Department Organization Change – NYSDOT is making organizational changes to improve the way the Department addresses five Priority Result Areas:
- Improving Mobility and Reliability
- Increasing Safety
- Promoting Economic Sustainability
- Enhancing Security
- Improving Environmental Conditions

Nine transformation Strategies currently being put in place to address the 5 Priority Result Areas. These Strategies are:
Strategy 1 - Invigorate Integration Mechanisms
Strategy 2 - Focus on Key Corridors
Strategy 3 - Alter Customer Behavior on the Highway System
Strategy 4 - Increase Compatibility of Land Use and Transportation
Strategy 5 - Manage Assets for Results
Strategy 6 - Operate as a Manager of Mobility & Reliability
Strategy 7 - Make Performance Matter
Strategy 8 - Put Customers in the Driver’s Seat
Strategy 9 - Win Public Trust through our Environmental and Energy Practices

IT Governance – NYSDOT is in the process of developing an IT Governance framework to insure that the correct mix of strategic growth, operational support and required maintenance IT initiatives are pursued. Perceived benefits will include: a closer alignment between IT strategies and Department business strategies, accountability in decisions that impact on IT , consistency between IT Strategy and Policy, and maximum return on IT investment.

Organizational Changes to make Engineering Technology use more efficient: NYSDOT is contemplating potential organizational changes to better support the use of Engineering Technology. Many regional offices are considering developing a group dedicated to support CADD/ET at the Regional level, interaction between Regions would then be coordinated by a central group.

New Systems (Just Completed, In Progress, or Preparing to Start)
Travel Information Gateway (TIG) www.travelinfony.com - The Travel Information Gateway (or TIG) is an Internet service created by the New York State Transportation Federation to provide the public with information useful in planning and conducting personal and commercial travel to - and within - New York State. The TIG was conceived and designed to make travel more convenient, efficient, and enjoyable while enhancing its safety, security, and efficiency.
Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) - NYSDOT is starting an initiative to implement an Enterprise Content Management System, which will be used to capture, manage, store, preserve, and deliver content related to organizational processes across the Department. The scope of the initial pilot phase of this initiative is to assess the Department-wide needs, select a vendor, determine Department-wide standards and policies, install the required hardware, and execute representative pilot projects.

U.S. Customary Conversion - NYSDOT is planning to convert to U.S. Customary units from the Metric System, NYSDOT is developing a detailed conversion plan, and determining the conversion’s implications on major systems, CADD/Trns*port, etc.

Construction Seat Management Initiative - A contract has been awarded to IBM, which provides for all construction field offices (approximately 400 offices and 1,600 inspection staff) to have a comprehensive computing infrastructure including:

- High speed WAN internet connection via broadband, DSL, satellite, cellular, etc.
- Networked field office LAN with computers, printers, plotters, scanners, data backup, etc.
- On-line, secure, web-based product ordering/asset management system
- Help desk services

All computers will have the same software, updates and capabilities. Existing construction contracts are to be converted to Seat Management beginning in July of 2006. All construction contracts should be under CSMIN by the end of 2006.
Trns•Port SiteManager - The department is implementing the Trns•Port SiteManager module of the AASHTO Trns•Port suite. This will replace several homegrown systems currently in use. Construction and Materials functionality are being implemented simultaneously. NYSDOT is also working with InfoTech, the contractor, and has completed an integrate Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to compliment SiteManager. This will allow New York to migrate off their 2 existing LIMS systems and use SiteManager and the integrated LIMS customization to support the business needs of the Main Office labs, Regional Labs, and field testing. This eliminates the need for NY to support two existing LIMS applications and their proposed custom interfaces to SiteManager. The integrated LIMS for SiteManager also supports the current Material Test Template and Sampling & Testing functionality in SiteManager. The integrated LIMS for SiteManager is scheduled to go into production for the Main Office Labs in January, 2007.
Digital Terrain Model Accuracy - A review of Digital Terrain Model accuracy was undertaken including a study of the current use of survey DTM data, requirements for Design and Construction, and the current and future options for acquiring DTM data. One of the outcomes was the identification of Terrestrial LIDAR 3D Data as the technology with the most potential for providing high accuracy DTM data to supplement photogrammetric terrain data when field survey is not practical.

Terrestrial LIDAR 3D Data - The NYSDOT Photogrammetry Section will be exploring the use of terrestrial LIDAR to obtain more accurate roadway digital terrain data. Initial testing in conjunction with the Land Survey Section indicates this technology has great potential. It looks to be very useful in high traffic areas where surveyor safety is an issue. The test project data has been collected and will be processed using various software applications to determine the best software, the most efficient process and what data specifications are needed.

Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) - NYSDOT has completed installing a network of continuously operating GPS reference stations. Currently the network includes 36 stations installed at DOT facilities. 33 of the sites are included in the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) National CORS Network. Static and real time data is being received, through the DOT IT network, at the central office. The network processing software is monitoring the network and pushing static GPS data files to NGS servers. NGS has published positions and is making static GPS data available to the public. The network processing software is producing static GPS data files, in various formats, for DOT use. The network is also producing real time correction messages (RTCM), available via cell modems, for use in real time GPS applications. The network is producing RTCM based on a single reference station, and also RTCM based on network of stations. DOT is currently testing procedures for making use of this reference network on DOT projects.
Accident Damage Recovery Program - The Accident Damage Recovery Program assists the Department in its efforts to recover money for negligent damages to NYSDOT property, such as highway guide rails, signal boxes, road surfaces, bridges, and more. The new system will put in place an electronic workflow to improve the existing damage recovery process. This will allow for increased volume of recovery-related work and data processing, as well as speed up the billing process. It will also allow centralization of all damage recovery information, and electronic access to related systems. This gives users access to real-time damage assessment information, rather than having to rely on traditionally paper-based access methods. Consequently, they will be able to electronically forward their case work to the next step in the workflow, rather than having to rely on postal mail.
Environmental Tracking - This project is to develop a web based application and a central data repository for information used to evaluate statewide performance on environmental matters. The functionality in the existing MS Access application will be replaced with an integrated system I a web-based environment.
2070 Advanced Transportation Controller Deployment - The Office of Information Systems, in collaboration with the Office of Operations Management, have been working to deploy a new, multi-purpose field computer, the 2070 ATC (for Advanced Transportation Controller) that has the ability to operate a wide range of field deployments. Development of the 2070 ATC was the result of a national standards-based process to promote multiple uses. The initial deployment by NYSDOT involves the control of traffic signals, but once the units are in place, additional roles for the controller can be configured.

GIS Initiatives - Beta testing and feedback finished in cooperation with NYS Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination on the Map Maintenance Notification and Tracking (MMNT) module in preparation for production. The MMNT will be used by NYS GIS Data Sharing Cooperative members to report missing data or inaccuracies in the Statewide Framework streets layer.
The GIS Unit is providing support including workflow and scripts for new enterprise field data collection of stormwater outfall locations using GPS. A web service has been created to publish the status of the federally mandated SPDES collection.

Two new versions of the internal Permits Over Size / Over Weight Vehicle Prescreening Tool were implemented with numerous enhancements designed to increase permit approval workflow efficiency. The Permits office is now using the web based Prescreening Tool exclusively for this task . The Prescreening Tool includes far more comprehensive and up to date bridge and highway restriction information than was previously available.

CADD Software Production Deployments/ Upgrades - NYSDOT migrated to ProjectWise/MicroStation/InRoads Version 8.5 beginning in early in 2005. The upgrade began with an upgrade to the ProjectWise system (servers and clients) in February 2005. Next, as a part of the upgrade, there was a phased migration of the CADD clients (MicroStation/InRoads/InterPlot) from December 2005 through April 2006. NYSDOT had previously been running Version 8.1 prior to 2005. In May of 2006 a newer version of MicroStation 8.5 was pushed out to all users (using LANDesk) to fix a problem encountered with MicroStation linestyles. This minor upgrade of MicroStation was accomplished quickly with little disruption to users. In July of 2006 InRoads Service Pack 4 was pushed out to all users (using LANDesk), this deployment was also accomplished relatively quickly with no disruptions to users.

CADD Software Development Activities - SignCAD is being evaluated as a potential replacement to GuidSign. Over the past few years GuidSign’s vendor, Transoft Solutions, has become less reliable when responding to support inquiries and the application has become less stable. NYSDOT has begun investigating other alternatives to GuidSign.

A development environment for ProjectWise XM is being created to evaluate a possible migration of the production ProjectWise system. It is expected ProjectWise XM will be evaluated over the course of the next year. Once evaluation is completed, the CADD clients, MicroStation/InRoads/InterPlot XM versions will be evaluated for use.

Engineering Applications/Software Development Activities - NYSDOT is in the process of a statewide implementation of VISSIM 4.10. VISSIM has been used extensively over the last year by the Department’s Roundabout Design Unit to model and display roundabout intersections. However, the software can be used to model any number of complex unsignalized or signalized networks and other significant areas of interest to NYSDOT, such as modeling complex MPT schemes.

HydroCAD version 8.0 is currently being deployed statewide to all NYSDOT Regional Offices based on needs. HydroCAD is a windows-based application used for modeling the hydrology and hydraulics of stormwater runoff.

Design to Construction Technology Transfer - NYSDOT is considering the possibility of adding a ProjectWise Connection Server to the system to allow remote field office users’ (Construction Inspection staff) access to ProjectWise’s thick client.

The following is a summary on NYSDOT's pilot projects for Bentley Systems’ CEI Toolset:

- Route 9W Highlands Project - Located in Highland, New York, this project consists of the reconstruction of Route 9W. The project includes rehabilitating pavement, and making geometric improvements to enhance safety and operations. This project was the first CEI Toolset pilot project, where the data had been generated from InRoads.

- RT 370, CAYUGA CO LN - NY690 - The Rte 370 pilot is in construction. The contractor supplied the GPS equipment and training for the pilot, including a base station.

- RT376, STG 1; VASSAR COLLEGE MAIN GATE TO COLLEGE AVE - This project started in May 2006. NYSDOT worked with the contractor’s surveyor and provided all of the electronic design data for stake out purposes. This project exposes the contracting community to CEI Toolset for stakeout purposes and using digital data for inspection.

 RT. 85 SLINGERLANDS BYPASS PT 1 - This project is scheduled to be let on July 27th, with an anticipated start date on September 1st. NYSDOT has been working closely with the Consultant Manager and Consultant Designer on what electronic deliverables will be necessary for this project. The consultant is working on building the design archive. This project is exposing engineering consultants to the uses of Quantity Manager and CEI Toolset. Several contractors have also expressed interest in the status of this project.

Record of Exchange - NYSDOT wishes to thank all states that that we’ve exchanged information with over the course of the last year.

Information Wanted - NYSDOT would like to know more about the experiences other transportation agencies have had in implementing an Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS).