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Federal Highway Administration
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Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000


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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations

Overview

 

Research and Development (R&D) Project Sites

Project Information
Project ID:   FHWA-PROJ-08-0035
Project Name:   World Guide to Covered Bridges Database, Geographic Information Systems, and Web Site
Project Status:   Completed
Start Date:  September 12, 2008
End Date:  September 30, 2013
Contact Information
Last Name:  Duwadi
First Name:  Sheila R
Telephone:  202-493-3106
E-mail:  sheila.duwadi@dot.gov
Office:   Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Team:   Hazard Mitigation Team [HRDI-50]
Program:   National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program
Project detail
Roadmap/Focus area(s):   Historic Preservation
Project Description:   Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS), a National Park Service (NPS) program that develops geospatial standards and data for cultural resources, will perform tasks to update the database and develop an interactive Web site. Creation of the Web site by CRGIS and the NPS Resource Information Management Division (RIMD) will be coordinated in all phases of development with the National Wood in Transportation Center, which will ultimately be the permanent host of the Covered Bridge Web site.
Goals:   The primary objective of this project is to update the database of covered bridges in the United States that is currently on the World Guide to Covered Bridges, which will be available as an interactive Web site.
Background Information:   Completed.
Product Type:   Other
Techbrief
Test Methodology:   Two Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) staff members will be trained in all aspects of Web site development, programming, and ArcGIS Internet mapping development. Upon completion, staff will design, develop, and implement the National Park Service (NPS) Covered Bridge Web site. Web site administrative support will be provided by the NPS Resource Information Management Division (RIMD) in Denver, Colorado. Once the Web site is up and running, CRGIS and RIMD will manage the Web site so that authenticated users can add covered bridge attribute data to the backend geodatabase. Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) will also create the content that will appear on the Covered Bridge Web site by designing and implementing the Geographic Information Systems geodatabase, which integrates attribute and spatial data. In addition, CRGIS will create the spatial data for most of the 800 bridges using various methodologies, including the Geographic Names Information System, Google Earth, and Global Positioning System (GPS). Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) will develop, test, and deploy a GPS data dictionary for use by summer teams while documenting bridges. Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) will conduct GPS training to the teams. Finally, CRGIS will develop, test, and deploy a system for authenticated users to update data on covered bridges. Once the update process is ready for deployment, CRGIS will hold a workshop for authenticated users in using the Web site to make their updates.
Other Information:   The study is jointly sponsored and funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the National Park Service (NPS). Funding is $300,000 ($250,000 FHWA; $50,000 NPS).
Expected Benefits:   This project has produced an interactive site located at www.woodcenter.org that can be accessed to acquire detailed information on covered bridges.
Deliverables: Name: World Guide to Covered Bridges in the United States
Product Type(s): Other, Techbrief
Description: This project will produce a fully interactive georeference Web site that contains the World Guide to Covered Bridges in the United States.
FHWA Topics:   Roads and Bridges--Structures
TRT Terms:   Covered Bridges
Wooden Bridges
Infrastructure
Bridges
Research
Geographic Information Systems
Global Positioning System
FHWA Disciplines:   Structures
Subject Areas:   Bridges and other structures
History

 

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