Depending on who you are sending this to, you may want to provide
a little more context. Here’s some language that accompanied the
survey as it was sent to the TRB Data Section. Feel free to modify it. And
thanks, WTKN members, for initiating this survey! I’m curious as to
what we’ll gather. ~ Leni
****************
The
Western Transportation Knowledge Network (WTKN), as part of the
emerging National Transportation Knowledge Network (NTKN), is looking at a number
of issues pertaining to transportation information and knowledge, including
ways in which it can improve access to and sharing of data.
To help facilitate that, the WTKN is seeking to identify data sources that respondents think are key resources within
the transportation community. We ask that you provide your thoughts on
data resources that you believe should be broadly available in the
transportation community. The data can support any single or many
topics. To keep the survey short and manageable we only ask you to
identify up to three resources.
The
WTKN recognizes that many data resources are already available online, some
through organized clearinghouses, and that several are commonly known within
the sectors of the transportation community. However, it is also true
that practitioners can have difficulty finding data resources. Our intent
is to help provide access to these through a developing portal. We will not
warehouse the data but will help serve as another entry
point to the data sources.
Please
take a moment to complete this short survey: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dC1SZlkwdUpSWXNhSTJOaHdETU9rN0E6MA. We would appreciate your comments no
later than July 30th. Please forward to others that you
think may have information to contribute.
If
you have questions, please contact Kendra Levine, WTKN Chair, at KLevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or 501-642-3604. Results will be posted on
the WTKN.org website.
Additional
Background
The
Transportation Knowledge Network (TKN) is a work in progress. There have been
many efforts over the years to improve awareness of and access to data and information resources in the transportation community
but we still lack a “front door”. Other industries, such as health
and agriculture, have created information portals that are broadly used by
experts in their fields and other interested communities. In 2006, a TRB Special Report 284 Transportation Knowledge Networks, A
Management Strategy for the 21st Century recommended a framework for
development of Transportation Knowledge Networks. A subsequent study developed
a business plan for implementation of Transportation Knowledge Networks (NCHRP
Report 643, Dec. 2009). The final phase of this study produced an online directory of
transportation information centers that was published in the spring of
2010.
Efforts have been made to build the Transportation Knowledge Network. Today we
have three regional TKNs: Eastern; Midwest; and Western. These organizations
are open to new members. You can find more information and contacts at http://ntl.bts.gov/networking/index.html
From:
wtkn-forum-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wtkn-forum-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Kendra K. Levine
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 12:12 PM
To: Western Transportation Knowlege Network
Subject: [wtkn-forum] WTKN Data Survey
Thanks again to everybody who was able to make the call
today. As promised, here is the much anticipated WTKN Data Survey:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dC1SZlkwdUpSWXNhSTJOaHdETU9rN0E6MA#gid=0
or http://bit.ly/9qadFK
Please forward to possible respondents.
Kendra
--
Kendra K. Levine
Reference Librarian
Institute of Transportation Studies Library
412 McLaughlin Hall, UC Berkeley
Berkeley CA 94720-1720
http://library.its.berkeley