Image source: //engineering.purdue.edu/~srg/book/files/PDF/19. Information... · Importance: Inaccurate data ... DBMS DBMS Database of Spatial Feat ur es Dat base of ... What is a

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Image source: http://www.latitudeuk.com/datamanagement.html

Transportation Decision Making

Principles of Project Evaluation and Programming

Chapter 19Managing Information for the Evaluation of Transportation Systems

Kumares C. Sinha and Samuel Labi

The most successful person is that who has the best information.Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

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Source: www.jklossner.com/computerworld

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Source: www.jklossner.com/computerworld

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Our talk today …

What is Data/Information Management

Scope of Information Management Needs

Discussion of the IM Steps

Data for IM

Hardware for IM

Software for IM

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What is Information Management?

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Data vs. Information

In everyday language: “Data” is a synonym for “information”

In the exact sciences:Data: a measurement of a property of a system, often is disorganized or rawInformation: The result when raw data is processed into a usable form.

Information (definitions)knowledge communicated/received concerning particular facts or circumstancesknowledge gained through study, communication, research, instruction, etcknowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction intelligence, news a quantitative measure of the content of information

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What is Information Management?

Definition: handling of information to ensure efficient access to intended end users.

Steps:

Importance: Inaccurate data → poor prediction of future systems attributes

→ incorrect assessment of costs and benefits→ wrong identification of best alternative→ inappropriate decisions

→ waste of tax payers dollars, poor accountability, poor system performance, etc.

Data Collection

Data Storage

Data Retrieval

Data Analysis

Data Archival

Data Collation

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Scope of Information Management Needs

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Scope of the Need for Information Management

IM required at all phases of Transportation Program Development

IM required at all phases of the project development process (PDP)

Network-level Planning

Development of Individual

Projects

Network-level Programming

Network-level Budgeting

Network-level Financial Planning

1. Review of Network-level

Plan

4. System Design

2. Project Development

3. Mitigation

4. ROW Studies

5. Construction 7. System Preservation

Evaluation of Alternative System Plans and Policies

Evaluation of Alternative

Location Plans

Evaluation of Alternative System

Designs


Construction Practices


Preservation Practices

6. System Operation

Evaluation of Alternative Operation Policies and

Regulations

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Scope of IM Need (continued)

IM required for each performance measure and related data itemsTravel Time (travel time, wage rates, travel speeds, etc.)

Safety (crash rates, crash costs, roadway safety features, etc.)

Vehicle Operating Costs (prices of fuel, oil, tires, etc., vehicle life span, etc.)

Economic Efficiency (interest rates, etc.)

Economic Development (Business sales, nr. of jobs, nr. of new businesses, etc.)

Air Quality (speed, traffic volumes, air temperature and humidity, emission rates, etc.)

Noise (speeds, traffic volumes, REMEL values, etc.)

Ecology and Wetlands (Facility locations, traffic volumes, existing ecological assets, etc.)

Water Resources (Facility locations, traffic volumes, existing ecological assets, etc.)

Energy (energy efficiencies, traffic volumes and distributions, etc.)

Land-use (Facility locations, traffic volumes, existing land-use patterns, etc.)

Visual (Facility locations, existing visual inventories, etc)

Socio-culture (Facility locations, traffic volumes, existing SC capital, etc.)

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IM required for each performance measure and related data itemsTravel Time (travel time, wage rates, travel speeds, etc.)

Safety (crash rates, crash costs, roadway safety features, etc.)

Vehicle Operating Costs (prices of fuel, oil, tires, etc., vehicle life span, etc.)

Economic Efficiency (interest rates, etc.)

Economic Development (Business sales, nr. of jobs, nr. of new businesses, etc.)

Air Quality (speed, traffic volumes, air temperature and humidity, emission rates, etc.)

Noise (speeds, traffic volumes, REMEL values, etc.)

Ecology and Wetlands (Facility locations, traffic volumes, existing ecological assets, etc.)

Water Resources (Facility locations, traffic volumes, existing ecological assets, etc.)

Energy-use (energy efficiencies, traffic volumes and distributions, etc.)

Land-use (Facility locations, traffic volumes, existing land-use patterns, etc.)

Visual Quality (Facility locations, existing visual inventories, etc)

Socio-culture (Facility locations, traffic volumes, existing SC capital, etc.)

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IM needed for evaluation not only at pre-implementation stage but also at post-implementation stage

- pre-implementation: before the transportation project (to justify the project, etc.)

Data easier to collect at this stageRequired by federal, state, and local legislation

- post-implementation: after the transportation project (to ascertain if the project has realized its objectives, etc.)

Data more difficult to collect at this stage.Needs stronger legislation and more agency support

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Discussion of the IM Steps

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Information Management Steps (General)

1. Data Collection

2. Data Collation

3. Data Storage

4. Data Retrieval

5. Data Analysis

6. Data Archival

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Information Management Steps (detailed)

Collect Manage Manipulate Analyze Display

Scanned Maps

Digitized Map

Coordinate Geometry (COGO)

Digital Image Processing

Existing Digital Files

Keyboard Entry

File Transfer

DBMS DBMS

Database of Spatial Features

Database of Non-spatial Features

Map Outputs Composite Maps Perspective Maps Interpretive Maps Scaled Maps Tabular Reports Areas Lengths Summaries

Maps and Imagery (Spatial)

Tabular Attribute Data (Non-spatial)

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1. Data Collection

Must be done carefully! Plan well and plan in advance.Many different toolsChoice of tool depends on: available time, available resources, type of data being collectedExamples of tools

Primary data collection- Field equipment (see next slide)- Survey forms (manual or electronic) for “field” data (collected from experts, affected residents, etc.)

Secondary data collection (getting data from established databases)

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Examples of field equipment for data collection

Equipment (for traffic attributes: volume, speeds, etc.)Instrumented VansGPS Enabled Hand-held Mini-Computers Video CamerasWeigh-in-Motion ScalesAutomatic Traffic RecordersVehicle Detectors (Infra-red, microwave, laser, radar etc)

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Other technologies for traffic data collection

RadarLaser

ATRMicrowave Radar

Infra-red

How about the other transportation modes?

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Collected data may come in one or more of many forms …

Information Systems

Vector Data

Alphanumeric Data

Satellite Images

Documents and Photographs

Scanned Maps

Field Survey

GIS or OtInformation S

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2. Data Collation

The process of transferring and/or re-arranging raw data into appropriate form for storage or analysis

Example: traffic volume can be collected on site but must be transferred into an AADT for purposes of VMT calculation and other analyses

Done manually or using automated means

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3&4. Data Storage and Retrieval

Holding of information safely so that it can be accessed at some other time

Mediums of data storage: Manual or Electronic

“Manual” data storage devices: DNA strandsSurfaces of cave walls, modern-day walls (graffiti)Artist canvas, cloth, wood, etc.

Paper

Electronic data storage devicesMagnetic filmsTapes, compact disks, PC cards, memory cards, flash drives, etc.

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What is a Database Management System (DBMS)?

A computer software designed for the purpose of managing databases.

Typical example: Microsoft Excel

What is a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS)? Several DBMS put togetherLinkages between the constituent DBMSExamples:

Oracle, DB2, SAP, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, FileMaker and Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise, etc.

GIS-based RDBMS Google Earth, Map Quest, ArcView, TransCAD

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What is a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS)?

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CrashLocation (milepost)Segment codeCrash typeCrash patternPrimary factorOther factorsDriver genderDriver ageVehicle type/size

Road SegmentSegment codeRoad widthShoulder widthSurface typeStraight or curve

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CrashLocation (milepost)Segment codeCrash typeCrash patternPrimary factorOther factorsDriver genderDriver ageVehicle type/size

Road SegmentSegment codeRoad widthShoulder widthSurface typeStraight or curve

In this case,

“Segment Code” is the FOREIGN KEY in the Crash Database

“Segment Code” is the PRIMARY KEY in the Road Segment Database

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Integrated (Crash and road) databaseLocation (milepost)Segment codeCrash typeCrash patternPrimary factorOther factorsDriver genderDriver ageVehicle type/size

Segment codeRoad widthShoulder widthSurface typeStraight or curve

To have an RDMS, the constituent databases must be linked through their foreign and primary keys.

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5. Data Analysis

For each performance measure, CE 561 has discuss how to carry out data analysis

Specific analysis format depends on performance measure of interest

Data analysis can be done manually or with help of computer

Some data storage software can also help in data analysis

Example, MS Excel, Access, SPSS, etc. can not only store data but can also help identify relationships between data and other trends.

Also, GIS helps identify spatial extent of influence of performance measures compared to each other and compared to existing physical features of the natural or built up environment

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GIS - A special tool for data storage, retrieval and analysis

Data are in layers (switching is possible)

Each layer for each attribute

Spatial DataVector Data: Points, Lines, PolygonsRaster Data: CellsOrtho Images: Aerial Photographs

Attribute DataTables Associated with Each Spatial Feature

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Available Types of GIS Application Tools

ArcView/ArcInfo

Internet GIS

GIS-compatible Video-Log Systems

TransCAD

Other GIS

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Example of GIS Application Tools: Internet GIS

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Example of GIS Application Tools: Internet GIS

ApplicationsFor DigitizationSimulation Packages for Drawing Highway Network : VISSIM, Synchro & SimtrafficDetermining Evaluation Parameters

Number of LanesMilepostsDistancesLane Width / Shoulder widthRamp LocationRamp Length – Ramp Storage CapacityParallel RoutesLand Use

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Example of GIS Application Tools: Video-log System

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Video-log vehicle accessoriesGPS UnitDistance Measuring InstrumentationPavement and Road Condition SensorsCameras & Associated Computer Components

ApplicationsDetermine/confirm roadway condition and features of roadway (Lane Width, Shoulder Width, Pavement Conditions, Geometric Features (Median type etc.)

Can be used to monitor physical features of assets for other modes

Tracks for rail transportation, Runways for air transportationBerths and docks for water transportation

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GIS Applications in transportation systems evaluation

Query, Display and Visualization of Initial Data

Buffer Analysis

Overlay Analysis

Analysis of Transportation Operations

Public Input in Transportation System Evaluation

Multi-criteria Decision-making

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Available databases where you can collect secondary data for evaluating your

transportation system

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Highway Safety Information System (HSIS)

A multi-state GIS-compatible safety database

Used to study highway safety issues and evaluate the effectiveness of safety countermeasures.

Contains data on crashes, traffic volumes, inventory data, and video photo logs for total of 165,000 miles of highways in 8 states

Crash File (Crash, Vehicle, Driver & Occupancy Information)Roadway Inventory File (Hourly Traffic Data)Traffic Volume File (Curves, Grade etc.)Commercial Motor Vehicle Crash FilesVehicle Configuration, Past Crash History, Make, Model etc.Emergency Medical Service FilesCitation/ Conviction File (Type of Violation, Time, Location, Violator, Enforcement Agency)

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Using HSIS for Analyzing Crash Locations

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Highway Pavement Information Systems

Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS)Observational data

Is a national highway database

Has data on physical highway conditions, operational characteristics

Data useful for analyzing impacts of safety, air quality, noise, etc.

Has data for simulating future investment benefits and costs, for purposes of investigating the consequences of alternative investment levels and strategies

Long-term Pavement Performance (LTPP)Experimental data

Cover a smaller sample of national highway

Has data on weather, physical highway conditions, operational characteristics

Data useful for analyzing impacts of pavement investments, primarily

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Highway Bridge Information Systems

The National Bridge Inventory (NBI)

Is a FHWA database

Contains data for bridges crossing rivers (and other water courses), railroads, ravines, other highways

Data includes construction year, bridge dimensions, traffic, inspection dates, condition, etc.

Data available for bridge elements and features such as deck structure types, scour, and other performance measures.

Can incorporating GIS capabilities

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Transit Information Systems

National Transit Database (NTD) Is a database, Maintained by FTA

Has information on fleet size, performance, operations, accidents, safety, finance, crime, etc. for 400 urban areas.

Cover 85,000 transit vehicles, 7,000 miles of rail track, 2,000 rail stations and 1,000 maintenance facilities.

Used to generate information for evaluating project-level transit investments.

Integrated National Transit Database Analysis System (INTDAS) Is a software

Facilitates visualization, retrieval and analysis of data from NTD

Can be used to carry out tasks such as identifying transit systems that meet a certain performance threshold.

Can generate reports with tables (see next slide), graphs, maps and excel plots for individual transit systems

Thus can therefore help identifying areas needing improvements.

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INTDAS – Sample screen showing analysis output

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INTDAS – Sample GIS output showing multi-layer inventory

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Databases and Information Systems for Air Transportation

Databases on Aviation safety and accident data

Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS)- has data on unsafe occurrences and hazardous situations that are reported by pilots and

air traffic controllers

Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS)- has data on aircraft incidents since 1978.

Near Midair Collision System (NMACS)

World Aircraft Accident Summary (WAAS)- database provides information about major operational crashes involving air carriers,

operating jet, helicopters and turboprop aircrafts

The National Transportation Safety Board aviation accident and incident (NTSB AAI) database - contains data on civil aircraft accidents and incidents in the U.S., its territories and in

international waters

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Databases and Information Systems for Air Transportation

Other databases on AviationAir Traffic Activity Data System (ATADS)

- officially provides information regarding historical air traffic operations. This includes daily, monthly and annual counts either by facility, state, region, or nationally

Aviation System Performance Metrics (ASPM)- an integrated database- provides data on air traffic operations, airline schedules, arrival/departure rates, operations and delays, weather information, runway conditions, etc.- Used in analyzing operating performance of National Airspace System (NAS)- Operating performance measures: % on-time arrivals, avg daily capacity, avg daily capacity, airport efficiency rate, etc.

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Databases and Information Systems for Rail Transportation

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) databasesRailroad Monthly Operations database

- Train-miles traveled, employee hrs, highway-rail crossings, etc.

Railroad Crossings database - contains information about approximately 300,000 railroad crossings. - Railroad milepost, crossing street name, warning device type, train speed, nr. of traffic lanes, average daily traffic, and nr. of accidents. - GIS maps show spatial distribution of grade-crossing accidents and for proximity analysis

Railroad Accident/incident data for 300 U.S. railroad systems- Accident Database can be used to generate vital performance data useful for safety evaluation of improvements at rail sections.

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Other Multi-modal Databases useful for Transportation Systems Evaluation

Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) 2000

Provides DATA ON travel patterns of 118M household units and 275M

persons in the U.S.

Data includes housing, population, social/economic characteristics by

blocks, block groups, census tracts, counties and metropolitan areas.

Also includes HH size and income, vehicles per HH, worker age, gender,

occupation, and earnings, transp. mode taken to work, commuting time, etc.

Maps, boundary files, and other geographic products are available to assist

users locate and identify geographic areas.

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Other Multi-modal Databases useful for Transportation Systems Evaluation

National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD)An assortment of geo-spatial databases for managing information on transportation facilities, networks, and services of national significance

Multi-modal, has data on intermodal connectors and terminals, and key transportation structures such as bridges, tunnels.

Includes public-use airports and associated runways, highway-rail intermodal freight facilities, Amtrak passenger stations, waterway and marine terminals and highway/rail transfer facilities.

Covers capacity, traffic, and inventory.

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Information Management - Recent Developments

Information management → Knowledge management

Knowledge management – Transform information into “wisdom” that helps an agency to realize its goals more efficiently

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GIS Demonstration

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Questions?