What are the benefits of MIRE?
Safety Benefits
There are many benefits to State and local transportation agencies expanding their roadway
inventories through the adoption of MIRE elements. One of the underlying factors of the MIRE
data elements is that they are all linked through a common location referencing system. By
adopting MIRE, State and local transportation agencies will be able to link safety data to
non-safety data, making it easier to collect, store, link, and use all types of data. Having
these additional data can help better identify where the safety problems are, what those problems
are, and how best to treat them.
These integrated data sets will provide agencies with the ability to:
- Use new generation safety tools (Highway Safety Manual).
- Improve States’ Highway Safety Improvement Programs (HSIP) by making more effective and efficient
use of safety funds through enhanced project selection and prioritization methodologies.
- Provide additional data to help States in their development of their Strategic Highway Safety
Plans (SHSP).
Benefits of MIRE Beyond Safety
Adoption of MIRE can encourage collaboration across agencies and lead to innovative data collection
techniques, promote coordination between data collection managers to reduce overlap, and provide
standardized coding to help agencies better compare data across jurisdictions within their
own State and with other States. These benefits extend beyond safety to:
- Decision makers.
- Asset management.
- Infrastructure.
- Operations.
- Maintenance.
MIRE Development Efforts
FHWA refined the initial MIRE listing that resulted in the development of MIRE Version 1.0.
The steps in the revisions process included:
- Comparing the initial MIRE elements to several State databases to determine which elements
States are already collecting and how the attributes and codings compare.
- Comparing the initial MIRE elements to other databases and safety analysis tools to look for
common variables and to ensure as much overlap as possible between MIRE and the other datasets.
- Hosting web conferences to obtain additional input from eventual end users.
- Developing a website for communicating with end users and providing a forum for additional
discussion.
- Coordinating with an Executive Steering Committee designed to provide technical input and
serve as liaisons to potential users.
- Compiling all input into refined attributes and codings for the MIRE elements.
Since the initial "MMIRE" report was released in 2007, the MIRE listing has been
revised and now includes over 200 elements. The MIRE listing has become more of a comprehensive
listing of elements necessary for safety rather than a minimum listing. (Note MMIRE was the
initial name for MIRE.)
The final report MIRE Version
1.0 was released in 2010.
Critical to the acceptance and implementation of MIRE is its conversion from a listing of
variables into a Management Information System (MIS). The MIRE MIS project explored mechanisms
to better incorporate MIRE data in to States’ management information systems.
The objective of the MIRE MIS effort was to test the feasibility of converting the MIRE listing
into an MIS. This was done through the exploration, development, and documentation of:
- Mechanisms for data collection.
- Processes for data handling and storage.
- Details of data file structure.
- Methods to assure the integration of MIRE data with crash data and other data types.
- Performance metrics to assess and assure MIRE data quality and MIS performance.
Data Collection
MIRE Element
Collection Mechanisms and Gap Analysis
The Element Collection Mechanisms and Gap Analysis Report presents the findings
of an effort to 1) explore existing and emerging data collection technologies, and 2) to narrow
the gaps between the elements in the MIRE listing and the current data available from transportation
agencies' inventories and supplemental databases. This report provides data managers and data
collectors with potential techniques for advancing future data collection of roadway and traffic
inventory data.
MIRE Management
Information System Lead Agency Data Collection Report
The Lead Agency Data Collection Report presents the findings from an effort to assist
two States to expand their roadway inventory data collection to include MIRE intersection
data elements. The development of this information into their databases was intended
to facilitate the use of this information to use more advanced analytic methods. The report
documents two different methods of data extraction used by the two pilot states. The implications
from this effort may lead to more effective and efficient methods of increasing the collection
and use of MIRE by State and local transportation agencies. Further, these results may better
assist States in complying with the guidance and requirements of the Moving Ahead for Progress
in the 21st Century (MAP-21) legislation.
The Exploration of the Application of
Collective Information to Transportation Data for Safety White Paper
The White Paper explores the technique of collective information as a means of gathering
data needed for transportation safety. Collective information is a process of assembling or
gathering information on a subject through the use of a large, disperse and potentially uncontrolled
group of individuals. The White Paper also examines current uses of collective information
gathering and potential next steps for this process to support the collection of transportation
data.
MIRE Data Collection
Guidebook
The MIRE Data Collection Guidebook builds upon the MIRE, Version 1.0 document to
identify issues State's should be cognizant of when collecting information on specific MIRE
elements. The Guidebook discusses methods of collecting the MIRE elements and potential
limitations of those methods. It provides data managers and collectors with information
regarding techniques for collecting MIRE data elements that potentially will allow them to
collect the elements more efficiently.
Data Handling, Storage and File Structure
Development of a Structure for
a MIRE Management Information System
The Structure Report identifies issues State's should be cognizant of when collecting,
correcting, and maintaining information for a safety management system. The report presents
a conceptual model that identifies the business functions a state is likely to need from a
safety management system. This document provides data managers with information and issues
they should address in establishing or improving an integrated safety data file structure
to enhance the safety performance of the state's roadways.
Data Quality Performance Measures
Performance Measures
for Roadway Inventory Data
The Performance Measures Report builds upon NHTSA's Model Performance Measures for
State Traffic Records Systems Report and identifies issues to be considered and performance
measures to assess the quality of the roadway and traffic data. This report provides data
managers and collectors with refined techniques for assessing the quality of the roadway and
traffic data inventory data they collect and maintain.
Summary
Integrating quality roadway and traffic data with crash data helps agencies make better decisions
and more effective use of limited funds to improve safety. The MIRE MIS effort provides lessons
on how to collect, integrate, manage, and measure data for improved safety decision-making.
State and local agencies can realize the benefits of establishing an MIS for their transportation-related
data.
Better data helps lead to better decisions, which ultimately save lives!
Robert Pollack
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Safety Programs
robert.pollack@dot.gov
Carol Tan
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Safety Research and Development
carol.tan@dot.gov