INTEGRATION OF A PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM IN SOUTH CAROLINA

With the increasing use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in public agencies, there is a growing trend toward integrating the Pavement Management System (PMS) data into the GIS. With the technological advances in computer hardware and software, this integration is becoming more practical. The advantages for the PMS engineer include the ability to visually display the results of database queries and pavement management analyses on a map of the highway network, view network conditions through dynamic color-coding of highway sections, and access sectional data through the graphical map interface. The alternative approaches to PMS/GIS integration in general are discussed, along with a detailed evaluation of the alternatives in South Carolina. The integration can be achieved through total integration so that the PMS is part of the GIS, through export of PMS data to match the GIS, or through export of the map into a PMS map display/query module. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach to system integration are discussed. The issues of highway referencing and data/map connection are presented. Finally, there is an examination of PMS/GIS integration as implemented in South Carolina.