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GIS based Data Center for National Highways in India
Neelam Jain, P. K. Jain, B. K. Durai
Scientist, Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi, India
P. K. Nanda
Director, Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi, India
Abstract:
The large road network of about 3.3 million km length is the life line of our country. It provides accessibility to different areas for movement of freight and passenger traffic across the country. These roads are categorized as Primary network, consisting of Expressways and National Highways (NH), Secondary network consisting of State Highways (SH) and Major District Roads (MDR) and the Tertiary network consisting of rural roads. The National Highways, totaling about 65,000 km approximately carry about 70 percent of the freight traffic and 85 percent passenger traffic. The entire road network is capacity-constrained and structurally deficient due to lack of timely maintenance and rehabilitation. This has adversely affected the traffic movement, resulting into higher operating costs and delays.
Maintenance of such a large road network is a challenging task because of the logistics and constraints of resources. There is a need to manage this road network more efficiently in a scientific manner. The most important aspect which is lacking is the application of information system in this sector.
Therefore, there is the need to establish a Data Centre so that information on road and road transportation can be stored at one place, accessed when required and utilized for development of effective and efficient maintenance and rehabilitation measures. The information can also be utilized by other organizations as and when required. This information which is available in bits and pieces with various agencies responsible for road construction and maintenance gets lost due to disorganized manner of its availability. There is therefore the need for a centralized platform and GIS based database can meet this requirement.
Preamble
In India we have currently about 65,000 km of length of National Highways running through length & breath of the country, catering very huge commercial traffic and contributing significantly in the economic development of our nation. Length of road network in different categories is shown in Table 1.
Table 1 : Indian Road Network As on 2003
National highways are the main corridors of road transport, collecting traffic from all secondary links. The other principal mode of freight transport is railways but the existing network is not sufficient to handle the demands. The focus has how been shifted to roads. There is a major shift in transportation mode from Railways towards the Road sector. Current Status is shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Current Status
Due to the continuously increasing load of traffic on highways, particularly on NH's, the need is felt to develop the database for these roads. The efforts in this direction are made by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Survey of India (SoI), Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and other organizations. But a database can be more effectively used if it is prepared using Geographical Information System (GIS).
GIS technology has been more widely used by Highway agencies due to falling of cases & GIS increasing overfriendliness. It is proposed to create database for NH by using GIS tools to aid in the decision making process for many reasons. The GIS allow the user to manipulate, access & query the database. It has the ability to define conditional queries, perform statistical analysis, create thematic mapping and provide charting for better understandability of the data. GIS Technology is proposed as a frame work for data integration because it provides a means of relating data connected under various referencing systems.
The main objective of this study is to establish a GIS based database for roads, road transport information management system and pavement maintenance management system, leading to the development of the frame work for GIS based Road Information Management System (RIMS) and Pavement Maintenance Management System (PMMS). The data provided by the NHAI, MoRTH, Ministry of Rural Road Development, State PWDs and other road development related organizations will be compiled and fed into the system. Road inventory data, condition data, asset conditions, traffic volume etc. will be collected for the entire primary road network. Subsequent to the development of the system, CRRI will be in the position to provide services to NHAI, MoRTH and other road agencies in the country with the management of their road databases.
GIS Technology for Road Development
The major aim of the study is to develop a data centre for National Highways. Spatial database has been developed at 1:1M scale for the entire Nation. National highway of about 58,000 km has been identified.
The state wise distribution of National highways is given in Table 3 and typical map of one state is shown in figure 1.
Figure 1: State wise National Highway in India
Table 3: State wise distribution of National Highways
The spatial database will be upgraded in phases for various regions. The ultimate goal is to develop an intelligent map and database, which is useful in designing, planning and maintenance of National Highways. The beauty of using GIS is that database can be updated from time to time. The main advantage of using GIS is its ability to access and analyze spatially distributed data with respect to its actual spatial location overlaid on a base map of the area of coverage that allows analysis not possible with the other database management systems. The main benefit of using the GIS is not merely the user-friendly visual access and display, but also the spatial analysis capability and the applicability to apply standard GIS functionalities such as thematic mapping, charting, network-level analysis, simultaneous access to several layers of data and the overlayment of same, as well as the ability to interface with external programs and software for decision support, data management, and user-specific functions.
The existing database does not allow the user to manipulate, access, and query the database other than in a very limited way. The user is limited to textual queries only, the selection and viewing of crossing attribute data with respect to spatial and topological relationships is not possible. Over related data, such as land use, population, and the road network characteristics of the area in the crossings vicinity, can not be accessed in the present database. This ability of GIS, along with the final presentation of results on a digital base map, will allow the user a better perception of the problem, enable better decisions, and allow a better understanding of what is to be achieved in a broader sense. The ability to define conditional queries, perform statistical analysis, create thematic maps, and provide charting chances the crossing safety program by allowing for better understandability of the data.
Furthermore, the ability of most GIS software to provide many basic transportation models and algorithms may also be useful in specific situations. The ability to link up to external procedures and softwares also provides flexibility, as these procedures can access data within the GIS and present the results of analysis to the GIS for viewing and analysis.
Methodology
Preparation of Base map
Figure 2: District Map of India
Figure 3: National Highway of India
Collection and collation of attribute and operational data
Figure 4 : Major Towns in India
Figure 5: Spatial database of Haryana
Expected Outputs and Benefits
The most important advantage of dynamic connection between the geographical data base and the attribute data base is that each of the data bases can be updated or modified separately. The data base needs to be updated for any change of geographical features. Pavement condition data changes with time and must be updated to reflect such condition changes. Centralized data center will enhance the availability of various data and reduces repetition of data collection for the same road section(s) by different road agencies, hence leading to saving of time and resources.
The study would lead to database development on GIS platform, development of intelligent queries and database tables which is useful for the design, maintenance and planning of National Highways. Results of the study lead to planning of better transport facility with proper maintenance management system through database. This database can be used for socio-economic and transport development of the region.
The society can enjoy smoother and efficient movement of traffic with reduced traffic delay on highways. With the database development for highway planning and management, traffic movement will be efficient, effective and faster, allowing the road users to enjoy plying on highway network from places to places. The subsequent pavement management system leads to efficient retrieval of information which enables decision makers in effective planning towards an efficient road and road transportation system. This would lead to faster socio-economic development of the country. Pavement maintenance management system results in better network pavement conditions; Network Maintenance/Rehabilitation priorities; cost effective repairs; strengthening measures and optimal utilization of limited available resources.
References
Neelam Jain, P. K. Jain, B. K. Durai
Scientist, Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi, India
P. K. Nanda
Director, Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi, India
Abstract:
The large road network of about 3.3 million km length is the life line of our country. It provides accessibility to different areas for movement of freight and passenger traffic across the country. These roads are categorized as Primary network, consisting of Expressways and National Highways (NH), Secondary network consisting of State Highways (SH) and Major District Roads (MDR) and the Tertiary network consisting of rural roads. The National Highways, totaling about 65,000 km approximately carry about 70 percent of the freight traffic and 85 percent passenger traffic. The entire road network is capacity-constrained and structurally deficient due to lack of timely maintenance and rehabilitation. This has adversely affected the traffic movement, resulting into higher operating costs and delays.
Maintenance of such a large road network is a challenging task because of the logistics and constraints of resources. There is a need to manage this road network more efficiently in a scientific manner. The most important aspect which is lacking is the application of information system in this sector.
Therefore, there is the need to establish a Data Centre so that information on road and road transportation can be stored at one place, accessed when required and utilized for development of effective and efficient maintenance and rehabilitation measures. The information can also be utilized by other organizations as and when required. This information which is available in bits and pieces with various agencies responsible for road construction and maintenance gets lost due to disorganized manner of its availability. There is therefore the need for a centralized platform and GIS based database can meet this requirement.
Preamble
In India we have currently about 65,000 km of length of National Highways running through length & breath of the country, catering very huge commercial traffic and contributing significantly in the economic development of our nation. Length of road network in different categories is shown in Table 1.
| Length(In Km) | |
| National Highways | 58,112* |
| State Highways | 1,31,899 |
| Major District Roads | 4,67,763 |
| Village and Other Roads | 26,50,000 |
| Total Length | 33 Lakhs Kms(Approx) |
| *National Highways are less than 2% of network but carry 40% of total traffic | |
National highways are the main corridors of road transport, collecting traffic from all secondary links. The other principal mode of freight transport is railways but the existing network is not sufficient to handle the demands. The focus has how been shifted to roads. There is a major shift in transportation mode from Railways towards the Road sector. Current Status is shown in Table 2.
| Road | Railways | |
| Passenger | 85% | 15% |
| Freight | 70% | 30% |
Due to the continuously increasing load of traffic on highways, particularly on NH's, the need is felt to develop the database for these roads. The efforts in this direction are made by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Survey of India (SoI), Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and other organizations. But a database can be more effectively used if it is prepared using Geographical Information System (GIS).
GIS technology has been more widely used by Highway agencies due to falling of cases & GIS increasing overfriendliness. It is proposed to create database for NH by using GIS tools to aid in the decision making process for many reasons. The GIS allow the user to manipulate, access & query the database. It has the ability to define conditional queries, perform statistical analysis, create thematic mapping and provide charting for better understandability of the data. GIS Technology is proposed as a frame work for data integration because it provides a means of relating data connected under various referencing systems.
The main objective of this study is to establish a GIS based database for roads, road transport information management system and pavement maintenance management system, leading to the development of the frame work for GIS based Road Information Management System (RIMS) and Pavement Maintenance Management System (PMMS). The data provided by the NHAI, MoRTH, Ministry of Rural Road Development, State PWDs and other road development related organizations will be compiled and fed into the system. Road inventory data, condition data, asset conditions, traffic volume etc. will be collected for the entire primary road network. Subsequent to the development of the system, CRRI will be in the position to provide services to NHAI, MoRTH and other road agencies in the country with the management of their road databases.
GIS Technology for Road Development
The major aim of the study is to develop a data centre for National Highways. Spatial database has been developed at 1:1M scale for the entire Nation. National highway of about 58,000 km has been identified.
The state wise distribution of National highways is given in Table 3 and typical map of one state is shown in figure 1.
Figure 1: State wise National Highway in India
| S.No. | Name of the State /Union Territory | Length (Kms) | S.No. | Name of the State /Union Territory | Length (Kms) |
| 1) | Andhra Pradesh | 4,002 | 16) | Madhya Pradesh | 4,664 |
| 2) | Arunachal Pradesh | 392 | 17) | Maharashtra | 3,626 |
| 3) | Assam | 2,836 | 18) | Manipur | 954 |
| 4) | Bihar | 3,301 | 19) | Meghalaya | 717 |
| 5) | Chandigarh | 24 | 20) | Mizoram | 927 |
| 6) | Chattisgarh | 1,810 | 21) | Nagaland | 369 |
| 7) | Delhi | 72 | 22) | Orissa | 3,301 |
| 8) | Goa | 269 | 23) | Pondicherry | 53 |
| 9) | Gujarat | 2,461 | 24) | Punjab | 1,553 |
| 10) | Haryana | 1,361 | 25) | Rajasthan | 4,597 |
| 11) | Himachal Pradesh | 1,188 | 26) | Sikkim | 62 |
| 12) | Jammu & Kashmir | 823 | 27) | Tamil Nadu | 3,758 |
| 13) | Jharkhand | 1,614 | 28) | Tripura | 400 |
| 14) | Karnataka | 3,570 | 29) | Uttar Pradesh | 4,941 |
| 15) | Kerala | 1,440 | 30) | Uttaranchal | 1,076 |
| 31) | West Bengal | 1,951 | |||
| T o t a l | 58,112 | ||||
The spatial database will be upgraded in phases for various regions. The ultimate goal is to develop an intelligent map and database, which is useful in designing, planning and maintenance of National Highways. The beauty of using GIS is that database can be updated from time to time. The main advantage of using GIS is its ability to access and analyze spatially distributed data with respect to its actual spatial location overlaid on a base map of the area of coverage that allows analysis not possible with the other database management systems. The main benefit of using the GIS is not merely the user-friendly visual access and display, but also the spatial analysis capability and the applicability to apply standard GIS functionalities such as thematic mapping, charting, network-level analysis, simultaneous access to several layers of data and the overlayment of same, as well as the ability to interface with external programs and software for decision support, data management, and user-specific functions.
The existing database does not allow the user to manipulate, access, and query the database other than in a very limited way. The user is limited to textual queries only, the selection and viewing of crossing attribute data with respect to spatial and topological relationships is not possible. Over related data, such as land use, population, and the road network characteristics of the area in the crossings vicinity, can not be accessed in the present database. This ability of GIS, along with the final presentation of results on a digital base map, will allow the user a better perception of the problem, enable better decisions, and allow a better understanding of what is to be achieved in a broader sense. The ability to define conditional queries, perform statistical analysis, create thematic maps, and provide charting chances the crossing safety program by allowing for better understandability of the data.
Furthermore, the ability of most GIS software to provide many basic transportation models and algorithms may also be useful in specific situations. The ability to link up to external procedures and softwares also provides flexibility, as these procedures can access data within the GIS and present the results of analysis to the GIS for viewing and analysis.
Methodology
Preparation of Base map
- Based on the maps available with Survey of India, NRSA, NIC and Local Organizations, a suitable scale for the spatial data will be arrived at so that all subsequent spatial information will be developed at that scale. Tentatively all spatial data will be prepared at 1:250,000 scale for typical locations in different regions in phases subject to availability of necessary maps from various sources.
- The spatial database for entire Nation has been prepared in the GIS platform in different layers of State boundary, district boundary, National highway, major towns etc. at 1:1M scale. Map showing district boundaries as per census 2001 is shown in figure 2, National Highway as per MoRTH, SoI and NHAI shown in figure 3 and map showing major towns is shown in figure 4.
- The spatial database will be upgraded with all spatial features at 1:250, 000 scale state wise. Haryana state has been taken-up in phase 1. The map of Haryana is shown in figure 5.
Figure 2: District Map of India
Figure 3: National Highway of India
Collection and collation of attribute and operational data
- Data related to the National Highways will be collected from NHAI, MoRTH and other agencies.
- Road condition data will be taken with the help of available reports to build the attribute database.
- Demographic and socio-economic data tables will be developed at the roadside settlement (village) level using the population Census and District Economic Census information.
- The traffic characteristics data like traffic volume, traffic composition, travel/design speed, road geometrics, roughness, soil properties, pavement condition (cracks and rut-depths), crust details, Benkelman beam deflection, Axle load, availability of pavement material, quarry site data will be developed chainage wise.
- Pavement composition details, overlay particulars (thickness, time of overlay) and Cross drainage particulars (type and chainage) will be added to the database
- Development of GIS mapping which gives all spatial and attributes details
- Development of intelligent queries, which fulfill the requirement of field engineers
Figure 4 : Major Towns in India
Figure 5: Spatial database of Haryana
Expected Outputs and Benefits
The most important advantage of dynamic connection between the geographical data base and the attribute data base is that each of the data bases can be updated or modified separately. The data base needs to be updated for any change of geographical features. Pavement condition data changes with time and must be updated to reflect such condition changes. Centralized data center will enhance the availability of various data and reduces repetition of data collection for the same road section(s) by different road agencies, hence leading to saving of time and resources.
The study would lead to database development on GIS platform, development of intelligent queries and database tables which is useful for the design, maintenance and planning of National Highways. Results of the study lead to planning of better transport facility with proper maintenance management system through database. This database can be used for socio-economic and transport development of the region.
The society can enjoy smoother and efficient movement of traffic with reduced traffic delay on highways. With the database development for highway planning and management, traffic movement will be efficient, effective and faster, allowing the road users to enjoy plying on highway network from places to places. The subsequent pavement management system leads to efficient retrieval of information which enables decision makers in effective planning towards an efficient road and road transportation system. This would lead to faster socio-economic development of the country. Pavement maintenance management system results in better network pavement conditions; Network Maintenance/Rehabilitation priorities; cost effective repairs; strengthening measures and optimal utilization of limited available resources.
References
- Basic Road Statistics, 1997.
- Website of National Highway Authority of India, 2005.