Glossary

Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Infrastructure is an open standards–based collaborative work method for structuring, managing, and using data about transportation assets and networks throughout their lifecycles. It liberates data from siloed systems and makes it easier for automated processes to generate asset information and distribute it to anyone who needs it when they need it. The roadmap outlined in this document is intended to help State departments of transportation (DOTs) strategically develop a uniform, nationwide policy framework related to BIM for Infrastructure, open data—exchange standards and methods for adopting those standards, BIM tools, and a robust personnel training and upskilling program. These State-led and Federal Highway Administration–supported actions can then become the basis for planning and implementing BIM for Infrastructure to better deliver projects and transportation services at the State DOT level. Download PDF

Alternative contracting methods refer to various innovative contracting approaches like design-build (DB), design-bid build (DBB) and design-build-operate-maintain (DBOM) thar are used for contracting survey, design, construction, asset operations and maintenance activities during the asset life cycle. In traditional DBB contracting, which is used by most agencies in the United States, the agency creates separate contracts for design and construction services. As an alternative to DBB, some agencies have begun using DB contracting, in which the agency creates a single contract and conducts a single bid-letting event to procure both design and construction services from an industry vendor. DBOM contracting similarly involves creating a single contract, in this case one that includes design, construction, and asset-management services.

An application, or application program, is a software program that runs on your computer. Web browsers, e-mail programs, word processors, games, and utilities are all applications. The word "application" is used because each program has a specific application for the user.

An asset's current state, as specifically defined by its appearance, perceived level of service, and observed physical state, whether it impacts its performance.

AIM contains data and information of a single asset, a system of assets or the entire asset portfolio at a level required to support an owner’s asset management system. The information is built progressively over the asset lifecycle stages.  AIM consists of graphical, non-graphical and documentation components as well as metadata.

This International Standard provides an overview of asset management, its principles and terminology, and the expected benefits from adopting asset management. This International Standard can be applied to all types of assets and by all types and sizes of organizations. More >>

1. This International Standard is intended to be used for managing physical assets in particular, but it can also be applied to other asset types.
2. This International Standard does not provide financial, accounting or technical guidance for managing specific asset types.
3. For the purposes of ISO 55001, ISO 5500 and this International Standard, the term “asset management system” is used to refer to a management system for asset management.

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/asset/dataintegration/if08018/assetmgmt_web.pdf

Management systems provide key information and analysis capabilities to agencies implementing asset management principles, but they do not constitute the whole of asset management. Decisions rendered in an asset management environment are much broader in scope, require substantially more economic analysis, and normally involve more than one kind of asset.

Responsible for asset technical analysis. Ideally, one for each major asset addressed in the plan (bridge, pavement, drainage, etc.).

April 2021, FHWA Webinar
Recording: https://connectdot.connectsolutions.com/pol6unv0dhdi/

BIM maturity level describes the state of development of the four BIM for Infrastructure components within an organization: policies and processes, tools and technologies, people and skills, and data and standards. An organization is assigned a BIM maturity level of 0 through 3 based on the degree of significant digital information exchange and degree of IT integration.

The BIM Maturity Level 1 Framework describes the states of the four BIM for Infrastructure components (i.e., policies and processes, people and skills, tools and technologies, and data and standards) needed to achieve BIM Maturity Level 1.

The BIM Maturity Level 2 Framework describes the states of the four BIM for Infrastructure components (i.e., policies and processes, people and skills, tools and technologies, and data and standards) needed to achieve BIM Maturity Level 2.

BIM-compliant software includes software systems that support open BIM standards (e.g., IFCs, GML, InfraGML, and CityGML) and BIM-compliant processes (e.g., the ability to connect to a CDE, provide a collaborative working environment, and utilize open standards–based terms and definitions).

Management Framework, April 2021, AASHTO GIS-T Symposium

https://highways.dot.gov/research/research-programs/infrastructure/building-information-modeling-bim-infrastructure-publications

Supports the data "mission" governance in documenting and detailing the questions being asked.  Helps identify data sources, SMEs, and support materials.  A user of the data for solving business issues.

Practices and tools that enable access to and analysis of information to improve and optimize decisions and performance.

The processes in place to review, evaluate, and coordinate changes to data products, applications, and systems, and intended to minimize impacts to users and reduce any change-related errors.

A comprehensive approach to change at an organizational level, seeking to address institutional and cultural barriers by anticipating the reception to change, and motivating staff members to embrace progress.

A chief data officer oversees a range of data-related functions to ensure your organization is getting the most from what could be its most valuable asset.

CIO Collaborates with organizational leaders and helps guide D&A governance strategy, operating model, and deployment efforts; strategizes capabilities needed for delivering new value through data and analytics capabilities; communicates mission and goals across organization.

A CDE is a centralized environment that allows for the collection, storage, collaborative editing, review, approval, sharing, and dissemination of digital data models. In typical practice, a CDE is designed and built to share information during the design and construction phases of a project, but ideally the contents of the CDE should not be limited to assets or objects created in a BIM or computer-aided design (CAD environment. The models and documentation stored in the CDE can include both geometric and nongeometric information about assets from all the asset lifecycle phases.

Referring to a group of stakeholders with a common interest in a type of data or another topic area and which, in contrast to a community of practice (wherein members have similar job functions), members may come from different parts of the organization and have distinct goals.

CADD is the process of creating computer models defined by geometric parameters. The models represent a part or a system of parts that can be changed by adjusting the parameters.

One of the phases in the asset lifecycle, construction involves building, rehabilitating, renovating, or decommissioning a highway infrastructure asset or facility according to the specifications laid out during the project’s design phase. Most highway agencies in the United States contract out the construction work to consultants and contractors in the private sector.

Sometimes called IT dashboards or corporate dashboards–are single screens in which various critical pieces of information are placed in the form of panels. Like dashboards in a car, they allow the end-user to have a unified view of the data and information that matters to "drive" the business forward.

Design the data system, outline the data flow, define, and design how and where the different roles use the system.  Develop repeatable processes for multiple delivery service patterns of data for multiple business functions.

A specific piece of the data model, describing a data entity. A data attribute contains a fact important to the business (e.g., Bridge ID, Sign Type, Pavement Roughness or Install Date).

Data collection cycle/frequency usually depends on asset type, asset condition, and other factors.

An initiative or program planning document that outlines how a data collection program will be executed and improved to meet identified business needs. This plan should attempt to make the best use of current resources to leverage capital investment and technology, and it should be guided by documented business cases and value for data collection.

Data collection should consider and determine the following parameters:

• Specification of the data to be collected.
• Frequency of collection.
• Accuracy and quality that the data should exhibit.
• Completeness and currency.

These should be documented in the data collection plan.

An electronic data delivery system (EDDS) is a dynamic and interactive data dissemination system that provides access via a computer network (such as the internet or network) to certain data.

The accountability for the management of an organization’s data assets to achieve its business purposes and compliance with any relevant legislation, regulation, and business practice, by establishing decision-making structures and prioritized investment in activities to develop enterprise data standards.

A data governance council is a governing body for strategizing data governance programs, raising awareness of its importance, approving enterprise data policies and standards, prioritizing related projects, and enabling ongoing support.

A data hub is a centralized service that connects all your IT systems, whether they be Web applications, IoT devices, SaaS solutions, or core business platforms, such as CRM or ERP. A data hub manages the connections to each of the systems and orchestrates the data flow amongst them.

The planned and controlled transformation and flow of data across databases, for operational and/or analytical use. Data integration can involve multiple steps including access and extraction of data from source systems, validation and cleansing, transformation to a target structure, and finally, loading into the target repository.

A single repository of different databases held in native form, which is typically used for data exploration rather than routine analysis.

The ability to read, write and communicate data in context, including an understanding of data sources and constructs, analytical methods and techniques applied, and the ability to describe the use case, application and resulting value.  It is an underlying component of digital dexterity — an employee's ability and desire to use existing and emerging technology to drive better business outcomes.

Data management encompasses defining data, creating data architecture, modeling data, collecting or gathering data, processing data, storing and securing data, ensuring the quality of data, defining reference data, documenting metadata, ensuring data integration and interoperability, performing document and content management, designing and implementing data-warehousing solutions, and maintaining business intelligence.

Provide the modeling analysis for the objects, fields, values, rules, and qualities needed, based on requirement from the business units and the overall enterprise data management plan.

Data modeling encompasses creating, storing, checking, updating, sharing, integrating, and exchanging data models during the planning and programming, design, construction, and operations and maintenance phases of asset lifecycle. Some of the open data modeling standards used for building information models include: buildingSMART’s Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), Open Geospatial Consortium’s (OGC’s) InfraGML and CityGML. These are extensible data modeling strategies, i.e., they can be extended to incorporate additional objects and their attributes (properties). Data modeling is one of the many aspects associated with data management and is critical for building information management (BIM) framework.

This is the person the generates the data, keeps the data up to date, and quality controls the information being provided.  This may in many cases be different than the SME or Data Steward.

Data pipeline represents the set of transformations that are performed on data that are extracted from a source system. Each of the transformations in the pipeline are referred to as nodes, which receive data and output transformed data. Data represents edges in the pipeline and can be batch or streaming data. Transformations are functions that are applied to data for processing it and adding new calculated fields, engineering new data products, doing quality checks etc. The pipeline starts with pulling data from the source system and ends with loading data into a target system. The series of transformations that are performed in a data pipeline result in a data processing structure know as directed acyclic graphs (DAG). DAGs represent the series of transformations performed to the data in the data pipeline. Each pipeline represents a single, potentially repeatable, automated data transformation job that executes the series of data transformations as per the DAG.

Data platforms are used to create, execute (process) and govern data pipelines.

A documented management system that details the quality objectives and controls to be applied during the various phases of asset data collection. Its purpose is to ensure quality in all work processes, products, and outputs, and to support continuous quality improvement. Management sponsorship and governance is critical to ensuring the success of the plan.

Provide the data and know the source.  This role is the main contact for questions and issues related to the quality of the data, and data domains.

The SME is typically someone who knows about a particular data topic in the enterprise or how to do a particular thing with data. It is important to recognize that a SME is an individual person, rather than a role. The responsibility of the SME is to ensure the facts and details are correct so that the project's/program's deliverable(s) will meet the needs of the stakeholders, legislation, policies, standards, and best practices.  The SME is not necessarily the data owner/creator, but sometimes develops and maintains the system the owner uses to interact with the data.

The data supply system is a lifecycle for data that propagates and procures data on behalf of the corporation.  Look at data as being bigger than the platform, for enterprise data, this goes beyond the data warehouse. Enterprise data as an asset on behalf of the agency. What the data supply system does is look at data, the inputs, and outputs of data across the agency, across systems, across platforms, across organizations and really manages it as an asset.

Data transformation is a data-management activity involving changing a data model using a certain OTL and a certain set of terms and definitions into a different data model using a different OTL and a different set of terms and definitions.

The process of converting volumes of data from one format to another and performing value lookups or substitutions from the data during the process. Translation can include data validation as well.  This is an important component of a well-executed data life-cycle management program.

An integrated, centralized decision support database that stores cleansed and standardized data from a variety of operational sources to support analysis and reporting.

Data/information models are used to represent the structure of and relationships among data elements in a way that describes the real world. Data elements refer to the geometric or nongeometric attributes or properties of highway infrastructure assets. The dimensionality of a data/information model determines the type of asset data captured in the model. Two- or three-dimensional models contain data elements representing an asset’s design and geometry in two or three dimensions, 4D models contain data elements describing construction and maintenance scheduling for an asset, five-dimensional models contain data elements providing detailed quantity and cost information about an asset and its components, six-dimensional models contain data elements associated with the lifecycle of an asset and its components, and so on.

One of the phases in the asset lifecycle, design involves creating specifications for contractors to perform construction, rehabilitation, or replacement work for one or more highway infrastructure assets. The specifications are prepared using open standards such as CAD or IFC or using proprietary standards such as DGN, ALG, or DXF. Design begins after a project has been programmed into the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), or capital plan and funding has been allocated to the project. Transportation agencies often contract out a portion of the design work to consultants or may create designs in-house.

Data stored in an electronic format that may have been in an analog format.  For example, taking a printed plan sheet and providing as a digital pdf document.

Data models are used to represent the structure and relationships of data elements that describe the real-world. Data elements refer to the attributes or properties of highway infrastructure assets. The attributes can be graphical or non-graphical. The dimensionality of a data model determines the type of asset data that is captured in the model. 2D/3D models contain data elements that represent asset design and geometry (in 2D/3D). 4D models, contain asset construction and maintenance scheduling data elements; 5D models, contain detailed quantity and cost of asset and its’ components; 6D models, contain data elements associated with lifecycle of asset and its components, etc.

A virtual representation of real-world entities that synchronizes life-cycle data and processes at a specified frequency and fidelity (Digital Twin Consortium). For infrastructure, this typically has been used to describe full life cycle and operation/maintenance use of digital data.

Digitalization involves creating a digital version of an analog or physical thing like a paper document, microfilm image, photograph, or sound. Digitalization’s purpose is to create systems of record or engagement. Digitalized business operations, business functions, business models and processes, and business activities have been enabled, improved, transformed by leveraging digital technologies and broadly used and contextualized digitized data, and turned into actionable knowledge, with a specific benefit in mind. Automation is a large part of creating digitalized processes.

Digitization involves managing data and information like text, pictures, graphics, and tables in a digital format for easy processing by a computer.

Providing all stakeholders with an electronic means to produce, transmit, and share materials data and track and verify materials deliveries enhances safety, streamlines inspections, and improves contract administration processing. Using electronic ticket exchanges enables access via mobile devices and simplifies handling and integration of material data into construction management systems for acceptance, payment, and source documentation.

Data that is shared by the users of an organization, generally across departments and/or geographic regions. Because enterprise data loss can result in significant financial losses for all parties involved, organizations should spend time and resources on careful and effective data modeling, solutions, security, and storage.

ETL is a data-management activity involving extracting data from a system, transforming the data from the format used by the source-system object model to the format used by the target-system object model, and loading the data into the target system. Sometimes the data are transformed after they have been loaded into the target system. In such cases, the term ELT is used to describe the data-processing operation.

A platform that streamlines the translation of spatial data between geometric and digital formats. It is intended especially for use with geographic information system (GIS), computer-aided design (CAD) and raster graphics software.

A federated-information model describes an information model consisting of connected but distinct individual information models. Federation refers to a scenario in which a group of systems and networks operates in a standard, collective, and connected environment. Federation involves establishing a central unit for integrating various disconnected entities (i.e., software systems, databases, or applications) within an enterprise. The central unit ensures the internal autonomy of the constituent systems is maintained and that these systems do not have to be integrated directly with each other to exchange information. For example, a federated-database system is a type of meta database-management system that transparently maps multiple autonomous-database systems into a single federated database. The constituent databases are interconnected via a computer network, may be geographically decentralized, and utilize the central authority to exchange data rather than interface with each other.

Structured attribute collection tied to a particular location used for collecting measurements, observations, recordings, etc.  Data can be collected as a point, line, area, or tabular information.  Field data is general collected with a mobile data collection device.

A Tool used to create, manage, analyze, and map all types of data. GIS connects data to a map, integrating location data (where things are) with all types of descriptive information (what things are like there). This provides a foundation for mapping and analysis that is used in science and almost every industry. GIS helps users understand patterns, relationships, and geographic context. The benefits include improved communication and efficiency as well as better management and decision making.

https://international.fhwa.dot.gov/pubs/pl21024/fhwa_pl21024.pdf

January 12, 2021, FHWA Webinar

How agencies manage data and information, and how these data are used.

Technologies that collect information, store, analyze, and process information, make, and execute an appropriate action or decision that results in quality construction.

Managing source data throughout its lifecycle which allows data to be used for analytics, keeping the data in a storage agnostic format that allows the information to be adapted for many needs.  For example, maintaining CADD elements over time, and storing in a system that allows them to be retrieved, rather than making a digital representation of them in something like a PDF format.

Describes physical objects (or groups of such objects) that are embedded with sensors, processing ability, software, and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet or other communications networks. Internet of Things has been considered a misnomer because devices do not need to be connected to the public internet, they only need to be connected to a network and be individually addressable.

https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/b653c9ee-535c-4528-a9c5-bb00166ad0dc/downloads/1bsmknus2_894046.pdf

Typically discussed as part of the construction phase in the asset lifecycle, letting involves preparing and advertising a proposal. An agency creates a proposal by aggregating the scope of one or more highway infrastructure projects, as envisioned and defined during the planning and programming and design phases. To advertise the proposal, the agency prepares a bid package that provides contractors with detailed information about the scope of the project and the services expected (listed as pay items). Letting involves accepting bids from contractors and consultants, evaluating those bids, selecting the winning bid, and awarding the work to the selected contractors. At the end of letting, the agency creates a contract that serves as a legal document describing the terms and conditions of the services to be provided by the consultant or contractor to the State DOT.

The BIM forum describes the Level of Development Specification as a reference enabling practitioners in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry to specify and articulate, with a high level of clarity, the content and reliability of their BIM design models at various stages during the design and construction processes (AGC of America, Inc. 2019).

A process to estimate the cost of managing an asset class, or asset sub-group over its whole life with consideration for minimizing cost while preserving or improving asset condition.

LRS are a method for storing and managing geospatial information along a linear feature, with positional location defined by a distance measure along that linear feature. A Linear Referencing System aligns the linear reference points across multiple databases so information from different sources can be mapped and analyzed.

Software that is used to manage an organization’s maintenance operations. Establishing decision-making structures and prioritized investment in activities to develop enterprise data standards; and Activities that are undertaken to prevent or address defects or usage effects that, if carried out, help ensure the asset achieves its expected service life. Examples of maintenance activities include, but are not limited to, pothole repair, crack sealing, painting, debris clearing, vegetation control, graffiti removal, and snow and ice control. For large complex assets, such as bridges or traffic signal installations, maintenance may include replacement of individual components. For small inexpensive assets, such as ground-mounted signs, pavement markings, all activities performed on an existing asset, including replacement, may be considered maintenance. Work accomplishments, meaning the type and quantity of completed work on assets (e.g., inspections, repairs, or replacements). Descriptions of work accomplishments may include other information, such as date completed, whether the work was performed by state forces or contract, resources used, and cost.

A maturity model is a tool agency use to evaluate the effectiveness of a system, person, group, process, tool, or technology so the resulting information can be used to determine steps that should be taken to enhance the capabilities and improve the performance of the system, person, group, process, tool, or technology.

Data about the data.  Metadata can be stored at the data set level or as granular as feature level.    For example, dataset level information would include a culvert layer collected using field mobile collection tools, however culvert data could also come from CADD design files, so metadata at the individual culvert level may be needed to the document data source and scale.

An MVD refers to a subset of objects and the attributes associated with those objects. The subset is created when two systems need to exchange certain information captured by an object’s data model without necessarily exchanging the full object model. A new MVD is created for each system-to-system exchange or information export or exchange request. For example, when as-built data need to be sent from a construction system to an asset-management system for a particular type of asset or object, an MVD is created for this data exchange based on the asset's or object's data model.

An object is a data entity used to represent the physical and functional elements of a real-world highway infrastructure element in the digital world. An object is described by its attributes or properties, which can include both geometric data, such as the object’s dimensions in space, and nongeometric data describing the object’s characteristics, such as the object’s name, type, owners, and condition.

An OTL lists standard object-type names (e.g., bridge, road, tunnel) and their attributes or properties.

Standards-development organizations such as buildingSmart International and Open Geospatial Consortium have created data-modeling standards like IFCs, GML, InfraGML, and CityGML to describe objects that represent the physical and functional characteristics of infrastructure assets. These standards are referred to as open data-modeling standards.

Performances measures are quantifiable metrics that are used to track progress toward goals, objectives, and established performance targets. Performance Goal is a level of performance desired to be achieved within a specific time frame.

One of the phases in the asset lifecycle, typically listed alongside programming, planning involves identifying an agency’s strategic direction and prioritizing investments to improve the health, safety, and mobility of the highway infrastructure system. Candidate projects for inclusion in the STIP, TIP, and the agency’s capital plan are identified during this phase. For each project considered, information such as scope, cost, and benefits are determined.

Techniques used to identify and advocate for the business value and return-on-investment from data and information system and TAM investments.

One of the phases in the asset lifecycle, typically listed alongside planning, programming follows the planning phase and involves selecting specific projects for inclusion in an agency’s capital plan and the STIP or TIP. Projects are selected from the list of candidate projects compiled during the planning phase based on factors such as budget categories, funding availability, project timing, resource needs, and agency-performance targets. The end product for this phase is a prioritized list of projects.

Project delivery refers collectively to the design and construction phases of the asset lifecycle. At the end of project delivery, the built, reconstructed, or rehabilitated asset or highway facility is handed over to the O&M units of the overseeing highway agency so the asset can be managed throughout its lifecycle.

PIM contains information about design and construction aspects of a project or facility. PIM consists of documents, non-graphical data and graphical information that define the constructed asset(s).

Software used to store, manage, query, and retrieve data stored in a relational database is called a relational database management system (RDBMS). The RDBMS provides an interface between users and applications and the database, as well as administrative functions for managing data storage, access, and performance.

The process of assigning scarce resources to investments in transportation assets. The assigned resources can be money, staff time, contractor capacity, equipment, or other organizational requirements for assets. The investments can be capital projects, maintenance efforts, or other projects and activities that require the use of an organization’s resources through various delivery methods.

Retirement or decommissioning refers to the act of removing an asset from service by closing it to the traveling public.

Risk management is integrated with TAM processes at the strategic level. Risk can also be considered at the asset level to understand the impact of asset failure on the wider system.  Lastly risk can also be associated with staffing and software and having a plan for managing those shifts.

A transport network denotes either a permanent track (e.g. roads, rail, and canals) or a scheduled service (e.g. airline, public transit, train). It can be extended to cover various types of links between points along which mobility can take place. The relevance of a network is related to its connectivity.  The road networks for transportation agencies are generally represented through road geometries in the LRS systems.

For work in a team, rules of engagement typically define the protocols of communication, conflict, decision making, and meetings.

Service delivery involves the activities performed under the O&M phase of the asset lifecycle, including asset management and performance management. The O&M phase involves managing information about the asset for the inventory, conducting periodic inspections of the asset to assess its condition, documenting the work needed to maintain the asset in a state of good repair (i.e., a state in which repairs can be performed on the asset to correct any deficiencies due to routine wear and tear), and performing the identified maintenance work on the asset.

A set of interconnected components that has been designed to fulfil a particular function without further human design input. Technological systems transform, store, transport, or control materials, energy, and/or information for a particular purpose.

People-focused applications that are designed to equip and enable customers, partners, and employees with the tools they need to interact with the business. Systems of Engagement overlay and complement Systems of Record and harness any number of technologies including mobile, social, cloud and big data innovation. They are designed so that everyone in an organization can access the information needed to carry out daily tasks more effectively. This systematic approach complements an organization's investment in its larger business systems, or systems of record. It provides convenient access to relevant spatial data and easy-to-use applications that enable and encourage collaboration.

An information storage system (commonly implemented on a computer system running a database management system) that is the authoritative data source for a given data element or piece of information. The need to identify systems of record can become acute in organizations where management information systems have been built by taking output data from multiple source systems, re-processing this data, and then re-presenting the result for a new business use.

A system owner runs the overall process of the system. They look through what’s going on in the factory. They track what is coming in, what is going out, what are the different transformation controls and what are the mechanisms being used. They also know the problem. They handle multiple parts. Usually, a system has a data pipeline (ETL/ELT) (i.e., the data coming in [data supply side] and going out). The system owner also worries about the data use – reporting, feeds to the data warehouse, and software applications for creating/editing data (i.e., for data supply) and using data (i.e., to create reports, dashboards, visualizations etc.). The use end of the system generally has a portfolio of applications, and one can prepare a list of all such data use applications.

Transportation Asset Management Plan

The combination of measures that serve to preserve traffic capacity and improve the security, safety, and reliability of the overall road transport system. These measures make use of ITS systems, services and projects in day-to-day operations that impact on road network performance.

An organizational change with broad impact, requiring effective communication and planning to achieve the desired goal, which involves a change of not only business strategy and project management but also organizational culture.

https://www.tamguide.com/

Air vehicles and associated equipment that do not carry a human operator, but instead are remotely piloted or fly autonomously. UAS commonly are referred to as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and drones.