Summer 2011, Volume 4, Issue 2

Annual meeting papers are due August 1 – don’t forget to ask for co-review of papers as appropriate (e.g., statistics)!

ABJ00

Six Committees Hold Joint MeetingSix Data and Information Systems Section committees met at the Keck Center immediately following the successful NHTS conference and workshop (Using National Household Travel Survey Data for Transportation Decision-making ) ably chaired by Steve Polzin (ABJ10, National Data Requirements). Committees holding individual and joint meetings in person and using GoTo Meeting were: ABJ10 (National Data Requirements), ABJ20 (Statewide Data), ABJ30 (Urban Data), ABJ35 (Traffic Monitoring), ABJ40 (Survey Methods), and ABJ70 (Artificial Intelligence).

Highlights of the meeting included a welcome from TAC Chair Katie Turnbull and first meetings of two new section joint initiatives (Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Issues and Travel Time, Speed, and Reliability). Excellent kickoff presentations were made by Joe Schofer (Transportation Data Policy Study recap), Tianjia Tang and David Jones (Office of Highway Policy Information, FHWA). An informative Federal panel was convened, and included updates from David Winter (Director, Office of Highway Policy Information, FHWA), Ross Crichton (Office of Transportation Policy Studies) and Li Leung (BTS).  Tom Palmerlee hosted an excellent pre-meeting dinner and Matt Miller had the meeting logistics running smoothly as always. Thanks to all of you for your time and commitment to the section.

In This Issue …- 6 committees hold joint meeting - AM 2012- Bike/Ped Data joint initiative and workshop - TSP plan examples- ABJ Activities (policy study, activity level, health sub) - Who We Are

- Upcoming Events

Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Workshop Planned for Sunday at AM 12 Join the new Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Sub-committee in partnership with the Committee on Bicycle Transportation (ANF20) for an exciting full-day workshop focused on how to manage, use, and increase coverage of bicycle and pedestrian data.  During this workshop non-motorized data required for planning, operations, and research efforts such as health, safety, and prioritizing infrastructure improvements will be discussed as well as ways to cooperatively integrate data sources through data standardization to ensure consistency.  Current best practices will also be addressed with a focus on the known fundamentals of collecting non-motorized data and topics related to the lack of resources for creating this type of data program.  A tiered approach to managing the plethora of data sources will provide an intensive overview and introduction to current and future data methods, standards,  and warehouses from which all interested parties can benefit. 

ABJ Activities

Joe Schofer (ABJ At Large, Northwestern University) is giving overview presentations on the Data Policy Study, (How We Travel, TRB SR 304) for these groups:• Data section• TRB Executive Committee• AASHTO SCOP Charlie Howard (Puget Sound MPO) is giving a similar overview talk at the Boston Mid Year meetings. Joe also wrote an opinion piece about the uses and value of data in infrastructure management for the UTCD newsletter, URL shown here: http://www.iti.northwestern.edu/publications/utc/safetea-lu/NL-2011-5-26.pdf (Article is on p. 3).

Policy Study Dissemination

Committee Activity for 2010-11Are these correct? How can you use these numbers to plan? Can

you read small print?

ABJ Activities

New TRB Health and Transportation SubcommitteeBy Ed Christopher, FHWA, Section at Large

This update has been put together in an attempt to bring “all” our TRB leadership up-to-date on the organization activities of what I believe will be a new and exciting area for TRB. This past spring a new TRB Subcommittee was formed around Health and Transportation. While subcommittees are not new to TRB this one faces some unique challenges. Organizationally, it is co-sponsored by 4 Committees crossing 3 Sections and 2 Groups. Administratively, the Subcommittee is coded as ADD50-01 and is linked to TRB through the Environmental Justice in Transportation Committee. It connects to 3 TRB Program Officers with Martine being the primary link through the ADD50 connection. Below is a breakdown of the TRB structural linkages. Policy and Organization Group-POG (AB000), Johanna Zmud, Chair Section - Data and Information Systems (ABJ00), Reg Souleyrette, Chair Urban Data and Information Systems (ABJ30), Catherine Lawson, Chair Planning and Environment Group-PEG (AD000), Mark Kross, Chair Section - Travel Analysis Methods (ADB00), Ram Pendyala, Chair Travel Behavior and Values (ADB10), Eric Miller, Chair Section - Social, Economic, and Cultural Issues-SECI (ADD00), Leigh Lane, Chair Transportation and Sustainability (ADD40), June Carlson, Chair Environmental Justice in Trans, (ADD50), David Kuehn/ Anne Morris, Co-Chairs TRB Program Officers Martine Micozzi (SECI) Kim Fisher (PEG) Tom Palmerlee (POG) Over the past few months the Subcommittee has been very active “pulling itself together”. It has developed a website, an ever growing Listserve of friends, finalized a strategic plan and has issued a call for papers for the TRB August 1st deadline. Attached is one-page flyer with the link to the Subcommittee website, information on how to join the Listserve and the mission and scope statement. Incidentally, the Subcommittee just acquired the domain name, ”trbhealth.org” and will be changing its internet address in August. The Listserve currently contains 50 members and consider the webpage under development as we are continuing to “get our act together”. In terms of leadership, the Subcommittee is co-chaired by Ed Christopher, FHWA Resource Center Planning Team Eloisa Raynault, American Public Health Association. Megan Weir, San Francisco Department of Public Health is the Secretary. We will be holding our inaugural meeting in Boston and plan to use email as a way of keeping our various co-sponsoring committee chairs informed.

AM 2012

2011 Annual Meeting Workshops Planned Title Sponsors Date Time Hotel/Room Successful Asset Management Business Models and Barriers to Their Implementation

ABC40 Sun 1/22/2012 1:30pm- 4:30pm Hilton, Cabinet

Urban Data Integration ABJ30 Sun 1/22/2012 1:30pm- 4:30pm Hilton, Columbia Hall 10

C2KX + ACS1, 3, 5 = The Census Data of the Future

ABJ30 Sun 1/22/2012 9:00am-12:00pm Hilton, Cabinet

Collecting Bicycle and Pedestrian Data ABJ35, ABJ20, ABJ30, ABJ40

Sun 1/22/2012 9:00am-12:00pm Hilton, Fairchild

Moving Beyond Quantitative Attributes in Stated Response Surveys: Understanding the Role Qualitative Variables Play in the Choice Context

ABJ40 Sun 1/22/2012 9:00am-12:00pm Hilton, Columbia Hall 11

Incorporating Social Media into Transportation Surveys

ABJ40, ADA60 Sun 1/22/2012 1:30pm- 4:30pm Hilton, Columbia Hall 3

Sensing Technologies for Transportation Applications

ABJ50, ABJ60 Sun 1/22/2012 1:30pm- 4:30pm Hilton, Columbia Hall 4

Enterprise GIS: Return on Investment ABJ60 Sun 1/22/2012 9:00am-12:00pm Hilton, Columbia Hall 4

Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation ABJ70, AHB45(1) Sun 1/22/2012 9:00am-12:00pm Hilton, Columbia Hall 3

Automated Machine Guidance and Electronic Modeling for Highway Design

AFB80, AFH30 Sun 1/22/2012 9:00am-12:00pm Marriott, Balcony B

# Session Title Proposed by3 Meeting Critical Data Needs for Decision Making in

State and Metropolitan Transportation AgenciesPolicy & Organization Group (Hilton)

8 Transportation for National Parks – Promoting Livability, Sustainability, and Strong Local Economies

Planning & Environment Group (Hilton)

9 Climate Change Adaptation Practices for Ports, Airports, and Freight Terminals

Planning & Environment Group (Hilton)

11 Successful Transportation Mega Projects – Putting Research and People to Work

Legal Resources Group (Marriott)

14 Shipping Container Ownership (Handout) Freight Systems & Marine Groups (Shoreham)

15 Communicating Transportation Research to Public and Decision Makers (see Agenda Item #2)

Policy & Organization Group (w/Ed Kussy, Katie Turnbull & Peter Mandle) (Marriott)

TAC considered the 15 proposals received, and selected the following as cross-cutting sessions (Note: the POG got 2!)

Click here for TRB cheat

sheets!

TSP Elements – back to basics

ABJ40 Survey Methods prepares for triennial Strategic Plan (TSP) – Identifies Research Needs

By Guy Rousseau, Atlanta Regional Commission (Chair) In general, the list covers incorporating new technologies, identifying appropriate sampling frames, and improving participation.  Household Surveys or new technologies:  Methods to improve respondent

participation in travel surveys (using technology, social media, etc.) Household Surveys:  Methods to obtain more representative travel survey

samples (mitigating non-response) Household Surveys:  Revisiting sampling approaches to mitigate coverage bias –

how to effectively include cell samples, e-mail lists, and field address-based (US Post Office database), revisit Random-Digit Dialing sample too (i.e., if we are moving to cell-based households, how many take their landlines as their cell numbers?)

External Surveys:  Evaluating alternative approaches to document trip movements into and through metropolitan areas (blue tooth, secondary data from sources like INRIX, AirSage and TomTom, etc.)

Freight surveys:  defining freight and identifying the best methods to measure its movements

Freight surveys:  identifying differences in freight movements within urban areas vs. the larger interstate movements and how these might inform appropriate survey design depending on modeling needs

Freight surveys:  evaluating alternative sampling frames and identifying which is most appropriate based on the type of freight being surveyed

Stated-Preference surveys: understanding attributes beyond time and costs Stated-Preference Surveys:  research into the area of prospect theory Stated-Preference surveys:  research into the relationship between Stated-

Preference and behavioral economics Workplace surveys:  identification of best practices for workplace surveys,

including special generators (synthesis report?) Airport surveys:  identification of best practices (synthesis report?) Long distance travel surveys:  understanding state-of-the-practice and identifying

research needs

TSP Elements – back to basics

ABJ50 Information Systems prepares for TSP with Brainstorming

By Frances Harrison, Spy Pond Partners, Chair 

Focus Areas- Sensor Technologies- Construction Management Technologies- State DOT IT Management – opportunities for innovation and efficiency improvements,

relationship with ITS, response to emerging technology trends (in partnership with AASHTO IS)

- Mobile Computing Technologies - Data Collection, Fusion, Management and Discovery Technologies in support of

transportation safety, operations, maintenance/asset management and construction

Potential Initiatives for 2011/2012

Annual Meeting Workshops- Sensor Technologies (Colin Brooks)- Information Technology to Support Better Construction Management Workshop (Ioannis

Brilakis)

Annual Meeting Sessions- TBD – Potential Topics are:

o Putting Innovative Technologies to Work: Survey of rapidly developing technologies impacting transportation planning and operations (in line with conference theme) – might include new sensor technologies for tolling, customer service; serving data to decision makers

o Use of new mobile device applications for smartphones and tablets in the field (traffic operations, surveys, maintenance, incident management) – implications for data management and security

o Interactive web applications and 3D visualization – integrated with mapping and modeling to enhance public involvement

o Integrating and visualizing network wide traffic informationo Moving Public IT Resources into the Cloud – opportunities and issueso Shared service models for IT and GIS (e.g. city of Houston, western states cloud

contracting initiative)o Impact of universal broadband service on access to communicationo Benefit and challenges of using social media within transportation organizations

TSP Elements – back to basics

ABJ50 Information Systems prepares for TSP with Brainstorming (cont.)

Peer Exchange/Workshop- Cloud Computing (Doug Couto)

Webinars:- cloud computing – addressing security concerns (Doug Couto)- sensor technologies (Colin Brooks)

Research Needs Statements- sensor technology (Colin Brooks)- cloud computing (Doug Couto – update to existing)

Call For Papers- sensor technology (Colin Brooks) – for 2013 Annual Meeting

Partnerships- AASHTO Subcommittee on Information Systems- USDOT CIO - ASCE TCCIT Data Sensing and Analysis Committee- Construction Management (AFH10) - AFH10(1) joint subcommittee on Information

Systems in Construction Management.- Geospatial Data Acquisition Technologies in Design and Construction (AFB 80)- Geographic Information Science and Applications (ABJ60) - Intelligent Transportation Systems (ABH15) – Information Technology in ITS- Library and Information Sciences (ABG40) – web 2.0, data grids, findability - Critical Transportation Infrastructure Protection (ABE40) – data and information system

security- Strategic Management (ABC10)– state DOT efficiency improvements- Visualization in Transportation (ABJ95) - Application of Emerging Technology for Design and Construction (AFH 30) - Public Involvement in Transportation (ADA 60)

Research Watch List- SHRP2 L13A – Reliability Data Archive- ITS America Connected Vehicle Technology Scan- DUAP – Data Use Analysis and Processing (merging data from connected vehicles)- iRODS – Data Grid - Policy-Based Data Management, Sharing and Preservation- FHWA RFI for Virtual Access of Transportation Data From Multiple Data Sources For

Improved Decision Making 

ABJ00 Section - Data and Information Systems

Reg Souleyrette, Chair Iowa State University

Thomas M. PalmerleeAssociate Director, Technical Activities DivisionTransportation Research Board

Matt MillerSenior Program Associate Transportation Research Board

Committees

ABJ10 National Transportation Data Requirements and Programs Steve Polzin , Chair Center for Urban Transportation Research, Univ. of S. Florida

ABJ20 Statewide Transportation Data and Information Systems Jack R. Stickel , Chair Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

ABJ25T Task Force on the Traffic Monitoring Conferences Cathy McGhee, ChairYinhai Wang, Vice Chair

ABJ30

Urban Transportation Data and Information Systems Catherine T. Lawson , Chair University at Albany

ABJ35 Highway Traffic Monitoring Peter L. Keen , Chair Digital Traffic Systems, Inc. (DTS) ABJ40 Travel Survey Methods Guy Rousseau , Chair Atlanta Regional Commission

ABJ50 Information Systems and Technology Frances D. Harrison , Chair Spy Pond Partners, LLC

ABJ60 Geographic Information Science and Applications Cesar A. Quiroga, Chair Texas Transportation Institute (TTI)

ABJ70 Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Computing Applications Shinya Kikuchi, Chair Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)

ABJ80 Committee on Statistical Methods Simon P. Washington, Chair U.C. Berkeley

ABJ90 Freight Transportation Data Scott R. Drumm, Chair Port of Portland, Oregon

ABJ95 Visualization in Transportation Michael Anthony Manore, Chair

Vispective Management Consulting, LLC

SubcommitteesResearch SubcommitteeJames P. Hall, Co-Chair University of Illinois, SpringfieldHarvey J. Miller, Co-Chair University of Utah

Metadata SubcommitteeTamer Al-Diraby, ChairUniversity of Toronto

At Large MembersThomas BolleUSDOT/RITA

Edward J. ChristopherFederal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Jonette R. KreideweisMinnesota Department of Transportation

Joseph L. SchoferNorthwestern University

Johanna Zmud, POG Chair and ABJ00 Past ChairRand Corp.

ABJ00 Who we are …

For more information about ABJ00, please contact Reg Souleyrette, chair (reg@iastate.edu) or Tom Palmerlee, TRB (tpalmerlee@nas.edu) 8

ABJ Upcoming EventsMidyear meeting Boston July 10-12, 2011; Committees meeting there: ABJ00 (Data Section); ABJ30 (Urban); ABJ35 (Traffic Monitoring); ABJ50 (Information Systems); ABJ90 (Freight )

2011 International Visualization in Transportation Symposium August 20-23 2011; Chicago http://www.trbvis.org/SYMPOSIUM-2011/Overview.html

Performance Measures & Livable Communities September 7-8, 2011; Austin

Using Census Data for Transportation Applications October 25-27, 2011; Irvine

Improving Safety Programs through University-Agency Partnerships Conference November 2-3, 2011 Washington, D.C.

9th International Conference on Transport Survey Methods November 14-18, 2011; Chile

Data Needs for State and MPO Decision Making Dec 5-7, 2011; Irvine

NATMEC 2012 June 4-7, 2012; Dallas

9

Useful links• Section Google Group• Section Newsletter archive• Temporary Section Website/data archive

Data Section Spring Conference CallDate/Time TBA(877)339-0018, Access *360-7711*

•Consider plans for Annual Meetings•Discuss Data Section priority issues•Share updates from section members

Data Section priority issues1) privacy and confidentiality developments and their

implication on the transportation community2) impact of transportation on the economy, which

includes, but not limited toa. Congestion, as is the focus of the recent 1201

proposed ruleb. Domestic transportation of international trade