Introduction
The Bureau of Information Processing is responsible for supporting the Department’s technology needs. We seek to provide cost-effective, scalable, and functional technology services to support the engineering community of IDOT, research and administration. Our approach focuses on being responsive, open-minded, and accountable using unique and adaptable designs to meet both the enterprise and individual needs of users.
The Information Technology infrastructure of the Department of Transportation is the foundation from which we plan and build safe roads in Illinois. The well being and vitality of this infrastructure is essential in order for the Department’s staff to appropriately plan, design and build effective highways and manage traffic in Illinois. The future of transportation will depend heavily on the use of technology.
Current Projects
I39 Fiber Project
IDOT is installing Fiber Optic Cabling along the Interstate 39 corridor between Rochelle and Rockford which will enable the city of Rochelle and others to sell Internet Broadband service to their municipal households. Included in this initiative, IDOT has negotiated an off-site Data Center for the State of Illinois to use. This agreement has the potential to save the State of Illinois millions of dollars.
Wireless Internet Access at Rest Stops
Provide Internet connectivity at the Rest Areas. This Internet connectivity will feature wireless access that will enable the travelers to connect to the Internet while parked at the rest area. IDOT seeks to implement Wireless Access at Rest Areas to facilitate improved communication with travelers on congestion issues.
Illinois 511 Traveler Information System
“511” is a system that allows people to dial “511” and obtain travel information concerning Illinois roads. The Illinois version of 511 will feature Road Conditions, Weather Conditions, travel times and various push technologies to notify travelers of any concerns they need to know about.
E-Bids & EPlans
This initiative provides the Department with the ability to receive bids and plan drawings electronically. This project will allow the Plans to remain in electronic format from planning to letting.
Executive Dashboard - Public Version
The IDOT Dashboard is a computer application that is comprised of all road construction projects throughout Illinois and it provides the public instant access to view the progress of any project immediately.
Server Move Initiative
A Central Management Services initiative to relocate all of IDOT servers located in the Hanley office building to CMS facilities is underway. BIP has been participating in planning meetings with CMS for this server move for several months as it is a significant project not without risk. In addition to BIP staff, those people appointed as the Data/System Owners and/or Recovery Team Leads will play a key role in this process. The Data/System Owner for each application will determine whether testing is needed and will coordinate that testing with BIP. The Recovery Team Lead will be asked to ensure Manual Processes are reviewed and in place, in case of application down time, due to the move. In order to coordinate this effort, BIP has established a Server Move Central site to communicate important, up-to-date information surrounding the server move.
Racial Profiling Program
Racial Profiling law changed to amend the collection of data through 2010. Changes needed for application on reporting data and allowing police agencies to review and comment on their data.
Safe Routes to School
On August 10, 2005, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) was signed into law. SAFETEA-LU authorizes the Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit for the 5-year period 2005-2009. The Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Program was part of SAFETEA-LU. The purpose of the program is to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school; to make walking and bicycling to school safe and more appealing, and to facilitate the planning, development and implementation of projects that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.
Business Continuity Program Development
Develop a plan for Business Continuity for the Department in the event of a catastrophe at the IDOT Headquarters/Central Office or Annex Buildings.
MCR
Mobile Capture & Reporting is a new system that is a computer system which automates the issuance of crash reports. It is used by every Illinois State Police officer in Illinois and is being marketed to the entire State of Illinois. The crash reports are electronically sent to IDOT using either wireless technology or the conventional desktop application.
Permits Task Management System
The objective of Permit Task Management System is to track all of the incoming permit applications and the tasks that are associated with each permit, and to have it integrate with existing systems. The system will improve the efficiency of the permit review process by automating manual tasks and reducing redundancy and paperwork.
Data Verification ArcGIS 9.x
Geographic information systems (GIS) allow for a wide range of spatial analysis operations along with the production of cartographic products. The Data Verification project is a foundation GIS application used by many IDOT staff in the Central and District Offices. IDOT is undergoing a software version migration from ESRI ArcView 3.x to ESRI ArcGIS 9.x in order to greatly enhance GIS capabilities. The current Data Verification project incorporates many custom tools, built with a now obsolete programming language. This project will migrate to the ArcGIS 9.x environment; allowing users to continue to utilize familiar custom functions along with the many enhanced display and analysis functions available in this next generation software.
Cartography Map Series
This request is to complete and provide supplemental support for OP&P’s automation of the County Map Series (CMS) utilizing ArcGis and Maptext. This application applies cartographic rules to spatial data.
BIS - Release 2
Bridge Inspection application that provides one point of data entry for bridge inspections.
Designated Truck Routes
This is a GIS map version of the Illinois Overweight and Overheight Permit Routes that is made available on the Internet on www.GettingAroundIllinois.com.
OSOW-CVIEW
"Implement and operate a Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) compliant Commercial Vehicle Information Window (CVIEW) with a legacy system interface for importing Illinois permitting data from the Oversize and Overweight System. The CVIEW will be procured through the RFP process and will be hosted by the vendor. Interfaces for International Registration Plan (IRP) carrier and vehicle data, International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) carrier data and Single State Registration System carrier data will be included in the system but not implemented.
Grant Management System
IDOT is attempting to acquire a browser based system to allow grant recipients to check their balances on the Internet.
Mainframe System Rewrites
The Department is converting several mainframe systems to a client server application that is more user friendly.
Financial Systems Study
The Department is conducting a system analysis of various financial based programs to determine gaps and look for opportunities for to integrate IDOT's functions into the new GOMB Shared Service Program. This project will be used to help IDOT identify correlations and gaps between several mainframe systems. These systems primarily serve the Department’s accounting and finance needs. IDOT has determined that our financial systems in place today do not integrate with the accomplishments of the Department and the reporting system does not meet the business needs.
Enterprise Data Warehouse
To provide Business Users with easy, direct access to information. This is an initiative to break down the “silos” surrounding the massive amounts of data maintained by the various mainframe systems. This project will analyze the data throughout the Department and sew it together in a way that provides cross-functional value. Business Users will be provided with robust, easy to use, feature-rich toolsets which will allow them to get to the information they need to make better business decisions.
Department Computer Replacements
The Department of Transportation is using the established guidelines as directed by Central Management Services to acquire new computers over three years.
Application & System
BIP is responsible for the support and maintenance of approximately 230 central office applications and approximately 450 district applications. Since the implementation of the Automated Action Request in August, 2006, approximately 1,100 requests for maintenance have been received. Approximately 750 requests have been closed during that time and have taken approximately 2600 hours to resolve. The remaining 350 requests are estimated to take approximately 2700 hours to close. The implementation of the Automated Action Request will allow BIP to better analyze and improve the support of applications. The below graph portrays the bureaus that require the majority of BIP support.
Accomplishments in CY 2006
IT Project Management Office
The Bureau of Information Processing has implemented Project Management Methodology to manage all projects. This new methodology uses proven techniques for managing projects that are aimed at delivering projects on time, within scope and within Budget.
Internet Maps
Integrating all Internet and public facing maps with www.GettingAroundIllinois.com. This includes Road Construction, Winter Road Condition Reporting, Designated Truck Routes, and much more.
Business Continuity Planning
The Department has developed extensive plans to ensure that we can fulfill the statutory mission in the event of a catastrophic event that destroys the Headquarters at Hanley Building.
Interstate 39 Fiber Optic Cabling Project
Negotiated an agreement with the City of Rochelle to provide a back-up data center in exchange for access to the I39 corridor fiber. This initiative could potentially save the State of Illinois millions of dollars in its disaster recovery planning.
Executive Dashboard
The Dashboard is a user-friendly, Web-based system that provides status information about construction contracts throughout the State of Illinois. It is a tool used for keeping the IDOT Roadway Improvement projects completed on schedule and on budget.
Internal Employee Focused Technology Initiatives
Employee Identification Number - Issuance of Employee Identification Number (EID) to all IDOT Employees to Replace SSN.
Developed Electronic Pay Check Stubs
Developed Electronic Vacation and Leave Balance Statements
Developed Electronic Leave Request Forms - Verified by the Digital Signature
Developed Weekly Leave Forms – Verified by the Digital Signature