ITS Professional Capacity Building | ITS Joint Program Office

Crowdsourcing for Operations

Most public agencies and private companies use crowdsourcing, which is the practice of addressing a need or a problem by enlisting the services of large numbers of people through technology. Organizations crowdsource product reviews, idea generation, feature detection, funding, and much more. With the proliferation of location-based technologies, an unprecedented wave of crowdsourced data is available to transportation agencies. Moreover, analytics tools and services make processing and using crowdsourced data a true game-changer for advancing intelligent transportation systems (ITS) solutions and transportation systems management and operations (TSMO) .

Since 2019, the FHWA Every Day Counts (EDC) Innovation, Crowdsourcing for Advancing Operations , has been supporting the adoption of crowdsourced data and tools to advance transportation operations across 35+ States and their local agencies to improve traffic incident, road weather, work zone, traffic signal, traveler information and emergency management, along with a host of other ITS and TSMO practices.

The Crowdsourcing Innovation Team in collaboration with the ITS Joint Program Office (JPO) Professional Capacity Building (PCB) Program delivered an introductory Crowdsourcing course through a series of five webinars, featuring State and local practitioner perspectives.

Webinar Series

The following lists the live webinar dates and course topics. Click on each to view the webinar recording, download webinar presentations, and review the question-and-answer component for each webinar.

May 16, 2023

Part 1 of 5

Introduction and Application Highlights

The webinar aims to enhance participants' understanding of how crowdsourced data can improve transportation operations. It will explore whether specific applications of crowdsourcing align with organizational needs and provide an opportunity for peers to share their experiences with using crowdsourced data in real-time and archived contexts. The focus will be on its impact on Transportation Management Systems Operations (TMSO), safety, and investment decision-making.

June 20, 2023

Part 2 of 5

Data Sources and Management

The webinar will cover key aspects of crowdsourced data, including common sources, providers, data fields, and potential uses. It will address data validation considerations for integrating crowdsourced data into Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO). Additionally, the session will highlight the importance of effective data management for both crowdsourced and broader agency data, and provide a high-level overview of how modern data management practices differ from traditional approaches.

July 18, 2023

Part 3 of 5

Traveler Information and Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

The webinar will examine the components and challenges of State and local Traffic Incident Management (TIM) and Traveler Information Programs. It will explore how crowdsourced data can enhance these programs and address key aspects of TIM. Participants will also have the opportunity to share their experiences with using crowdsourced data to improve TIM and Traveler Information services.

August 15, 2023

Part 4 of 5

Road Weather and Arterial Management

The webinar will focus on the components and challenges associated with State and local arterial and road weather management programs. It will explore how crowdsourced data can enhance these programs and address key aspects of arterial and road weather management. Participants will also have the chance to share their experiences with utilizing crowdsourced data to improve these management programs.

September 19, 2023

Part 5 of 5

Emergency and Work Zone Management, and Next Steps

The webinar will cover the components and challenges faced by State and local work zone and emergency management programs. It will explore how crowdsourced data can enhance these programs and provide insights into its application. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences with crowdsourced data in these contexts and learn key steps for exploring its use in their own regions.

To request course delivery (virtual or in person), contact the FHWA Office of Operations Crowdsourcing Innovation Team here .

Target Audience

The target audience for this webinar series includes transportation professionals with an interest in or responsibility for the management and operations of roadway systems, including local, State, or Federal Departments of Transportation or Public Works as well as consultant, university, or contractor support. No prior experience is required to attend this webinar series; however, participants are advised to attend the first two and the final webinars in this series either during the live delivery or as a recorded event.

Disclaimer

The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturer's names appear in these webinars only because they are considered essential to the objective of the webinar. They are included for informational purposes only and are not intended to reflect a preference, approval, or endorsement of any one product or entity.