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Linear Referencing System

Linear Referencing System

This lead state team has completed all planned activities and is no longer active. See the closeout report or closeout overview for a summary of lead state team accomplishments. The information below, as created by the active lead state team, remains available for review by users seeking additional information.

What is a Linear Referencing System?

graphical representation of the LRS Data Model

Linear Referencing System Data Model

A location referencing system (LRS) is "a set of office and field procedures that include a highway location reference method." A location referencing method (LRM) is a "way to identify a specific location with respect to a known point" (Baker, W. and W. Blessing. (1974). Highway Linear Reference Methods, Synthesis of Highway Practice 21. National Cooperative Highway Research Program. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C.).

The Iowa LRS was designed using the results of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) 20-27(2) project. The NCHRP 20-27(2) linear LRS data model was developed in response to a growing awareness of the need to integrate increasing amounts of linearly-referenced data used by the transportation community (Vonderohe, A.P., Chou, C.L., Sun, F., and T.M. Adams. (1997). "A Generic Data Model for Linear Referencing Systems", Research Results Digest 218, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., August, 28 pp.).

Benefits

Combining information from different data sources within a department of transportation has been an information processing concern. Spatial data, whether in the form of a mile marker, literal description or other location component, has varied in the many different databases used over the years. Since a vast majority of the data collected is referenced to the Earth in some manner, the use of spatial location and Geographic Information System products is the logical choice to accomplish this integration. The Linear Reference System (LRS) aligns the linear reference points in all databases so information from crash statistics, pavement management and other business data can be accurately mapped and data more easily analyzed. Through this integration, the LRS improves data integration and access, improves accuracy, minimizes redundancy in the databases, minimizes data maintenance activities and includes all public roads.

An improved road network is very important in many areas. Safety professionals make extensive use of the road network to plan and execute engineering, enforcement, education and emergency response treatments for safety problems. Routing and Navigation utilize the road network to solve the problem of shortest path to a selected destination from current vehicle position. Tying the data together from throughout all areas via location improves our ability to manage our road systems. Through the investment in the LRS, the DOT's are able to provide a base for emergency response coordination across jurisdictions.

It is the desire of the Lead States Team to assist other states in creating and/or enhancing their LRS.

Contacts – Lead States Team

Peggi Knight
Office of Transportation Data
Iowa Department of Transportation
515-239-1530
peggi.knight@dot.iowa.gov

Mark Sarmiento
Office of Interstate and Border Planning
Federal Highway Administration
202-366-4828
Mark.Sarmiento@dot.gov
Janet O. Lowe, GISP
Spatial Data Manager
North Carolina Depart. of Transportation GIS Unit
919-707-2153
jolowe@ncdot.gov
David Blackstone
GIS Manager
Ohio Department of Transportation
614-466-2594
Dave.Blackstone@dot.state.oh.us
Thomas Martin
Transportation Data Coordination Supervisor
Data Systems & Coordination
Mn/DOT Office of Transp. & Data
651-366-3872
Thomas.Martin@dot.state.mn.us
Oscar Jarquin
Chief, Office of Information Technology
California Department of Transportation
213-897-1696
oscar_jarquin@dot.ca.gov
Dave Fletcher
President
Geographic Paradigm Computing, Inc.
505-833-3309
fletcher.d@att.net
Jonathan (JJ) DuChateau
IT Strategy & Architecture Section
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
608-266-6975
Jonathan.DuChateau@dot.wisconsin.gov
Tim Bisch
Bentley Systems, Inc
512-733-1911
Tim.Bisch@bentley.com

LRS Library