AASHTO Journal - Connecticut DOT Activates Hub for Transportation Data

The Connecticut Department of Transportation recently launched “Open Data Hub,” a new “one-stop-shop” for the public to access transportation data. The Hub allows the public to access and download timely location-based data and perform analysis through easy-to-use online tools, applications, and dashboards, according to Connecticut DOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti (seen in photo above).

[Above photo by the Connecticut DOT]

As a live platform with geospatial data, the Hub allows users to access official agency data, such as traffic volumes, crashes, and roadway characteristics and classifications.

“The Open Data Hub is about empowering the public with information,” Giulietti said in a statement.

“By putting data at the fingertips of the people we serve, we are transforming the way the CTDOT does business,” he added. “Transparent and accessible data on the Hub will foster better understanding of the work we do as one of the state’s largest agencies and help drive better collaboration in problem-solving and innovation.”

Scott Gaul, chief data officer for the State of Connecticut, noted that other state agencies plan to use this “timely, accurate, and authoritative transportation data to make critical decisions that affect the residents of Connecticut.”

Other state departments of transportation are involved in similar data initiatives.

For example, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is expanding its use of Geographic Information Systems or GIS data to enhance maps detailing everything from road construction projects to identifying “Rustic Roads” in a more user-friendly and interactive manner.

“Our GIS mapping program is a great example of how [we are] applying innovative technology to improve Wisconsin’s transportation system,” explained Craig Thompson, Wisconsin DOT secretary, in a statement.

“Whether it’s our dynamic highway signs keeping motorists safe, our hotspot analysis to identify dangerous intersections, or the use of special sensor trucks to monitor pavement conditions, technology is part of [our] commitment to continuous improvement for the people of Wisconsin,” he added.