Data helps drive decision making and measure the performance of transportation strategies. Agencies can source certain types of data from WSDOT, other agencies, and the private sector.
Key characteristics
Strategy description
WSDOT has a range of data resources available for staff to use to support transportation systems operations. Data from other public agencies and the private section can support numerous planning and operations decisions and extend the usability of WSDOT’s traffic and operations data.
Data availability at WSDOT
Access WSDOT’s databases, including
- ROADS (incident database)
- Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data to assess highway condition, performance, and safety
- DriveNet, which visualizes WSDOT roadway data
- Crash data
- GIS and mapping products with mapping and roadway attribute information.
Other agencies
It is also possible to access data from agencies with roads and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) that are adjacent or linked to WSDOT’s systems.
Private sector
Typically, agencies can purchase private sector data from vendors such as Inrix or Blip. Data collection uses technologies such as license plate or Bluetooth readers, mobile phones, or in-vehicle GPS. Some systems are crowd sourced and are freely available to the public (for example, WAZE for Google Maps), but WSDOT has no control over the data content or accuracy. In some cases, WSDOT can purchase raw data directly from vendors.
What you need in order to implement
In order to source data from WSDOT or additional sources, you will need
- Sources of WSDOT data, including ITS and management systems
- Sources of data external to WSDOT
- Data integration into a database accessible by WSDOT staff
- A framework for data set quality assurance and updating
- Training materials and data dictionaries to support the staff’s effective use of the data
- Internal contacts (stewards) for WSDOT database support and problem reporting
Learn more about this strategy
WSDOT’s Transportation Data & GIS Office for access to many data sources
WSDOT’s data collected for the federal Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS)
US Department of Transportation’s Data Inventory website
US Department of Transportation’s 2015 Transportation Datapalooza website
National Cooperative Highway Research Program’s (NCHRP) Data to Support Transportation Agency Business Needs: A Self-Assessment Guide
National Highway Institute’s Introduction to Data Analysis, a day-and-a-half, instructor-led course
CITE’s Fundamentals of Database Management Systems, an eight-hour online course
National Highway Institute’s Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS): Concepts, Data Collection & Reporting Requirements, a two day, instructor-led course
About key characteristics
Location notes:
Locations vary based on data availability and needs.
Cost notes:
Costs will vary based on data availability and needs.
Technology notes:
Technology needs are high based on systems required.
Collaboration notes:
Collaboration levels are high based on the need to make contact, train staff, and collaborate on data analysis.