Modernizing Traffic Data Collection and Software

The Vendor is required to provide faces critical challenges in modernizing its traffic data collection and management systems.
- The existing software, developed decades ago, lacks modern data integration and analysis capabilities, creating inefficiencies and limiting the usefulness of collected data.
- Traffic data is fragmented across multiple systems with inconsistent formats and limited accessibility, resulting in data silos and redundant collection efforts. These limitations hinder statewide planning, corridor analysis, operational decision-making, and prevent data-driven opportunities for innovation.
- To address these challenges, this research will evaluate and recommend modern sensor technologies (for example radar, LIDAR, video) and software solutions for centralized, vendor-neutral data management.
- These actions will ensure that data is standardized and secure while preparing for future statewide modeling and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) integration.
- Research Objectives:
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of agency current traffic monitoring program and identify improvement needs for modernization. Assess agency existing system(s) and internal processes, data practices, sensor assets, identify gaps, inefficiencies, locations, and automation opportunities.
• Develop an understanding of state local agencies and other state highway agencies traffic monitoring programs, technologies, processes, and data practices. Identify best practices, challenges, and opportunities relevant to agency.
• Evaluate modern sensor technologies, software platforms, and data processes needed to support current and future traffic monitoring, modeling, and operational needs. Ensure alignment with FHWA and TMG requirements and coordinate with ATMS development to avoid duplication and ensure interoperability.
• Recommend improvements to agency traffic monitoring program, including modernized equipment, optimized permanent monitoring locations, streamlined workflows, software upgrades, and opportunities to automate manual processes.
• Develop a centralized, vendor-neutral data management framework, including data standards, governance practices, and functional and technical requirements for a shared statewide data warehouse that integrates with ITS/ATMS and supports both agency and local agencies.
- Conduct a literature review on traffic monitoring technologies, traffic modeling data needs, operational benefits from traffic data collection, data warehouse techniques from multiple sources, data access, data security, data governance, and the use of crowdsourced data.
- Review agency current traffic monitoring program, including software technologies data usage and management practices, and existing workflows.
- Recommend additional or revised permanent traffic monitoring locations and modern sensors (for example, radar, lidar, video) and identify software technologies (for example, MS-2, Drakewell, High Desert) suitable for centralized, vendor-neutral data management.
- Define data governance best practices for agency traffic data management environment. Include cyber security and privacy requirements, data retention schedules, and data access and permissions policies, version control, data lineage documentation, and quality assurance procedures.