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8 including SharePoint, Forms, and Flow to mention just a few. SharePoint is the primary product used by the ISPE Resource Hub, but Forms and Flow are used in conjunction with SharePoint to achieve the functions desired for the site. Transportation Agencies need not have a license for Microsoft Office 365 to use the ISPE Resource Hub. SharePoint is a tool for creating and maintaining web sites. SharePoint features a secure platform for storing and sharing data and is accessible using many internet browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.). Each SharePoint site is secured by unique permissions which can be modified to fit the needs of each site. As the functionality, utility, and popularity of the ISPE Resource Hub grows, it may naturally evolve into a type of clearinghouse for ISPE results and data collection tools (e.g., forms, templates, tablet apps for collecting field data). PILOT TEST The pilot test implementing the research products developed under this project was initially a one-year study. The pilot test commenced following a two-day in-person training workshop, which took place on February 25th and 26th, 2020, in Portland, Maine. Almost immediately, in March 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic necessitated many changes to what would have been considered normal workplace protocols. Workplaces were shut down and employees began working from home in March 2020. The one-year pilot test was extended by six months to conclude in August 2021. Nevertheless, the pilot states made tremendous strides in testing the research products. The two-day in-person workshop provided training for conducting an ISPE and demonstrated the ISPE Guidelines Document, ISPE Data Set and Analysis Template, and ISPE Resource Hub. The workshop initiated the pilot test. The objectives of the pilot test were many, including ensuring research product readiness. The workshop included participation from nine states and representation from all four AASHTO regions. Following the conduct of the training workshop, a request from the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) was made to join the pilot test. Subsequently, a two-day online training workshop was conducted for ADOT and ADOT elected to join the pilot test. The pilot study participants included representatives from the following state transportation agencies: 1. Arizona, 2. Connecticut, 3. Maine, 4. New Hampshire, 5. Georgia, 6. South Carolina, 7. Tennessee, 8. Iowa, 9. Utah, and 10. Washington. After the training workshop, the pilot states were encouraged to begin using the beta research products to conduct their own ISPEs. During the beta test, the research team provided support to the pilot States through help with assembling their data, electronic mail
9 communications, and phone support as appropriate. In some instances, the research team also helped assemble the ISPE Reports documenting a pilot statesâ ISPEs. It was initially envisioned that support would include travel to the pilot states, however, that was not permitted due to the travel restrictions in place as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Common issues and challenges to conducting ISPEs were identified and addressed through updating of the research products. One suggestion was to increase the number of data fields suggested for conducting an ISPE. The pilot states recommended extending the suggested data fields. The pilot states were confident the suggested additions could be accommodated by a variety of states. There were also common challenges observed when the Pilot States were interpreting the ISPE Guidelines Document. As a result, changes were made to clarify the ISPE Guidelines Document. The challenges presented by the Covid-19 related restrictions were widespread and did not spare this pilot test. Multiple Pilot States found the challenges related to COVID impeded their full participation in the pilot test. One Pilot State was in the process of a database migration and infrastructure rebuild for most of the pilot test; this State plans to complete their pilot test after the submittal of this report. Five Pilot States completed at least one ISPE Report following the documentation procedures provided in the ISPE Guidelines Document. Two Pilot States completed multiple ISPE Reports during the Pilot Test. Two States continue to work on the development of there ISPE Reports and one State was not able to complete an ISPE Report. An example of the report completed by the Utah DOT is included here as Appendix B. It has been observed in the past that Transportation Agencies often lack dedicated personnel to conduct ISPEs, however, Maine and Washington dedicated staff to completing this Pilot Test and Connecticut hired an Intern to assemble the available data. Iowa explained that they leveraged their maintenance staff to document crash damage in their system, but do not have a dedicated person for reviewing how the features performed. New Hampshire plans to hire an intern in the future to review the reports and dedicate engineering personnel to evaluating the assembled data. Utah attributed their success to excellent teamwork and collaboration between two staff members with different expertise (i.e., crash data and asset management data) which facilitated programmatically assembling the ISPE data set using their available databases. When the Pilot States were asked if the ISPEs they conducted provided information that will be useful in making decisions about roadside hardware, there were many yeses. Utah explained the results were very interesting and spurred some good internal discussion. Maine used the results of their ISPE to provide confirmation and support for their current policy and standards. Washington assessed the performance differences for two similar systems and described their findings as helpful. New Hampshire and Connecticut both studied systems with very low inventories and are looking for ways to further extend their findings. Nevertheless, Connecticut observed that the data reviewed offered a general sense of how the system was preforming and New Hampshire is looking to extend their study using the multi-state approach provided within the ISPE Guidelines Document. At the onset of the Pilot Test, many participants were unsure of the data available within their states for conducting ISPEs, however, a tremendous amount of available data sources were identified and new data collection undertaken. New Hampshire planned to use their available insurance recovery data, however, found processing that data to be tedious. New Hampshire used google earth to confirm the hardware involved but found that to be similarly tedious. New Hampshire is currently starting an inventory of hardware that will be updated by their construction section as changes are made. Connecticut is currently creating a statewide GIS
