Stephen
C. Brich and G. Michael Fitch
Virginia Transportation Research Council
Charlottesville, VA
Report No. FHWA/VA-96-R34
May 1996
A number of state departments of transportation, including the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), are developing a geographic information system (GIS) to integrate data and to conduct more elaborate analyses which will improve their decision-making capabilities. Research is currently being conducted at the Virginia Transportation Research Council to determine some of the problems associated with the implementation of this relatively new and evolving technology. The collection and development of the data sets required to drive the GIS have been identified as two of the largest expenses associated with GIS implementation. This research looked at the feasibility of using the Global Positioning System (GPS) to collect some of the locational and attribute data required to run VDOT's GIS.
Data sets
identified in VDOT's 10-Year GIS Strategic Plan were collected and transferred
to ARC/INFOr, a proprietary system, by way of hand-held, mapping-grade
GPS receivers. Methods for the collection and transfer of the data sets
were outlined. Point accuracies of approximately 2 m were obtained. Time
requirements and data collection problems were also described. These findings
should ultimately aid VDOT in its GIS implementation process.
key words:
GPS, GIS, highway-railroad crossing, wetland delineation, highway data
This document is available to the public through NTIS, Springfield, VA 22161.
Last Modified: March 20, 2007
Maintained by: traffic@nmsu.edu
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