Abstract:
Good, quality data are an essential element in transportation planning, engineering, and decision-making. There are three basic ways to collect transportation data: through observation; by interview; and through automated or mechanical approaches. The quantity and quality of each of these types of data collection efforts can be enhanced through current advances in technology. One useful advance in technology quite appropriate for transportation data collection is the use of durable, handheld computers. This paper presents a number of different data collection efforts, along with illuminating anecdotal experiences, that provide the reader with a cross-section of uses of the handheld computer as a tool for observational studies, for interviews, and as an enhancement to various automated techniques.
