Transportation
information is one of the primary information sets needed for land management
planning and analysis. This information
dataset may include roads, trails, bridges, culverts and other structural
features. All organizations in the NW
now manage a distinct set of information covering transportation for the lands
they manage or have interest in. These
varied datasets reflect the differing information requirements needed by each
agency. Dept. of Transportation will
need more detailed information regarding freeway and interchange structures,
metro agencies requiring street addressing and emergency egress routes. Natural resource agencies require route
information reflecting haul routes and forest fire access.
Each of these
datasets is critical. An overall
dataset is also needed to provide consistency across agency datasets for data
sharing, to combine datasets for regional analysis, and to provide a foundation
for linking additional agency datasets.
This overall data set will be established in a framework
clearinghouse.
The framework
clearinghouse will be a repository for agency datasets. Each agency will contribute transportation
spatial and attribute data according to the protocols and core data standards
established by the IRICC transportation team.
Through these interchange standards agencies will submit their own
datasets, which can then be combined with the datasets of other agencies because
of these protocols. Agencies may then
update their own datasets from the clearinghouse based on submittals from
neighboring agencies. The clearinghouse
will reside in the Regional Ecosystem Office (REO), and connected to the
Internet.
The IRICC
Transportation team will recommend protocols, core data standards, roles and
responsibilities in order for agencies to submit information and for the
clearinghouse to function. These
recommendations will then go before IRICC and then agency executives for approval.