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CHAPTER 5
Collect and Validate New Data
The project team collects new (original) HMCFS data based on the project scoping (see Chap-
ter 3) and gaps in existing data (see Chapter 4). As discussed in Section 4.4, new data collection may
be conducted concurrently with existing data collection, as warranted by the project's objectives
and associated data requirements. It is likely that the project team will enlist the participation of
volunteers or other project participants to assist with new data collection. Figure 5-1 shows a flow
chart of the HMCFS process focusing on new data collection and validation. Collection of new data
specifically for an HMCFS may include the following:
· Interviews with shippers and receivers, carriers, emergency managers and responders, and
other key informants; and
· Traffic surveys ranging from very simple truck counts to much more complex examination of
shipping manifests.
Considerations for New Data Collection
Collection of new data tends to be focused on roadway commercial and service
truck transport because
· Locally relevant hazmat transport data for roadways are generally lacking or
more difficult to obtain from existing data sources.
· Locally relevant hazmat transport data for non-roadway modes (railroad,
waterway, and pipeline) are generally available from existing data sources.
· Roadways often serve as connectors to railroad, waterway, pipeline, and air
terminals.
New data also may be collected for other modes, particularly railroads, when traffic
variation by time of day, day of week, or season of the year are desired. Procedures
for new data collection that are discussed in this guidebook for roadways are
conceptually similar to new data collection procedures for other modes.
5.1 Conduct Interviews
Hazmat shippers, receivers, and carriers; emergency managers and responders; and other key
informants can be interviewed by the project team about their knowledge of hazmat transport,
including what is transported, to/from where, when, and how. This step goes beyond simply
requesting existing information from these sources as described in Chapter 4. Interviews can be
43
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44 Guidebook for Conducting Local Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Studies
Figure 5-1. The HMCFS new data collection and validation process.
Things to Consider When Conducting Interviews
· The potential number of interviews is large and correspondingly time consum-
ing, so a listing of contacts should be developed and prioritized.
· Interview information can be tabulated or written in list or paragraph form and
summarized for each shipper, hazardous material, transport mode, etc.
· Although conducting interviews can be intimidating, the process becomes
easier as interviewers become more experienced.
· The amount of information from interviews can seem initially overwhelming.
Tasking a subcommittee with conducting and compiling interview data can
yield a great deal of information over time, especially if interviews are con-
ducted on an on-going basis (for example, each subcommittee member con-
ducts one interview per week).
