摘要: |
Two types of data commonly used in highway management systems are video/film images and tabulated data such as pavement width/type, construction/rehabilitation history, layer thicknesses and types, condition data, accident data, traffic history, and signing/marking inventory. Tabulated data can be stored readily in a database, making general access reasonably feasible. However, access to the video/film images has been limited by technology, and the simultaneous access to both data types from a single medium has not been possible. A multimedia-based Highway Information System (MMHIS) is described in this paper that merges the two data types into a single access system that displays moving video images and the corresponding tabulated site data. The system displays the video image and corresponding data on a conventional desktop computer monitor. The MMHIS is installed on a centralized file server, and any PC or workstation networked with the server has access to the images and data. MMHIS has broad applications in highway engineering management. A state highway agency with a statewide computer network would have access to the entire database from any office on the network. The latest video images and data would be available to field engineers, maintenance superintendents, design engineers, traffic analysts, and planners. Through the use of overhead projection panels, top management meetings regarding specific sites could include the viewing of those sites without leaving the conference room. This paper discusses the design of a low cost MMHIS and identifies the technology associated with the implementation of such a system. |