Transportation
Welcome to the Montana State Transportation Framework Theme web site. This site provides data, news, announcements, and related links about our project.
November 24, 2008 updated Framework posted with new Lewis and Clark County roads and trails, and a railroads feature class has been added. Point your browser here to download. The Framework is continuously being refined, please check back soon!
Transportation data is a dynamic framework dataset. New roads are constantly being built and upgraded, seasonal closures affect certain routes, road names and address ranges change, and road maintenance is a continual occurrence. Reflecting these changes in a statewide GIS is a challenging task.
The Transportation Framework model attempts to address the challenges by utilizing a federated approach to the creation and maintenance of transportation data. Data is collected and maintained by various organizations, and then integrated into the Framework in one seamless, uniformly formatted and attributed layer. Using data from local, state, federal, tribal and private sources assures the best possible coverage across the entire state. Although each data provider's GIS data is a reflection of the provider's needs, the fact that disparate transportation GIS datasets may be connected to address the needs of a greater community of users should be remembered as road data from adjacent organizations impacts other geographic jurisdictions.
As the layer moves to maturity, new features and attributes will be added, along with support for a variety of applications.
Goals
The Montana Transportation Framework project is a collaborative effort that will be continuously improved. The primary goal of the project is the creation and maintenance of a seamless road centerline network supporting multiple transportation applications and easily integrating with other framework layers. This layer will span federal, state, tribal and local expanses, and allow users to easily traverse these boundaries with consistent results.
Other goals of the project are to facilitate more efficient GIS data exchanges, encourage data sharing, and provide for support of various applications including emergency response services, road maintenance, resource management, land-use planning and wildfire mitigation.
Short-Term (December 1, 2008 - March 31, 2009)
- Review new data provided by counties, clean and then load into framework model.
- Develop and load additional trails, hydrography and aviation features into framework.
- Complete integration of address range data to line segments where applicable.
- Integrate new data into road attributes table.
- Continue improvement to framework geometry and topology.
Long-Term (April 1, 2009 and Beyond)
- Load and publish other pertinent road attribute information.
- Publish Roads via Web Services.
- Implement appropriate relationship classes in the data model after data loading moves to maintenance mode and database is fully normalized.
- Write a custom address geocoding locator file to facilitate geocoding using the Montana Addressing Data Model.
- Develop the ability to geocode addresses using linear referencing.
- Explore the development of a routes layer to support transportation network management tasks.
- Provide framework at State's delivery hub (GIS Portal) which is currently in development.
- Implement new features and manage issues as necessary.
Addressing
The vision is one of a statewide address database. While the ability to address locations is generally considered an application, Montana has recognized addressing as a meta-application which supports previously defined business functions of the Transportation Framework. Address information that is consistent across jurisdictional boundaries is essential for government to provide quality emergency service response; reliable disaster management planning and mitigation; crime analysis and tracking; and economic development. In the fall of 2005 The Montana Transportation Framework Team and The Montana Local Government Addressing Committee were merged into the Montana Transportation and Address Framework.
Goals
The initial goals of the address modeling group were to:
- Develop a data model in which all entities in Montana could store their address data.
- Collaborate with all or as many as possible, government entities in Montana to adopt the model.
- Base Map Service Center (BMSC) would convert existing data.
Short Term (December 31, 2008 - March 31, 2009)
Given current funding realities, demands on staff time at BMSC, and the fact that many local governments have made substantial investments e911 systems, it was determined that a re-evaluation of the initial goals were in order. The vision at BMSC is one of a centralized address database modeled after the Transportation data integration effort.
- Identify potential data providers.
- Piggyback with the transportation effort in getting MOUs signed/modified.
- Begin data integration.
- Design process for updating data.
Long Term (April 1, 2009 and Beyond)
The following issues cannot be realistically addressed until a substantial source of funding is identified.
- Promote adoption of the model - espouse the advantages of consistent address data across jurisdictional boundaries
- Develop address maintenance tools.
- Develop Educational Materials.
- Develop Training Materials.
- Schedule regional educational meeting.
- Identify methodology for data conversion.
- Begin data conversion for those entities that are interested in adopting the address data model.
Status of Framework
Initial work has focused on building a robust address data model in which address and associated data can be stored.
- The address data model has been tested and refined using real data from Montana Local Governments.
- The address data model has been integrated with the transportation data model, however each model stands on its own.
- The model is ready for adoption.
- A first draft of functional requirements for address maintenance tools has been completed.
Stewardship Contact Information
Transportation & Addressing Theme Steward
Department of Administration
Information Technology Service Division
Base Map
Service Center
910 Helena Ave., Second Floor
Helena, MT 59620-0113
Transportation Framework Theme Lead
Joshua Dorris
Department of Administration
Information Technology Services Division
Base Map Service Center
910 Helena Ave, Second Floor
Helena, MT 59620
Fax: 406-444-1887
Phone: 406-444-7930
Email: jdorris@mt.gov
Addressing Framework Theme Lead
Bob Holliday
Department of Administration
Information Technology Services Division
Base Map Service Center
910 Helena Ave, Second Floor
Helena, MT 59620
Fax: 406-444-1887
Phone: 406-444-0770
E-mail: rholliday@mt.gov
Theme Lead's Corner
Welcome to the Montana Transportation Framework web site - a place where you can stay informed with the latest information, data, and happenings concerning this statewide transportation GIS. If you have any questions regarding the transportation framework project or are interested in becoming a part of the Transportation Working Group, please contact Joshua Dorris by phone at 406-444-7930 or by email.
Over the next several months, there will be numerous enhancements to the transportation GIS, including web services, geocoding services, and attribution improvements.
