APPLICATIONS OF THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM TO ROADWAY AND FEATURE INVENTORY IN ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA. FINAL REPORT

The Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are emerging as technologies with potential to acquire, store and process roadway and road asset information, and to display it in effective map and graphics forms. GPS-based data collection combined with low-cost GIS may have significant potential for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), which has the third largest state-maintained road system in the nation. The Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC) sponsored a field and operation-oriented research and demonstration program in Albemarle County, Virginia to test the feasibility and demonstrate VDOT applications of GPS and GIS technologies. Rockwell International conducted the applications research and demonstration effort, and prepared this report. This report, and the GPS-GIS maps and overlays, selected data bases, and field logs delivered to VTRC, contain the documentation and results of the demonstration. The report describes the demonstration approach, prototype GPS field equipment, and self-contained data handling system as well as field and office methods. A representative selection of GPS-based maps is used to show demonstration results. The conclusions of the demonstration can be summarized as follows: (1) GPS-based road track is feasible and applicable to VDOT's Central Office mapping, graphic log, and other statewide GIS requirements, and to planning, reporting and operations support at the District, Residency and Area Headquarters levels of administration; (2) GPS-based road tracks processed with elapsed distance inventories create decision maps both from existing VDOT inventories and new feature inventories produced during the demonstration with automated entry equipment; (3) Personal computer handling of GPS-based data is feasible and appears low in cost and flexible enough to support all levels of VDOT administration; and (4) This demonstration provides credible evidence that GPS-based technology and methods can become an important part of VDOT's information modernization strategy.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This report was prepared in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Virginia Transportation Research Council.
• Corporate Authors:

  Rockwell International

  Collins Air Transport Division, Avionics Group
  Cedar Rapids, IA  United States  52498
• Publication Date: 1989-2

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: v.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Demonstration projects; Feasibility analysis; Geographic information systems; Global Positioning System; Mapping; Personal computers; State departments of transportation
• Geographic Terms: Virginia
• Old TRIS Terms: Geographical information systems
• Subject Areas: Design; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00488612
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 523-0775785-00111R
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1989 12:00AM