BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF BETTER DECISION MAKING

Today's transportation managers are tasked with different challenges and responsibilities than those individuals who held the same positions several years ago. These changes are due in part to the increased competition for agency funds, the increased pressure for accountability in government agencies, and the increased pressure to outsource services due to reductions in agency staffing levels. In essence, transportation agencies have changed dramatically and managers have had to change their methods for making decisions accordingly. An example of one of the ways that decision making has changed can be illustrated by considering the increased availability of large amounts of data in transportation agencies. Computer programs provide a mechanism for quickly presenting data in a variety of formats, including graphical mechanisms that allow data to be presented in a format that can be easily assimilated into useful information. The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is an example of one format that has been used successfully for presenting data in a useful manner, as illustrated below. Other, more traditional programs, such as pavement management systems, are being used for more diverse purposes than in the past. For instance, some agencies have successfully used pavement management systems to provide feedback on the effectiveness of various pavement design strategies. Although the quantity and quality of data have improved, there are challenges to the use of this data that must be recognized. For instance, many transportation agencies have begun using pavement management systems to demonstrate the benefits associated with the implementation of a preventive maintenance program. For the most part, agencies have been very successful in the use of pavement management for this purpose. However, the data do not necessarily provide the type of information that is most useful in determining the appropriate timing for preventive maintenance treatments. This leaves a gap in a preventive maintenance program that may have an impact on the effectiveness of the program if it is not recognized early. This presentation focuses on the changes being experienced in transportation agencies regarding the quantity of information available and the challenges that arise in assimilating the data into useful information that can positively influence the decisionmaking process. Where possible, the authors provide suggestions for addressing the challenges based on experiences from transportation agencies.