT, and liaison with the AASHTO SCOP Committee, gave a report on the AASHTO SCOP Data Task Force Activities.  Topics of concern included: Data Issues for Reauthorization: Survey data, National Household Travel Survey data, Data sharing between agencies, including GIS data, and Consistency in National Safety data.  Regarding the AASHTO Guidelines for Traffic Data Programs (Green Book), there is serious consideration being given to updating the guidelines for Traffic Data programs concurrently with the ITS Data Architecture Standards.  This will clarify the relationships with the recently updated FHWA Traffic Monitoring Guide.

4)       Agenda Item #2 -

Tom Palmerlee, TRB, presented the TRB "Committee Report for the 2003 Annual Meeting".  Copies of the report were distributed at the meeting and this report includes: General TRB Information, a list of presentations of interest at the 82nd TRB Annual Meeting, including safety, security, congestion and reauthorization.  Tom also discussed the "Division A Reorganization" of TRB committees.  More emphasis is being placed on Transportation in "TRB", not just the highway side.  Group 1 was split into individual groups, based on modes.  The rest of the groups include the following: Administration, Environment and Planning.  All of Tom's committees were consolidated into one section.  There will be a Session Council and Session Chair.  The new council meets in April 2003.  There is a proposed "Mega mid-year" meeting in 2005.  The recommendation was made to host this meeting in the geographical center of the country if possible.  If you would like to receive general information regarding this meeting, please let Anita know.

5)        Agenda Item#5 -

Anita Vandervalk gave a summary of the "Operations and Planning Data Linkages Workshop" which was co-sponsored by the A1D09 Committee and the Committee on Intelligent Transportation Systems (A5009) on Sunday, January 12th.   The intent of the workshop was to bring together the two groups and bridge the gap between operations and data.  The major themes to be pursued for the future include an "integrated network of transportation information systems".  Six presentations from the workshop included: 1) "Meeting Federal Traffic Needs Using ADUS", Barna Juhasz, FHWA,  2) "Use of ITS Operations Data for Measuring Performance", Dale Thomson, FHWA, 3) "Report on CARS Pooled Fund Study: A Statewide Traffic Management and Information System", Omar Choudry, Castle Rock, John Whited, Iowa DOT, 4) "Alaska Travel Information System CARS/511", Jack Stickel, Alaska DOT, 5) "Traveler Information in Minnesota", Jim Kranig, 6) "Operations and Planning: Linkages", Mark Hallenbeck, TRAC, Univ. of Washington.

The session ended with a list of key questions which will be the focus of future workshops/meetings:

a)       How do we continue to promote the linkage (between Operations and Data)?

b)       How do we raise awareness of the issue?

c)       What incentives would states like to see?

d)       How to use Asset Management as a link?

e)       How do we compare the benefits of operations data and mobility?

 

6)    Agenda Item #6 -

Anita Vandervalk presented a "Summary of 2002 Activities of the A1D09 Committee", including the Spatial Data Peer Exchange, NATMEC, and the Remote Sensing Conference.  

Anita reported that liaisons to other committees were established at the mid-year meeting in May, 2002, prior to the NATMEC Conference.  These liaisons include: Freight - Ron Tweedie, Urban Data - Ed Christopher,  Safety - Pat Hu, Travel Survey Methods - Jonette Kreideweis, Spatial Data - Anita Vandervalk, Data Integration - Jack Stickel, Performance Measures - Kim Hajek, Anita Vandervalk,  Traffic Monitoring - Mark Hallenbeck.  Responsibilities of Liaisons include attending other committee meetings on behalf of A1D09 and reporting back to our committee.

7)    Agenda Item #7 -

Anita Vandervalk, discussed "Planning for Peer Exchange in Duck Key". 

Recommendations for that Peer Exchange include:

Issues: Finance, Systems, Environmental

Trish Hendren - Multi-modal data reliability from session this summer

Harshad Desai - Data Quality

Roger Petzold - Future data needs, Changing data needs

Tom Palmerlee. - Security and Disaster response.  Integrating data, dealing with institutional barriers, relationship between statewide and MPO systems.

Use of no-real-time data to fill in the gaps in real-time data.

Anita will prepare a list of five to seven issues in order for the committee to vote on the top three issues for the conference.  Email any other recommended topics to Anita.

Rob Bostrom needs volunteers to have posters at the poster session (Statewide Planning Innovations) at the conference.  Interested participants should let Rob know.

Rob also needs 3-4 volunteers to help with Breakout sessions at the conference.  Anita will send out an e-mail asking for volunteers.

A group was formed to plan the Peer Exchange.  The group includes Rob, Ron, Roger, Jim Hall (recorder), Harshad, Ed, Jonette, Trish and Tom TenEyck.  Anita will set up a meeting of this group to discuss logistics and plan for the Peer.

The plan is to arrive in Miami, Florida on Saturday and then drive the Florida Keys on Sunday.  Attendees should plan to stay until Wednesday or Thursday.   The meeting is scheduled for May 18-20, 2003.

There will be another mid-year meeting, July 13-18, 2003 in Portland, Oregon, to include four data committees meeting there: Freight, National Data, Library and Information Science and Urban Transportation Data and Information Systems.

Issues to be discussed at the Portland meeting will include: Freight Corridor issues, gateway issues, financing challenges, security, environmental issues, and spatial data, hopefully.  Ron Tweedie is attending and is leaving room for additional presentations.  Jon Fricker, Alan Pisarski, Ron Tweedie, Anita will discuss further and Anita will set it up. 

The Mid-year meeting in 2004 will be with NATMEC.  Mark Hallenbeck  explained that traditionally, NATMEC has been a practitioners conference.  We need to look at what topical areas we need add to NATMEC  .i.e. Operations, Planning.   We need to bring in the ITS communities, and others to support operations, collection, manipulation, storage and reporting of data.

 

8)          Agenda Item #8 - State DOT updates.

Texas DOT - Kim Hajek - An HPMS Workshop was conducted in September for the twenty-five TxDOT Districts.  At this workshop, the Districts were provided with new "District Data Collection Software" (DDCS), developed by the Transportation Planning and Programming Division.  This software is used by the districts for reporting the updated HPMS data to TPP Division headquarters for use in preparing the annual HPMS submittal.  TxDOT is partnering with the Texas Department of Public Safety in the development of a CRASH Records System.  The Performance Measures in the TxDOT Strategic Plan are being streamlined at the direction of the Texas Transportation Commission.  Work continues on providing data and mapping information for the planning and development of the Trans-Texas Corridor (the transportation network for Texas in the 21st century).  Development of the Statewide Traffic Analysis and Reporting System (STARS) continues and when implemented, this system will provide automated analysis tools for use by Traffic data analysts.   Ultimately, this will help in the timely submittal of the HPMS annual report.

Washington DOT - Mark Hallenbeck - There is emphasis on communicating to the public on subsets of performance measures, such as congestion management.  This is done through a quarterly report.  The purpose of the report is to provide information on statewide travel reliability.  This information describes to the public what is being done with the tax resources and makes the department more accountable.

Canada - Tzveta Dobreva-Martinova - They are looking at Data Integration issues and Tzveta reported that a work task force is reviewing technical and legislative issues.

Illinois DOT - Jim Hall - Reported a loss of over 1,000 out of  7,000 employees, due to retirement.  IDOT is becoming aggressive on putting GIS data on the internet. They are increasing the use of GIS program activities in Safety Analysis and are investigating how to incorporate technology to facilitate this effort.

Montana DOT - Bill Cloud -  The State Truck Activity Reporting System (STARS) uses WIM data to support sending enforcement forces to monitor overweight truck activities.  The long-range plan will be to use portable WIM sites to move them around the state as needed.  So far, there is a significant reduction in overweight activity as a result.  They are also writing data management policies for the department.  ORACLE is the standard platform in use.  They are trying to capture data that currently only resides in excel spreadsheets and on laptops.   A third party consultant was hired to help get this effort underway.  A final report will be issued on June 30, 2003.  Anita has requested a copy of the report.

Consultant (formerly, NYDOT) - Ron Tweedie - Train regulations are going into effect soon to coordinate train/vehicle traffic.  They are piloting lane closures in order to do traffic studies.  New York is developing  new work on cyber-security.  SUNY Albany is involved in this effort.   There is also available a Para-Transit service and Ron is volunteer for this service.

Ohio DOT - Jim McQuirt - Ohio DOT - Provided a copy of a written report to Anita on their efforts.

They are providing a report on Congestion Safety and Performance Measures targeted to address Congestion Safety.  The report should be complete by March 31, 2003.  There was a Poster Session on the Ohio Performance Index (OPI), on the day prior to this (A1D09) Committee meeting.  There is a multi-year effort using a statewide model to validate existing corridors.  A study was just completed on "Freight Impacts on Ohio Roadways".  Regarding "Environmental Justices Best Practices", one of the Districts developed alternate routes for areas where routes were shut down.  The District did not have a database, they had to use MapQuest.  They will now look at developing GIS applications to support this effort.

Kentucky DOT - Rob Bostrom - Made a presentation at the ADUS workshop on the previous day.  Kentucky is investigating traffic management systems to provide the needed data.  Virtual Weight stations,  (WIM) sensor and video cameras are used to assess if trucks are paying their correct weight tax.

They are working on VMT estimations and have developed equations to use for counts on local roads.  The GIS CTPP data is coming on-line.  The data is looking better than ever now.  GPS technology is being used to inventory all roads, local and on-system.

Michigan DOT - Ron Vibert - Ron reported that Michigan has also lost a lot of staff to retirement.  An HPMS peer exchange was conducted with Pennsylvania to improve data quality consistency.  A statewide GIS basemap (version 1) was released last summer.  The map has a 10-meter accuracy and is much better in most cases.   They can now link their mileage certification to this base map.  They have started using the GIS base map as the linear referencing system and have been successful in providing the necessary information to management for their decision-making.  They now have the capability to track projects on the federal-aid system.  An Asset Management Council has also been formed including local, county, MPOs, and state participants.  The first priority of the council is to provide consistent data across the system.  They will also collect three-year project information for all the transportation system, not just federal-aid.  They are re-working their Crash Records processing, using technology in the police vehicles and streamlining the paper process.  Their legislature requires use of existing resources to accomplish this effort.  They will also look at strengthening data standards which will help with HPMS reporting.  They are investigating using cell phones and GPS for data collection.  If others are doing this, please let them know.

Minnesota DOT - Jonette Kreideweis - They have completed a performance-based statewide planning effort.  They are working through the programming process, to see how it relates to statewide planning and strategic goals.  MNDOT is still working on anchor point and linear data for an LRS.  They are working on providing web-access to data for those who need it.  There is a need to share data with local entities, also, and there will be a meeting with county engineers this month.  MNDOT wants to look at developing a more accurate statewide base-map comparable to the one available in Kentucky and elsewhere.  Their data is used to support project selection, traffic data collection and roadway data collection programs.  They are working on the Archiving data problem.  They are re-investing in WIM and ITS data to supplement AADT programs and they want to take advantage of data already available from other sources.  Jonette reported on a final note, that last year, a lot of work was moved out of the state Division level office and sent to the district offices.   

Alaska DOT - Jack Stickel - The Conditions Acquisition and Reporting System (CARS) is up and running on their web-sites.  They will be developing a GIS web-implementation plan this year.  They are developing a Maintenance Management System and are also involved in a pooled fund study for enterprise data.  Their Statewide Planning Division is also collecting roadway data, using GPS technology.

Pennsylvania DOT - Tom TenEyck - There is an increasing emphasis on GIS data collection from a customer service point of view.  They are looking at the issue of data sharing and GIS activities at the rural and MPO levels.  They are working on the development of the Transportation Improvement Programs.  They have also worked with a workgroup of GIS analysts and Planners, and others, to assist in data collection areas including IRI, HPMS and Crash Data.  There is a database which is also available to rural and urban planners for their work.  Training will be available for local MPOs to use PennDOT state collected data.  The State and MPOs are working together on these activities.  They are looking at pavement issues and traffic data collection and traffic monitoring and also, at archiving traffic signal data.

Indiana DOT - Jon Fricker - Provided a report entitled a "Report on the Curve Correction Projects Survey".  Jon asked if there was a list of contacts for all state DOTs, list of HPMS contacts in each state.  He can contact FHWA, Jim Getzewich to get this information.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory - Patricia Hu - They are working on revising data and modeling tools for security and evacuation models, highway, water, rail and seaports.   They are using radio frequency to track cargo and transfer this information into the transportation arena.  They are also looking at the feasibility of integrating remote sensing data and GIS data, and at using cell phones to collect data, also.

Texas Transportation Institute  - Tim Lomax -  They are working on Asset Management issues in four subject areas, goals and objectives for planning, programming, external communication and data integration.   A September 2002 "Asset Management Conference" was held and a special thanks to Anita for helping with this effort.  The workshop had an emphasis on case studies and implementation.  The 5th National Asset Management Conference will be held in Atlanta, Georgia on Sept. 29-30, 2003. (see Tom Palmerlee's report).

Fish and Wildlife Service - Sean Furness reported that the Fish and Wildlife Service has an inventory of parks and fish and wildlife service roads using GPS, in case anyone needs to use this data.  This was done in support of a study on hunting, fishing, and recreational users.

9)     Agenda Item #9 - 

Ralph Gillmann, FHWA, HPPI-30, gave a presentation on the "Update on Federal ITS Archived Data User Service (ADUS)".  This included information on recent projects: Potential uses of ITS for government reporting purposes.  They are investigating what is the match between ITS data flows and data elements in existing data systems and models (e.g., for improving emissions estimates).  They have found that Household Surveys do not match well to ITS data types.  Current information is available on the web-site.  They are looking at new ways to use ADUS data.  A "Benefits Study" is underway on operations and data.  There are two workshops coming up in March 2003, in Ohio and Utah: Regional Workshops on Traffic Data Quality.  Ralph distributed a handout entitled:  "News: Grant Will Make 'Smart' Traffic Data Smarter".

10)     Agenda Item #10 -

Cambridge Systematics - Rich Margiotta - Provided a handout entitled "ADUS Standards Development by ASTM Committee E17.54".  This includes information on ADUS Standards development for the future, and Meta-data standards for archiving ITS data.  They are looking at traffic related data from ITS sources, and will develop a data dictionary to help with ITS archive data efforts.  For more information logon to:

ASTM_E17.54@ ITSware.net

Subject: Subscribe

11)     Agenda Item #11 -

Pima Association of Governments - Jim Altenstadter and Curtis Lueck -  Presented information on "Regional Digital Orthophoto-GIS-Web based Data Products".  They now have a web-accessible accurate photo image to overlay with the spatial data products.  They have also produced a DVD video of the collaborative effort underway in using this information.  Curtis Lueck presented a hand-out entitled: "Regional Digital Orthophoto Program User Survey and Preliminary Cost-Benefit Assessment".  This Survey was up on three web-sites during the survey period.  The Benefit/Cost ratio information demonstrates that the effort was overwhelmingly successful!  See contacts on pg. 3 of the hand-out.  A question was asked regarding "did survey respondents identify currency of data?"  Curtis acknowledged, that yes, this was an issue that was of concern, to have as current data as possible, however, some folks are interested in the older information as well as the current.

12)     Agenda Item #12 -

Harshad Desai, Florida DOT -  Reported that ITS data is being used for the Orlando area and that they need to make sure that the quality of the data is good before it can be used.  Last year, Florida DOT improved the quality of traffic data on non-state roads.  They sponsor a transportation statistic workshop each year.  They continue efforts in trying to bring the users of data together with the producers of the data.  The suggestion is to do this at NATMEC.  They are also producing a Traffic Monitoring Handbook guide for the state.  Regarding the 2002 Traffic Monitoring Sites, they are looking at the quality of portable counters vs. continuous counters.  Sensors are being used to get the classification data.  They are producing reports for Annual Vehicle Classification for each type of classification.

There was also a report on the "TTMS Vehicle Classification Benchmarking Study" - This was Research on the Fiber Optic Study Actual Field Test.  The study compared the use of normal equipment vs. the fiber optic equipment and analyzed the differences in the data collected, using each type of equipment.  It was determined that errors in the data were related to the software. The software was then updated to ensure data accuracy.  The data was also post-edited.  The data is now correct, but must be customized for different types of software and equipment being used in the future.  Mark Hallenbeck cautioned to make sure that the PAT equipment bought has the standards for the state using it, in this case, Florida.

13)     Agenda Item #13 -

Carl Fisher - Federal Railroad Administration -  Presented information on "GIS at FRA".  Carl explained that the data is used as an analytic tool and you can get the data free by contacting (202) 366-DATA.  Latitude/Longitude data is available on grade crossings and if states have this data, they would like to have it.

14)      Agenda Item #14 -

"Collecting, Processing and Integrating GPS Data into GIS" New Mexico State, 

presenter did  not attend.

15)     Agenda Item #15 - 

Susan Liss, FHWA gave a report on the "2001 National Household Travel Survey".  It was just released on Sunday, January 12, 2003.  The first release of the data is the daily trips data.  This Survey covers 26,000 households and 250,000 daily trips.  The report is also available on the web-site.  Http://nhts.ornl.gov  Of special note, you can run your own tables without having to download the reports in SAS, etc.  Statewide data was provided from Texas and others.  The long-trip data will be  available in the spring release.  There was also a handout provided on the Transferability Model.

16)     Agenda Item #16 -

Committee Meeting Business - Having already addressed earlier in the meeting some of the items for the Committee Business, Anita discussed that she will be reviewing "Big Issues for TRB's Strategic Plan".  She noted that regarding Research Problem Statements,  TRB needed recommendations by the end of this month.  We need to provide ideas for research.  The research statement needs to be submitted by a state as sponsor.  A Research Task team was also formed comprised of Jonette, Jim Hall, Mark Hallenbeck, Rob Bostrom, and Ron Vibbert.

The possibility was discussed that the A1D09 Committee may need to have another meeting, like a "business meeting" in addition to our regular committee, in order to address all necessary business.  Time is always too short to accomplish everything that is planned for each meeting.  The recommendation is to have the open meeting first and then the business meeting later.  Research would be part of the business meeting in this case.  It was noted that we usually end up taking care of research issues during our peer exchanges.

Jonette: there are messages that could be carried to other groups.

Barna is in favor of having the two meetings for this Committee.

Anita: recommendation for a fall teleconference call.  Mark noted that this would be a good idea

Let Anita know in the next week or so, if there is a state that can support this effort (business meeting).

We will also need a task team for the Strategic Plan - We will also look at this during the mid-year meeting: Tzevta, Anita and Kim will work on this issue.

By June, we need to have our sessions planned for the January 2004, meeting.  Recommendations included:

1) Peer Review Summary Session

2) Poster Session with Performance Measurement and Asset Management Committees

3) Partnering for Environmental Database Peer Exchange - A1D09 Committee will still sponsor this peer exchange.  No further details at this time.

Anita also noted that the A1D09 Web-page will be re-designed again.  Cambridge Systematics will be working on the updates to the web-page and they may need someone to help with this.

Future Meetings:

May 18-20, 2003 - TRB Statewide Transportation Planning Conference, "Making Connections", Duck Key, Florida.

July 13-18 - Mid-Year Meeting in Portland, Oregon.

Attachments:> 

1.        Agenda

2.        List of participants

Reference List of Handouts

1)       Tom Palmerlee - "TRB Committee Report for the 2003 Annual Meeting"

2)       Jim McQuirt - "Report on Congestion and Safety and Performance Measures"

3)       Jon Fricker - "Report on Curve Correction Projects Survey"

4)       Ralph Gillmann - "News Grant Will Make 'Smart' Traffic Data Smarter"

5)       Rich Margiotta - "ADUS Standards Development by ASTM Committee E17.54"

6)       Curtis Lueck - "Regional Digital Orthophoto Program User Survey and Preliminary Cost/Benefit Assessment"> 

Web Addresses:

Committee Website: http://members.tripod.com/~trbstate 

Committee Chair: Anita Vandervalk, P.E., apv@camsys.com

Committee Secretary: Kim Hajek, khajek@dot.state.tx.us