Transportation Information: What Comes Next?

Robert C. Johns, Director

Center for Transportation Studies

University of Minnesota

Knowledge & Library Connectivity Conference: MTKN Fifth Annual Meeting and Transportation Library

Connectivity Pooled Fund Study Consortium

October 19, 2005

Kansas City, Missouri

Tremendous Progress

• Minnesota Planning Meeting

• Wisconsin Conference

• NCHRP Scoping Study

• TRB Policy Study

• Pooled Fund Project

• Today: A Perspective on Future Directions

T.S. Eliot

“Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?”

(From the poem by T. S. Eliot, The Rock)

Influential Thinkers

• Peter Drucker: Knowledge Worker• Peter Senge: Learning Organization• Andrew Van de Ven: Innovation Journey• Richard Florida: Creative Age

Technology Evolution

• IBM 360, Service Bureau

• Personal Computer, VisiCalc

• Word Processing Centers, Early E-mail

• Voicemail, Pagers

• Internet E-mail, World Wide Web

• Cell Phones, PDAs

• Blackberries, Treos

Information in Context (DIKW)

• Data

• Information

• Knowledge

• Wisdom

(From Harlan Cleveland)

Key Players

• Data: IT Professionals

• Information: Librarians, Writers, Analysts

• Knowledge: Transportation Professionals, Managers

• Wisdom: Executives, Managers

Use of Information in Decisions

• Data and Information Staff are Resources to Professionals

• Professionals Use Data and Information to Enhance Knowledge and Propose Actions

• Managers Use Proposals by Professionals to Recommend Options

• Executives Use Wisdom to Choose Directions• How to get Executive Support for Library

Activities?

Importance of Relationships

• Executive’s Wisdom Influenced by Source of Recommendation (Trust)

• Professionals Influenced by Peers in their Network (AASHTO, TRB, etc.)

• Example: Rural Safety Center in SAFETEA-LU

• Key Question for Executive Support: What is Relationship of Librarians to Professionals?

CTS Information Activities

• Researchers Produce Data, Information and Recommendations

• CTS Goal is to Influence Knowledge of Professionals and Managers

• Complaints of Ivory Tower, Theory• Strategy: Integrated Set of Information

Activities• Success Gains Support of Executives

Making Information Available

• Both Hard Copy and Electronic Information

• Summaries by Technical Writers

• Newsletters

• Web Sites

• Translations

• Press Releases

Enhancing Relationships• CTS Committees of Researchers and

Professionals• Seminars, Workshops, Conferences• Technical Advisory Panels• Executive and Management

Committees• CTS Relationships with Decision-

Makers

CTS Example

• Completion of Research Report• Design of Research Web Pages• Customer Database for Mailing Lists• Summary Articles in E-News and Web• Links to Web Site for PDF and Browsing• Subscription Page for Other Newsletters• Seminar, Conference Session• Press Release if Appropriate

Disciplines Required for Success

• Technical Writers• Graphic Designers• Librarians• IT Professionals• Conference Planners• Facilitators/Trainers• Public Relations Staff• Leaders with Connections

Challenges and Risks

• Costs/Priority

• Integration of Disciplines

• Electronic Security

• Mistakes

• Customer Impacts

• Changing Technology/Roles

Future Directions

• Library Services Infrastructure

• Collection, Cataloguing, Reference

• Electronic Access/Searches

• Essential But Not Enough

• Also Need Proactive Information Activities

Future Directions

• Expand and Define Role of Librarians• Provide Value to and Enhance Relationships

with Professionals• Integrate Information Disciplines • Educate Management Hierarchy• Give Visibility to Executive Champions• Influence/Monitor Changes in Terminology,

Education, etc.• Embrace Team Leadership

Margaret Mead

• “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”