Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 54-07. Visualization for Public Involvement

Visualization in its many forms is recognized as an important element of public involvement in transportation decision-making. As visualization technologies and applications have matured and become more readily available, their potential to increase public understanding and inform dialogue during planning and project development has greatly expanded. Recent trends in public involvement practice—including the dramatic increase in the use of video as part of social media communication and the move to virtual public involvement that greatly accelerated during the pandemic—have made it easier for agencies to show visualization products to a broad public audience. An increased focus on meeting the needs of participants with limited English proficiency, low literacy, or low or no broadband access has also prompted greater reliance on visual communications. Despite the transformative potential of newer visualization tools for public involvement, their uptake among state departments of transportation (DOTs) has been uneven, and the current state of the practice is not well understood. The objective of this synthesis is to document state DOT practices of visualization for public involvement throughout the lifecycle of plans, programs, and projects. Information for this study was gathered through a literature review, a survey of state DOTs, and follow-up interviews with selected DOTs. Case examples of four state DOTs provide additional information on practices of visualization for public involvement throughout the lifecycle of plans, programs, and projects. 

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5290

Language

• English

Project

• Funding: $55000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-05, Topic 54-07

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Harrigan, Edward

• Performing Organizations:

  WSP USA

  One Penn Plaza
  250 W 34th Street
  New York, New York  United States  10119
• Principal Investigators:

  Christians, Robin

• Start Date: 20221129
• Expected Completion Date: 20240722
• Actual Completion Date: 20240722

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Programming (Planning); Public participation; State departments of transportation; State of the practice; Visualization
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01845330
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-05, Topic 54-07
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 16 2022 6:03PM