CONTACT INFO
CTRE
ISU Research Park
2901 S. Loop Dr.
Suite 3100
Ames, IA 50010
Phone
515-294-8103
Fax
515-294-0467
Webmaster:
mregenol@iastate.edu
GIS-ALAS Progress Report
October 13, 1997
Summary: Work has progressed on four of the five tasks
identified at the beginning of the project. After an evaluation of software
options, the ESRI family of products (ArcView, MapObjects, etc.) was chosen
as the platform for further development. This decision was made in consultation
with the GIS-ALAS Advisory Committee and the GIS Coordinating Committee.
When appropriate, work on GIS-ALAS is being coordinated
with related efforts (e.g., MARS, collision diagram software, coordinated
management systems, and others). Statewide coverages of accidents nodes
have been generated, and issues related to the technical design of GIS-ALAS
are being addressed.
Updates on the project were provided to several forums,
including the Safety Management System Committee, the Highway Engineering
Exchange Program, the Statewide Traffic Records Advisory Committee, and
the Iowa chapter of the American Public Works Association.
Progress on individual tasks and subtasks is summarized
below. Although the status ("percent-complete") figures below
are not designed to be precise quantitative measures, they do provide
a fairly accurate estimate of progress.
Task 1: GIS-ALAS Research
Literature review/state of the art
A GIS-ALAS Project Bibliography Database has been set
up (in Lotus Approach). Several resources were used to identify relevant
literature, including the Iowa State University Library, government Web
pages (USDOT, FHWA, HNSTA, TRB/TRR, etc.) and major libraries (Berkeley,
Northwestern, etc.). About 150 references are currently in the database.
Status: 100% complete.
Review the state of the practice
A state-of-the-practice review was conducted to examine other agencies' experiences. In particular, Alabama's CARE program was reviewed. This program, along with Iowa's, is among the most advanced in the country, but there is limited applicability to Iowa's situation (except perhaps for ideas on Internet access).
Status: 100% complete.
Software assessment and selection
The ESRI suite of products has been chosen for the development of GIS-ALAS. Two distrubution methods will be used, CD ROM and the Internet. ArcView and its programming language, Avenue, are being used to develop the CD ROM product. The Internet product is being done in MapObjects; ESRI may release a produce soon that will enable us to have a closer coordination between the two efforts. The potential use of ArcExplorer, a data view currently available free from the ESRI Web site, is being considered for future efforts.
Status: 100% complete.
Task 2: GIS-ALAS Design
Applications in engineering and related safety disciplines
A focus group meeting was held on February, 13 1997,
and a brainstorming session was held to generate a list of capabilities
and applications. Applications both inside and outside of the current
scope of the GIS-ALAS Project were identified. Several types of activities
were mentioned, including spatial data collection and management, integration
with other data sources, and analysis. (Results are listed in the meeting
notes.)
In addition, meetings have been held with CTRE staff
working on the Collision Diagram Software Project. Several issues have
been discussed, and many have been resolved, with the intent that the
collision software, Intersection Magic, be integrated with GIS-ALAS. A
meeting with PD Programming, the developer of Intersection Magic, is scheduled
for the end of September.
Other work on engineering and safety applications will
be conducted through a subcontract at the University of Iowa; the specific
nature of these project tasks must be determined.
Status: 75% complete
Work remaining: Follow-up on issues identified. Monitoring
of other potential applications. Identification, initiation, and integration
of the University of Iowa effort.
Use of GPS Interface with MARS
GIS-ALAS will be designed to import data referenced by
global coordinates, such as GPS data provided through the MARS program.
Material on MARS has been obtained and read, and there have been ongoing
discussions with Terry Dillinger (DMV) and Gregg Rosann (AMS). Tadd Geis
of AMS visited CTRE in March to discuss the interactions between AMS and
CTRE on MARS/OIM and GIS-ALAS. In particular, an outline of the proposed
data flow, with latitude and longitude data, was discussed and expanded.
Status: 50% complete.
Work remaining: Maintain contact with DOT and AMS during
design and programming phase. Program GIS-ALAS for MARS interface.
Make use of future cartographic enhancements
This subtask includes developing a method for the incorporation
of more accurate line work, such as "conflation" - a GIS-based
method of translating attributes from one map to another. This subtask
assures that GIS-ALAS will not become out-of-date when improved digital
maps become available.
Status: 75% complete.
Work remaining: Formalize process to make use of cartographic
enhancements.
Software capabilities
An assessment of software capabilities was conducted
in coordination with the software evaluation.. The list criteria for selecting
from the three software options has been created and is available by clicking
here.
Status: 100% complete
Task 3: GIS-ALAS Development
Programming of core system
The system is currently being programmed. Avenue, the
programming language of ArcView, is being used to develop the interface,
query tools, and analytical capabilities of GIS-ALAS. Currrent efforts
are focuses on queries of tables and consideration of design issues, such
as data formats and the use of external (i.e., non-GIS) programming languages,
are being addressed.
Status : 60% complete.
Work remaining: Queries of accident tables. Display and
analytical functions.
Data acquisition and assimilation
Statewide coverages of accidents nodes and accident locations
have been generated and converted into ArcView. Primary, secondary, and
municipal road coverages have been converted to ArcView and are displayed
with accident data.
Status: 90% complete
Work remaining: Joining accidents locations with accident
attribute data for the initial version of GIS-ALAS. Accident locations
may be re-generated before the distribution of GIS-ALAS.
Develop applications interfaces
These are currently being developed as part of the main programming effort.
Status: 75% complete.
Work remaining: 25%
Develop access/distribution methods
Two distribution methods will be used: Internet access
and CD ROM.
Status: 75% complete
Work remaining: Resolve issues related to the design
of the final CD product. The ISU site license allows us to distribute
GIS-ALAS, but we need to determine how much of ArcView we can put on a
CD and send to outside parties. We are working with ISU's GIS Facility,
which manages the site license, to answer this question. We are also considering
the use of a new ESRI product for the future development of the Internet
application; the new product, which would be covered under the site license,
is reportedly a much better tool for Web development than what we are
currently using.
Prepare documentation
Documentation of the GIS-ALAS project is currently being
prepared both formally and informally as the project proceeds. Material
is available through the GIS-ALAS Web site, through meeting notes, e-mail
correspondence, and computer code. This material must continue to be developed
and formalized as the project proceeds.
Status: 10% complete
Work remaining: Continue to prepare/collect documentation
and summarize in a formal document.
Task 4 GIS ALAS Testing/Refinement
Identify beta test sites
The following have been identified as initial test sites
for Version 1 of GIS-ALAS: Harold Jensen, Jaime Reyes/John Nervig, Stephen
McGregor, an enforcement agency to be chosen in consultation with Terry
Dillinger, a representative of FHWA, and Alicia Caton.
More extensive beta testing will occur after this initial
test and additional participants will be identified at that time.
Status: 100% complete.
Beta sites test system and provide feedback
Version 1 of GIS-ALAS will be made available to the initial
test sites sometime in September.
Status: not started
Work remaining: 100%
Refine system based on beta site feedback and advisory
committee input
Status: not started
Work remaining: 100%
Task 5 Technology Transfer
Prepare project report
Materials for the report are being collected as the project
is being developed.
Status: 30%
Work remaining: Complete report as project is developed.
Deliver software and documentation
Software will be delivered at the end of phase 1, in
December.
Status: not started.
Work remaining: 100%
GIS ALAS training
Training will occur when the software is delivered, in
December.
Status: not started.
Work remaining: 100%
last modified on 19.September.1997