Technologies for Improving Safety Data (2007)

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77 APPENDIX D Road Inventory Survey Form

78 National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 20-5, Topic 36-03 QUESTIONNAIRE New Technologies for Improving Safety Data We need your assistance in supplying some information about the current status of technology use related to acquisition, processing, and maintenance of road inventory and traffic operations data in your state. The questionnaires should be completed by persons familiar with your states’ data activities both at the state and local level. Over the past few years, the U.S.DOT’s focus on safety has led to the development of several new safety analysis tools including the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM), SafetyAnalyst, and Highway Safety Manual (HSM). These tools have generated new requirements for safety data that stretch far beyond those of the past. The safety analysis tools require accurate and timely crash characteristics including severity and crash location; road inventory characteristics including functional class, number of lanes, shoulder type, markings, lane width, and traffic control; and traffic characteristics including volumes, classification, speeds, and variance by time of day and season. Additionally, data from Emergency Medical Services (EMS), medical records, driver history records, vehicle registration files, citations systems, and incident management systems are also used to support safety analysis. Given this new set of data requirements, there is a need to improve the efficient data collection, processing, and evaluation required for successful safety programs at the state and municipal levels. This questionnaire seeks to collect information on the state-of-the-practice utilization of technologies for efficient and effective collection and maintenance of data for transportation safety analysis. Specifically, it requests input on types of technologies, software applications, and innovative methods used by different agencies whose data are important for safety analysis. For each technology, information is sought regarding the implementation status, outcomes of evaluations, and efficiencies achieved from use of the technology. Comments and information on new developments and technology needs are also requested. Please return the completed survey by e-mail, mail, or fax by June 29, 2005, using the contact information below. E-mail: ogle@clemson.edu Mail: Jennifer Ogle, Clemson University, Department of Civil Engineering, 208 Lowry Hall, Clemson, SC 29634-0911 Fax: 864-656-2670

79 National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 20-5, Topic 36-03 New Technologies for Improving Safety Data ROAD INVENTORY DATABASE SURVEY 1. Contact information for the person completing this survey. a. Name: b. Title: c. Agency: d. Address: e. Telephone: f. Fax: g. E-mail: 2. Is your agency/division/office represented/active in any of the following safety initiatives at the state or local level? (Please mark all that apply.) Safety management system Traffic records coordinating committee Other safety-related program, please specify: 3. Which of the following tasks related to the road inventory database does your agency/division/office participate in? (Please mark all that apply.) Data collection Data processing, keying, or other data entry task Database management Data analysis or data user 4. Who maintains the data? Local repository Jurisdictional/district repository State repository a. If data are maintained at the local or jurisdictional repositories, are data shared with a central database? Yes No b. If yes, how often are data transferred to the central database? Daily Weekly Monthly Quarterly Yearly As needed or other, please specify: c. If no, what are the barriers?

80 d. What type of database is used for the central repository? Oracle SQL Server DB2 Other, please specify: e. Are data transferred electronically to the central repository or submitted in hard-copy format and keyed/entered/held at the central location? (Mark all that apply.) Electronic data transmission Hard-copy submission Other, please specify: i. If data are submitted in hard-copy format is the original form maintained or scanned to microfilm or digital image file? Original maintained Original scanned to microfilm Original scanned to digital image file f. Are there manual or automated checks when entering information into databases to ensure quality? Yes No 5. Who has access to the data? (Mark all that apply.) Internal offices Other state agencies Local agencies Public/private sector 6. How is access to the roadway inventory database provided? (Mark all that apply.) Secure intranet site Secure Internet site Unsecured Internet site FTP transfer CD-ROM/DVD Other, please specify: a. If external access is granted, do external users have access to the most current data or are data released at intervals (monthly, quarterly, yearly)? Current Interval releases Monthly Quarterly Yearly Other, please specify: 7. How current is the information in the database? <1 week old 1–3 months old 3–6 months old 6–12 months old 1–2 years old 2–5 years old Other, please specify:

81 8. How many years of data are maintained in the roadway inventory database? _______ 9. What year was the database established? ________ 10. Do you archive the data at regular intervals to preserve road history? 11. Does the roadway inventory database contain specific data elements that allow linkage to other databases? Yes No a. If yes, to which of the following databases can the roadway inventory/pavement monitoring database be linked? (Mark all that apply.) Crash records EMS run records Medical records/hospital discharge Driver history records Roadway inventory databases Traffic flow databases GIS databases Citation/conviction files Driver’s license records Vehicle registration records Commercial motor vehicle registration databases Other, please specify: b. If no, what are the primary challenges or obstacles to data linkage? 12. Is there a website that contains information or data from the roadway inventory/pavement monitoring database (summary reports, statistics, data dictionary, etc.) or that allows online queries of data? http:// 13. Has your agency conducted, funded, or participated in research regarding data collection and management methods for roadway inventory or pavement monitoring? If so, are there any final reports or other information available? 14. Who collects the information in your roadway inventory file? Area offices District offices Specialized team Consultants Other, please specify: 15. Are these data maintained in paper-based files or computerized files? Paper-based Electronic Other, please specify:

82 16. How often does the state conduct a complete re-inventory of roadway data? Every year Every other year Every three years Every four years Every five years No standard schedule 17. How do you check and/or update the roadway inventory (e.g., updates based on as-built plans or drive-by windshield surveys)? 18. What is the primary linear referencing system for the state database? Is a GIS-based reference system currently in use? Are there any plans to use a GIS- or GPS-based reference system in the near future? 19. Is the roadway inventory coded for use/display in a GIS? Yes No If yes, what methods do you use for coding? Segment (from node to node) Route and milepoint (linear distance reference) Coordinates (latitude/longitude) Other, please specify: 20. Please note the types of road characteristics you collect/manage for each roadway type using the following convention. You may use multiple letters for each box. Leave the box blank if none of the categories apply. a. Categories are: C – collect data comprehensively (e.g., roadway inventory) S – collect data using sampling (e.g., HPMS) A – collect data on an as-needed basis for special studies (e.g., high accident incidence, traffic control device warrant) M – manage and disseminate data including data storage U – user of data collected by another organization

83 Types of Roads Road Characteristics Data L im ite d A cc es s A rt er ia ls C ol le ct or s Lo ca l Cross-Section Elements Number of lanes Lane width Lane type Shoulder width Shoulder type Edge treatments (SafetyEdge) Median width Median type ROW width Cross-slope (normal crown) Barriers (type, length) Roadway Structure Elements Bridges Railroad crossings Multi-use paths/bike paths Pedestrian facilities Tunnels Geometric Elements Grade Vertical curvature Horizontal curvature Superelevation Sight distance Speed limit Sign inventory Truck/weight restrictions Intersection Elements Number of lanes/approach Signal timing Traffic control Pavement Elements Pavement material Pavement distress data Skid resistance Ride quality Pavement markings

84 21. How do you collect geometric elements such as horizontal curvature and vertical grade? Field survey using pen and paper Palm top/notebook computer inventory (without GPS) GPS-based data collection with attributes Manual video logging (post-process extraction done manually) Automated video collection (either real-time or post-process extraction automated) Automated data collection using sensor technology (other than video) Other, please specify: If automated data collection using sensor technology, specify what type of technology: ARAN Custom vehicle Other, please specify: 22. How do you collect cross-section elements such as barriers and clearzone maintenance? Field survey using pen and paper Palm top/notebook computer inventory GPS-based data collection with attributes Video logging Other, please specify: 23. How do you collect sign inventory elements such as location and type of sign? Field survey using pen and paper Palm top/notebook computer inventory GPS-based data collection with attributes Video logging Other, please specify: Is sign retro-reflectivity collected? Yes No If yes, what technology is used to collect the retro-reflectivity data? 24. How do you collect pavement marking data? Field survey using pen and paper Palm top/notebook computer inventory GPS-based data collection with attributes Video logging Other, please specify: Is pavement marking retro-reflectivity collected? Yes No 25. How do you collect pavement distress data? Field survey using pen and paper Palm top/notebook computer inventory (without GPS) GPS-based data collection with attributes Video logging Automated data collection using sensor technology (other than video) Other, please specify:

85 If automated data collection using sensor technology, specify what type of technology: ARAN Custom vehicle Other, please specify: 26. How do you collect pavement skid resistance? Manually using drag-sled Automated data collection using sensor technology (specify test type) locked-wheel spin-up surface texture measurement 27. Do you plan to deploy any new technologies within the next 5–10 years for collecting roadway inventory data? Yes No If yes, please specify what types of technologies you plan to deploy? 28. What are the primary uses for your road characteristics data? Federal reporting Input to safety evaluation Planning Design Other, please specify: 29. What is the frequency of data collection? Frequency Data Type As Needed Monthly Yearly Other, specify: Cross section Roadway structure Geometric Intersection Pavement 30. Do you collect or tabulate specific truck traffic data [such as weigh in motion (WIM)] and, if so, how and what specific data are collected? 31. What is the extent of GIS usage in your agency? Complete integration of road characteristics and traffic data Limited integration of attributes for specific uses Planning Superload vehicle permitting Pavement management Safety Other, please specify: Use this space to provide any additional comments or information related to your roadway inventory database or pavement monitoring:

86 TECHNOLOGY DETAILS The previous questions inquired about the types of data, access, and technologies used to collect the data. In the following section, we would like to obtain additional details on specific technologies or innovations used by your agency. If you use any new, advanced, unusual, or different technologies, software applications, or innovative methods to assist in collecting, processing, or maintaining data, please indicate the type of technology, software, or method in the sections below. We would also like to know if the technologies were developed in-house, by a consultant, or purchased off-the-shelf, and whether or not you have completed any evaluations. Please complete one section for each technology, software application, or method that you believe might be important for this study. Additional pages can be added if necessary. For instance, if you identified previously that you use an instrumented vehicle for collecting roadway inventory data, please provide details for this technology below. Additionally, we are interested in software applications that you use to process or link data, as well as innovative methods such as training or procedures for efficient data collection. Technology, Software Application, or Innovative Method #1 Descriptive title: Who developed the technology/software/method? Developed in-house Developed by consultant Purchased off-the-shelf Other, please specify: If developed by a consultant/vendor, please provide consultant/vendor contact information in the space below. Company name: Company address: Company phone: Company fax: Company contact: Contact e-mail: Company website: How long have you been using the technology/software/method? <1 year 1–2 years 2–5 years >5 years Have you completed any evaluations of the use of the technology/software/method? Yes No Evaluation in progress If yes, did the technologies prove to be cost-effective or improve efficiencies in data collection, processing, or maintenance? Yes No Inconclusive Is the technology/software/method used locally or statewide? Locally Statewide

87 If the technology/software/method is used locally, are there plans for implementing it statewide? Yes No Don’t know Did you experience any integration issues? Yes No If yes, please briefly explain the issues and resolution: Use the space below to provide any additional comments about this technology, software application, or method: