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Geographic Information Systems The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Laboratory develops innovative ways to manage and visualize information using geography-based decision support systems. Its researchers design methods to implement and improve smart highway systems. They provide and update detailed highway information contributing to the development of existing and new roads, as well as route information used in determining the most efficient trucking routes and emergency evacuation routes. They innovate transportation system software and visual display systems using GIS tools. Research Focus GIS researchers at NTRC develop GIS software to query, view and analyze transportation roadway information, with skill in integrating information maintained in multiple vendor formats. They research and attribute transportation data and develop traffic management software for predicting future traffic volumes. Their software has been used to route traffic around high-hazard locations during emergencies. Researchers also integrate GIS and transportation models into decision support systems and develop spatial databases using a linear referencing system (LRS). They are currently working on integrating smart highway system technologies to enable traffic to flow more smoothly. Expertise The GIS Lab staff includes application developers skilled in integrating GIS and transportation models into decision support systems, and spatial database developers, particularly in LRS. GIS Lab staff is experienced in creating LRS data and use it effectively in decision support systems. GIS Lab researchers are exposed to different GIS vendor formats and data structures through work with the Federal Highway Administration, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), and the Surface Deployment Distribution Command Transportation Engineering Agency. They have experience in implementing systems using both Intergraph and ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute) software for Federal and state agencies. GIS Lab researchers have a high degree of programming skill balanced with the ability to communicate with customers, facilitating the clear definition and determination of client requirements. They are known for developing tools that are sophisticated while easy to use. They also have experience in integrating existing GIS models into applications developed at the Lab. R&D Facilities The GIS Laboratory houses a full prod-uct suite for Intergraph and ESRI GIS, as well as the necessary computing and graphical presentation equipment needed for GIS-related research. The GIS Laboratory has expertise in data analysis and development with respect to transportation issues, including data research and collection, data attribution, database design, and developing routable networks. In addition, there is a software design and development component for transportation issues. This includes model integration, data creation, and visual display of textual and spatial data. Partnerships and Collaborations Currently, GIS researchers work primarily with the Tennessee Department
of Transportation (TDOT) and with Federal agencies including the
Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and the Department
of Transportation. For the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), researchers at the GIS Laboratory evaluate the DLA supply chain and operations, and model existing supply chain with the use of Unified Modeling Language (UML). To establish and evaluate the supply chain and operations baseline, the GIS Lab has developed logic, use case, and collaboration diagrams in UML. GIS researchers are also building spatial databases for the U.S. Department of Defense Surface Deployment Distribution Command’s (SDDC) Intelligent Road/Rail Information Server (IRRIS) system, a web portal that provides access to world-wide infrastructure data and GIS mapping. The GIS Lab is involved in integration and attribution of NAVTEQ data to facilitate deployment of U.S. military resources.
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