Tracking transportation projects

With accountability always an issue, the Georgia Department of Transportation wants to keep a clear eye on all its projects. To help track its many undertakings, the agency is using the XI Release 2 business intelligence (BI) suite from Business Objects. The solution helps GDOT accurately manage initiatives like road and bridge development and contract bidding processes, as well as ensure on-time completion of projects.

GDOT officials also use the solution to manage financial and cash flow forecasting for billions of dollars in state programs. That is particularly crucial for projects in the state's transportation improvement program, which are high-profile initiatives.

The agency is also using the solution's performance management capabilities to ensure it's on track to meet goals for 14 strategic objectives, including customer service, operations delivery, financial resources, employee development, consultant relationships and more. Upper management traditionally tracked those areas, but now the rank and file, creating a cultural change within the department, is using business intelligence.

Jim Davis, strategic development administrator at the GDOT, says, "The technology gives deeper insight for business managers and engineers to see how their activities map to the success of larger agency projects. People are more interested in metrics and measurement than ever before, and how they can apply them to improve our organization."

According to a press release from Business Objects, GDOT used its global services and solutions to determine how information could be accessed quickly and by more people in the agency. Key metrics like the status of a highway pre-construction program were typically gathered using Microsoft Access queries, which would then be transferred to Excel spreadsheets. Now GDOT has created one streamlined, consistent process for all its departments.