The objective of this research was to prepare guidance describing (1) practices DOTs can use for capture, preservation, search, retrieval, and governance of transportation data and information; and (2) strategies and actions a DOT can follow to implement these best practices. This guidance was intended to be sensative to the diversity of state DOTs; the range of transportation information that DOTs use (related, for example, to project delivery, environmental review, and operations performance, as well as network configuration and design detail); and the variety of formats for transportation information (such as text reports, photographs, plans and drawings, geo-coded databases, and financial analyses).
The research team undertook to assess the current state of DOT policies and practices regarding governance of transportation information; capture, preservation, search, and retrieval of such information; and making transportation information findable and accessible to information users; and to review practices from other fields that may be adapted for improving DOT management of transportation information. The team gave particular attention to the current state of practice regarding standardization of terminology and categorization schemes for transportation information, and to enhancements in detail or scope of information that should be included in such schemes and strategies for developing a common terminology and categorization scheme that could be made available for use by all state DOTs. The final project report, to be published in the NCHRP report series, provides advice for DOTs on effective information management practices and will serve as a resource for subsequent NCHRP research projects.
