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MDOT has for over 20
years had one of the most complete and best maintained crash
databases in the country. In addition to crash data, the
current MDOT computer database includes information regarding
the physical and operational characteristics of our public
road system, including railroad grade crossings.
The database is referred
to as "Transportation Integrated Network Information System"
(TINIS). TINIS maintains location reference integrity of
all of the data it contains as the highway system changes.
It is over 20 years old, and is not considered "user-friendly".
In addition, TINIS consists of several "flat files", such
as crash data and road characteristics data which are not
directly related to each other.
Special programming is needed
to relate these files to enable a variety of users to access
the data in a usable format. Replacing the existing
database with a modern database would be prohibitively costly
and would result in significant disruption to daily operations
at MDOT. TIDE allows users quicker access to the transportation
data thus making it easier for users to better respond to
the questions being asked of them.
For example Safety Management
could use the data to identify how many crashes occurred
on a road having a 10-foot travel lane and no shoulder,
and compare the results to other road cross sections, to
determine the effect of lane widths and shoulders.
The project is being developed
and implemented by MDOT with the assistance of a consultant
team led by GIS/Trans,
Inc. TIDE consist of a "data warehouse" with a Geographic
Information System (GIS) link. TIDE data is refreshed from
the TINIS database on a weekly basis into relational tables
that are readily accessible through a user-friendly interface.
Users can ask questions of the data and receive a response
in minutes.
TIDE also has the ability to plot
location referenced information on the GIS "smart map" to
clearly depict geographically the results of the question
that was asked. TIDE has greatly reduced the need for special
programming to conduct relational data queries.
Safety Management served
on the TIDE Phase I Technical Advisory Committee. TIDE provides
ready access to crash data in a format that was previously
unavailable. This allows us to look at crash data and road
information together to better identify trends and issues
that need addressing. |
