GIS Technology Helping Plan the Road Ahead

October 5, 2004

By Greg Witt
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

When it comes to using and offering geographic information system (GIS) applications and tools, it would be hard to find a state more advanced than Kentucky. Not only are state agencies using GIS, but Kentucky has taken an enterprise approach to how applications are developed and offered on Kentucky's Geographic Explorer Web site. Many of those GIS projects and others were highlighted during the 2004 Kentucky GIS Conference, held in Lexington, Kentucky in late September. One that stood out was from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet -- using GIS technology to map Kentucky's roadways faster, more accurately and more cost effectively.

The project involved a massive revision of the electronic transportation base map for Kentucky, making significant improvements in accuracy and completeness of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's map coverage.

Until recently, the geographic information systems (GIS) basemap was based primarily on U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps. The accuracy was estimated at ±40 feet and in many counties, the data was outdated. The Division of Planning was unable to produce accurate maps graphically displaying information (e.g., traffic counts), or provide a complete road network to other agencies or the public. The lines on the map simply represented the approximate location of the roads without any "intelligence" or link to information within Cabinet databases. Obtaining and using data from the existing map layer for decision-making was cumbersome, often making results speculative and uncertain. The Cabinet needed an accurate, up-to-date, digital highway network to meet the emerging needs for highway analysis and information driven mapping.

With limited funding, Planning developed a process utilizing global positioning satellite (GPS) technology to acquire complete base map coverage of the entire public highway network to an accuracy of two meters. Planning began this effort over four years ago. A
statewide survey, in cooperation with the Area Development
Districts, was instituted to identify existing information for the
purpose of creating a statewide data set. This survey indicated
numerous gaps in coverage, especially in the more rural and
mountainous regions of the state, and data standards that were
either nonexistent and/or inconsistent from region to region.
Creating an accurate base map of nearly 80,000 miles of roads
and streets was a daunting task and required the development
of a comprehensive set of standards and procedures that could
be implemented on a consistent basis statewide. The Department of
Geographic Information (DGI) for Kentucky has since adopted these standards. Once developed, Planning began implementing this plan, in cooperation with the 15 Area Development Districts and the Office of Technology's GIS Branch.

All 120 Kentucky counties are now complete and have been compiled into a seamless statewide base map that serves as the official transportation base for Kentucky. This new map coverage and the link to the Highway Information System (HIS) database will permit and support a host of applications for transportation decision makers and ongoing processes, including:

• Statewide Transportation Planning (early recognition of environmental concerns and preliminary identification of
  preferred alternates, accident analyses, highway condition
  and congestion analysis).
  
  
• Becoming a base for Kentucky's new 511 traveler information system and future ITS incident management systems.
  
  
• Providing data driven maps with 'real time' critical information. Improved travel estimates for vital issues such as air quality and smart growth.
  
  
• Facilitating economic planning and development.
  
  
• Allowing for more accurate and equitable funding distributions for programs, such as Rural Road Aid, Kentucky Pride Program (solid waste removal), Interstate maintenance, NHS, STP and Highway Safety Programs.
  
  
• Updating cycle reduction for Counties Road Aid maps.

As the official transportation network for the state, it will serve as the base network for a multitude of essential mapping systems statewide, including the Kentucky State Police (KSP) 911 Public Safety Mapping Project, local 911 systems in many rural counties and mapping needs from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Division of Planning worked with 15 Area Development Districts, 120 counties and their E911 coordinators, county judges, mayors, city leaders and others to make this project a success. This project is recognized nationally, and was acknowledged by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) in October of 2002 with two awards: the National Presidential honor for the partnering relationship fostered between the state and local agencies, as well as an award for innovation.

Visit the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet at:
http://kytc.ky.gov

Visit Kentucky's Geographic Explorer Web site at:
http://kygeonet.ky.gov/metadataexplorer/

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