Innovative visualization of geospatial data for transportation engineering applications

Due to the increased number of fatal accidents caused by overweight trucks on interstate highways, a series of truck safety and weight enforcement facilities were developed by Wisconsin Department of Transportation. These facilities were designed to weigh and inspect trucks while they are in motion. The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) funded a project through the Affiliated Research Center (ARC) at university of Wisconsin-Madison to pilot innovation in geospatial visualization technology for comparing possible sites for a truck safety and weight enforcement facility. The optimal site selection study was conducted along the I-90 corridor between the Illinois/Wisconsin border and Madison, Wisconsin. To accomplish this project EOS-Era Landsat-7 satellite data were integrated and synthesized with digital elevation models (DEMs), aerial photography, and other geospatial data to represent current terrain and land cover. Application of innovative visualization technology enabled the presentation of spatial information reflecting complex engineering, environmental, transportation and design issues in ways that were clear and understandable to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and public stakeholders. Visualization of geospatial data technology and "fly-through" simulation models are presented to demonstrate the alternative scenarios for selecting an optimum site for the truck safety facility