COMPREHENSIVE INTRMODAL FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION VISUAL DATABASE

THIS PROJECT WILL DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF DELIVERING INTERMODAL FREIGHT DATA TO A WIDE VARIETY OF TRANSPORTATION PLANNERS; FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND ULTIMATELY SOME PRIVATE SECTOR USERS. THE PROJECT'S CHALLENGE IS TO MAKE DATA ACCESSIBLE IN TERMS OF THE USER'S ABILITY TO INTERACT WITH VARIOUS SOURCES AND DEPTHS OF INFORMATION AND THE SYSTEM'S ABILITY TO BE TIME RESPONSIVE. THE FACT THAT THE DATA WILL BE DISPLAYED IN TERMS OF MAPS AND OTHER VISUAL IMAGES WILL STIMULATE ITS USE. THE EXISTENCE OF SUFFICIENT DATA AND SOFTWARE COMBINED WITH A COMMON NEED AMONG A SET OF USERS CAN MAKE SUCH A PROJECT A REALITY. HOWEVER, SEVERAL CHALLENGES MUST BE ADDRESSED. DESIRED DATA NEEDS TO BE MATCHED AGAINST ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS CONFIGURATIONS. IS A STAND-ALONE OPERATION A RESONABLE OPTION CONSIDERING THE SIZE OF THE DATABASES AND THE COST OF THE USER HARDWARE? IS A NETWORK OF SOURCE DATA THE SUPERIOR OPTION? HOW WOULD SUCH A SYSTEM RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES OF COMMUNICATION, PRIORITIES, AND SPEED? HOW WILL THE DEMANDING SOFTWARE INTERFACES BE MET? IN A DISCIPLINED SYSTEM -- AS OPPOSED TO A TYPE OF OPEN END INTERNET APPROACH -- HOW MUCH DATA CAN BE ACCEPTED AND EFECTIVELY USED? THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES AND RESLVES THESE ISSUES.