| Abstract: | A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computerized data base management system for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial (i.e., locationally defined) data. The purpose of this paper is to explain why GIS technology is important to transportation professionals, describe how a number of transportation agencies are using GIS, and provide insight on how to participate in this technology. Transportation agencies are still in their infancy with respect to exploiting the power and possibilities offered by GIS technology. The paper examines the usefulness of spatially integrated data to transportation and clarifies the distinction between GIS and other data base systems that use spatial data. The benefits of GIS are summarised, examples of GIS activities at the FHWA and State highway agencies are described, and sources of digital geocoded data are discussed. The paper concludes with a more detailed discussion of hardware and software requirements, topology, overlay processing, and special issues involved in designing a GIS for transportation |
