Improved Web-based Mapping Provides Faster, Easier Access to GIS Information
William Johnson and Gary Aucott, Division of Transportation Development (DTD)
August 19, 2013
What was improved, briefly
CPLAN is a new web-based mapping and informational tool that makes it faster and easier for the public to access Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) maps and related information. CPLAN currently has 6 “theme” maps that are instantly available to users on CPLAN: if a user were to attempt to recreate these maps on their own through data gathering, processing, and analyzing publicly-available data, it would take that person at least 19 hours to do this.
Additionally, CPLAN reduces the cost of government: CDOT’s cost to maintain the information in CPLAN is approximately 20% lower than the prior method for maintaining this important data.
CPLAN Map
Background
CDOT partnered with the Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) to apply Lean principles in improving customer service and efficiency in the delivery of CDOT “geographic information system” (GIS) data. The result of this partnership is CPLAN, a new web-based mapping and informational tool designed to make it faster and easier for the public access to CDOT maps and related information. CDOT geographic data “layers” pertaining to the Colorado Statewide Transportation Plan (SWP) are visible in CPLAN, along with similar data provided by other resource agencies.
Key users of CPLAN include CDOT’s planning partners; environmental resource and regulatory agencies; city and county governments; transit agencies; bike and pedestrian organizations; other transportation planning organizations; and the general public.
While this data has been available in the past, CPLAN has greatly improved access to this data:
Geographic information that previously has been provided almost exclusively only through CDOT public outreach meetings is now available to stakeholders, planning partners, and the general public in an easy to use web interface -- at any time, anywhere, with instant access.
CPLAN contains content-rich interactive maps that transform GIS data into useful information about each Transportation Planning Region (TPR) within Colorado.
Since CPLAN is a cloud-based service, other resource agencies that provide and maintain data can publish almost unlimited amounts of information to share with CDOT and other users who are connected to this cloud service. This improves efficiency since it removes the requirements for CDOT staff to maintain and update data provided by others. CDOT’s workload to maintain the information has been reduced by approximately 20% through CPLAN.
Some parts of CPLAN link to other important CDOT data resources, such as OTIS (Online Transportation Information System) and bridge inspection photos.
For ease of customer outreach, CPLAN requires only a web browser, with nothing else to install or set up. This interface is also compatible with mobile devices.
After the Statewide Transportation Plan (SWP) development process is complete, data layers that include regional corridor priorities, visions, goals, and strategies will be available on CPLAN.
Various map layers in CPLAN display data that contribute to performance measures, including the condition of bridges and pavement.