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Geographic Information System - Transportation ISTEA Management Systems Server net Prototype Pooled Fund Study: Proposal and Project Plan
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM - TRANSPORTATION ISTEA MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Server net PROTOTYPE POOLED FUND STUDY PROPOSAL AND PROJECT PLAN September 29, 1995 I. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT The transportation problems facing this nation continue to be increasingly complex. Major portions of the transportation infrastructure are in need of immediate repair or replacement. Service and performance levels of new facilities are beginning to lag far behind their European and Japanese counterparts while construction and maintenance costs continue to rise. Although the traveling public has consistently demonstrated support for improved transportation facilities, society as a whole is demanding that these investments be made in an environmentally sound and economically efficient manner. The recently enacted Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) represents the nation's response to this challenge and expresses a significant shift in national transportation policy. The ISTEA establishes record levels of transportation funding, completely revamps the federal aid programs, emphasizes the need for intermodal links, provides new opportunities for local transportation decision making and for the first time, explicitly recognizes the necessity of applying information technology to transportation management decision making at all levels of government and encompassing all modes of travel. It is the intention of both the Congress and the U.S. DOT that this technology be integrated, synergistic and comprehensive. Each of these policy shifts will have enormous impacts on transportation agencies. More program funding means more engineering and construction resources. New rules for pavement, bridge, safety, congestion, transit and intermodal management will require new analytic models, better data bases, and new ways of doing business to be developed in very short time frames. The requirement for local Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs) will force municipal, regional and state governments to develop better ways of cooperating and communicating. And finally, funding for non-highway related transportation projects will increase the competition for these funds. This shift of resources will have various political and economic implications. Caught in the middle of this policy shift are the transportation agencies responsible for implementing this new policy. While the workload and the complexity of the work are increasing, staff size and operating budgets are fixed or shrinking. The clear message for the 90's is "Do more with less." As a result, the needs of these organizations are beginning to far outpace their ability to deliver. If these organizations are going to survive, they must develop new strategies to deal with this impending crisis. Because of the indivisible relationship of transportation and geography, Geographic Information System (GIS) and related technologies stand unique in their potential application to these requirements. The ability to use geographic locations and relationships to manage all of the information necessary for transportation planning, engineering and operations offers opportunities unavailable until now. The power of geographic reasoning, as incorporated into GIS, has the potential to become a central, indispensable component of a transportation organization's overall information strategy. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are complex combinations of "...hardware, software, data, organizations and institutional arrange- ments for collecting, storing, analyzing and disseminating information about areas of the earth." (Dueker and Kjerne, 1988) While this technology has been successfully applied in many fields outside of transportation (eg. land records management, urban planning, natural resource management, etc.) GIS has only been recently applied to transportation problems. This application of GIS to Transportation is now commonly known as GIS-T. Although the term "Geographic Information System" is and will be continued to be used in the context of the definition provided, there is a conceptual inconsistency between this definition and the general definition of information systems provided by the data processing community. This has resulted in some confusion between the technological capabilities of GIS (ie. the GIS "tool box") versus the application of these tools for specific transportation related purposes. For the purposes of this study, the general term GIS-T will be applied to the combination of any and all Information Technologies which can be used to collect, store, analyze or disseminate geographic (including transportation) data. The application of GIS-T to any specific transportation purpose will be denoted by a functional description (eg. Pavement Information System, Traffic Information System, etc.). This perspective implies that the fundamental set of concepts, mathematics, and technologies comprising GIS-T can be applied across the entire spectrum of transportation information system requirements. The question is no longer between developing either a GIS-T or a Highway Information System (HIS) for example, but rather what information technologies (eg. GIS-T) are most appropriate to construct the next generation of HIS. With only a few exceptions, state DOT's are undertaking GIS-T development, pursuing a variety of strategies. According to a recent AASHTO study (1992), almost 80% of the DOT's responding believed that GIS technology had the highest IT payoff potential of any technology identified - including CADD, Artificial Intelligence, document imaging and end user computing. However, as indicated by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program research project on the Adaptation of GIS to Transportation (NCHRP Report 359), this promise will only be fully realized after much additional research and development. This project noted the need to plan for and implement multiple interdependent technologies simultaneously in order to take advantage of the synergistic benefits which are possible. There were a number of additional findings from the NCHRP GIS-T Project of direct relevance to this study: A. GIS-T can be used as a logical and physical data integrator of all types of data necessary to the transportation sector. As a result, it becomes a "central, indispensable component of the organization's overall information technology strategy." B. Better linkages between all information technologies employed in transportation agencies need to be developed. C. New GIS-T data models need to be developed. These will include the ability to represent three-dimensional and temporal data. These models will need to support the transformation of data structures best suited for information management into those structures optimal for analysis and simulation. D. A relationship between GIS-T based information systems and Information Engineering/CASE needs to be defined and supported. E. Networking technologies need to be improved and exploited. F. GIS-T linkages to multi-media technologies need to be developed. G. Better technology integration of advanced data collection technologies and GIS-T needs to occur. This will need to include real-time telemetry devices. H. Better strategies and technologies for the storage and retrieval of very large (1 Petabyte) quantities of data need to be in place. I. Given the unique characteristics of a fully mature GIS-T, it MAY be desirable to design a new solution rather than extending and adopting existing GIS technologies originally designed for other industries. Several conclusions can be derived from the previous discussion: 1. ISTEA represents a major shift in national transportation policy. New approaches will need to be implemented at all levels of government in order to satisfy its mandates. 2. The issues facing the transportation sector are very large, very complex, multi-dimensional and highly interdependent. Any solution which attempts to resolve these issues will also exhibit these same characteristics. 3. It is highly unlikely that thousands of local approaches will synthesize into this solution. By definition, these approaches are limited in scope. 4. Most public agencies do not have the resources to independently research the best application of existing technology, much less assess the application of new ones. Even if this were not the case, it may not be the best allocation of resources to do so. 5. Although many of the core concepts necessary to an integrated solution have been defined, there are still many unresolved issues remaining. There is also the need to carry many of these concepts forward into functional prototypes before they can be used in production settings. 6. Geographic Information Systems and related technologies represent a fundamentally new approach to the information resource management problems facing all transportation agencies. GIS is not just one more thing to do with a computer, it represents an entirely new way of computing. The technology is still immature and will need further development before its promise can be fully realized. 7. It is likely that by focusing on narrow applications, opportuni- ties for major payoffs may be overlooked. This research project is in direct response to these trends and represents a national effort to converge the changes in transportation policy, procedures and players with new and emerging computing concepts of server net based Geographic Information Systems. II. PROJECT OBJECTIVE The overall objective of this project is to develop and make available to participating state transportation organizations GIS-T server net prototypes supporting the requirements for the ISTEA Management Systems. These systems are envisioned to be computing and data management environments consisting of a variety of interconnected technologies dedicated to collecting, managing, analyzing and disseminating the geographic and transportation information necessary for intermodal, multi-jurisdictional transportation management activities. This objective can be further quantified to: 1. Develop a system architecture for a Geographic Information System - Transportation (GIS-T) which can be used in support of the multi-jurisdictional, intermodal transportation facilities planning and management systems requirements in ISTEA for Pavement, Bridge, Safety, Congestion, Public Transportation and Intermodal Management as well as traffic monitoring and clean air monitoring activities. This architecture will consist of a set of non-proprietary models of the ISTEA statewide and metropolitan planning and project selection and supporting activities from multiple perspectives: data, functional, technological and institutional. These models will provide a organizational and technology independent perspective of these functional areas concentrating on providing a consensus based national framework suitable for individual adaptation and modification. These models will be developed using Information Engineering principles, methods and tools and will be based on the conceptual framework defined by the NCHRP 20- 27 research effort. 2. Encourage the development of functional GIS-T server net prototypes. These prototypes will be developed by the private sector partners sponsoring this study. This encouragement will result from a series of research transfer activities between the study and the private sector. 3. Develop a set of GIS-T demonstration systems using the GIS-T prototype. These demonstrations will illustrate the application of GIS-T principles across a range of transportation sector activities. These demonstrations will be based on state-of-the-art technologies. 4. Develop and incorporate new capabilities into the core GIS-T architecture as necessary. These may include new models, processes or technologies. III. PROJECT FUNDING AND BUDGET A budget of $ 1,500,000 will be required. Approximately $ 1,000,000 will be funded by the States, pro rata based on the number of States participating at a subscription level of $25,000 per state. Private sector and academic sponsorship of the Study is included at a subscription fee of $10,000 per company, university or consortia. The remaining $ 500,000 will be made available from Sandia National Laboratories and other sponsoring agencies. This budget includes three subsidized meetings of the Study Steering Committee: one at the project's inception, one interim meeting and one at the project's conclusion. It also includes the cost of a sponsors workshop and technology exposition to be held at the project's conclusion. A detailed budget is included with this plan. Budget updates will be provided to participating states on a regular basis. State costs may be paid over one or two fiscal years. State cost coordination of the project will be done by the Study Steering Committee chaired by the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department acting as fiscal agent in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration. All technical activities associated with this project will be managed by Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico. IV. PROJECT SCHEDULE The project will commence in November 1993. The project will last 18 months. Project deliverables will be distributed at various milestone points in the schedule as appropriate. A detailed project bar chart is included with this plan. Project schedule updates will be provided to participating states on a regular basis. V. DELIVERABLES 1. A GIS-T Server net Prototype Architecture This architecture will illustrate the integration of multiple: * data themes * data objects (eg. alpha/numeric, graphic, spatial, image, photograph) * levels of resolution (eg. 1:2 400, 1:24 000, 1:100 000, 1:2 000 000) * data sources * organizations and will be developed and presented as a series of interrelated Information Engineering models portraying data, process, technological and institutional perspectives. 2. Information Technology Standards relevant to GIS-T A resource constrained technology architecture refers to specific proprietary hardware and software acquired to implement the logical server net design. Because of the volatility of the marketplace, it is incumbent that these choices be made using a standards based framework. This initiative will identify relevant industry standards, provide the relationships between the conceptual server net model outlined in NCHRP 20-27 and the logical and physical models just outlined, and provide a evolutionary model for those organizations migrating from older technology architectures toward the server net. 3. A GIS-T/ISTEA Management System server net demonstration system The GIS-T server net demonstration will incorporate numerous services in a client/server network architecture. These may encompass: * geographic data servers for geographic data creation, maintenance and access. * attribute data server for transportation data, including inventory, performance and environmental data. * image data server for raster scanned photography and remote sensing (eg. SPOT) data. * document data server for large and small format documents (e.g. plan sheets, correspondence, etc.). * video data server for photographic and broadcast data. * overlay (data fusion) server for data integration and spatial analysis. * cartographic data server for map development, publishing and library management. * display and user interaction servers for GIS-T access. * application development server for GIS-T based information system development. * general purpose servers (e.g. print, plot, E-Mail, system administration, communication gateways, etc.). These demonstrations will be developed at the Sandia National Laboratories GIS Computing Lab. The designs for these demonstrations are a part of the deliverables of this Study. 4. GIS-T/ISTEA Management Systems prototypes, products and services This study will encourage the private sector systems developers and consultants to sponsor this study so that the results of the research may be made available for inclusion into market ready products and services. Specific hardware and software products delivered as a deliverable under this project will be developed by the private sector and will not be in the public domain. The Study Team will NOT produce products and services in competition with these private sector deliverables. VI. WORK PLAN This purpose of this research project is to develop and demonstrate an integrated approach to implementing the seven transportation planning systems outlined in ISTEA. This demonstration on multi-faceted integration will incorporate state of the art approaches from several fields including Information Engineering, Geographic Information Systems and client/server computing. The research team proposes four distinct, interrelated research phases in this project. Each phase emphasizes a different aspect to the research and will require teams with different complementary skills. Project continuity and overall project administration will be provided by the three Co-Principal Investigators. All Phases will be completed within the 18 months allocated to this project. PHASE A: MODELING Phase A will focus on defining the goals, strategies, information needs, processes and data incorporated in the ISTEA management systems as outlined in the legislation, defined by FHWA or interpreted by AASHTO and its member departments. The research team considers the active participation of State and Federal representation crucial to the success of this and all subsequent Phases. Team A is proposed to consist of representatives from State DOTs and other organizations involved with transportation planning and programming areas specified in ISTEA. This team will consist of up to 10 participants who will evaluate, analyze and model the ISTEA management systems requirements, policies, goals, information needs, activities and data. A separate team participant recruitment package will be distributed to the states after the Study kick-off meeting outlining specific, desirable knowledges and experiences of the participants and other details germane to the team selection process. Because of the intensive nature of the modeling process, no observers will be able to join the team. However, experts will be consulted to augment specific team requirements on an as needed basis. In addition, the Study Team will distribute draft copies of the models to all sponsors for comment, review and evaluation before submitting them for Study Steering Committee approval. Deliverables from Phase A will include: 1. A Entity Relationship data model illustrating an integrated data base supporting all seven systems. This model will be evaluated specifically for potential impacts resulting from metrication. 2. An activity model defining the general areas implied by the scope of the ISTEA systems illustrating an integrated approach to transportation program development. 3. An integrated systems architecture illustrating the data flows between these systems. 4. Evaluation of the Information Engineering methods used in the analysis. These deliverables will be developed by Team A in four modeling and analysis sessions to be conducted during the period January-May 1994. PHASE B: DEMONSTRATION DESIGN Team B will take the systems architecture defined in Phase A and design a technology independent integrated system. This system design will outline specific data, application and presentation services necessary to this system. The emphasis of Phase B is on identifying specific services and data common across all management systems and suitable for all sponsoring departments regardless of specific existing technologies in place. This will allow sponsoring DOT's to use the results of Phase B as a systems template. Deliverables from Phase B include: 1. A data base design, including table and column definitions. 2. System pseudo code outlining an integrated approach to systems development. The research team envisions specific logic to be developed to demonstrate data acquisition, data access, data fusion, data analysis and data display services. 3. Evaluation of the software engineering methods used to develop these functional specifications. PHASE C: DEMONSTRATION DEVELOPMENT The objective of Phase C is to define and develop a set of demonstrations illustrating the usefulness, robustness and utility of the concepts and designs developed in Phases A and B. The focus of these demonstrations will be on integration. Deliverables illustrating integration include but are not limited to: 1. Integrated data bases, integrated computing networks, integrated software codes, integrated command and control systems. 2. Specific examples of ISTEA management systems implemented in an GIS-T context. A multi-media presentation system will be used to document and communicate the GIS-T initiative. This presentation system will be designed to be used by non-technical people associated with the initiative. A short videotape will be produced describing the GIS-T prototype. The tape will explain the GIS-T initiative and will showcase the demonstration system. Copies of this video will be made available to the participating States. PHASE D: RESEARCH RESULTS TRANSFER The Study Team Proposes that vendors and consultants serving the transportation industry be encouraged to sponsor this study by participating in this research results transfer phase. This participation, and the subsequent private sector development of products and services incorporating the results of this research will provide states the widest possible opportunity to implement production management systems based on this study while preserving their existing information technology investments and supplier relationships. The research results transfer program is intended to foster the development of ISTEA management systems operating in a variety of computing environments. Key components of this Phase include: 1. Sponsors may join the project at any time during the Phase A of the Study. 2. Sponsors may participate in the Study Steering Committee meetings. 3. All Sponsors are encouraged to develop specific products and services incorporating the results of this Study. A Sponsor exhibition will be held at the completion of the project in order to showcase these developments. 4. All Sponsors will receive a copies of the Study in progress, including a complete set of the systems architecture for review and comment at the conclusion of Phase A. A Sponsor workshop on this architecture will be presented upon acceptance by the Steering Committee. 5. Sponsors will have access to the Study Team and to specific work in progress throughout the duration of the Study. 6. Sponsors will be acknowledged in the final report. Sponsorship of this research study will not constitute endorsement of any proprietary component. Sponsorship in this study will not be used as a factor in the selection of any hardware, software or consulting services by either the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department or Sandia National Laboratories.
