Challenges and Opportunities for Online Freight Data Mapping Integration and Visualization

This paper presents the issues surrounding the integration and visualization of freight data using internet-based mapping applications. In relation to Internet-based mapping technology in freight data collection and planning we: (a) address implementation issues associated with data integration, (b) present a system architecture to leverage existing publicly available interfaces and web applications to accelerate product development and reduce costs, (c) describe an existing web-based mapping prototype and its capabilities, and (d) state lessons learned and present suggestions to streamline the integration and visualization of freight data. We conclude that despite data integration challenges, Internet-based mapping provides a cost effective and appealing tool to store, access, and communicate freight data as well as enhance our understanding of freight issues. We argue that institutional barriers, not technology, are the most demanding hurdles to widely implementing a freight data web-based mapping application in the near future.