Main menu

Turning Fragmented Data into a Smarter, Connected Network

Replacing Disconnected Systems with Data that Syncs Automatically

For years, state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have managed roads, bridges, and safety data across dozens of disconnected systems. Asset data lives in one place, crash reports in another, and road inventories somewhere else entirely. Each dataset tells a piece of the story … but not the whole picture.

That fragmentation slows everything down. Teams spend hours comparing spreadsheets, reconciling mismatched IDs, hunting for the “right” version of a dataset. When it is time to report to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or analyze safety hotspots, the data cleaning can take longer than the analysis itself.

That leaves DOTs to react to problems instead of predicting them. But it does not have to stay that way. A new wave of DOTs is shifting from cleanup to coordination, replacing disconnected systems with data that syncs automatically and updates itself.

The Shift from Cleanup to Synchronization

The transportation industry is at a turning point. Federal mandates like ARNOLD (All Roads Network of Linear Referenced Data) and MIRE (Model Inventory of Roadway Elements) require comprehensive, high-quality data for all public roads — not just state-maintained ones. To keep up, agencies need more than clean data. They need connected data.

That is where “Data Fusion” (also known as “conflation”) comes in.

Instead of cleaning up silos after the fact, Data Fusion uses rule-based automation to continuously align datasets as they change. Think of it as a living system that learns your business logic: how road segments connect, how assets are located, and how vendor data should align with your Linear Reference System (LRS).

Once those rules are in place, every new dataset is automatically validated and synchronized with the rest. The process becomes repeatable, scalable, and always current, as opposed to a once-a-year scramble.

A New Level of Clarity and Confidence

Agencies using Data Fusion report faster decisions and more reliable insights:

  • Better asset visibility. When roadway, traffic, and bridge data all share the same reference, DOTs can answer cross-system questions instantly, such as how many bridges over 50 years old sit on high-traffic routes.
  • Smoother compliance. Routine FHWA submissions like HPMS become easier because the rules already check the data in the background. Massachusetts DOT, for instance, turned what used to be a year-long manual reconciliation into a few hours of automated validation.
  • Cross-agency collaboration. Shared, synchronized data lets state, regional, and local partners operate from the same map, which reduces confusion and duplication.
  • Room for innovation. Once data is reliable, agencies can confidently use it to power AI analytics, digital twins, or predictive maintenance programs.

Early Adopters Are Already Seeing Results

Agencies like MassDOT, VDOT, and GDOT are already demonstrating how rule-based synchronization changes the game. MassDOT, for example, fused its third-party INRIX traffic data with the state’s road inventory — a project that once required four full-time staff for a year. With 1Spatial’s automated approach, it now takes just a few hours, covering nearly the entire network with 90-plus percent accuracy.

These leaders are showing that the path to smarter transportation systems starts with synchronized data. It is not about building more systems but connecting the ones we already have.

Why This Matters for Transportation Leaders

For DOT executives, synchronized data means fewer surprises, faster reporting, and stronger decisions. It transforms data from a maintenance burden into a strategic asset; one that improves safety outcomes, funding accuracy, and public transparency.

In short, it is how agencies move from reacting to the past to shaping the future.

As we move forward, the transportation landscape is changing fast. New technologies, stricter reporting standards, and increasing public expectations all demand better data. With Data Fusion, DOTs can finally bridge the gap between isolated systems and connected, intelligent networks.

Download the new “Data Fusion” white paper to explore how 1Spatial’s rule-based automation is helping DOTs synchronize datasets, simplify compliance, and build the foundation for smarter infrastructure.