Skip to main content

PennDOT honoured for modernised data collection

PennDOT's modernised field data collection process recently received an international achievement award for its innovative use of geographic information system technology. The Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award recognises vision, leadership, hard work and innovative use of technology and was presented at the Esri International User Conference in San Diego. PennDOT received the award for its use of technology to collect information on local roads and bridges such as location, condition and structure type
July 17, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
6111 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PennDOT) modernised field data collection process recently received an international achievement award for its innovative use of geographic information system technology.

The Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award recognises vision, leadership, hard work and innovative use of technology and was presented at the Esri International User Conference in San Diego.

PennDOT received the award for its use of technology to collect information on local roads and bridges such as location, condition and structure type. The mobile collection method allows better documentation of local roads and bridges in the department's asset inventory systems and allowed PennDOT to reduce the time to collect information on a single local bridge structure from twenty to six minutes. The software also supported collecting information on more than 30,000 segments of local roads and nearly 3,700 local bridges, replacing paper forms and manual data entry.

“We're very proud to receive this award recognising our efforts to modernise how we do business," PennDOT secretary Barry J Schoch said. "By using innovative, mobile technology we can collect data on state and locally owned roads quickly and more efficiently so that we have current information on road and bridge conditions.”

Related Content

  • Caltrans takes the long view of transport
    October 21, 2016
    Caltrans’ Malcolm Dougherty took time out of his schedule at ITS America 2016 in San Jose to talk to ITS International about current and future challenges. As director of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) since mid-2012, many would say that Malcolm Dougherty has one of the best jobs in transportation. Caltrans is one of the most progressive and innovative transport authorities, implementing policies to encourage cycling, piloting new
  • Connected vehicles - potential to transform US transportation
    April 12, 2013
    There’s a new face in the driving seat at the US Department of Transport’s ITS Joint Program Office. Fortunately, as Robin Meczes finds out, he’s no learner driver… Ask Kenneth Leonard why he wanted his new job as director of the ITS Joint Program Office, and his answer comes back without a second’s delay. “The potential to save lives, reduce injuries and help people enjoy a more efficient transportation system is the kind of challenge that makes me want to come to work each morning,” he says. “In my opinio
  • Virginia presses ahead with tunnels upgrade despite tolls challenge
    July 30, 2013
    David Crawford reviews current developments and legal/financial issues facing tunnel management in Virginia. This autumn the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in the US will defend its plan to introduce tolling on the Elizabeth River tunnels linking the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth in the State’s Hampton Roads area. The tolling, which is due to start from February 2014, will be examined by the State’s Supreme Court later this year. The anticipated toll income, along with loans and bonds, is
  • Positive incentives an alternative to road user charging?
    February 1, 2012
    The Netherlands has been looking at incentivising rush-hour avoidance. The intention is to better understand road users' motivations and find alternatives to congestion charging. Something significant needs to happen if we are to adequately address the traffic congestion and other issues caused by the ever-rising numbers of vehicles on our roads. Congestion or distance-based charging is seen as one way of managing demand and raising revenue for improvements to transport infrastructure. However, charging is