Data Access User Needs Study A User Needs Assessment for the Colorado DOT (CDOT)

Transcription

1 Data Access User Needs Study A User Needs Assessment for the Colorado DOT (CDOT) Lou Henefeld, GIS Support Unit Manager, Colorado DOT Louis.henefeld@dot.state.co.us Allen Ibaugh, CEO, Data Transfer Solutions aibaugh@dtsgis.com Presenters 1

2 Purposes of this Presentation Report on the Data Access User Needs Study Focus on What, Why, and How User Needs Assessment is Central to this Study 2

3 Data Access Web Application Data Access Public web app from CDOT Shows Traffic data, including AADT and hourly traffic counts Highway characteristics, such as cross section and pavement condition info Annual statistics, such as lane-miles by region and congested centerline miles Download Standard maps Reports Geographic data packages Uses the CDOT highway linear referencing system (LRS) 3

4 Data Access User Needs Study Purposes of Study Empower users to easily find and understand this information Identify Data Access stakeholders and users, and their needs Gather integrated recommendations to improve access to CDOT s information and metadata Streamline the presentation and function of the modules within Data Access, both current and future Unexpected purpose: expand the sets of available information Pavement condition photos Scanned ROW plan sheets 4

5 Rebuilding Data Access Project drivers Demonstrate renewed interested in the business needs of our CDOT customers Use modern web technology Use simpler and cleaner user interfaces Enable more information to be available Give users a variety of ways to find information Add more value to the services we provide Ease site maintenance and data updates Missing elements No explanation of LRS Metadata outdated and hard to use Some apps lack data integration No locator maps Hard to use User needs Plan to elicit needs 5

6 Starting the Project Statement of Work Winning Proposal Develop questionnaire Focus groups Six regions plus headquarters Business groups Traffic Safety and Crashes Access management ROW Maintenance Design and engineering Survey Interviews 6

7 Needs, Needs, and More Needs Methodology Stakeholder Interviews Gap Analysis Data Availability Applications Data Matrix of Suggestions 7

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10 Data Matrix Functional Groups Right-of-Way Survey Traffic Access Management Materials Permits Bridge Maintenance and Operations Planning Rail DTD Mobility Pavement Management Environmental 10

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12 Categorized Data Matrix Asset Management: issues such as working with structures, condition assessments, Mobile LIDAR Data Access Page Functionality: Map Viewers, increased download speed, data export Data Access Page Integration: Signalization software, Hotlinks, Integrated Map Viewers, SAP Data Access Page Layers: Additional data availability, bike information, access category, strip mapping Data Access Page Links Data Access Page New Functionality 12

13 Categorized Data Matrix General Improvements Metadata Public/Shared Access Videolog DTD Division 13

14 Expanding Beyond Data Access Consider Data Access components as a whole thing Juxtapose information displays Tabular data queries traffic and highways Tabular statistics Maps to view or download Straight Line Diagram Locator maps Photos and scanned documents Geographic viewer Traffic / safety strip maps Designs / ProjectWise 14

15 What do we do with all these Needs? Prioritize! 15

16 Prioritizing the Needs (criteria defined) Size of Audience: likely number of users Level of Effort: time and resources required to implement Visibility: throughout department and with stakeholders Data Availability: datasets available to support a recommendation 16

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18 Consultant Report and Recommendations Key Goals Software Enhancements: streamlined workflow, improved visualization Sustainability: of data and application Data Integration GIS Integration 18

19 Consultant Report and Recommendations Top Ten List Developed Top Ten list based on key goals from over 100 recommendations Metadata Catalog Page Terminology Data Linking reports, map Technology Upgrade to Website 19

20 Architecture Improvements 20

21 Usability Guidelines Context relevant hyperlinks to other resources Construct easily indexed URLs Uniform interface to disparate data Scalable Architecture Support Multiple Data Representations Logical, Human Readable, Easily Bookmarked URL 21

22 Provide Users with Feedback 22

23 Prevalidate Whenever Possible 23

24 many workflows

25 Data Exploration

26 Conceptual Site Map 26

27 inspect and adapt

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29 simple tools answering complex questions

30 CDOT s Interpretation of Recommendations Select components for integration Integration based on LRS Simplify navigation and search Use examples from other state DOTs Use GIS to improve usability Easy access to data catalog, dictionary, and acronyms Separate data development recommendations from those for software tools Pay careful attention to system architecture Adopt some staging recommendations 30

31 From Study to Construction Select software components for integration Base selection on return on investment Utilize more asset data Integration - based on LRS and GIS Use GIS to improve usability Develop statement of work Overcome organizational obstacles 31

32 What do we want? Everything When do we want it? Now Lessons Be careful what you wish for 32