A Concept for a National Freight Data Program Special Report 276 (2003) / Chapter Skim
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3 Concept for a National Freight Data Program
3 Concept for a National Freight Data Program
Pages 51-75
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From page 51... ...
The framework for a national freight data program illustrated in Figure 3-11 and described in Appendix A proposes establishing an advisory committee to oversee the design and implementation of a multifaceted data collection program. An integrated program of freight surveys and a freight informatics initiative that gathers data from electronic data streams, such as those associated with intelligent transportation systems (ITS)
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BTS data collection programs National freight database Supplemental Data Urban truck surveys, Data synthesis Customs data, DHS data programs, etc. Feedback Users Private sector, state DOTs, carriers, MPOs, other government agencies Figure 3-1 Proposed framework of a national freight data program.
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From page 53... ...
Research will be needed in areas such as survey methodology and data processing, and the effort will not succeed without innovative, low-cost data collection strategies. From an organizational perspective, the success of a national freight data program to implement the framework will depend on the participation of diverse public- and private-sector organizations at various levels.
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From page 54... ...
RATIONALE FOR CONCEPTUAL PLAN The conceptual plan for a national freight data program comprises five major components: · A national freight data framework, · An integrated program of freight surveys, · A freight informatics initiative, · Freight data synthesis, and · Standard survey methodologies. The supporting rationale for each of these components is discussed below.
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From page 55... ...
Other users will combine data from the national freight database with synthesized data to fill gaps that are too difficult -- and expensive -- to fill by using surveys or other data-gathering techniques. Yet others will leverage federal economic or trade data programs, such as the International Trade Data System (ITDS)
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From page 56... ...
proposes a schedule for a national freight data program to implement the proposed framework. The committee views the task breakdown and sequence outlined in Table A-1 as a helpful and appropriate basis for discussion and development by the freight data advisory committee.
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From page 57... ...
However, surveying a transportation terminal or distribution center could provide information on movements into and out of this intermediate location, as well as on the transition between the two movements. Despite their potential advantages, distributor surveys are conducted only 3The purpose of the national freight data program is not to develop a quantitative description of the entire supply chain.
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From page 58... ...
A judicious balance among the different types of survey (and other data collection methods) will likely be needed for cost-effective development of a national freight database.
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Given the importance of low-cost data collection methods for the overall success of the framework initiative, the committee would like to see an early emphasis on freight informatics pilot studies as part of the framework implementation process. Freight Data Synthesis4 Ideally, the national freight database will contain "real" data, gathered by using a range of surveys and passive data collection methods, rather than synthesized data generated by simulation techniques.
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From page 60... ...
Thus, users concerned with regional markets and metropolitan, county, and local issues will be able to supplement the national database with localized data to obtain the degree of geographic resolution they require. The inclusion of standard survey methodologies in the national freight data framework is intended to assist users in generating supplemental data compatible with the national freight database.
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From page 61... ...
General Principles Although many current sources of freight data are far from ideal for the purposes of freight transportation analyses, the national freight data program will need to be developed in the context of these sources. The content and detailed structure of the data framework will evolve to reflect research findings and practical experience, but there will be a continuing need to provide consistent data for trend analysis.
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Rather than duplicate these efforts, it would seem appropriate for the national freight data program to focus on filling gaps and providing better data where current coverage is inadequate -- for example, in the areas of motor carrier and air freight data. Data Quality and Timeliness Users need to have confidence in the data they use to inform decisions.
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The development of survey designs for the integrated program of freight surveys will need to take account of these user requirements for timely and reliable data. The freight data business plan presented in Appendix A proposes moving away from periodic (5-yearly)
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From page 64... ...
Wherever possible, survey research in support of the national freight data program should draw on the experience of public- and private-sector organizations in the United States and overseas. For example, there are valuable lessons about carrier surveys to be learned from Canada's National Roadside Study (NRS)
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From page 65... ...
In this context, consideration could also be given to including quality control procedures in the data framework, perhaps by incorporating predefined performance measures against which to assess survey designs and evaluate the statistical reliability of data sources. In the longer term, the lessons learned from developing the freight survey program are expected to inform the development of the standard survey methodologies.
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are expected to be the main source of data in the national freight database. However, because such surveys are frequently expensive and a burden on respondents, it will be important to identify and exploit additional data sources as the national freight data program develops.
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Passive Data Collection As discussed in the earlier section on the freight informatics initiative, the national freight data program will need to take advantage of nonsurvey data streams. Research will be required to investigate · Opportunities offered by new technology for low-cost passive data collection; and · Methods for sampling and processing the large quantities of data generated by monitoring and control systems that function 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
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as the preferred method for populating the national freight database. For example, as ITS and EDI data become more widespread, traditional surveys are likely to become less important as sources of freight transportation data.
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These limitations are essential to obtaining the cooperation of data providers, without whose input survey programs such as the CFS would not be possible. To meet the needs of users, particularly at state and local levels, the national freight data framework is intended to provide opportunities for improving the geographic resolution and level of commodity detail of freight data.
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From page 70... ...
and ways of protecting the confidentiality of items in electronic data streams being mined for passive data collection.11 Roles of Public and Private Sectors Implementation of the proposed national freight data program will require the participation of a variety of public- and private-sector organizations at various levels. The former group will include federal agencies, 9Access to nonpublic use rail waybill data is automatically granted to state governments.
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From page 71... ...
Similar approaches aimed at sharing costs and responsibilities among participants in the proposed national freight data program may merit investigation. The freight data business plan presented in Appendix A suggests that BTS should be responsible for coordinating data collection activities to populate the national freight database; other organizations (private sector, state DOTs, MPOs, carriers, etc.)
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From page 72... ...
Implementation of the national freight data framework will provide opportunities for various organizations to build on their strengths and experience in areas such as survey design, data collection, and data analysis. For example, a federal statistical agency such as BTS could play a key role in researching new sampling strategies for passive data collection systems and in developing standard survey methodologies to guide supplemental data collection efforts.
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Figure 3-1 indicates that it will be necessary to fuse data from the freight informatics initiative with survey data to populate the national freight database. This fusion process may be complicated by two factors.
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If implemented, this approach would have important implications for the development and maintenance of the national freight database. NEXT STEPS In the committee's view, the conceptual plan for a national freight data program presented in Appendix A is a goal toward which BTS and others should aspire in seeking to respond to the recommendations of the 2001 Saratoga Springs conference.
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2002. The Freight Story: A National Perspective on Enhancing Freight Transportation.
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