Presentation: Florida Department of Transportation

Florida Department of Transportation

Major Transportation Data Activities

The New Web-based RCI Application (RCI):

The Florida Department of Transportation maintains the Roadway Characteristics Inventory (RCI). RCI is a database of various physical and administrative data, such as federal functional classification, pavement, shoulder and median data related to the roadway facilities that are either maintained by, or are of special interest to, the Florida Department of Transportation. Each of these facilities is indexed by a Roadway ID number with beginning and ending mile points.

The RCI system was in need of a major restructuring. The system, originally created in the 1970's, contains over 2 million records, was programmed with languages that have become outdated, no longer supported and therefore challenging to upgrade or enhance. In addition, the software support by vendors was phasing out, the original programmers were retiring, the technology was not up to modern standards, and the user interface was unfriendly.

To address these problems, several years ago FDOT began a process to revamp RCI. This process was managed by the Office of Information Systems and included input from major users of the database (TranStat, Maintenance and Traffic Operations). The new RCI is based in a modern relational database and provides access to and administration of the traditional RCI data, with enhanced functionality and efficiency of use. The new program specifications include a more user friendly interface and useful historical data, improved cross checking of data, easier report creation, and maintenance. The new application enhanced thetraditional RCI with connected features, routes, geospatial information, quick reports, and direct links to videolog and Straight Line Diagrams. The user interface has a "Windows" feel and is more intuitive for the user.

The system went "live" in the early fall (after three years of development work and several hurricane related delays). Extensive user training was conducted across the State prior to implementation.

Roadway Inventory Tracking Application (RITA):

As noted above, FDOT maintains a major database of the state highway system, RCI. The maintenance of the database is a distributed function across the eight Districts. This process is managed by Central Office (TranStat). To ensure the quality, accuracy and timeliness of RCI data, each roadway section must be reinventoried for RCI (every 5 years). HPMS segments have a 3 year inventory cycle. New construction must be updated in the database within 60 days of completion. The Roadway Inventory Tracking Application (RITA) is an intranet tool used by both FDOT District and TranStat staff to manage the RCI database update process.

Prior to the implementation of RITA in the late summer, District staff painstakingly compiled their own data in either Access databases or Excel spreadsheets and submitted the information to TranStat twice a year. Each District developed their own monitoring and tracking system for RCI updates and it was difficult to manage the update process and ensure the accuracy, quality and timeliness of the database.

RITA was developed to ensure consistency of update tracking throughout the State; to allow the District Managers to determine road inventory schedules and to efficiently allocate personnel and resources; and to allow District staff to automate some of the time-consuming tracking processes.

RITA can generate several management reports at both the District level and the statewide level. These include a report of roadways that are due to be inventoried, a report listing all the roadway inventories that have been performed, a report identifying which inventories are late, and a report identifying a percentage of completed roadway inventories for the State.

As a result of the implementation of the link between RCI and the RITA application, four Districts have a 100% score on the RCI On-System % Complete Report; two additional Districts have a 90% or above score. One District discovered over 70 off system roadways that were not previously tracked and therefore not reinventoried in the update process. RITA promises to be an effective tool for managing the roadway data collection process in Florida.

Strategic Intermodal System (SIS):

Florida is undergoing a radical change in the way it considers the transportation system in the State. An efficient, interconnected transportation system is one of the keys to Florida's economic prosperity and the ability to compete in the domestic and global marketplace. This focus turns from considering each mode (highway, air, rail and waterways) separately; to an approach that manages the seamless movement of people and goods in a multimodal system.

Florida's transportation data systems have been traditionally focused in modal silos. The implementation of the SIS will require not only better data on the use of the transportation system within modes, but information on the intermodal connections between modes; how they function and the importance of each one.

The changes needed in the data world to support this new multimodal approach are complex and wide-ranging. In order to help understand the dimension of the changes required, the amount of data needed to support the planning, implementation, and maintenance of the highway mode should be examined. Most Departments of Transportation collect Information on the facilities, volumes, condition, use, and deficiencies relating to the highway system. To varying degrees, similar information is also collected on the other modes, but generally to neither the depth nor sophistication that it is collected on highways. In the case of rail, data is largely unavailable for railroads as they are privately held facilities.

These collected data are generally adequate to determine which projects within the modes are the most important. However, much more in-depth data will be needed to determine if the port in Miami or in Jacksonville should be improved with public dollars. The issue becomes even more daunting when faced with allocating funds for improving the port or building a new interchange on I-95, or even the investment of public dollars in railroad facilities.

In order to make these kinds of decisions, an understanding of how the facility is used, and how it links with other transportation modes is necessary. How do the airport and the roadway facility interrelate? If the airport is improved and capacity added, will the result be the creation of traffic congestion beyond the airport gates?

Florida DOT and its Partners have spent the last year identifying the data needed to support these systems and developing geodatabases that integrate the spatial features and non-spatial data into a single unified database model. The physical facilities databases maintained by the Statistics Office have also been updated to include the new roadway facilities (SIS connectors) and other database elements necessary to support the SIS program. A tremendous amount of work remains to be done to complete the data infrastructure needed to support the evolving SIS Program in Florida.

Remote Sensing Applications:

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), through its Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), has encouraged increased usage and application of technology to the highway inventory process. As part of this effort, RSPA promoted and funded a program to study remote sensing applications for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Roadway Characteristics Inventory (RCI) activities. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) Center for Transportation Analysis partnered with the FDOT for a feasibility study regarding Highway Feature and Characteristics Database Development using commercially available Remote Sensing Technologies, including Satellite Imagery, Aerial Photogrammetry, and Mobile Mapping.

The major objective of "The Highway Features and Characteristics Database Development Using Commercial Remote Sensing, Mobile Mapping, GIS and GPS Project" was to study the feasibility of using state-of-the-art commercial remote sensing technologies to develop comprehensive databases of roadway features and characteristics. The project assessed a combination of remote sensing technologies to extract features on highways and along highway corridors. These features included such items as road centerlines, edges, medians, shoulders, traffic lanes, and land use. The project used an integrated approach that explored the combined strength of the above-mentioned technologies, as well as a comparison of the relative strengths of each of the technologies.

Although remote sensing, mobile mapping and GPS have been separately utilized for transportation data collection, an integrated approach applied to a detailed roadway and roadway feature database development has not been fully investigated. The project provided an operational test of such an integrated approach. This test allowed the researchers: (a) to draw some basic conclusions about the feasibility of the integrated use of remote sensing, mobile mapping, GIS and GPS technologies for the purpose of infrastructure database development, and (b) to assess and compare the functionality of these technologies and their applicability in real world scenarios.

The use of the integrated approach allowed the collection of all types of physical roadway data to a degree of accuracy consistent with FDOT standards for a "planning" level database. The next steps along this research path are to determine the cost effectiveness of remote sensing in comparison with more traditional methods of field data collection currently in use by the Department.

Data Mining:

Roadway construction plans have the potential to provide a wealth of detailed physical roadway characteristics data for use in updating and enhancing FDOT's Roadway Characteristics Inventory (RCI). This study examined the technical feasibility of using electronic roadway design plans prepared in the Department's standard format and layer structure (MicroStation) to extract RCI data.

The study demonstrated that all RCI data related to the physical characteristics of the roadway could be extracted from roadway construction plans. The accuracy achievable was far in excess of the current dimensional standards in use for the database. The study concluded that it would be feasible to develop software to automatically extract roadway data and update the RCI database.

While the technology could be developed, there were concerns about cost effectiveness. FDOT prepares complete construction or reconstruction plans on approximately 150 miles of the 12,000 miles State Highway System every year. The cost of developing the Data Mining Program would be fairly high and it would save relatively little on inventory costs.

Phase 2 of the study will explore the use of "resurfacing" plans for the mining of roadway data. The data in these plans is less comprehensive, meaning less data could be extracted from them. However, FDOT resurfaces between 600 and 900 miles of roadway annually, making the potential for use of the software much higher. The primary benefit of using reconstruction plans may be an improvement of accuracy in the RCI database rather than a cost savings. It is uncertain if the higher degree of accuracy would be worth the cost to achieve it.

City-County Mileage Web Site:

FDOT is required by statute to collect the number of miles of roadway (paved and unpaved) from each city and county within the State and the process requires collecting information from all 470 jurisdictions. In the past, this collection was done through a paper process: letters were sent to each jurisdiction, and forms completed and returned to the Department. These forms were then entered into a database, information produced and then submitted to the Legislature.

This year, for the first time, the process is being completed entirely by e-mail and through a web site. Each jurisdiction is sent an e-mail with a coded link allowing access to a special web site. Once connected to the web site, information can be input for each jurisdiction directly into the database. The programming has logic checks built in, and prompts the user for additional information if circumstances warrant. For example, if there is a substantial change in roadway mileage, or if there is a reduction in unpaved mileage without an increase in paved mileage, the program requests confirmation of this condition and offers the opportunity for explanation. The program also sends reminder e-mails for those jurisdictions that have not updated the database.

While the collection of these data represents only a small part of TranStat yearly tasks, we are exploring using the technology and concept in the collection of other data and partnering with local governments.

	Statewide Data and Information Systems Committee
Statewide Data Trends Self Evaluation Membership Roster Friends of the Committee Statewide Liaison 2002 Mid-Year Meeting 2003 Annual Meeting 2004 Mid-Year Meeting 2004 Annual Meeting 2005 Mid-Year Meeting 2005 Annual Meeting 2006 Annual Meeting 2007 Annual Meeting 08/2000 – Performance Measures 03/2001 – Data Integration 07/2001 – Adding Value with Data Collection Programs 03/2002 – Using Spatial Data, Tools and Technologies to Improve the Delivery of Transportation Programs 05/2003 – Data Partnering 06/2004 -- Data Business Plans March 2005 Related Conferences Links Chairperson Secretary TRB Staff Representative
Florida Department of Transportation Major Transportation Data Activities The New Web-based RCI Application (RCI): The Florida Department of Transportation maintains the Roadway Characteristics Inventory (RCI). RCI is a database of various physical and administrative data, such as federal functional classification, pavement, shoulder and median data related to the roadway facilities that are either maintained by, or are of special interest to, the Florida Department of Transportation. Each of these facilities is indexed by a Roadway ID number with beginning and ending mile points. The RCI system was in need of a major restructuring. The system, originally created in the 1970's, contains over 2 million records, was programmed with languages that have become outdated, no longer supported and therefore challenging to upgrade or enhance. In addition, the software support by vendors was phasing out, the original programmers were retiring, the technology was not up to modern standards, and the user interface was unfriendly. To address these problems, several years ago FDOT began a process to revamp RCI. This process was managed by the Office of Information Systems and included input from major users of the database (TranStat, Maintenance and Traffic Operations). The new RCI is based in a modern relational database and provides access to and administration of the traditional RCI data, with enhanced functionality and efficiency of use. The new program specifications include a more user friendly interface and useful historical data, improved cross checking of data, easier report creation, and maintenance. The new application enhanced thetraditional RCI with connected features, routes, geospatial information, quick reports, and direct links to videolog and Straight Line Diagrams. The user interface has a "Windows" feel and is more intuitive for the user. The system went "live" in the early fall (after three years of development work and several hurricane related delays). Extensive user training was conducted across the State prior to implementation. Roadway Inventory Tracking Application (RITA): As noted above, FDOT maintains a major database of the state highway system, RCI. The maintenance of the database is a distributed function across the eight Districts. This process is managed by Central Office (TranStat). To ensure the quality, accuracy and timeliness of RCI data, each roadway section must be reinventoried for RCI (every 5 years). HPMS segments have a 3 year inventory cycle. New construction must be updated in the database within 60 days of completion. The Roadway Inventory Tracking Application (RITA) is an intranet tool used by both FDOT District and TranStat staff to manage the RCI database update process. Prior to the implementation of RITA in the late summer, District staff painstakingly compiled their own data in either Access databases or Excel spreadsheets and submitted the information to TranStat twice a year. Each District developed their own monitoring and tracking system for RCI updates and it was difficult to manage the update process and ensure the accuracy, quality and timeliness of the database. RITA was developed to ensure consistency of update tracking throughout the State; to allow the District Managers to determine road inventory schedules and to efficiently allocate personnel and resources; and to allow District staff to automate some of the time-consuming tracking processes. RITA can generate several management reports at both the District level and the statewide level. These include a report of roadways that are due to be inventoried, a report listing all the roadway inventories that have been performed, a report identifying which inventories are late, and a report identifying a percentage of completed roadway inventories for the State. As a result of the implementation of the link between RCI and the RITA application, four Districts have a 100% score on the RCI On-System % Complete Report; two additional Districts have a 90% or above score. One District discovered over 70 off system roadways that were not previously tracked and therefore not reinventoried in the update process. RITA promises to be an effective tool for managing the roadway data collection process in Florida. Strategic Intermodal System (SIS): Florida is undergoing a radical change in the way it considers the transportation system in the State. An efficient, interconnected transportation system is one of the keys to Florida's economic prosperity and the ability to compete in the domestic and global marketplace. This focus turns from considering each mode (highway, air, rail and waterways) separately; to an approach that manages the seamless movement of people and goods in a multimodal system. Florida's transportation data systems have been traditionally focused in modal silos. The implementation of the SIS will require not only better data on the use of the transportation system within modes, but information on the intermodal connections between modes; how they function and the importance of each one. The changes needed in the data world to support this new multimodal approach are complex and wide-ranging. In order to help understand the dimension of the changes required, the amount of data needed to support the planning, implementation, and maintenance of the highway mode should be examined. Most Departments of Transportation collect Information on the facilities, volumes, condition, use, and deficiencies relating to the highway system. To varying degrees, similar information is also collected on the other modes, but generally to neither the depth nor sophistication that it is collected on highways. In the case of rail, data is largely unavailable for railroads as they are privately held facilities. These collected data are generally adequate to determine which projects within the modes are the most important. However, much more in-depth data will be needed to determine if the port in Miami or in Jacksonville should be improved with public dollars. The issue becomes even more daunting when faced with allocating funds for improving the port or building a new interchange on I-95, or even the investment of public dollars in railroad facilities. In order to make these kinds of decisions, an understanding of how the facility is used, and how it links with other transportation modes is necessary. How do the airport and the roadway facility interrelate? If the airport is improved and capacity added, will the result be the creation of traffic congestion beyond the airport gates? Florida DOT and its Partners have spent the last year identifying the data needed to support these systems and developing geodatabases that integrate the spatial features and non-spatial data into a single unified database model. The physical facilities databases maintained by the Statistics Office have also been updated to include the new roadway facilities (SIS connectors) and other database elements necessary to support the SIS program. A tremendous amount of work remains to be done to complete the data infrastructure needed to support the evolving SIS Program in Florida. Remote Sensing Applications: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), through its Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), has encouraged increased usage and application of technology to the highway inventory process. As part of this effort, RSPA promoted and funded a program to study remote sensing applications for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Roadway Characteristics Inventory (RCI) activities. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) Center for Transportation Analysis partnered with the FDOT for a feasibility study regarding Highway Feature and Characteristics Database Development using commercially available Remote Sensing Technologies, including Satellite Imagery, Aerial Photogrammetry, and Mobile Mapping. The major objective of "The Highway Features and Characteristics Database Development Using Commercial Remote Sensing, Mobile Mapping, GIS and GPS Project" was to study the feasibility of using state-of-the-art commercial remote sensing technologies to develop comprehensive databases of roadway features and characteristics. The project assessed a combination of remote sensing technologies to extract features on highways and along highway corridors. These features included such items as road centerlines, edges, medians, shoulders, traffic lanes, and land use. The project used an integrated approach that explored the combined strength of the above-mentioned technologies, as well as a comparison of the relative strengths of each of the technologies. Although remote sensing, mobile mapping and GPS have been separately utilized for transportation data collection, an integrated approach applied to a detailed roadway and roadway feature database development has not been fully investigated. The project provided an operational test of such an integrated approach. This test allowed the researchers: (a) to draw some basic conclusions about the feasibility of the integrated use of remote sensing, mobile mapping, GIS and GPS technologies for the purpose of infrastructure database development, and (b) to assess and compare the functionality of these technologies and their applicability in real world scenarios. The use of the integrated approach allowed the collection of all types of physical roadway data to a degree of accuracy consistent with FDOT standards for a "planning" level database. The next steps along this research path are to determine the cost effectiveness of remote sensing in comparison with more traditional methods of field data collection currently in use by the Department. Data Mining: Roadway construction plans have the potential to provide a wealth of detailed physical roadway characteristics data for use in updating and enhancing FDOT's Roadway Characteristics Inventory (RCI). This study examined the technical feasibility of using electronic roadway design plans prepared in the Department's standard format and layer structure (MicroStation) to extract RCI data. The study demonstrated that all RCI data related to the physical characteristics of the roadway could be extracted from roadway construction plans. The accuracy achievable was far in excess of the current dimensional standards in use for the database. The study concluded that it would be feasible to develop software to automatically extract roadway data and update the RCI database. While the technology could be developed, there were concerns about cost effectiveness. FDOT prepares complete construction or reconstruction plans on approximately 150 miles of the 12,000 miles State Highway System every year. The cost of developing the Data Mining Program would be fairly high and it would save relatively little on inventory costs. Phase 2 of the study will explore the use of "resurfacing" plans for the mining of roadway data. The data in these plans is less comprehensive, meaning less data could be extracted from them. However, FDOT resurfaces between 600 and 900 miles of roadway annually, making the potential for use of the software much higher. The primary benefit of using reconstruction plans may be an improvement of accuracy in the RCI database rather than a cost savings. It is uncertain if the higher degree of accuracy would be worth the cost to achieve it. City-County Mileage Web Site: FDOT is required by statute to collect the number of miles of roadway (paved and unpaved) from each city and county within the State and the process requires collecting information from all 470 jurisdictions. In the past, this collection was done through a paper process: letters were sent to each jurisdiction, and forms completed and returned to the Department. These forms were then entered into a database, information produced and then submitted to the Legislature. This year, for the first time, the process is being completed entirely by e-mail and through a web site. Each jurisdiction is sent an e-mail with a coded link allowing access to a special web site. Once connected to the web site, information can be input for each jurisdiction directly into the database. The programming has logic checks built in, and prompts the user for additional information if circumstances warrant. For example, if there is a substantial change in roadway mileage, or if there is a reduction in unpaved mileage without an increase in paved mileage, the program requests confirmation of this condition and offers the opportunity for explanation. The program also sends reminder e-mails for those jurisdictions that have not updated the database. While the collection of these data represents only a small part of TranStat yearly tasks, we are exploring using the technology and concept in the collection of other data and partnering with local governments.

Statewide Data and Information Systems Committee