Book Description

The application of computer based, spatial information technology (GIS) to management of transportation facilities is becoming increasingly important. This project was for the development of a spatially referenced system for management of roadside landscape and irrigation development in Arizona. Texas Transportation Institute, Environmental Management Program with the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT's) assistance completed the research activities associated with the identification of needs, an assessment of the ADOT's computing environment, conceptual design of the management system, evaluation of hardware and software, the pilot demonstration and subsequent trial implementation activities. The research focused on the development of a "paperless" management system where the integration of technologies is the key to an effective system. The project consisted of the development of a spatially referenced mapping system for highway landscape and irrigation inventory, integration of intelligent maps into handheld data collection devices, collection of information into handheld devices, and incorporation of these new technologies into existing data management systems. Upon completion of the trial implementation period the evaluations suggest that the system, because of its limited focus and high degree of complexity is probably not cost effective. This judgement is based on the fact that this system is a highly specialized system serving a very small segment of the overall maintenance mission of the ADOT. To be efficient and cost effective, a wider range of maintenance activities would have to be integrated into a single system framework. In the final analysis, the research successfully established a conceptual framework around which a new maintenance management system can evolve.