MPC
Research Projects (2007-08)
Identifying Number
MPC-294
Project Title
Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) and Local Roads Modeling and Management Databases
University
North Dakota State UniversityProject Investigators
Doug Benson and Denver Tolliver
Description of Project Abstract
Tribal and local planners have a critical need for improved highway planning and safety analysis tools. However, tribal and local planners cannot use many of the software management and analysis tools available to state transportation agencies due to data and resource limitations. The capability to use these tools would enhance IRR and local transportation management, and provide opportunities for linking these transportation systems into a broader, national system analysis. IRR and local transportation systems form a large network that could benefit from the use of effective tools and sufficient and adequate data.
In a current MPC project, the IRR database used by tribal agencies is being analyzed and reformatted to an HPMS-like format that is used by USDOT models and software. The initial analysis reveals data elements in the IRR database which may not be directly converted to HPMS format. Because of data gaps and quality concerns, it is important to investigate whether HPMS generated-values for minor arterial and collector highways can be used to cross-check IRR data and aid in the conversion process. In general, methods of linking the IRR and HPMS databases are needed to provide for the most effective implementation of highway modeling capabilities to tribal agencies.
A related problem is that the referencing of roadways segments in the IRR, state, and federal databases may not be consistent. At present, the IRR inventory is not geographically referenced like the federal and state highway systems. The inclusion of geographic coordinates in the IRR and local transportation databases is critical to the future application of GIS technologies to tribal and local transportation agencies. In this project, the development of a simplified but effective methodology employing aerial photography to incorporate IRR and local transportation facilities into GIS technologies will be evaluated.
Many local road managers at the county level face similar problems. They do not have adequate resources to take advantage of available software tools. An evaluation of the resources required to implement these tools, both from the perspective of the initial application and the data required for effective use, would provide valuable assistance to local road managers.
The project will assess whether HPMS databases can be used to enhance IRR conversion and utilization through improved data element accuracy and potentially, more recent traffic data. For example, the general HPMS climate zone is one of several variables which do not have an IRR counterpart. Potentially, the national and state HPMS can be used to generate county-level general climate zone values for use in an IRR-to-HPMS conversion. Likewise, the IRR does not have a breakdown of truck traffic into single unit or combination trucks. The national and state HPMS will be investigated as a potential source of values for these variables, using roads that are geographically and functionally similar to IRR roads. In some cases, state HPMS files may contain more current data than the IRR inventory. For example, North Dakota's HPMS file includes highway sections on Indian Reservation Roads which may have more recent traffic data than the BIA inventory. At a minimum, some consistency in the measures and referencing systems used in the HPMS and IRR highway inventories is desirable.
Project Objectives
The objectives of this project are to: (1) investigate the use of HPMS data for minor arterial and collector highways as a means to improve IRR dataset conversion, (2) assess the development of a simplified methodology incorporating GIS coordinates into the IRR and local transportation databases, (3) evaluate existing highway analysis software packages for implementation by tribal and local road managers, (4) analyze the potential uses of IRR and local transportation databases for other highway management systems, and (5) develop a deployment strategy for implementing the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) on IRR segments.
Project Approach/Methods
At present, the IRR inventory has gaps. Not all data elements are consistently reported. Potentially, national and state HPMS databases could be used to improve the IRR database with the eventual objective of allowing tribes to use the converted files with USDOT and other modeling programs. The following tasks will be undertaken in this project.
- Software procedures will be developed to derive HPMS-based values for supplementing IRR values. For example, the IRR database does not have an access control value. The national and state HPMS files could be used to generate default, substitute values based on similar functional, geographical, and geometric characteristics between IRR and HPMS roadway sections.
- The use of aerial photography for GIS location of IRR and local transportation facilities will be investigated. A process for cost-effective implementation of this process will be evaluated. A case study will be conducted.
- Highway management systems for local transportation facilities will be tested and evaluated with a North Dakota county case study.
- The implementation of safety analysis tools such as IHSDM will be tested and evaluated. If data permit, several IRR and local roadways sections will be selected and analyzed with IHSDM.
Potential Work Tasks:
- Develop National and State HPMS-IRR Supplemental Data Process
- Evaluate IRR inclusion of actual HPMS section values
- Assess national and state HPMS for "default" IRR values.
- Use North Dakota case study for HPMS-IRR HERS-ST comparative analysis
- Establish GIS coordinate procedure for inclusion into IRR and/or local database
- Identify base maps
- Develop or implement GIS coordinate location methodology
- Test accuracy
- Evaluate transportation management systems for local and tribal implementation
- Test management system/program
- Assess implementation
- Investigate data requirements
- Assess IRR database applicability to other management systems
- Evaluate the implementation of IHSDM for IRR and local transportation systems
Contributions/Potential Applications of Research
As a result of the project, tribal agencies will have the ability to utilize highway planning and safety software analysis systems in the future. The potential inclusion of GIS coordinates for transportation facilities will provide for the future application of GIS technologies to IRR transportation analysis. Local road managers will have an assessment of transportation management software, data collection needs, and the resources required for using these tools.
The Office of Federal Lands Highway is currently leading a review of IRR data samples for accuracy and suitability. The result of this study is potentially complementary to this project. While not aimed at the potential IRR application of current USDOT models, this effort should be useful in examining IRR data.
Technology Transfer Activities
The technology transfer functions of the project will be both long-term and short-term. In the short-run, it will provide a means of converting the IRR inventory to a standard format, prototype procedures for developing GIS referencing systems for tribal and local roads, and assessments of the transportation network management systems needs and data requirements of local transportation managers. In the long-run, the project will provide tribal agencies and local planners with opportunities to utilize highway planning and safety analysis models currently used by state and federal agencies.
Time Duration
July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008
Yearly and Total Project Cost
$118,000
TRB Keywords
Indian reservation, roads, HERS-ST, HPMS, local roads, road improvements, tribal agencies, GIS, rural transportation
