Jerry Le

Development of a Tool for Utility Conflict Data Management in the Project Development Process

A critical process for the timely development and delivery of highway construction projects is the early identification and depiction of utility interests that may interfere with proposed highway facilities. The effective management of such utility interests or conflicts involves utility adjustment (or design changes), inspection, and documentation. The large number of stakeholders and the magnitude of the process result in enormous amounts of data. Despite substantial data exchange among utility accommodation stakeholders, few standards exist for exchange and management of utility data in the project development process. With sample data provided by the Texas Department of Transportation, research described in this paper addresses the issue of utility conflict management by analyzing specific utility conflict data flows and data needs of stakeholders. The paper presents the product of this analysis, which is a prototype system for managing utility conflict data called the Utility Accommodation and Conflict Tracker.

Identification of Utility Conflicts and Solutions: Pilot Implementation of the SHRP 2 R15B Products at the Maryland State Highway Administration

Strategic Highway Research Program Research 2 (SHRP 2) Project R15B, Identification of Utility Conflicts and Solutions, took place from March 2009 to July 2011 and resulted in three products: Product 1 (stand-alone utility conflict matrix [UCM]), Product 2 (utility conflict data model and database), and Product 3 (one-day UCM training course). In December 2011, the SHRP 2 Oversight Committee authorized a follow-on project to pilot the implementation of the SHRP 2 R15B tools. The follow-on project was SHRP 2 R15C “Pilot Application of Products for the Identification of Utility Conflicts and Solutions.” Its objective was to work with a state department of transportation on the implementation of the stand-alone UCM and the one-day UCM training course, as well as an introduction to the utility conflict data model and database. The pilot implementation took place in Maryland from September 2012 to March 2014. The UCM pilot implementation in Maryland was a success, and the UCM approach that was piloted and updated as part of the SHRP 2 R15C project could be replicated throughout the country.

Innovations in Utility Conflict Management: Lessons Learned from Pilot Implementation of Utility Conflict Matrix Tools

Utility issues remain one of the top reasons for delays in development and delivery of transportation projects. Delays in utility relocations and varying site conditions (utility conflicts) are consistently ranked among the most frequent causes for delays in highway construction. This paper described the results of a pilot implementation of the utility conflict matrix (UCM) tools that were developed as part of SHRP 2 Project R15B in 2012. The implementation project was SHRP 2 R15C, Pilot Application of Products for the Identification of Utility Conflicts and Solutions, which took place from September 2012 to March 2014. The objective was to work with a state department of transportation on the implementation of the stand-alone UCM and the 1-day UCM training course, as well as an introduction to the utility conflict data model and database. The pilot implementation took place at the Maryland State Highway Administration. This paper describes the UCM tools, details of the pilot implementation, feedback received from stakeholders involved in the project, and lessons learned from the experience of project participants. The paper also provides examples of cost and time savings that resulted from the use of the UCM approach.

Strategies to Optimize the Management of Right-of-Way Parcel and Utility Information

State departments of transportation (DOTs) in the United States are responsible for the safe operation and management of vast assets. Core management processes include determining right-of-way boundaries; inventorying roadside features; preparing right-of-way maps; acquiring, selling, and leasing assets; and regulating the accommodation of utilities in the right-of-way. Ready access to related information is a key requirement for streamlining project delivery and asset management throughout the life cycle of transportation infrastructure facilities. The results of research conducted to assist the Florida DOT in developing a strategic implementation plan for the management of right-of-way parcel and utility data at the department are summarized. For support of this effort, current Florida DOT systems were assessed, Florida DOT management practices were reviewed, and recommendations for a long-term vision and strategies to manage right-of-way parcel and utility data were developed. Research included a comprehensive review of Florida DOT MicroStation design libraries and a determination of the way to apply this information to the development of a data model and a protocol for the extraction of parcel and utility data from MicroStation into a geographic information system (GIS) environment. The research team evaluated both expanded and compact versions of the data model that included linkages to other business processes in the department. Recommendations include implementing the systematic use of existing survey and GEOPAK data to generate parcel shapes in MicroStation for later use in other applications, including the GIS environment, and a systematic database approach to managing utility-related levels in MicroStation.