BACKGROUND
State aviation officials frequently face challenges managing their airport infrastructure and effectively applying limited resources to the task. These challenges include collaborating with stakeholders, developing state system plans, ensuring convenient access to airports, determining the most appropriate allocation of scarce resources, inspecting and operating airports, and providing educational opportunities for stakeholders. One effective means states use for ensuring informed decision making is to learn about current practices at other state aviation agencies.
In recent years, the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) has undertaken limited data collection efforts of basic information about each state’s aviation programs. These efforts have resulted in valuable databases (e.g., the NASAO State Aviation Funding and Organizational Data Report) and modest analyses of practices. Through ACRP, an opportunity now exists to develop a process for gathering needed state aviation data in a thorough, comprehensive, and efficient manner. Improved state aviation data collection will support more robust analyses and the identification of successful evidence-based practices.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this research are to develop and initiate a process for the collection, storage, analysis, and dissemination of state-level aviation data. The process should include guidance for identifying the data that should be collected and frequency of collection, as well as recommended methods for collecting, analyzing, storing, and disseminating data from states and other stakeholders. The initiation effort should include handoff of the process and related deliverables to the host, including integration with the host’s IT system if required, and one year of technical support.
STATUS
Research is complete. The process and tool have been handed off to NASAO.
