BACKGROUND
Right-of-way (ROW) requirements are significant components of project schedule and cost. While many state DOTs use technology such as Computer-Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) to draft ROW plans, the final, approved plans are often manually recorded and filed on paper or Mylar. Posting and storing such data by hand is obsolete, inefficient, and unresponsive to the demands of modern project management, hindering multiple users from conveniently accessing real-time ROW information and resulting in undue delay and costs. Moreover, paper and Mylar records are vulnerable to damage or destruction in the event of fire, flooding, or other catastrophic event.
Manually recorded ROW information includes agency ownership, appraisal information, acquisition status, and property-management functions that are important for addressing real estate issues, utilities, environmental permitting and mitigation, access management, outdoor advertising control, and programming. Electronic management of this information improves coordination and consistency of data, leading to reduced project delivery delays caused by ROW acquisition. In addition, the ability to retrieve these data electronically provides fast, convenient, and consistent access to all users, reducing the time and expense needed to ship documents; eliminating repetitive entries; minimizing data-entry errors caused by multiple formats; and ultimately saving money for the DOTs. Electronic management of real estate information could improve coordination with local jurisdictions and provide appropriate data to the public on agency ownership of property.
The automation of ROW functions and development of data-integration models using existing technology, including geo-spatial applications, are needed to enable multiple users to access ROW information quickly and easily.
Project 8-55 identified the data elements needed to support the automation of ROW functions as the first step in the development of fully operational systems that integrate geo-spatial technologies into the ROW process. This project will use this knowledge of the data elements to develop and test a logical model for a geo-spatial enabled, ROW land management system.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this project are to (1) develop an enterprise-level logical model for a prototypical geo-spatial enabled, ROW land management system for state departments of transportation, (2) demonstrate a crosswalk between the logical model and DOT enterprise systems now in use to determine the gap between the state-of-the-art system and existing systems, and (3) deliver a presentation-ready executive summary in print and electronic formats that demonstrates the usefulness and validity of the logical model.
This logical model shall be interoperable across multiple business functions within the entire department of transportation. While software development is not a part of this project, the enterprise-level model developed herein shall provide a framework for its development.
Accomplishment of the project objective will require the following tasks.
TASKS
PHASE I (1) Review the literature and update the results of Project 8-55, as appropriate. In the review, identify key features and attributes of a logical model for a prototypical geo-spatial enabled, ROW land management system for state departments of transportation. (2) Prepare an outline of the logical model, with emphasis on defining its main features, attributes, input and output data elements, and data flow. Expand on the data element groupings to define system boundaries for coupled activities and define architectural data flows among these activities. For those data elements that cross multiple activities, provide enterprise-wide standardization guidelines to assist an agency in pursuing standardization for interoperability with its enterprise system. At a minimum, the logical model will serve to:
- Establish rules for effectively using available input data elements to determine required output elements.
- Provide a template for use by state DOTs in developing systems adapted to their own particular requirements.
- Assist in planning—before significant DOT funds are invested—how such a system would integrate and interact with other enterprise-level information systems used by the state DOTs.
- Enhance the integration of the ROW process into the state’s overall project delivery process with concomitant benefits in cost containment and labor rationalization.
- Enable an assessment of how such a system would support the performance measures and goals of a state DOT.
(3) Prepare a detailed plan to test the validity, usefulness, and robustness of the logical model in Task 6. The plan will use a minimum of three case studies to determine the long-term ramifications, costs, and payoffs of adopting a system based on the logical model. Determine (1) how the features of the logical model integrate with those of existing geo-spatial enabled systems, and (2) how such a system might be implemented in states that do not presently use a geo-spatial enabled system or a ROW land management system. (4) Prepare an interim report presenting the results of Tasks 1 through 3. The research agency shall be required to meet with the project panel approximately 1 month after submission to obtain NCHRP approval of: (1) the outline of the logical model from Task 2 and (2) the Task 6 test plan, before beginning Task 5.
PHASE II
(5) Prepare a enterprise-level logical model for a prototypical geo-spatial enabled, ROW land management system for state departments of transportation that is based on the outline approved in Task 4, including any revisions requested by NCHRP. In developing the model, organize the identified data elements (input and output) and provide a detailed illustration of the logical flow of data necessary to reach decisions in an enterprise-level, geo-spatial-enabled, ROW system. Submit the model for NCHRP review and comment. The research agency shall be required to subsequently meet with the project panel to obtain NCHRP approval to work on succeeding tasks. (6) Test the validity, usefulness, and robustness of the interoperable logical model by using it to analyze a minimum of three case studies according to the plan approved in Task 4. Determine the long-term ramifications, costs, and benefits of adopting a system based on the logical model. Determine (1) how the features of the logical model integrate with those of existing geo-spatial enabled systems and (2) how such a system might be implemented in states that do not presently use a geo-spatial enabled system or a ROW land management system. Based on the results of the case study analysis, revise the logical model as necessary. (7) Based on the results of Tasks 5 and 6, describe how the proposed logical model may be implemented in each of the following scenarios, at a minimum: (1) no enterprise-level ROW land management system with no geo-spatial component, (2) an enterprise-level ROW land management system with no geo-spatial component, and (3) a geo-spatial enabled system that has no ROW component. Prepare work plans and budgets for future implementation of these scenarios. (8) Prepare a presentation-ready executive summary in print and electronic formats that summarizes the results of each of the scenarios studied in Task 7. (9) Prepare a final report summarizing the results, findings, and conclusions of the research.
Product Availability: The Phase I interim report is available for loan on request to NCHRP.
