Research Idea Details

Environmental Data Collection at Minimized Cost & Staff Burden

  • Focus Area: Construction and Maintenance Practices
  • Status: Archived
  • Subcommittee: Environmental Process, Natural Resources
  • Cost: Under $99k
  • Timeframe: Under 1 year

Research Idea Scope

Automated on-site data collection, GPS/AVL on
maintenance vehicles to collect time and material information on maintaining
individual BMPs, and national higher resolution datasets coming online are all
trends that may help DOTs to minimize costs for environmental data collection
and learn more about processes, costs, and effectiveness while minimizing the
cost and inconvenience to staff of acquiring this information.  WSDOT reported that automated data collection
cut staff paperwork in half and provided a popular morale boost in addition to
the environmental and agency efficiency/cost estimating benefits that are
anticipated.

Urgency and Payoff

Nearly all DOTs are under budgetary pressures or
asking staff to accomplish more with less. 
At the same time, the public and regulatory agencies continue to raise
the bar with their expectations to improvement environmental performance and
environmental maintenance. DOTs are in great need of efficient ways to gather
information and improve processes while not making things worse for already
over-burdened staff.  

Suggested By:
Marie Venner Venner Consulting 3037985333
[email protected]
Submitted:
10/08/2013