Date of Award:

8-2026

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

Mohsen Zaker Esteghamati

Committee

Mohsen Zaker Esteghamati

Committee

Matt Hebdon

Committee

Patrick Singleton

Abstract

Data has begun to permeate transportation agencies, with every process, asset, and event generating a great volume of data. This data helps engineers and decision makers determine maintenance schedules, devise infrastructure investment strategies, improve safety, and plan for future needs. Due to the size of transportation agencies and the diversity of the data they collect, their data is often stored in different systems, managed by different groups, and described using inconsistent terminology. These challenges make it difficult to locate information, combine data from multiple sources, and confidently use data to support important decisions.

This research examined how transportation safety asset data is currently managed within the Utah Department of Transportation and explored ways to improve the organization and accessibility of that information. The study included reviews of existing transportation safety asset databases, stakeholder interviews, survey responses, and an evaluation of current data management practices. The goal was to identify barriers that prevent transportation data from being effectively shared, understood, and integrated across the organization.

The research found that many challenges stem from inconsistent data structures, limited documentation, fragmented systems, and unclear ownership of data resources. To address these issues, a standardized asset data structure, management framework, and foundational ontology were developed. An ontology is a structured way of organizing information that helps people and computer systems understand how concepts are related. The proposed framework establishes common terminology, improves metadata documentation, and creates a foundation for connecting transportation safety asset information across systems.

The results of this research provide a practical pathway for improving transportation data management and supporting future technology initiatives. Better-organized and more accessible transportation data can improve decision-making, increase efficiency, support infrastructure planning, and enable future applications such as digital twins, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence. Although developed using transportation safety assets as a proof of concept, the approach may also be adapted by other transportation agencies seeking to modernize their data management practices.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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