The design, maintenance and operation of highways requires the collection, analysis and dissemination of a great volume of information. Historically, processing systems have been single function and mainframe oriented. Each system, developed using different languages in relative isolation from the others, runs the risk of not being able to use common information or communicate results. The increasing power of microcomputers has resulted in a proliferation of systems development thus increasing risks. Charged with the responsibility of highway operation and faced with the requirement to integrate many systems, the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario has adopted an Information Resource Management (IRM) approach to systems development. IRM utilizes a structured approach to identify business functions, data requirements, technical architectures, systems integration and systems development priorities. The work performed to date, related to IRM, and its application to traffic systems integration are discussed.
Abstract