Opportunities for Collecting Highway Inventory Data With the Global Positioning System

Abstract

Research is currently being conducted at the Virginia Transportation Research Council to determine some of the problems associated with the implementation of a geographic information system (GIS). The collection and development of the data sets required to drive the GIS are two of the largest expenses associated with GIS implementation. This research looked at the feasibility of using the global positioning system (GPS) to collect point, line, and polygon features that are representative of some of the locational and attribute data required to run the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT’s) GIS. Data sets identified in VDOT’s 10-year GIS strategic plan were collected and transferred to ARC/INFO, a proprietary system, by way of handheld, mapping-grade GPS receivers. Methods for the collection and transfer of the data sets are outlined. Point accuracies of approximately 2 m were obtained. Time requirements and data collection problems are also described.