MY AMPO
GIS Working Group
Mission

The AMPO GIS Working Group seeks to build capacity amongst MPOs and advance the state of practice for GIS capabilities within MPOs. Emerging technology, big data, shared mobility, and consumer preference are fundamentally changing the transportation network in many metropolitan areas throughout the country. In addition, MPOs are planning for activities that go well beyond the traditional federal requirements. As a result, GIS has become a critical element of the metropolitan transportation planning process. Focus areas to be addressed include, but are not limited to…

  • Software
    • Implementation
    • Best practices
  • GIS analysis
  • Data acquisition and management
  • Data partnerships
  • New technologies, services, and application development

In 2012, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) emphasized the importance of transportation performance management by introducing performance measures to be integrated into the transportation planning process. GIS will serve as a critical tool as these measures and subsequent targets are developed and reevaluated on an ongoing basis.

Goals

Provide a forum for peer exchange and sharing of GIS tools, best practices, guidance, and resources that support:

  • Advancing the state of practice as it relates to data, map, and application development;
  • Integrating GIS capabilities into the metropolitan planning process;
  • Coordinating with a diverse group of multi-jurisdictional policymakers and stakeholders;
  • Developing strategies, techniques, and methods to meet the diverse needs of MPO stakeholders, projects, programs, and activities;
  • Identifying opportunities, challenges, needs, and emerging issues as they relate to GIS, data, mapping, and application development;
  • Communicating and sharing best practices, guidance, resources, and activities with other MPOs and at transportation planning events, as appropriate; and
  • Communicating and sharing best practices, guidance, resources, and activities with, AASHTO, FHWA, FTA, and regional planning partners, as appropriate.
Leadership Team
  • Jenny Wallace, Denver Regional Council of Governments
  • Mara Kaminowitz, Baltimore Metropolitan Council
  • Ann Burns, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments
FHWA Liaison
AMPO Contacts
2020 Work Plan
  • Prepare summary of priority areas and/or best practices
  • Potential priority areas to be addressed via quarterly webinars
    • Data storage and management
    • Data visualization
    • Accessibility / Access to Core services
    • Environmental sensitivity analysis
    • Environmental Justice Analysis
    • Analysis of crash data
    • Bicycle/Pedestrian
    • Analysis of built environment
    • Traffic management and analysis
    • Imagery collection and analysis
  • Identify best practices associated with priority areas to be shared via quarterly webinar
  • Identify challenges, gaps, research opportunities to be addressed and/or reported to AMPO Standing Committees, FHWA, FTA, and TRB

Resources & Research

Information coming soon.

Meetings & Webinars

2020 Webinar 1: May 27, 2020 at 2 PM EST

The AMPO GIS Working Group held their first webinar meeting on May 27 at 2pm EST.  To view a recording of the webinar, click here.

Presentation:  We heard from Cecilio Martinez from the Alamo Area MPO, Erik Woodworth from the Atlantic Regional Commission, and Chad Misiuk from SEMCOG as they shared best practices and software available for data visualization using tools such as ESRI Insights, Tableau, Carto and MapBox.

2019 Webinar 1: March 27, 2019 at 2 PM EST

The AMPO GIS Working Group held their first webinar meeting on March 27 at 2pm EST.  To view a recording of the webinar, click here.

Presentation: The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) will discuss the region’s first active transportation plan, which was just recently completed. The plan supports access to safe, comfortable, and connected active transportation facilities, encourages active transportation options, and supports the region’s vision to reduce vehicle miles traveled and single-occupancy vehicle trips. DRCOG maintains an inventory of regional bicycle facilities and provides the data to the public by download and web map. DRCOG worked with a consultant to develop a bike facility inventory schema that is better aligned with AASHTO facility types and is currently working through mapping the data to the new schema. DRCOG will also encourage member governments to adopt similar data standards for better continuity of bicycle facility data across the region. The Denver region is seeing an influx of bike share and e-scooter programs and is working with partners in the region to evaluate programs and coordinate a regional approach.

2019 Webinar 2: July 16 2019 at 2PM ET

The July 2019 AMPO GIS Working Group Quarterly Webinar is available, click here.

Presentation:  We will hear from Kim Korejko who is the Manager of Data Coordination at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). Kim will be discussing DVRPC’s efforts to map pedestrian facilities in the greater Philadelphia region.

2019 Webinar 3: October 3 2019 at 2PM ET

Please mark your calendars for the next AMPO GIS Working Group Quarterly Webinar.

Date/Time: Thursday, October 3rd from 2-3pm Eastern
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2169238986418636045
Presenters: Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG)

  • Tyler Klifman, Parks and Recreation Planner, Economic and Community Vitality Department
  • Chad Misiuk, Developer, Data Analysis Department

Description:
Southeast Michigan is home to more than 2600 parks, and thousands of miles of greenways and water trails. Join this webinar to learn about the development of Southeast Michigan ParkFinder, SEMCOG’s interactive map and mobile application which allows users to locate parks and learn about their amenities. Earlier this year, ParkFinder was enhanced with Trail Explorer, which provides 360 degree imagery for the region’s greenways and water trails. Through ParkFinder and Trail Explorer SEMCOG is utilizing innovative tools to showcase and promote the region’s natural assets and recreational opportunities. Hear how these new and innovate tools were implemented, and how they helped SEMCOG analyze park acreage, amenities, and accessibility to develop the Parks and Recreation Plan for Southeast Michigan.

2019 Webinar 4: December 18 2019 at 2 PM ET
The December 18th webinar is available here.

Presentation: Mara Kaminowitz, GIS Coordinator, Baltimore Metropolitan Council

BMC is a proponent of biking and walking as an alternative to driving to work. These modes both encourage healthy living and reduce traffic congestion. At the direction of BMC’s board and with the help of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Group, BMC staff coordinated the creation of a regional bicycle trails layer. The goal of the project was to create a GIS layer to aid in the regional analysis of commuting and bicycle trail connectivity. Both existing and planned facilities were part of the project. Outreach meetings were held with all jurisdictions to discuss the scope of the project and solicit input for technical parameters such as attributes, base data, and how to handle complicated road segments. The final result was a comprehensive and uniform street centerline GIS layer with information on trails, bike lanes, sharrows, and other facilities. The presentation will discuss the administrative background of the project, outreach efforts, technical implementation, and update the current status of the project. Successes, challenges, and lessons learned will be discussed.