Do We Really Need Transportation Data?Do We Really Need Transportation Data?

NOTTODAY YES

Making a Business Case for DataMaking a Business Case for Data

Ed ChristopherFHWA Resource Center

708-283-3534edc@EdTheFed.com

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But how cold is it?But how cold is it?

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Were these caused by a lack of data?Were these caused by a lack of data?

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On January 28, 1986, the Challenger space shuttle exploded 76 seconds after launch killing all seven astronauts. Twenty-two years later, it is widely known that the explosion was caused by an 'O' ring that failed due to below average cold temperatures

Did this happen as a Did this happen as a result of data?result of data?

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Would we build this today?Would we build this today?

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The beautiful The beautiful Dan Ryan Dan Ryan Expressway Expressway abutting abutting Chicago’s Chicago’s CBDCBD

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Tompkins County , NYTompkins County , NY

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What’s the story behind this?What’s the story behind this?

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Tompkins County , NYTompkins County , NY

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Break-Away light and sign Break-Away light and sign postsposts

Safer Guard RailsSafer Guard Rails

Toll booth removalToll booth removal

Weaving lane fixesWeaving lane fixes

Bus turnoutsBus turnouts

Improvements do come Improvements do come

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SaferSafer Guard RailsGuard Rails

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Escalators savedEscalators saved

““Thirty years later”Thirty years later”

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Expressway Expressway RevoltsRevolts

andand

Roads to no whereRoads to no where

15ConnecticutConnecticut

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Some parts did get built…Some parts did get built…

……but never completedbut never completed Route 138, RIRoute 138, RI

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Data is an Asset,Data is an Asset,So treat it like one! So treat it like one!

• Lays out a framework for transportation data Lays out a framework for transportation data needsneeds

• Draws the connection between data and Draws the connection between data and informationinformation

• Makes a case for the value of dataMakes a case for the value of data– Professional ViewsProfessional Views– Decision makers viewsDecision makers views

• Suggests a strategy for the future…Suggests a strategy for the future…

Make Data Asset Management a realityMake Data Asset Management a reality

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/circulars/ec109.pdfhttp://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/circulars/ec109.pdf

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CongestionCongestion

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SprawlSprawl

No DataNo Data

Causes SprawlCauses Sprawl

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It seems to be in It seems to be in the designthe design

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It is all up to the dataIt is all up to the data