Scoring Innovation Impact

Quality of Life Framework

Each innovation impacts the public and UDOT employee's quality of life in one or more ways; Better Mobility, Good Health, Connected Communities and Strong Economy.

Better Mobility

Travel Time
Throughput
Risk and Resiliency

UDOT optimizes traffic mobility by adding roadway capacity and incorporating innovative design and traffic management strategies. We are pioneering technology and project delivery methods.

Good Health

Safety
Public Health
Environment

Zero Crashes, Injuries and Fatalities

UDOT is committed to safety, and we won’t rest until we achieve zero crashes, zero injuries and zero fatalities. Zero is the only acceptable goal.

Connected Communities

Connectivity
Land Use and Community
Integrated Systems

UDOT's communication systems and practices provide the traveling public, community leaders, land owners, developers, and employees with the information they need to travel today and plan for the future.

Strong Economy

Economic Development
Accessibility
Transport Cost:

Two Drivers of Lower Transportation Costs:

Preserve Infrastructure
We believe good roads cost less, and through proactive preservation we maximize the value of our infrastructure investment for today and in the future.
Good Government
The efficiency and competency in which UDOT conducts business increases employee morale, provides better customer service, and ensures taxpayer dollars are spent effectively.

Measuring Innovation Impact (in Dollars)

When feasible, the estimated annual monetary impact of an innovation is listed under the appropriate Quality of Life category and indicated on the appropriate gauge (see Chart 1. Monetary Benefit Gauge Ranges). Reasonably accurate cost and labor benefit estimates are rolled up into efficiency reports and dashboards.

Chart 1. Monetary Benefit Gauge Ranges

Quantifiable Impact Scores

These impact scores are most often rolled up into efficiency reports and dashboards.

Value of Travel Time Saved = time saved x vehicles involved x value ($12/hour*)
Value of Reduced Crash & Workplace Accidents = average cost per crash/accident based on severity* x number of crashes/accidents avoided
Cost Savings (or Avoidance) = labor hours saved x hourly pay rate + other savings, e.g., materials, supplies, fees, equipment, etc.
Labor Hour Savings (or Avoidance) = labor hours saved

Assessing Qualitative Impact

Not all innovation benefits are easily measured or cannot be realistically converted into a monetary value. In these cases, a good faith effort is made to represent qualitative benefits in a way that helps users see the potential impact of adopting an innovation.

If no quantifiable impact score is available for a Quality of Life category, a qualitative score is determined. Scores range from 1 to 5 and are displayed on gauges. Higher scores typically indicate a greater perceived impact, e.g., more people impacted, greater level of impact, or higher value of impact. While every effort is made to be be objective, these scores have an element of subjectivity so they are not rolled up to reports and dashboards. Their primary purpose is to enable system users to search, compare, and prioritize.

When quantifiable amounts are displayed on a gauge, qualitative benefits are described below the gauge.

See the Innovation Impact Scores white paper for more information about how the Innovation Program Team determines the quantitative and qualitative benefits of innovations.

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