Technology scan of future traveler information systems and applications in Georgia.

Watkins, Kari E.; Wong, James; Roell, Maria · 2013 · ROSA P / Georgia. Department of Transportation

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Summary

This study evaluates the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) NaviGAtor/5-1-1 traveler information system to identify strategies for improving its effectiveness and expanding its scope. Motivated by the need to modernize a system that has remained largely unchanged since the 1996 Olympic Games, the research aims to identify future opportunities for traveler information in Georgia. The existing system relies heavily on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) for freeway traffic management, but suffers from limited coverage, siloed data between highway and transit agencies, and low participation from local traffic control centers. The methodology employed a multi-faceted approach to assess the current state of traveler information. Researchers conducted a literature review on traveler information typologies and federal mandates, followed by an inventory of existing transportation data flows across Georgia’s transit and highway agencies. The NaviGAtor website was evaluated through comparative analysis against other state and regional websites, assessing functionality, accessibility, usability, and features. User engagement was measured via a survey of NaviGAtor users, a direct feedback mechanism on the website, and a Futures Workshop involving visioning exercises. The survey revealed that while users valued features like traffic maps and incident reports, satisfaction levels were moderate, and there was a strong desire for better mobile access and personalized tools. Key findings indicate that Georgia’s NaviGAtor system ranks in the middle compared to peer systems, with high scores in technical factors but lower scores in usability and accessibility. The inventory highlighted significant gaps in data integration, particularly between highway and transit operators, and limited real-time monitoring capacity among local jurisdictions. Four conceptual alternatives were proposed to address these issues: an independent agency model, an open data approach, a third-party data model relying on mobile device locations, and a multimodal data ecosystem. The study concluded that a hybrid approach is most viable. The final recommendations advise GDOT to enter into third-party data agreements to cost-effectively expand travel speed coverage to areas lacking infrastructure monitoring. The agency should also pursue an open data strategy to enable broader participation by web developers and improve information dissemination. Furthermore, the report recommends incorporating static and real-time data from the Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transit Authority (MARTA) and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport into the NaviGAtor system. These steps aim to create a more comprehensive, multimodal traveler information platform that better serves Georgia’s travelers and leverages existing investments alongside new data sources.

Key finding

Users reported over 50 percent satisfaction with the NaviGAtor website but strongly desired personalized accounts, travel-time calculators, and improved mobile access, while the system lacked integrated real-time transit and airport data.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Provenance

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• feedback modes