Dornier SystemConsult
Dornier SystemConsult
Restructuring of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Georgia
Technical Report (IV):
Information System DesignJuly 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.information types and flows......
1.1.Introduction
1.2.Existing transport sector data collection and processing
1.2.1Roads
1.2.2Buses
1.2.3Railways
1.2.4Urban Public Transport
1.2.5Maritime
1.2.6Air
1.2.7Role of the State Department for Statistics
1.3.Key objectives of information gathering
1.4.Transport information
1.4.1General principles
1.4.2Minister and Ministry (Transport Department)
1.4.3Transport Regulatory Agency and Modal Administrations
1.4.4Land Administration
1.4.5Maritime Administration
1.4.6Air Administration
1.4.7Transport Safety Agency
1.4.8Requirements of the Terms of Reference
1.4.9Adding results of calculations to the information
1.5.Telecommunications information
1.6.Annex A – Transport Statistics Great Britain 1999 (contents list)
2.Information processing equipment......
2.1.Terms of Reference
2.2.Background and Objectives
2.3.Network Topology
2.4.Communication protocols
2.5.Operating System / File Storage / Software
2.6.Maintenance
2.7.Security Infrastructure
2.8.Workstations
2.9.Equipment Distribution
2.10.Special Conditions of Contract
2.11.Bid Evaluation
2.12.Estimated Price Schedule For Goods
Annex I: Technical Specifications
Annex II: Network Topology
Annex III: 1- Equipment Distribution Overview
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES
Tables
Table 1.Responsibilities and access rights
Figures
Figure 1.Information capture and distribution
1.information types and flows
1.1.Introduction
Issues to be considered in developing a suitable set of information types and flows are:
- Data collection and processing currently undertaken by the Georgian Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC)
- Collection and processing of transport related data by other institutions
- The planned organisation of the restructured Ministry of Transport and Communications
- The functions to be undertaken by the components of the restructured MOTC
- The information types and processing needed to fulfil these functions
- Information flows and access rights within MOTC, both nationally and regionally
- Information exchange with other national institutions
- An implementation concept (developed in section 2: Information processing equipment and the network document)
- The training needed by existing and future staff to take full advantage the system to be implemented
This part of the report is structured as follows:
Section 1.2 reviews the current information and storage undertaken by the transport sector, based on knowledge acquired during the course of 14 interviews with senior representatives of transport sector organisations and others.
Section 1.3 addresses the key objectives of information gathering and the analyses that can be taken if comprehensive data is acquired. It includes a sub-section identifying concerns with the current situation.
Section 1.4 gives a summary of the Transport Information requirements, who should collect information and be responsible for quality assurance and the best method of distributing it. Access rights to information in a hypothetical database are proposed for each MOTC component and for outside organisations. Some of the types of calculation that can be undertaken are identified.
Finally Section 1.5 contains a brief summary of the types of communications information currently received by the Communications Department of MOTC. The details will change following restructuring.
Other parts of the report define hardware, software and network requirements for a successful information system design.
A fully functional information collection, processing and distribution system will take time to complete, and require significant training of key personnel. A useful system, building on what has already been achieved, could be implemented by the end of 2001. Achieving this would depend only on hardware and software procurement schedules.
1.2.Existing transport sector data collection and processing
Existing data collection, processing and distribution is summarised by mode. This information has been compiled following interviews with the Modal Administrations and specialist Departments within MOTC, including the Information Technology (IT) Department. Officials of the Traffic Police, the State Department of Roads, Georgian Railways, the State Department of Statistics and Tbilisi Municipality have also been interviewed. Meetings contributing information to the content of each section are summarised below.
1.2.1Roads
[Meeting 25.10.2000 with Mr. George Chapichadze, Head of Land Administration]
[Meeting 26.10.2000 with Mr. Gogi Tsereteli, Chief of Road Exploitation Division and Mr. Nugzar Gasviani, his deputy, both within the State Department of Roads]
[Meeting 27.10.2000 with Mr. Soso Karanadze, First Deputy of the Traffic Police]
[Meeting 01.11.2000 with Mr. George Karseladze, Head of the Land Safety and Ecology Department]
The Land Administration of the MOTC receives data relating to roads and road transport. Other holders of data are the State Department of Roads, the Land Safety and Ecology Department (formerly the Traffic Safety and Ecology Division), the Traffic Police, and Customs. Legislation putting both roads and railways under the control of the Land Administration has been completed.
Traffic counts and speeds
Traffic counts are undertaken by the State Department of Roads. Their principal count programme consists of manual classified counts at approximately 40 sites on Georgia’s main highways. These counts are of one week’s duration and are undertaken every 3 months, in accordance with recommendations by World Bank consultants. Vehicle classes are cars, pick-ups and minibuses (<13 seats), buses (> 13 seats), tractors, light 2 axle trucks (< 10 tonnes), 2 axle trucks (< 20 tonnes), 3 axle trucks (<30 tonnes), and trucks with trailer (4+ axles). A sample traffic count form was supplied. Vehicles with Georgian number plates and vehicles with foreign number plates are separately identified. At these sites, Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) is computed by first computing the average daily flow for each of the four seasonal weekly counts, then adding and dividing by 4. The only all year round traffic count takes place at the Rikoti gorge toll; automatic equipment is to be installed to improve the quality of counting. There are plans to purchase 12 automatic traffic counters in the near future.
Traffic surveys undertaken for particular projects are limited to traffic counts. The road projects being planned in Georgia involve maintenance, rehabilitation or widening. There are no plans to create new roads on new alignments. Therefore, the use of traffic modelling software is considered unnecessary and roadside interviews and journey time surveys are not carried out.
Traffic speeds of those vehicles exceeding the speed limit are recorded by the Traffic Police. This clearly a biased sample. The general speed limit in Georgia is 60 kph, with a fine of 5 to 10 Lari for exceeding the limit by 15 to 20 kph, and a fine of 12 to 15 Lari for exceeding the limit by 20 to 30 kph. The information on speeding offences is computerised. It could be passed on to the State Department of Roads or others in MOTC but it has not generally been asked for.
Accident data and road safety
Road accident data is recorded by the Traffic Police, who are also responsible for its analysis. There is a standard form for recording each accident. A sample has been obtained. The data recorded comprises date, time, types of vehicle, type of road, number of fatalities and number of casualties, weather, light conditions, and cause of accident. The accident records are computerised. The Traffic Police indicate a general problem that their computers are beginning to get out of date. Information regarding accidents is passed on to the State Department of Roads and the Land Safety and Ecology Department, but in the form of printed records rather than computer files. Summary information is provided concerning all accidents in each region (the 11 regions of Georgia). Accident data for particular road links or junctions is also supplied if the accident is a particularly serious one.
Accident data is taken into account in prioritising road projects. There is a commission, consisting of the Land, Safety and Ecology Department, the State Department of Roads, and the Traffic Police, that meets once a year. The commission examines the road accident data and inspects the roads; a programme of safety oriented projects is then agreed and a bulletin is issued.
Another role of the Land Safety and Ecology Department is the regulation of movement within Georgia in order to prevent accidents. This is concerned with the identification of potential physical impediments to movement. The task involves the receipt of weather reports, knowledge of the state of the roads and of actual and potential landslips. Temporary bans on movement are then implemented.
At a May 2000 workshop on Safety on Roads, financed by the EU and UN, the Georgian situation and data were considered. As a result, the Land, Safety and Ecology Department has supplied Georgian data to these international organisations, and also to the French Ministry of Transport.
Traffic offences, vehicle registration and inspection, drivers’ licenses
Data concerning moving traffic offences is held by the Traffic Police. The information is computerised. There are three levels of offence, those attracting a fine, those leading to withdrawal of a driving license, and those punishable by jail. Offences include speeding, drunk driving and dangerous driving. Jail is normally reserved for drunk or dangerous driving leading to injury. Although the Traffic Police report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the information (which can be very detailed) can be passed on to the MOTC, and has been in the past.
Registration of all motorised vehicles is made with the Traffic Police. The registration data is computerised. Registration takes place at the time of initial purchase and whenever there is a change of owner. Documents required are an ownership certificate and a customs declaration.
In accordance with presidential decree number 40, vehicles have to be inspected annually. The diagnostic inspection centres are privately owned but the process is controlled by the Traffic Police. The checks are for valid ownership and registration, safe operation (brakes, tyres, lighting) and ecological operation (acceptably low exhaust emissions). If a vehicle has been taken off road since the previous inspection, the Traffic Police must be notified.
Drivers’ licenses are issued and controlled by the Traffic Police, who maintain computerised records.
Environmental regulations and data
Environment is the responsibility of the Land Safety and Ecology Department within MOTC. Their main responsibility is to prepare legislation and regulations for presentation to parliament. They have prepared a document specifying acceptable levels for vehicle emissions for different vehicle types up to and including year 2005, and also procedures for the transport of hazardous substances by road. The document was prepared after a study of EU regulations but the maximum emission levels to be permitted in 2005 exceed the stringent EU requirements. Georgia’s vehicle stock is old and will it take some time for it to be modernised. No firm date has been set for full compliance with EU standards. The Department does not consider the emissions measurements made at the annual vehicle inspections to be reliable but has no immediate plans for measurements of its own.
VOC and infrastructure cost data
The Land Administration has available vehicle operating cost data for various types of vehicle for use in cost benefit analysis. The team has not seen any cost benefit calculations.
The State Department of Roads hold infrastructure cost data from previous construction projects and from recent tenders, which they use in their project cost estimation procedures. The road construction budget, which is agreed with Ministry of Finance, is controlled by the State Department of Roads. Money is mainly spent on three types of maintenance, routine (annual), periodic (every 4 years) and rehabilitation (approximately every 9 years but dependent upon traffic levels). Contracts are awarded by a system of competitive tendering which has been in place for 3 years. A minimum of three companies must tender. The system has worked well and has been particularly useful for routine maintenance.
Network inventory data
Network inventory data relating to road construction and maintenance is held by the State Department of Roads. The information is held in strip chart form. Each chart contains a plan view of the road section, its length, shoulder type, and indicators of excessive shoulder slope and/or substandard curvature. Construction data concerning each road section comprises the type of road surface, right of way and carriageway widths, types of main works, the thickness of the road surfacing and underlying layers, and the locations of structures. Condition data includes indicators of virgin soil within the right of way, the positions of deep snow sections and snow protective trees, and the condition of the main road pavement. The charts allow for some types of data to be recorded year by year, so that the data may be kept up to date. In the example provided, not all of the fields were filled in. None of this inventory data has been computerised; the charts are related to maps indicating section locations.
Tolls
Georgia’s one dual 2-lane motorway incorporates a tolling point at Rikoti gorge, which separates east and west Georgia. The revenue from this is transferred via the Ministry of Finance. The State Department of Roads are satisfied that they receive 100% of the revenue from MoF.
International comparisons
Comparisons of Georgian data with data from other nations are to be found in the booklet “Trends in the transport sector: 1970-1998”, produced for the occasion of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport, held in Tbilisi in September 2000. Georgian roads data contributing to the statistics presented comprise:
- Freight transport in ‘000 million tonne-kilometres
- Passenger transport in ‘000 million passenger-kilometres
Demand forecasting
Data used in demand forecasting includes economic growth and fuel prices, although it would appear that there is a heavy reliance on simple extrapolation. The State Department of Roads use the Scientific Institute, a government institution, to produce forecasts for them. The specimen calculations shown to the Consultant consisted of growth rates applied during 5 year intervals to all vehicle base year traffic. The State Department of Roads are happy with the current arrangements with the Scientific Institute but would be happy to learn of advances in forecasting techniques.
Overloaded vehicles
There is currently no data concerning overloaded vehicles. A recent decree of the President has called for action to be taken with regard to vehicles whose gross weight exceeds the legal limit. It is recognised that this requires the installation of weighbridges, which requires investment. Plans are being drawn up by the State Department of Roads in conjunction with Customs.
1.2.2Buses
[Meeting 25.10.2000 with Mr. George Chapichadze, head of Land Administration]
The Land Administration has responsibility for inter-urban and inter-regional buses. There is a franchising system whereby companies tender to provide a service on particular routes, typically for a 5 year period. The Invitation to Tender document is a draft contract, which supplies estimates of passenger flows and the number of buses needed and specifies service frequencies. The expected quality of service is specified (and later monitored) in terms of safety, punctuality, comfort and ecological norms. The potential carriers who tender must submit business plans. What the Land Administration desires from a successful tenderer in the current economic climate is a recognition of the need to renovate old buses in order to achieve the most effective but least cost transport. Knowledge of the ecological norms is important.
1.2.3Railways
[Meeting 31.10.2000 with Mr. Akaki Chkhaidze, General Director of Georgian Railways and Mr. Tengiz Tatishvili, Head of the International Department]
[Meeting 01.11.2000 with Mr. George Karseladze, Head of the Land Safety and Ecology Department]
Freight
Freight flows involve trade with many countries, including countries in Europe. Oil and oil products form 80% of the freight business. There is open competition with road haulage. In 1999, total business was 9.5 million tonnes, of which 6.5 million was oil. The largest single movement was 2.6 million tonnes from Kazhakstan in transit to Europe. For a fuller summary, the team was referred to the State Department of Statistics.
Passengers
Passenger traffic is much reduced because of the loss of the rail route through Abkhazia. The remaining rail route to Moscow is via Azerbaijan. There are two international passenger trains per day, to Moscow and Baku. To Moscow, there is competition from the bus route past Kazbegi via the Georgian military highway. For a fuller summary, the team was referred to the State Department of Statistics.
Georgian Railways state that they record quality of service information although details were not supplied.
Safety and environment
For safety and environmental data, there are two special divisions responsible, namely Safety and Ecology. In response to a request for examples of the forms for recording accidents and environmental measurements, the team was referred to the State Department of Statistics, who have a responsibility to approve the recorded information. Safety and environmental reports are supplied to the President and to the MOTC.
The Land Safety and Ecology Department acquired responsibility for safety and environment on the railways only two months ago. Meetings have been held with Georgian Railways since then but no safety and environmental data relating to railways has been supplied. The transfer of people with the relevant expertise from Georgian Railways to the Land Safety and Ecology Department has been requested but has yet to take place. In the future, the LSE Department will have the same responsibilities with regard to rail that they currently have for roads.
Inventory data
Inventory data was discussed under five headings:
- Stations and depots. Some information concerning the capacities of stations and depots is recorded.
- Border crossing points. Freight flows crossing international boundaries are recorded. This is not done for passenger flows because, in the current situation, the volumes are low.
- Track maintenance is one of three items for which data (condition of track) is stored in a central database located in Moscow. There is still a substantial degree of integration between the Russian and Georgian railway systems.
- Rolling stock data is held in the Moscow database, covering date of production, general condition, need for repair and life expectancy.
- Location data also forms part of the Moscow database, so that Georgian Railways know where their rolling stock is located and Russian Railways know which of their rolling stock is in Georgia.
International data exchange
Georgian Railways participate in international exchanges of railway data. Their principal data exchange is with fellow CIS countries. Also mentioned were contributions to the International Railway magazine (IRG), the Organisation of Cooperation of Railways (OCR) and the Union Internationale des Chemin de fer (UIC). Georgian Railways provided a copy of Eurasia Express, their in-house newspaper.