Welcome to “What’s GIS?”

2. Welcome to “What’s GIS?” Geospatial Literacy at VDOT

3. Before we get started … • How many of you • have ever used a GIS?

4. Most of you probably have! • MapQuest, Yahoo Maps & • Google Maps • are GIS Applications VDOT’s public web-based GIS Application is available at http://www.virginiadot.org/info/prOTIM.asp

5. Presentation goals: • A GIS Definition • A GIS Demonstration • Getting Started with GIS at VDOT

6. What does GIS stand for? • G. I. S. • Geographic Information System

7. Point to remember: • - GIS is NOT the same thing as GPS • - GPS (Global Positioning System) GPS is a Satellite Navigation System

8. So, what is GIS? • GIS is… • … an information system that is designed to work with geographic • or location-based data.

9. What makes GIS unique? • - The “G” makes GIS unique • Geography is about location, • distribution, pattern and spatial relationships. • GIS is a special class of information systems that can work with spatial data. • Query, Analyze and Display location-based data. • GIS is NOT just about Maps; but Spatial Analysis.

10. Maps are models of the earth’s surface • Where is…? • What’s near…? • How far is…?

11. TheFiveParts of a GIS **Data - the most expensive and most important part of a GIS! Without the right data in the right format, you cannot perform the right analysis. You cannot ask questions of the data that your data cannot answer!

12. Where do we get GIS data? Survey Photogrammetry Image Interpretation GPS Project CADD files Existing maps Internet-other websites Now think about what you see: You see: I-95, vehicles, a shoulder, signs, lanes and pavement. GIS people see: Spatial Data

13. Spatial Data - stored as LAYERS Water Map Roads

14. Examples of GIS Layers • Roadway Network – Centerlines, Bridges, Roadway Images • Civil Infrastructure – Water Lines, Sewer Lines, Public Schools • Land Management – Soil Types, Zoning • Environmental Quality – Air Monitoring, Water Quality • Animals – Anadromous Fish, Threatened and Endangered Species • Human History – Archaeology, Historic Architecture • Hydrology - Streams • Intermodal Transportation – Airports, Metro, Rail lines, Ferries, Trails • Recreation – Parks, Scenic Byways, Golf Courses • Images - Aerial Photography, Satellite imagery, Scanned Maps • and many more …

15. This road has a location (spatial data). Here is the road

16. This road also has attributes (business data). At VDOT attributes are called “Business Data”. Obvious choices: Rte. no., # of lanes speed limit, surface type. Less Obvious: # of crashes, traffic counts, Residency info.

17. Attributes are stored in databases. Having attributes stored digitally enables users to sort, search and ask questions quickly and efficiently. Examples of VDOT databases are: HTRIS, IPM and RUMS.

18. GIS combines Spatial Data with Business Data GIS combines Spatial data with Business data. G I S SPATIAL DATA BUSINESS DATA

19. Table of Crashes: Patterns in Crash Data

20. Crashes displayed along road

21. With GIS, we can view data in new ways and make better decisions Harnessing the power of existing business data and spatial analysis, we are helping VDOT work better, smarter and faster..

22. GIS …Something everyone needs to know about! Using GIS can help meet VDOT’s Strategic Objective of “identifying and using new technologies to deliver our products and services.” The GIS Program currently supports numerous applications and uses over 100 data layers. VDOT maintains thousands of miles of roads, and most Business Data is location-based.

23. GIS is used throughout VDOT Let’s look at a few examples of how GIS is being used at VDOT.

24. Environmental Division Conflicts between construction projects and the environment.

25. Asset Management Division

26. Transportation Planning:Geospatial analysis for planning The flexibility of having unique but relational geospatial data allows for visualization and analysis of ‘what if’ scenarios using GIS tools. Highway analysis in Richmond’s West End. Aggregated land use zoning with 2026 modeled traffic forecast

27. High Crash Sign/Unsigned Intersections in Spotsylvania County, Fredericksburg District Traffic Engineering Division Prioritize High Crash Locations • Use annual “critical rate” intersection and segment HTRIS listing to target review locations • District maps of high crash intersections are being prepared

28. VDOT employees are GIS Users • VDOT has been using GIS for over 15 years. • The GIS Integrator is a GIS application with over 100 users across the VDOT business spectrum

29. GIS Integrator http://coapp09/vdotgis/default.htm

30. Roadway Network System - RNS http://coapp09/website/data_viewer/default.htm

31. Traffic and Incidents – 511 http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/eoc-main.asp The 511 site is a great site for planning a trip or your travel route home from work. The traffic Cameras allow you to see a real time view of the Interstates.

32. VDOT Geotechnical DBMS http://gis.virginidot.org > click GDBMS Stores data provided to ITD-GIS from Materials Division.

33. The Future of GIS At VDOT • Completed a Strategic Planning Process involving key GIS users across VDOT • Implementing generic GIS services for application developers to use in new applications • Building a hybrid enterprise GIS with business units in charge of their data.

34. Routing Service

35. GIS Application Links • Integrator: • http://coapp09/vdotgis/default.htm • OTIM: VDOT • http://www.virginiadot.org/info/prOTIM.asp • Cedar: Access authorization required • http://cedar/main/jsp/cedarMain.jsp • RNS Data Viewer: • http://coapp09/website/data_viewer/default.htm • Road Alerts: Traffic and incidents • http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/eoc-main.asp

36. Please contact us with any questions • Thank you! • GIS@vdot.virginia.gov

37. Asset Management Display of Area Headquarters

38. Transportation Planning Division

39. What exactly is GIS? • A software package? ArcGIS or MapInfo • A mapping tool? You can make maps with GIS but GIS is not a mapmaking tool. • An Analysis Tool? Absolutely!