Maryland State Highway Administration. GIS Strategic Plan. For the year 2000 and beyond. Prepared by CADDScan Engineering, Inc.

Transcription

1 Maryland State Highway Administration GIS Strategic Plan For the year 2000 and beyond Prepared by CADDScan Engineering, Inc. Copyright - Maryland State Highway Administration September 1999

2 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... I SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS... II ORDER OF IMPLEMENTATION SHORT TERM INITIATIVES... III LONGER TERM INITIATIVES...V I OVERVIEW...1 INTRODUCTION...1 BACKGROUND AND APPROACH STRATEGIC PLAN APPROACH...10 DOCUMENT OVERVIEW...11 II EXISTING GIS ENVIRONMENT...12 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND...12 SURVEYS AND INTERVIEWS RELATING TO NEEDS...12 TECHNICAL ARCHITECTURE...13 ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, TRAINING...18 III TARGET TECHNICAL ARCHITECTURE...23 INTRODUCTION...23 GIS AND IS TRENDS...23 TECHNICAL ARCHITECTURE...25 STRATEGIC DATABASE...33 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION...40 IV ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, AND TRAINING...43 INTRODUCTION...43 MANAGEMENT...43 SUPPORT STAFF...43 TRAINING...44 COMPATIBILITY AND IMPACT WITH OTHER AGENCIES...44 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS...44 V APPLICATIONS...46 INTRODUCTION...46 POTENTIAL GIS APPLICATIONS...46 SUMMARY...48 VI SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS...49 OVERVIEW OF PLAN...49 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS...49 VII IMPLEMENTATION PLAN...51 OVERVIEW...51 ORDER OF IMPLEMENTATION SHORT TERM INITIATIVES...51 LONGER TERM INITIATIVES...52 APPENDICIES APPENDIX A SURVEY FORM APPENDIX B - LITERATURE/MATERIAL REVIEW APPENDIX C STAFF INTERVIEWS CADDScan Engineering, Inc

3 Executive Summary This strategic plan was undertaken to update the 1994 Maryland State Highway Administration s (SHA) GIS Strategic Plan. This new plan will update the strategies for continued GIS development and will also make recommendations for implementing these strategies. GIS development at SHA since the 1994 plan has continued to follow many of the recommendations of the original plan and is now in wide deployment throughout the agency. The original plan suggested that a yearly review of the plan be undertaken and modifications to the plan be made at that time. However, because of the rapid changes in technology it was determined that enough changes had occurred that a new plan be created. GIS continues to be a powerful tool for state transportation agencies to manage their databases as most of the data collected by these agencies is geographic in nature. SHA s maps have been linked to several of SHA s databases including the accident database, the traffic monitoring database, the structures database, and several other related databases. GIS has provided the vehicle for moving from standalone, isolated databases to an enterprise integrated information system. GIS allows the assimilation, analysis, and display of data collected by different divisions within SHA. The mission of the Maryland State Highway Administration is to provide mobility for its customers on a safe, well-maintained and attractive highway system that supports Maryland s economy in an environmentally responsible manner. This mission was defined in SHA s Roadmap into the 21 st Century, the agency s fouryear business plan recently completed by the Agency. In order to meet SHA s mission, access to accurate and timely information is imperative to SHA managers and staff. Large amounts of information are collected, stored, and analyzed daily. The easier that this data can be presented to SHA managers and staff the better the decision making process can be. The major change in technology since the first Strategic Plan has been the advent of client-server based GIS, and WEB based GIS. Client-server based GIS allows many GIS users to access a central database while most of the display of the map is handled by the user s own computer. This offloads much of the processing load from the server to the client. WEB based GIS utilizes a standard Internet/Intranet browser to view the map based data. WEB based solutions allow GIS to be deployed quickly and easily to large numbers of individuals within the agency. Because a large number of SHA employees are now familiar with using the Internet/Intranet browser, a WEB based GIS solution should be much easier to learn and training should be minimized. Many applications should lend themselves to the WEB based GIS Solution. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page i

4 WEB based GIS also allows SHA to publish maps and information tied to maps on the SHA Internet site. This ability to disseminate information to the public can be utilized to efficiently respond to the public s concerns. The advent of WEB based GIS opens new opportunities for improving the business process. These opportunities include a wider dissemination of SHA information without increasing SHA staff requirements, expanded and easier data sharing possibilities between SHA divisions, and a centralized resource for information minimizing the amount of time it takes to find needed information. Based on an analysis of current SHA GIS activities, a review of the trends in the GIS industry, and a review of the business needs of SHA, the recommendations for future GIS development and deployment were developed. A summary of those recommendations follow. The section number in parenthesis at the end of each recommendation indicates the section in this report where additional information regarding the recommendation can be found. Summary of recommendations 1) SHA needs to acknowledge that there are two types of users for enterprise GIS applications. The first type of user is the power user who understands the databases that they are working with and has a need to complete complex queries of the databases. The second type of user is the casual user who does not use GIS frequently and needs an easy to use interface to solve non-complex problems. (Section III) 2) To make the data more useable by the general SHA Staff and the general public, other referencing systems besides county-route-milepost need to be incorporated and maintained within the Network maps. Addition of the street names and intersecting streets would allow the user to retrieve information by a much more familiar reference. The initiative to add ramps leading on and off the controlled access highways to the Network maps should be started. (Section III). 3) The current external communications policy to connect to the enterprise database needs to be expanded to include wireless communications. (Section III) 4) The GIS Team should continue to refine and develop standards for the hardware and software used for developing and deploying GIS at SHA. This should include new written specification for GIS WEB applications.(section III) 5) Intranet Policy amendments to include GIS need to be developed. (Section III) 6) Internet GIS Policy needs to be defined. (Section III) CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page ii

5 7) One of the existing staff positions should take on the title of Assistant GIS Team Coordinator to assist in the GIS Coordinator duties. (Section IV) 8) As GIS expands to the SHA staff and the general public via the Intranet and Internet, increased responsibility will fall on the GIS Team. We recommend that a new position be established that would manage the GIS map server and catalogue server (Section IV) 9) The GIS Team should programmatically budget and schedule two training sessions a year for all designated SHA staff for the GIS Data Viewer or subsequent GIS applications distributed by the GIS Team. (Section IV) 10)The GIS Team coordinator should continue to coordinate activities at the Maryland State Geographic Information Council (MSGIC) committee and become familiar with National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) activities. (Section IV) 11)There are five applications that at least a quarter of SHA staff interviewed stated they thought would be useful applications for future GIS application development. The five applications are: Contract Index Show all locations of all existing contracts, symbolized by date with annotated contract number. Construction Site Presentation Map Sites by County or District. Data Inventory Map Display areas where aerial photography or project mapping is available. Utility Map Show locations of SHA and non-sha utilities by a userdefined area. CTP Project Location Map Select and map locations of CTP projects by county, District, type of project, etc. We recommend that these five applications be investigated further for possible feasibility, creation and deployment as either client-server or WEB based application. A prototype WEB based application should be developed. (Section IV) Order of Implementation Short Term Initiatives In order to allow SHA to programmatically approach the recommendations listed above, the following is a re-listing of the recommendations in an order of priority divided into Technical recommendations and Organizational and Training recommendations. The order was developed by assessing which recommendations were most critical to implement and which recommendations were needed as a basis for other recommendations. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page iii

6 Technical The first order of business for SHA is to develop a more detailed Intranet and Internet policy with regard to the GIS. There are several areas with regard to the WEB policy that require attention: 1) Define the Intranet and Internet architecture. Does SHA have one server or separate map and catalogue servers? 2) Who is responsible for maintaining the GIS WEB server? 3) Who will be the Publisher for the GIS WEB server? 4) Will external users be able to query from the WEB site through the firewall to the enterprise database or other databases? 5) What data should be made available? 6) Who should have access to that data? Public? Other agencies? 7) What GIS tools should be used to develop WEB GIS? Map Object IMS? Arc IMS? 8) Combine GIS WEB standards with SHA IS standards The second order of business is to review the and upgrade the network maps so that the maps can be referenced by street names and intersecting streets. Once the methodology for these additions are developed the network maps should be upgraded with the additional information. The third order of business is to recognize that there are two types of enterprise users. The first type is power user and the second type is casual user. Any application development should be focused to one or the other type of user. The fourth order of business is to begin to develop, at a minimum as a prototype, some of the top applications listed in the user survey. One of these applications should be WEB based. Organizational and Training In conjunction with the development of the GIS Intranet and Internet WEB sites, we recommend that an additional strategic position be created in the GIS Team. This position would be the publisher for the map server for the Intranet and Internet WEB sites. This person would work closely with the current WEBmasters of both sites to assure that the sites are managed properly. If this person cannot be hired, the position should be contractor staffed. One of the existing GIS Team members should carry the additional title of Assistant GIS Team Coordinator to be a backup for the GIS Team Coordinator. A cyclical GIS Training program should be established that provides training and retraining to all GIS users every six months. Other applications that utilize GIS CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page iv

7 should incorporate into their deployment at least one initial training session and a second retraining six months later. Longer Term Initiatives The longer-term initiatives for GIS are those initiatives that should be programmed for implementation once the results of some of the short-term initiatives are known. The first longer-term initiative is the creation of written procedures and policies for the coordinated development of GIS applications and Network band-width. These procedures and policies would assure that there is sufficient network band-width so that any GIS application developed responds at acceptable speeds in all projected deployment locations. The prototype GIS WEB application developed in the short term initiatives can be utilized as a test case for developing these written procedures. The second longer-term initiative for GIS is to develop procedures and policies for incorporating wirelessly communicated information into and out of the enterprise database or other private database. This initiative will have to be completed in conjunction with the Information Technology Division. The third longer-term initiative would be to add the ramps to the Network maps. Strategic Plan Review The Strategic Plan should be reviewed by the GIS Team every two years, and modifications made as necessary. The review is necessary because of the rapid pace of change in the technology that supports GIS, the continued and growing interdependency of GIS with other technologies, and the changing business environment of SHA. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page v

8 I Overview Introduction In order to fulfil SHA s mission it is imperative that its managers and staff have useful, timely, and easily understandable information. Any agency the size and complexity of SHA has tremendous quantities of information generated as part of its normal course of business. The proper use of this information can and will allow SHA to move quickly and decisively in response to the challenges arising within the State including, restricted budgets, higher levels of traffic congestion, more strenuous environmental regulations, and increased public resistance to continued highway development. This information is a strategic asset to SHA and should be managed as such. The challenge is to capture, store and present that information in a way that maximizes the usefulness of the information. SHA recognized the need for a GIS strategic plan for the Administration in The 1994 plan defined the importance of strategic data to SHA, and established a set of guidelines/recommendations for short and long-term implementation of GIS. Many of the short-term strategies have been followed and are succeeding. One of the strategies defined in the 1994 plan was for yearly review of the plan for update and modification. SHA decided upon this year s review of the 1994 Strategic Plan that technology and SHA s GIS implementation had progressed to a point whereby a new Strategic Plan was needed to set the direction for the next five years. Even with these changes in the GIS environment at SHA, many of the primary reasons for completing this plan have not changed from the 1994 plan. Need for Strategy The need for a GIS strategy has not diminished from the 1994 plan. Continued rapid changes in technology and the general evolutionary change in the people who use and manage a GIS system, demand that some strategy be set to define the guidelines for future GIS implementation. It is difficult to set specific strategies for GIS expansion generally beyond two or three years. However, to set the basic framework and to be a guideline for the short term strategies, a longer term, more flexible set of strategies must be developed that extend from four to seven years or more. New short-term strategies should be developed on a yearly basis. Both sets of strategies must be used to assure that: 1. Proper GIS training is being given to assure that the use and the management of the GIS capabilities are maximized. This would involve a yearly training plan reviewing the previous year s results, and define a plan for the current year. This is especially critical because of the changes in the technology. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 1

9 2. Proper GIS technology is being utilized to assure that the technology chosen in the past has not been outdated. Once again yearly reviews should be undertaken to set the plan for the current year. 3. Co-dependent technologies are being considered and planned for correctly. This is necessary because GIS is so intimately tied to other technologies. Once again yearly reviews should be undertaken. 4. Internal support and user organizations are being established correctly. These organizations establish the ability to enhance the usability and successfulness of GIS. They can be used as feedback mechanisms for information, provide information to the users, remove redundancy in application development, and provide an ability to get external consultant support. 5. Data integration is proceeding in the proper manner to maximize the usefulness of GIS to all units within SHA. This also involves yearly reviews of the past year s integration efforts, and a plan for the current year s efforts. 6. System operation/maintenance rules are properly established to assure the system meets the user requirements. This includes all the details of the system management role, the standards development for access to the system, use of the system, and future enhancements to the system. Background and Approach GIS development and usage at SHA was initiated in the Highway Information Services Division (HISD). Creation of digital maps was the first step in the implementation of a GIS for SHA. Additional steps have been taken in the implementation of a GIS for SHA since the development of the Strategic Plan in The recommendations were categorized into the following sub-categories: 1. Organizational structure 2. Hardware and Software needed to support GIS 3. Training approaches 4. Development of standards 5. Identification of strategically important databases 6. A list of potential applications. The following section is a restatement of the recommendations made in the 1994 plan and the actions completed by SHA since the plan was approved. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 2

10 Organization Structure 1994 Recommendation A GIS Section needs to be formally recognized by other units and the Administrator as the GIS Coordinator for SHA. In addition the GIS section should be staffed with the following personnel: GIS Coordinator, Assistant GIS Coordinator, GIS Database Administrator. GIS Programmer Analysts, and GIS Technical Specialist. These people will have the responsibility of coordinating the SHA enterprise database, set GIS procedures and policies, coordinate software and hardware procurements, supply support and assistance in all DOT GIS activities as well as GIS activities with the other DOT s and other outside agencies. Result In 1994 there was no GIS organizational structure. Since then, the GIS Team has been established in the Highway Information Services Division (HISD). The GIS Team is currently recognized by other units within SHA as the focal point for all SHA GIS activities, administrates GIS policy, and supplys GIS services to SHA. The GIS Team also acts as the coordinator for all MDOT activities with all GIS endeavors throughout the state. Hardware and Software 1994 Recommendation In order to make use GIS a viable tool throughout SHA the appropiate software and hardware must be made available to the GIS team as well as potential users. Microstation, MGE, Segment Manager, and access to the GIS enterprise database server must be available throughout SHA. Result The statewide intranet has been upgraded to a level where all major SHA offices including all District offices have high speed (T1) access to the SHA GIS enterprise database server. Due to the 1996 procurement of GIS software from ESRI, the GIS software to access the GIS server has changed from that envisioned by the 1994 plan. This 1996 procurement was as part of a contract to provide enterprise GIS to SHA. The enterprise GIS solution has been accomplished with the deployment of ArcView client software accessing the information in the enterprise CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 3

11 database. The Digital Map datasets are deployed to each client to reduce the data transmission load on the network. Training 1994 Recommendation Additional training in the use of GIS should be undertaken. The training should be completed in a 3-tier approach with the tiers being operator, middle manager, and upper level manager. Each tier should have its own training curricula to best-fit the training to the needs of the user. Result Additional GIS training has been provided to many employees at SHA. Most of the training has centered on the operator and middle managers. Upper level managers have been involved in seminars that discuss the GIS capabilities. List of Standards 1994 Recommendation The county-route-milepost linear-location-referencing standard should be adopted as SHA s location-reference standard. An enterprise database should be established on a GIS server. This enterprise database should contain yearly extractions of data from private databases maintained by different SHA divisions. Result The county-route-milepost linear referencing standard was adopted by SHA. The enterprise database was established on a GIS server maintained by HISD. The enterprise database is populated by database extractions from the private databases. The population of the enterprise database is handled by the GIS Team. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 4

12 Actions to Strategic Databases 1994 Recommendation A review should be made of each of the strategic databases and a data dictionary created for each database. The strategic databases are: Traffic Accident Database Traffic Monitoring System Highway Management Information System(HMIS) Pavement Management System Structure Inventory and Appraisal System Digital Maps (Network, Grid, County) Financial Management Information System In addition, modifications, if necessary, should be made to the private databases to best support the overall activities at SHA. An update schedule for update to the enterprise database should be agreed to. Result Reviews of all of the strategic databases have been completed as part of a general upgrade of the database systems. Some systems have been replaced entirely. These include the Financial Management System, the Traffic Monitoring System, and the Traffic Accident Database. The enterprise database has been established. A Traffic Signal Database, Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) database, Highway Network Inventory (HNI), and Construction database have been added to the list of strategic databases. Monthly update cycles to the enterprise database are now completed from the Traffic Accident Database, Traffic Accident Database, and the Structure Inventory Database. Yearly updates are made from the Digital Maps. Applications 1994 Recommendation The GIS enterprise database be established with a common user interface and global data dictionary A pilot project for District 1 that establishes an inventory system utilizing HMIS information and Segment Manager software A pilot project to use GIS to increase the ease of preparing the CTP CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 5

13 A pilot project to assess the ability of capturing roadway inventory with GPS for incorporation into the GIS A pilot project to prepare an Environmental Inventory A pilot project to use GIS as the foundation of a Maintenance Management System A pilot project to use GIS to review hauling permits A pilot project to use GIS as the foundation for a Bridge Management System. A pilot project to use GIS as the foundation for a Traffic Monitoring System A prototype key-indicator reporting system (precursor to an executive information system). Linkage to CHART A suite of District applications Linkage to the Financial Management System Application of GIS to the video log system Linkage to the Executive Information System Result Some of the 1994 recommendations for applications were completed as suggested by the 1994 plan; such as the establishment of the enterprise database. Other 1994 recommendations were modified, dropped, or superceded. At this time, there are a number of GIS applications or databases designed to support GIS. The following is a list of current GIS activities throughout the Administration: Office of Construction Development and use of a construction job database Office of the Chief Engineer Use of the traffic accident database CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 6

14 Office of Highway Policy Assessment Preparation of GIS maps for presentations Office of Bridge Development Data is collected based on county-route-milepost Use of the Structure Inventory database Data collection for project planning Displaying the result of database queries on maps Use of the Maryland Property View database Office of Finance & Information Technology Development and use of the Capital Forecasting System Use of the Maryland Property View database Office of Planning and Preliminary Engineering Development and use of the Traffic Monitoring System Creation of count station maps Creation of AADT maps Creation of Functional Classification maps Creation of VMT maps Creation of briefing packages for the administration Creation of project location and description maps Creation of Federal & State project maps by legislative district Creation of Priority Funding Area review maps Creation of Smart Growth Area review maps Creation of Access control maps Surveyed wetland boundaries database development using GPS Archeology data collection Maintain global inventory system for stage 1 project planning Creation of environmental resources maps Use of the Maryland Property View database Office of Environmental Design Use and mapping of the Noise Barrier database Use of the project database Use of the complaint database Creation of community location maps Creation of historical program reports Use of the Maryland Property View database CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 7

15 Use of the Environmental Resources database Location and mapping of Mitigation sites GPS data collection for reforestation & wildlife mitigation areas Used for the wetland monitoring program Office of Highway Development Used for project planning and management (data collection) Creation of public meeting maps Creation of construction project location maps Use of the Traffic Monitoring System Used to map current design contracts Used to map interchange photograph inventory Used to map geodetic control collection Used to map topographic mapping Meets and bounds descriptions and mapping Used to map bridge inventory database Used to map Pavement Monitoring database Creation of the NPDES database Used to map flood complaints Used for infrastructure management Use of the hydraulics database Used to map site locations Used for watershed analysis and mapping Use of the Maryland Property View database Office of Real Estate Used for parcel tracking and mapping Used for excess land tracking and mapping Used for district relocation Office of Maintenance Used for project tracking Creation of the MAXIMO database Use of the Traffic Signal database Use of the Traffic Accident database Use of the Pavement Monitoring database Office of Traffic & Safety Creation of the Traffic accident location database Used for location mapping Used to create permitting database reports CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 8

16 Used for maintenance activity tracking Used for winter storm mapping Used for TraView mapping Used for road conditions mapping Used for CHART device mapping Office of Materials & Research Used for pavement conditions mapping Use of the Pavement Monitoring System Use for sub-surface exploration data Used for future needs mapping Used for construction history mapping Used for ad hoc mapping Used for geotechnical studies Used for geologic hazard mapping Use of the Maryland Historic Trust database Used for archeological site sensitivity surface modeling Use of the cultural resources database Used for archeological site location mapping Use of the Maryland Property View database Creation of the ARAN video log District 1 Use of the Traffic Monitoring System Use of the Pavement Monitoring database Used for Pavement Conditions mapping Used for Accident data mapping Use of the Maryland Property View database District 2 Use of the Maryland Property View database Use of the Traffic Monitoring System District 3 Use of the Traffic Monitoring System Used for Roadway Maintenance Use of the Traffic Accident Database Used for lane closure tracking Use of the Maryland Property View database CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 9

17 District 4 Used for plan data compilation Used for project location mapping Use of the Traffic Monitoring System Used for study area mapping Use of the Maryland Property View database District 5 Used for Pavement history Use of the Traffic Monitoring System Used for location mapping Use of the Maryland Property View database District 6 Used for location mapping Use of the Traffic Monitoring System Use of the Maryland Property View database District 7 Used for project maintenance information Use of the Traffic Monitoring System Use of the Construction Project database Use of the Maryland Property View database As evidenced by the number of uses of GIS applications or databases that are GIS related, a significant amount of GIS related activity is taking place within SHA as of the date of this plan. Some of these activities were identified and suggested by the 1994 plan, while many others were not identified at all. This list should continue to grow in the next five years as more and more SHA employees become exposed and have access to GIS Strategic Plan Approach The GIS Strategic Plan of 1994 set forth a solid foundation for GIS activities at SHA. This is evidenced by the number of positive strides with regard to GIS that have been made in the areas of Organization, Training, Database, Communications, and Applications development. Using the last four years as a base and taking the knowledge forward as far as lessons learned and what worked and what did not work along with the breakthroughs in GIS technology, the 1999 strategic plan builds upon this foundation and establishes the course for CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 10

18 GIS and SHA for the next five years. The following approach was used to prepare this strategic plan 1) An initial discussion with the GIS support group to determine the best approach to accomplishing the plan. This included the development of a User Survey Form and the initial identification of personnel to interview. 2) A review of the existing use of GIS within the Administration with over 50 interviews of Administration personnel at various levels and 4 at DOT headquarters. 3) A review of the potential needs for GIS use through the use of the same interviews 4) A review of existing documents pertaining to GIS implementation. 5) A review of the existing GIS and related IS SHA standards. 6) A review of the recently deployed GIS Data Viewer, and the TMS System 7) Interviews with key MDOT Staff including the Chief Information Officer, and members of the Real Estate Office. 8) Preparation of a Draft Plan for Review and Comment by SHA 9) Presentation of the findings of the Plan to Senior SHA Management 10) Preparation of the Final GIS Strategic Plan Document Overview The next several pages will describe the 1999 GIS Strategic Plan. The plan is divided into six main sections. The first four sections describe the GIS environment, technical architecture, GIS support and policy team, and finally current and future GIS applications. Each of these sections describes the existing environment as well as new recommendations. The last two sections set the future direction of SHA GIS activities. The fifth section of this document summarizes the recommendations from the first four sections and the final section, Section VI, describes how to implement the recommendations and this plan. The purpose of this document is to set the long-term goals for SHA and GIS for the next five years. Since GIS technology is continually changing this plan should be review and updated every other year. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 11

19 II Existing GIS Environment Introduction and Background In order to determine the existing GIS environment over 50 interviews were completed with a wide variety of SHA employees. These employees were determined by the members of the GIS Team based upon known GIS users and other interested employees. In order to properly focus, each interview a standard interview form was developed (Appendix A). This form along with the interview, was utilized to standardize the information received. A review of existing technology (hardware, software and communications) in use at SHA was performed by reviewing a number of existing documents provided by SHA. Documents utilized to perform this review are listed in the bibliography. The objectives of these activities were to determine the existing GIS organization, the hardware and software, the communications network, and level of training currently in existence at SHA. There was only one major GIS initiative identified, the deployment of the GIS Data Viewer. The Data Viewer is a client-server application built on ESRI s ArcView software, specifically for SHA. The Data Viewer s purpose is to allow the user to access the information stored on the enterprise GIS database. Most of the Data Viewer training has been completed, and only a few of the District Offices do not yet have the Data Viewer software installed. The Data Viewer, when fully deployed, will give many SHA employees (over 200) access to the data in the enterprise GIS database. There were several other GIS initiatives identified and considered when developing this plan. These initiatives affect a lesser number of individuals but still influence the GIS strategic plan. One initiative is the Traffic Monitoring System that contains a GIS component. This has been deployed to about 50 users in both central and district offices. The purpose of this system is to make detailed traffic data available to all the users of that data. A second GIS initiative is the Maryland Property View Database prepared by the Maryland Office of Planning. This is a GIS enhanced database containing information about all property ownership in the State of Maryland. There are other initiatives that have one or two users. These other GIS applications are coordinated through the GIS Team and are all ESRI based solutions. Surveys and Interviews Relating to Needs The first objective was to determine a baseline of information concerning the uses of the various databases available and to ascertain what knowledge of GIS exists amongst the staff in SHA. This baseline information was collected via the use of personal interviews with a selected group of individuals provided by the CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 12

20 GIS Team Coordinator. In order to provide some standardization to the interviews a SHA GIS Strategic Plan Interview Form was created. Results of the Survey The personnel selected for the interviews came from a cross section of SHA offices. The list does not include all persons involved in GIS, but is a representative sample of SHA offices. A cross-section of individuals from the following agencies were interviewed: Several Offices at SHA Headquarters Office of Maintenance Office of Traffic & Safety Office of Materials & Research District Offices The interviews were conducted with individuals that fell into one of three categories: data users, data providers, or other interested managers. The individuals interviewed were selected because of their interest in GIS. As a result of these interviews it was determined that 98% of the SHA employees interviewed had an understanding of what GIS is. It was also determined that 98% of the SHA employees can foresee a need for GIS in their existing job duties. The use of GIS among those interviewed runs the gamut between daily, weekly, monthly, or rarely used. The level of usage is about evenly distributed among the four categories. At the time of the interviews (March 1999) 64% of the people interviewed had taken the Data Viewer training but only about 26% of those people are actually using the training productively. Details of these interviews are shown in Appendix B. Technical Architecture Another area analyzed in the process of preparing this plan was the existing technical architecture in place at SHA. The technical architecture identifies the services, interfaces, standards, and their relationships. It provides the technical guidelines for implementation of systems upon which specifications are based, common building blocks are built, and components are developed. The areas analyzed included the databases, hardware and software, and communications network. Database The following databases were designated as strategic in the original GIS Strategic Plan: CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 13

21 Traffic Accident Database Traffic Monitoring System Highway Management Information System Pavement Management System Structure Inventory and Appraisal System Digital Maps (Network, Grid, and County) Financial Management System The 1994 GIS Strategic Plan recommended that each of these databases be normalized and their tables and fields documented such that data from one database could be related to another of the databases. Subsets and or summaries from each of these databases were to be placed in an enterprise database. This enterprise database was to also be designated as strategic and agency wide GIS applications should be written against the enterprise database. If was also recommended that the county-route-milepost referencing system be the primary key for referencing the data in each of the databases. Each of the strategic databases has been normalized to meet the basic requirements set forth in the original strategic plan. The enterprise database has been created as a part of the implementation of the GIS Data Viewer. The Digital Maps are unique in that the Network map caries the county-route-milepost intelligence, while the Grid and County maps are only graphical files that are referenced to the Maryland State Plane Coordinate system. All databases with the exception of the Digital Maps now reside and are maintained in an Informix, Oracle, or Access database. The SHA database standard for departmental databases is Access. The database standard for enterprise databases is Oracle. The Informix databases that currently exist in SHA are to be phased out over the next two years. Each of the strategic databases updates the enterprise database according to the following schedule. Accident data is updated monthly Pavement data is updated monthly Traffic Device data is updated monthly Bridge and structure data is updated monthly Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data is updated yearly Network Maps are updated yearly Grid Maps and County Maps are updated yearly In general, the creation of the enterprise database has occurred as recommended and is proving to be a useful basis for GIS application development and information dissemination. There are two items that must be noted concerning the enterprise database. One, the Digital Maps have recently been converted from NAD 1927 Datum to NAD 1983 Datum. This means that users that want to overlay data developed on the 1927 datum with current CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 14

22 information displayed on 1983 datum will be unable to do so without some additional processing. Two, the Financial Management Information System (FMIS) is not currently uploading any information to the enterprise database. This may not change due to sensitivity restrictions placed on the FMIS data. Consequently, no queries of project costs or actual costs versus projected costs can be completed. Hardware and Software SHA has made a large investment in GIS compatible computer hardware and software over the last three or four years. This investment has made the operating system of choice Windows NT and the GIS of choice ESRI s ArcView software. All computer purchased from now on must meet the following specifications: Personal Workstations (350 in use) Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 3 Pentium or better processors Laptop Computers Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0 Servers (38 on the network) Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 3 Novell Netware, Version 4.11 Each district and The Office of Traffic has a server for GIS usage Database Management System Level 1 data to be accessed by individuals external to a particular office Oracle Informix 7.22,7.3 Level 2 data pertinent only to a specific office Access 97 Oracle Development Tools PowerBuilder 5, 6 Visual Basic Access 97 CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 15

23 Internet Applications Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.x, 4.x Corel 8 FrontPage 98 Microsoft Internet Information Server WEBTrends Professional Suite Version 2.1 scheduling software- Novell GroupWise 5.2 The above listed hardware and software should be utilized as a baseline for any further enhancements to GIS deployment. Data Viewer SHA in the last year has developed the Data Viewer to view and analyze GIS data. The Data Viewer was developed as a customized application inside of ESRI s ArcView. Training for the Data Viewer was recently completed and many of the individuals interviewed had been trained in the use of the Data Viewer. The Data Viewer allows the user to access five of the SHA databases from the enterprise database. These five databases are Accident, Bridge, HPMS, Pavement, and Traffic Signal. It also allows the user to overlay the data retrieved from the databases on either the GRID maps or the County maps. Additional spatial data layers accessible by the Data Viewer include the state boundary, county boundaries, US Congressional district boundaries, FHWA urban areas, Maryland legislative boundaries, municipal boundaries, USGS quad map index, watershed index, sub-watershed index, SHA engineering district boundaries, and SHA maintenance boundaries. The Data Viewer was developed as a client-server application. The non-graphic databases for the Data Viewer application reside in the enterprise database and are accessed via the SHA network. The spatial databases reside on each user s computer. This was done to minimize the data load on the network and to assure acceptable response time. New spatial databases are automatically checked for and downloaded to the user s computer at the time the application starts executing. The Data Viewer is seen by SHA as the foundation for creating additional applications that access the strategic databases. These new applications may be developed by the GIS Team as an enterprise or wide-spread solution, or could be developed by individual departments as departmental solutions. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 16

24 Communications Network The SHA communications network that forms the backbone for all data sharing within SHA has been significantly upgraded in the last five years. All major offices are connected by T1 connections and all shops are connected to the District offices by 512kb connections (Figure 1). MSHA Existing Wide Area Network Connectivity Garret t D6 - LaVale Allegany Washington Frederick D7 - Frederick T1 Connection from District offices to Headquarters 512 Kb Frame Relay Connection From District offices to shops Carrol Harford l Baltimore HQ - Baltimore Howard Montgomery D3 - Greenbelt Arundel Princ egeorge Calve s rt Charles St. Marys D4 - Brooklandville Cecil Kent Quee nanne s SOC - Hanover D5 - Annapolis Anne D2 - Chestertown Talbo t Ca rol in Dorchest Wicomico er D1 - Salisbury Somers et Worcester Figure 1 The primary communication protocols utilized on the SHA network for file access are the TCP/IP protocol and WEB protocol. Novell protocols are utilized for accessing peripheral devices such as network printers and plotters, and provide the security access to many of the servers. All access to the SHA network is controlled by username/password combinations managed by the Information Technology Division. Because the primary operating system in use is Windows NT, SHA users are assigned to a domain and each domain carries its own set of privileges. Due to the transmission of financial data on the SHA network by the FMIS system, SHA does not allow general dial-in access to the network. Although some dial-in nodes exist on the network these are closely monitored and access given to only a few people. These dial-in nodes are mostly for dial-in maintenance support activities. Limited dial-in access to the SHA network is planned. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 17

25 SHA maintains an Intranet WEB site. This site publishes some of the data available at SHA including division reports and other division information. The information published on the Intranet is decided at the division level so different divisions publish different types of information. The Intranet site is maintained by the Highway Design Division and its general purpose is to allow each division to disseminate information to SHA. There are currently no GIS applications that are published by the Intranet WEB site. SHA also maintains an Internet WEB site. This site publishes information about SHA that is available to all users of the world-wide WEB. This site is also maintained by the Highway Design Division and its objectives are to disseminate information that is deemed to be useful to the general public and serves an additional business purpose of reducing the amount of requests for information that are made to SHA by the general public. There are currently no GIS applications that are published by the Internet WEB site. The Internet site is staffed by a part-time WEBmaster located within the Design Engineering Division. There is a senior level committee that reviews and approves all information published on the WEB site, and has overall approval of future growth of the WEB site. Organization, Staffing, Training The GIS initiative is managed by the GIS Team of the Highway Information System Division. This is a division of the Office of Preliminary Planning and Engineering (Figure 2). CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 18

26 GIS Team Figure 2 SHA Organization Chart The GIS Team has the mission of providing GIS technology to SHA and establishing the standards for GIS implementation at SHA. There are four areas of GIS that the team has responsibility over. These are: selection of the primary GIS vendor to implement and to assist in the implementation of GIS within SHA setting the direction for future GIS deployment within SHA CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 19

27 to be the focal point for GIS activities in MDOT SHA made the decision several years ago to standardize on one GIS software vendor. This vendor is ESRI. The standardization decision was made to standardize on one vendor so that there would be no significant problems transferring data from one department to another. As a result of the selection of ESRI, ArcView and Arc/Info are the primary GIS viewing and editing tools used by SHA. The second area of responsibility is to implement and to assist in the implementation of GIS within SHA. This includes development of the GIS enterprise database, creation of a GIS Data Viewer, training in GIS, and support of the Data Viewer and GIS. The third area of responsibility is setting the direction for future GIS deployment within SHA. This area includes the development and continual enhancement of the strategic plan, the development of standards for the use of GIS in other systems such as the Traffic Monitoring system, the SHA intranet, and the SHA site on the internet. A fourth area of responsibility is to be the focal point for GIS activities in MDOT. Currently the Coordinator of the GIS Team also attends the MSGIC meeting for MDOT as well as SHA. The current staff in the GIS Team includes: GIS Coordinator Coordinates and manages all activities within the Team. Coordinates the GIS activities with the remainder of SHA, coordinates GIS activities with other Maryland government agencies through the MSGIC committee. Database Administrator Manages the enterprise database. This includes data loading and database maintenance. This position also responds to problems associated with the database Programmer/Analyst This position is utilized to provide programming support for both the GIS Team and on an as needed basis to other users as well. GIS Help Desk Handles all the Help desk calls. Logs in the calls. Responds to the calls or routes the call to the appropriate GIS Team member for handling. This individual also provides training to users of the Data Viewer. GPS/GIS Specialist This position is set up to handle the issues that arise with GPS and GPS relationship to GIS. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 20

28 Production Specialist - Temporary position that is responsible for preparing custom GIS products to SHA personnel because the user lacks access to the GIS Data Viewer or lacks the technical skills to product the product. The standards for creation of a GIS Data Viewer for SHA are well established. However, the standards for the use of GIS in other SHA systems and on the SHA Intranet and Internet are less developed at this time. Each district office and most of the divisions within SHA have a designated GIS Delegate. This GIS Delegate is the first line of help for all the GIS users. The GIS Delegates meet with the GIS Team periodically to exchange problems, issues, and solutions. The GIS Delegate is supposed to work closely with their respective IT Delegate. The IT Delegate handles help regarding CAD support and administrates the Novell servers in the district offices. Training The GIS Team is responsible for providing general GIS training to all of SHA. The GIS Team recently completed one round of training for the GIS Data Viewer, which has been very well received by SHA staff. The SHA staff that received the training suggested that another round of training for the GIS Data Viewer should be provided in six months. This will allow the users of the GIS Data Viewer to become more familiar with the software and its application to specific projects. The second round of training will then allow the users of the Data Viewer to ask more specific and detailed questions, leading to more productive use of the Viewer by SHA staff. There has also been two rounds of training in the Traffic Monitoring System (TMS). TMS utilizes ESRI s ArcView and MapObjects software for display and query of data in the TMS database. Training for the TMS system has been given to approximately 50 people at SHA, including SHA staff that requires information about traffic volumes, such as traffic engineers and traffic forecasters. The primary finding of the training was that the users had a difficult time understanding the ArcView GIS interface even when the interface was highly customized to their individual requirements. ArcView is a complex GIS software tool that is not Active-X compliant so its commands can not be easily integrated in a larger application, such as TMS. The MapObjects software in TMS was received much better because it could be easily integrated with the rest of the TMS application because it is Active-X compliant. Active-X compliance allows the application developer to quickly build interfaces from other applications that meet Active-X compliance standards. An application developer can call an existing Active-X compliant application from his/her own application. This allows the developer to produce a more seamless application in less time than with non-active X compliant software tools. The CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 21

29 MapObjects implementation of the GIS portion of TMS was not only more user friendly, but also much easier to learn than the ArcView application. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 22

30 III Target Technical Architecture Introduction The target technical architecture defines the databases, hardware, software, and communications network that should be in place to support the future GIS needs. This section will discuss the future trends for GIS and IS to form the basis for establishing the future SHA GIS. This document will first discuss the overall GIS and IS trends and then specifically describe the trends in the five subject areas: GIS and IS Trends 1. GIS technical architecture 2. The strategic databases 3. The hardware and software, 4. Communications requirements for the future 5. Use of the SHA Intranet and the Internet for GIS data. There are many trends taking place in the GIS and Information Systems market at this time. There has been an increasing effort over the last five years to move many types of GIS applications to client-server architecture and more recently to WEB based GIS. This trend was started by the improvements in seven major areas. Fast, cheap, powerful processors Local area networks Graphical user interfaces Relational databases for PCs Visual programming tools (i.e. Visual Basic, Visual C++) Rapidly evolving software platforms Browser access (Internet and Intranet) to applications The desktop computer s performance versus cost has improved significantly making it much easier to place a desktop computer on almost everyone s desk. The network software that handles files on a local area network has added many components that insure rapid, secure file access. The tools to develop clientserver applications have also developed, including GIS software tools. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 23

31 More recently, the major trend is to move many of the GIS applications to WEB servers accessed by WEB browsers. This newer architecture is called WEB Based Application. Since the user interface software is a simple WEB browser the need to travel site to site to distribute the new standalone or client-server application has been eliminated. The WEB based application is stored on a WEB server and is accessed via the user s WEB browser. Any special software that is needed by the user to execute a WEB based application is downloaded to the user s computer via the browser interface. The WEB also gives quick easy access to a wide number of distributed users. This trend toward WEB GIS has occurred because of the continued development of WEB based tools and WEB servers. WEB based GIS solutions will not replace client-server or standalone users in the near future. Many GIS applications are too complex to be easily integrated into a WEB based GIS solution. WEB based solutions should be developed for those applications were there is a need to disseminate information to many users via a simple to use interface. More complex GIS applications should remain clientserver based. GIS as a standalone solution has almost disappeared for most of the potential user base. Only the GIS user who wants to complete a lot of computationally intensive analysis or perform data clean-up will utilize the standalone GIS software. The difficulty in deploying future GIS applications will be deciding which of the three architectures (standalone, client-server, or WEB based) should be used to build a specific application. One of the main questions that must be answered as part of the decision process is how many users is the application to serve? If it is to reach less than one user per department, then a standalone application could be developed. If it is to reach one to three per department a client-server application may be the most appropriate architecture. If it is to reach more than three per department then a WEB based GIS solution is most likely the most appropriate architecture. A second equally important question must be answered. How complex is the application? Does it require a lot of training to understand the application or the data that supports the application? Those applications that require a lot of training and manipulate a lot of data that is non-standard would be best suited to a standalone GIS application. Those applications that require knowledge of the data but are more application specific may be best suited to client-server. Finally, the applications that are software specific and require little training to understand the data or the application itself may be best suited to WEB based architecture. Some solutions may require that a single application may be best deployed by splitting it into two applications. One application may be client-server based to be deployed to those individuals who need more capability or understand the data more thoroughly. The second application may be WEB based to reach those CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 24

32 individuals who need to access the data to complete a specific task and do not have as much knowledge of the details of the data underlying the application. Many users access the data through a client-server environment. Industry analysts believe that client-server users will outnumber the standalone users by a power of 100. The client-server applications do not have the power of the standalone solution, but make GIS available to many more people in the organization. Industry analysts also believe that WEB based GIS solution will reach many more users, possibly outnumbering the standalone user by a power of 1000 or or more. The WEB based GIS solutions again do not currently have all the capability of a client server solution but reach many more potential users. The four major GIS vendors ESRI, Intergraph, Mapinfo, and Autodesk have invested a significant amount of resources in developing WEB based tools and recognize this as the future for GIS. The WEB based tools will become more sophisticated thus making WEB based GIS the preferred platform. Technical Architecture The three types of Architecture talked about in GIS trends are Standalone, Client Server, and WEB based GIS. Below is a schematic diagram of each architecture (Figures 3, 4, and 5): GIS Application and Database on PC GIS on PC Laser printer Ethernet Figure 3 Standalone PC with GIS and Database The standalone application resides on the same computer as the GIS spatial data and any other database information. The only reasons a standalone application needs to be connected to the network is for access to printers or to connect to a network disk drive that may contain some of the needed information. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 25

33 Desktop Client Client Application Service Interface Desktop Client Laser printer Ethernet Server Processor Server Application Figure 4 Client Server Application Server Processor A client server application utilizes a database service interface on each client to connect to databases that are on one or more servers. This client computer contains the application and contains the database service interface software. The server contains the server side of the service interface software known as the server application. Both the client and the server must be operational for the application to execute properly. The network is used not only for printing and connecting to files on network disk drives, but to also to connect to the server via the service interface software. Typically, each client must be set-up for a client server application by installing the necessary application software and server interface software directly on a client computer. Updates to the client software can sometimes be downloaded to the client computer transparently by the user. A client server application can have some of the data needed to perform the application on the client itself. This could be large graphic or mapping files that will not display quickly when accessed across a network. The application may also be programmed such that some processing takes place locally and some takes place on the server. Normally, the more data that is stored locally on each client and the more processing the client performs locally, the thicker the clientserver application. The more data stored on the server, or if the server does the processing, the thinner the client-server application. Thinner clients generally lead to lower individual client maintenance issues. Thicker clients are needed when the network is incapable of providing the necessary information fast CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 26

34 enough to the user. The GIS Data Viewer could most accurately be classified as a thick client-server application. This was done because the network was determined to be inadequate to consistently deliver data across the network at sufficient speeds. Desktop Client WEB Browser with Plugins Desktop Client Laser printer Ethernet WEB Server Publishes Information Database Server Server Application Web Server Figure 5 WEB based browser Database Serverr A WEB based browser application utilizes a WEB server to connect the client to the server. No special software is loaded on the client beyond a browser such as, Microsoft s Internet Explorer. The browser connects to the WEB server using Internet protocol, and the WEB server makes the connection to the database. If the client requires information from the database server, the client makes the request to the WEB server and the WEB server makes the request to the database server. The WEB server is said to publish information because it knows where the information exists and sends it to the requesting client. The WEB server and the database server must be operational for a client to execute an application. The WEB based application tends to be easier to maintain because the WEB server and the database server only need to be upgraded and managed. The client browser transparently downloads any needed components of the application (know as a plug-in) at the time the application executes. Plugins can be large or small in size. If they are large, then the application is a thick client, whereas if they are small the application is thin. Thick and thin clients CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 27

35 apply to WEB based applications in a manner similar to client-server based applications. OpenGIS OpenGIS is a consortium of companies that was formed several years ago whose mission is to promote the development and use of advanced open system standards and techniques in the area of geo-processing and related information technologies. The OpenGIS consortium is actively reviewing ways that GIS software can be constructed to work together. The OpenGIS consortium is currently developing scenarios for utilizing GIS on the WEB. There are some key concepts/roles that must be understood for WEB based GIS: User Roles Publisher- an individual who performs registration of datasets and the association of default symbology with that dataset Viewer an individual who operates a viewer interface with a particular purpose in mind System Roles Data Server a component that delivers data across a common interface to any client Map Server a component that delivers symbolized graphics across a common interface to a viewer client, also provides an interface for associating default symbology with a dataset to publisher clients. Catalog Server a component that delivers dataset identifiers across a common interface, also provides interface for publishing datasets to any client. Viewer Client a component that renders graphics that come from map server components. Publisher Client a component that enables registration of datasets and the association of datasets and symbology. Both the Viewer Client and the Publisher Client roles are defined graphically in figures 6 and 7. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 28

36 Figure 6 - A diagram of the requirements of a Viewer Client. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 29

37 Figure 7 - A diagram of the requirements of a publisher client In the last two years, continued improvements in WEB application development tools have made the WEB one of the most dominant architectures for application development. GIS for the WEB is available and its use should continue to expand dramatically in the coming years. In order to utilize this technology, the concept of a Viewer Client and a Publisher Client needs to be incorporated into SHA s written Intranet and Internet policy. Wireless Communication Another technology that has developed significantly in recent years is wireless communication. While it has been in existence since the 1940 s, it has only recently been applied to fields that require open data communications. For example, field crews and maintenance offices often need to communicate data in order to complete work orders, this technology allows them to do so. The wireless technology generally utilized is cellular digital packet data (CDPD). CDPD, an overlay to the existing cellular network, is a wireless packet network service based on the familiar TCP/IP protocols. Packet data enables users to transmit data at 19.2 Kbps over the cellular network using a portable computing device and a CDPD modem. Packet data uses Internet Protocol and provides connectionless access to the cellular network. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 30

38 Any type of wireless communication must allow for signal dropouts in wireless coverage, either due to obstructions between the user and the receiver, or the user leaving the receiver s coverage area. Applications developed that use wireless communication must be created in such a way that no data is lost during a signal dropout. Wireless technology is beginning to be tied to GIS applications; both client-server and WEB based. With wireless technology, a person in the field can receive a map on his/her laptop in real time. If a GPS receiver is connected to the laptop, the filed person can not only review the current map, but can also view his/her location on the map. To go a step further, the user could then update a database located in the central office by modifying an existing database record or creating a new record, all in real time. An example of wireless technology is shown in Figure 8. Satellite Satellite Satellite GPS Laptop computer Cellular Receiver Internet WEB Server Client Ethernet Figure 8 Wireless communication of GIS database As depicted in Figure 8, the GPS unit connected to the laptop computer sends its location to the laptop. Software on the laptop displays the location information on CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 31

39 a map on the laptop and simultaneously transmits the GPS coordinates and the web server s IP address to a cellular receiver, which is connected to the Internet. Using the IP address received with the packet data, the cellular receiver transmits the GPS coordinates to the WEB server. The GPS location of the remote laptop can then be immediately displayed on any client machine that can access the mapping application on the WEB server. Conversely, map data can also be sent from the WEB server to the remote laptop using the same connections. This field use of GIS will require new written policies to establish the proper use and management of this type of system. Recommendation The trends in GIS suggest that new applications developed for enterprise use should be developed either as a client-server application or as a WEB based application. The Data Viewer recently deployed by SHA is an example of a client-server based solution and is desired to be used as a basis for additional GIS application development. However, with the recent developments in WEB based GIS, SHA should assess whether some percentage of new application development would be better served with a WEB based solution rather than a client-server based solution. WEB based applications tend to have less maintenance because the application or any update to the application is downloaded automatically to any client machine with a browser interface. Despite the benefits of WEB based applications, they are not suited for complex applications. In most cases, the more complex applications should be developed on the Data Viewer and should be designated for individuals that understand the datasets they are dealing with. These individuals could be classified as power users. We suspect that, on average, no more than three individuals per department meet this criterion. Non-complex application such as AADT, should be developed using WEB based GIS. These types of applications would be designed for the casual user. Casual users may not have any understanding of the details of a particular database but want to show one or two items like construction projects for this year. Some solutions to information access at SHA will involve the development of both a client-server application and a WEB based application to access similar types of data. For instance, a client server application for bridge data such as completed in the Data Viewer may be too difficult for the casual user who just wants to know where the bridges or structure are located, and the type of structure at the location. A WEB based solution would be better to deploy in addition to the client-server application for this type of user. SHA should evaluate all applications with this dual approach in mind. WEB based GIS solutions require that the WEB architecture and written policies exist to support that solution. OpenGIS has created some templates for WEB CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 32

40 based GIS. These templates should be evaluated and written policy developed for SHA WEB based GIS. With the advent of wireless communication of GIS data, SHA needs to develop written policies on how this technology will be incorporated and maintained within the organization. Strategic Database The strategic databases defined in the original 1994 GIS Strategic plan are still the databases that need be defined as strategic in this plan. These databases are: Traffic Accident Database Traffic Monitoring System Highway Management Information System Pavement Management System Structure Inventory and Appraisal System Digital Maps (Network, Grid, and County) Financial Management System In addition, the traffic signal database, the CTP database, the Construction Project database, and the HNI database have been determined to be strategic. The GIS enterprise database, which contains extractions of data from the original strategic databases should also be defined as a strategic database. The GIS enterprise database is the primary database employed by most SHA users accessing strategic data from SHA. The Digital Maps have become even more important since the last GIS Strategic Plan because of the need to display the data from the original six databases as well as the newly designated three. The display of the data has been made easy because of the acceptance and standardization of the referencing system to the county-route-milepoint system. Any data in any of the strategic databases can be displayed on the network maps using the county-route-milepost key. An example of this is shown on the next page where accidents are located on network maps (Figure 9). CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 33

41 Figure 9 - Example of Accidents located on the Network Maps The locations of the accidents on the map in Figure 9 can be very helpful when determining the location of the high accident areas of a county, region, or the state. However, this particular map does not show local streets, so the exact position of the accidents in relationship to the local streets is difficult, if not impossible to determine. The local streets can be added as a back-drop to the accident locations. A map showing the local street layer is shown in the following map, Figure 10. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 34

42 Figure 10 Example of a Grid map that contains all streets With the local streets displayed, accident locations shown on a map of this type can be visually related to an intersection or to a length of road between two intersections. One of the limitations of the current digital maps, especially the network maps is that data from the strategic databases can only be geographically queried by county-route-milepost. While county-route-milepost is an appropriate referencing system for SHA staff who is knowledgeable about the referencing system, it is unsuitable as a referencing system for much of SHA as well as for the general public. Most people reference incidents and events on state maintained highways by either: Referencing the route number for Interstate highways, or Referencing the route number or street name for US highways, or Referencing the street name for County highways and municipal highways Referencing is usually done as a distance from a particular intersection or major structure. Such as, 300 feet West of Elm Street on US 40. CADDScan Engineering, Inc Page 35