Linking Data with Decision Making: Data Stewardship Issues Gerardo W. Flintsch Gerardo W. Flintsch Roadway Infrastructure Group, VTTI Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University James W. Bryant James W. Bryant Asset Management Performance Improvement Virginia Department of Transportation
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Linking Data with Decision Making: Data Stewardship
Issues
Gerardo W. FlintschGerardo W. FlintschRoadway Infrastructure Group, VTTIVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityJames W. BryantJames W. BryantAsset Management Performance Improvement Virginia Department of Transportation
Data Collection FrameworkData Collection Framework
IntroductionIntroduction
Data collection is a key part of Asset Data collection is a key part of Asset ManagementManagement
Transportation agencies collect data Transportation agencies collect data for their assets in order to support for their assets in order to support decision makingdecision making
Data collection activities do not always Data collection activities do not always specifically support decision processesspecifically support decision processes
Asset ManagementAsset Management
Most transportation agencies around Most transportation agencies around the world have begun moving towards the world have begun moving towards Asset Management Asset Management
Primarily by considering the integration Primarily by considering the integration of individual management systemsof individual management systems
Some organizations are trying to Some organizations are trying to develop comprehensive Asset develop comprehensive Asset Management SystemsManagement Systems
Decision LevelsDecision Levels
The levels of decision making are:The levels of decision making are: Strategic Level Network Level
ProgrammingProject Selection
Project Level
Different focus/impact on the systemDifferent focus/impact on the system
Relate to different decision processesRelate to different decision processes
Decision Processes & Data NeedsDecision Processes & Data Needs
Increase in Detail and Quantity of Data
Higher Decision Making
Level
Strategic
Level
Network Level
Project Level
Programming Level
Project Selection Level
DATA DATA STEWARDSHIPSTEWARDSHIP
Data StewardshipData Stewardship
Process of monitoring, maintaining, Process of monitoring, maintaining, and and enrichingenriching the value of the the value of the organization's data assets.organization's data assets. A data steward is a person empowered to
implement the data stewardship process Strategic Insights, Inc
The formalization of accountability for The formalization of accountability for the management of organizational data. the management of organizational data.
bitpipe
Foundational question:Foundational question: What to Collect? What to Collect?
Decision often based onDecision often based on Wish list (“nice to have”)
Existing/ historical data collection processes Can lead to data collection becoming an Can lead to data collection becoming an
end in itselfend in itself Excessive or inefficient data collection Excessive or inefficient data collection
could compromise projectcould compromise project
What to Collect?What to Collect?
What Asset Management decision do What Asset Management decision do we need assistance to make?we need assistance to make?
What data are needed to support those What data are needed to support those decisions?decisions?
Can we afford to collect these data Can we afford to collect these data initially?initially?
Can we afford to keep the data current Can we afford to keep the data current over a long time period?over a long time period?
1.1. Investigate how data collection is Investigate how data collection is linked with decision processes – linked with decision processes – especially at the Project Selection levelespecially at the Project Selection level
2.2. Documentation of “Best Practices”Documentation of “Best Practices”
3.3. Framework for effective and efficient Framework for effective and efficient data collection to support Project data collection to support Project Selection decisionSelection decision
TAM Survey - Part 1TAM Survey - Part 1
General Agency Information on Asset General Agency Information on Asset ManagementManagement Endorsement and implementation
Existing/planned individual management systems
Existing levels of decision making
Identification/ rating of decision processes
Identification/ rating of Project Selection criteria
TAM Survey - Part 2TAM Survey - Part 2
Roadway Asset ManagementRoadway Asset Management Data management, collection methods and
integration Rationale behind existing/ planned data
collection Evaluation of roadway asset data for
Project Selection Identification of links between Project
Selection and data collection activities.
TAM Survey - DevelopmentTAM Survey - Development
Web page developed using Macromedia Web page developed using Macromedia Dreamweaver and PhPDreamweaver and PhP
Web page uploaded @ Web page uploaded @ www.am.vtti.vt.eduwww.am.vtti.vt.edu Database created using MySQLDatabase created using MySQL Access to the survey was granted through Access to the survey was granted through
recipients’ email addressesrecipients’ email addresses Sent to 103 transportation officials in all 50 Sent to 103 transportation officials in all 50
US DOTs and Puerto RicoUS DOTs and Puerto Rico Open for responses for 3 weeksOpen for responses for 3 weeks
Work Accomplished and Inventory Work Accomplished and Inventory UpdatesUpdates
Information NeedsInformation Needs
PavementsPavements The pavement condition data is gathered
independently from the Asset Management system
PMS group that performs condition surveys (mostly windshield survey)
BridgeBridge Information collected to feed PONTIS
Requested by a federal mandate (NBI)
Information NeedsInformation Needs
Other Highway AssetsOther Highway Assets The information about the other highway
assets (8 types of infrastructure assets) is gathered through a simple strategy that is conducted state-wide
Random Condition Assessment (RCA) collects data from the assets that are most significant to the maintenance program budget.
Pressure to increase the number of assets
Data Collection Lessons LearnedData Collection Lessons Learned
The agency really needs to target the data The agency really needs to target the data collection to the most significant assets and to collection to the most significant assets and to the decisions that has to be made. the decisions that has to be made.
VDOT had a project that tried to capture every VDOT had a project that tried to capture every highway infrastructure asset on every highway highway infrastructure asset on every highway state-wide. state-wide. The project was started in 3 counties as a pilot
It was found to be too expensive and overwhelming.
Current approach: build the inventory over timeCurrent approach: build the inventory over time
Data Collection AssessmentData Collection Assessment
UndergoingUndergoing How is the system put together and how it
meets the need of the agency?
How well are the processes documented?
What analysis tools are available and how are they being used?
How good is the repeatability of the process?
Other Case Studies Other Case Studies
MarylandMaryland Visit conducted & documentation
undergoing
Washington, DCWashington, DC Scheduled
Possibly North CarolinaPossibly North Carolina
FINDINGSFINDINGS
FindingsFindings
US transportation agencies still collect data US transportation agencies still collect data predominantly based on past practices and predominantly based on past practices and staff experience. staff experience.
There is a trend towards following data collection standards and input needs
Most important criteria for Project SelectionMost important criteria for Project Selection Available Budgets/ Earmarked Funds
Engineering Parameters
Public Demands/ User Opinions
FindingsFindings
Most important data for supporting Most important data for supporting Project Selection:Project Selection: Structural condition of asset
Functional condition of asset
Usage of asset
FindingsFindings
US Transportation agencies have explicitly US Transportation agencies have explicitly defined decision levels (business processes) defined decision levels (business processes) and are moving towards rationalization of and are moving towards rationalization of data collection activities. data collection activities. Past practices and staff experience →
collection standards and input needs Agencies have identified links between
data collection and decision making at the project selection level but not all of them have explicitly documented these links
RecommendationsRecommendations
Target the data collection to the most Target the data collection to the most significant assets and to the decisions significant assets and to the decisions that has to be made. that has to be made. Collect only the data you need Collect data to the lowest level of detail
sufficient to make an appropriate decision Collect data only when they are needed
Use pilot studies to test the Use pilot studies to test the appropriateness of the approachappropriateness of the approach
DATA COLLECTION DATA COLLECTION FRAMEWORKFRAMEWORK
Project Selection Data Collection Project Selection Data Collection FrameworkFramework
Identification of candidate projects and corresponding treatments for all assets under consideration
Identification and/or definition of data needs for the analyses/evaluations to be performed
Identification of existing databases and data quality assessment
Identification of missing data elements
Selection of the appropriate data collection methodology and implementation
FEEDBACK LOOP:
Evaluation of assessment tools/ data inputs/ data
collection and overall results
(Feedback to upper levels)STEP 1
Identification of project evaluation/assessment tools and their requirements
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6
Many Thanks to…Many Thanks to…
Aristeidis PanteliasAristeidis Pantelias All survey respondentsAll survey respondents Federal Highway AdministrationFederal Highway Administration AASHTO Task Force on Protocols, AASHTO Task Force on Protocols,
Procedures, and Technology for Asset Procedures, and Technology for Asset Management Condition Data CollectionManagement Condition Data Collection
VT Statistics and Survey DepartmentsVT Statistics and Survey Departments