BUSINESS MODELS FOR IMPLEMENTING GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES IN TRANSPORTATION DECISION-MAKING

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I. BACKGROUND

Between November 2005 and February 2006, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Interstate and Border Planning (HEPI) conducted a domestic scan with transportation executives to identify critical information that decision-makers need to make informed decisions and investments in the latest geospatial technologies. During the scan, the state of the art in the use of geospatial technology for transportation at state and local levels was explored and practices for successful implementation were shared. Afterward, FHWA HEPI and the Transportation Research Board (TRB) hosted a one-day workshop to discuss these and other findings.

The goal of the workshop, which had the participation of transportation executives from across the nation, was to draft an action plan that would help to guide FHWA, state DOTs, and other transportation partners in their efforts to best apply geospatial technologies to future transportation decision-making.1 One of the recommended actions stemming from the workshop was to document business models that state DOTs are using to implement geospatial technologies for improved transportation decision-making. This action would help to diffuse the effective business practices of selected state DOTs to others that may not have had the experience or success of their counterparts.

As a first step toward learning and disseminating these experiences and lessons learned, the USDOT Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), in coordination with FHWA HEPI, worked to identify a list of state DOTs with noteworthy business practices for implementing geospatial technologies.2 The Volpe Center then conducted a series of interviews with a GIS manager or higher-level staff in each of the following six state DOTs:

Conversations with these DOTs were steered by a Pre-interview Questionnaire and an Interview Guide (see Appendices A and B). Each case study includes a discussion of the DOT's early history with geospatial technologies, the business model for implementing the technologies, and activities that the state views as critical for securing lasting endorsement of geospatial technologies. In conclusion, a summary comparing implementation insights and recommendations among the six case studies is offered, as well as suggestions for how FHWA might better support state DOTs in implementing geospatial programs.

Reference


  1. The Executive Scan Tour report is no loner available.
  2. . A preliminary list of potential State DOTs to interview was generated through reviewing notes collected during the domestic scan and GIS-T presentations archived online at https://gis-t.transportation.org/. This list was narrowed to six to include State DOTs of varying size, geographic location, and demonstrated GIS success. The State DOTs included in this report do not represent a complete list of State DOTs with effective business models and practices in implementing geospatial technology activities.

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