Data Ontologies for Data-Driven Decision-Making: Research Approach and Findings (2026)
Chapter: Front Matter
Data Ontologies for
Data-Driven
Decision-Making
RESEARCH APPROACH AND FINDINGS
Richard Boadi
Connor Bruce
WSP
Herndon, VA
Conduct of Research Report for NCHRP Project 23-27
Submitted September 2025
NCHRP Web-Only Document 441
Data Ontologies for Data-Driven Decision-Making: Research Approach and Findings
© 2026 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the graphical logo are trademarks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
Systematic, well-designed, and implementable research is the most effective way to solve many problems facing state department of transportation (DOT) administrators and engineers. Often, highway problems are of local or regional interest and can best be studied by state DOTs individually or in cooperation with their state universities and others. However, the accelerating growth of highway transportation results in increasingly complex problems of wide interest to highway authorities. These problems are best studied through a coordinated program of cooperative research.
Recognizing this need, the leadership of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1962 initiated an objective national highway research program using modern scientific techniques—the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). NCHRP is supported on a continuing basis by funds from participating member states of AASHTO and receives the full cooperation and support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department of Transportation.
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Authors herein are responsible for the originality and accuracy of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein.
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) grants permission to reproduce written material in this publication for classroom and non-commercial purposes subject to the rights of any third parties and appropriate attribution. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply NAS, TRB, AASHTO, APTA, FAA, FHWA, FTA, GHSA, or NHTSA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. For other uses of the written material, users must request permission from the National Academies Press.
DISCLAIMER
This material is based upon work supported by the FHWA under Agreement No. 693JJ32350025. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed or implied in this document are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the FHWA; or the program sponsors.
The Transportation Research Board does not develop, issue, or publish standards or specifications. The Transportation Research Board manages applied research projects which provide the scientific foundation that may be used by Transportation Research Board sponsors, industry associations, or other organizations as the basis for revised practices, procedures, or specifications.
The Transportation Research Board, the National Academies, and the sponsors of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report.
The information contained in this document was taken directly from the submission of the author(s). This material has not been edited by TRB.
The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. Tsu-Jae Liu is president.
The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president.
The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine.
Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org.
The Transportation Research Board is one of four centers of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to mobilize expertise, experience, and knowledge to anticipate and solve complex transportation-related challenges. The Board’s varied activities annually engage more than 5,500 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state departments of transportation, federal agencies including component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation.
Learn more about the Transportation Research Board at www.TRB.org.
COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS
CRP STAFF FOR NCHRP WEB-ONLY DOCUMENT 441
Monique R. Evans, Director, Cooperative Research Programs
Waseem Dekelbab, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs, and Manager, National Cooperative Highway Research Program
Michael Brooks, Senior Program Officer
Dajaih Bias-Johnson, Senior Program Assistant
Natalie Barnes, Director of Publications
Brian Haefs, Associate Director of Publications
Dominique Williams, Editor
Jennifer Correro, Assistant Editor
NCHRP PROJECT 23-27 PANEL
Field of Administration — Area of Agency Administration
Richard Scott, Vermont Agency of Transportation, Barre, VT (Chair)
Majed N. Al-Ghandour, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Austin Baysinger, Utah Department of Transportation, Salt Lake City, UT
Moses Garcia, Austin, TX
Jane Frances Macfarlane, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA
Hunter Owens, California Department of Transportation, Los Angeles, CA
Michael Pipp, Helena, MT
Brittany Voll, Virginia Department of Transportation, Richmond, VA
Matt James Spiel, FHWA Liaison
Penelope Z. Weinberger, AASHTO Liaison
Contents
2. Chapter 2 – Research Approach
2.1. Phase I – Data Gathering and State of Practice Analysis
2.1.1. Task 1. Kickoff Teleconference
2.1.2. Task 2. Literature Review
2.1.3. Task 3. Targeted Surveys and In-Depth Interviews
2.1.4. Task 4. Synthesis of Task 2 and Task 3 Results
2.1.5. Task 5. Virtual Panel Meeting
2.2.1. Task 6. Develop Case Studies and Use Cases
2.2.2. Task 7. Methodology for Implementing Data Ontologies
2.2.4. Task 9. Virtual Panel Meeting
2.2.5. Task 10. Develop Draft and Final Guide
2.2.6. Task 11. Develop Final Deliverables
3. Chapter 3 – Research Findings
3.1.2. Challenges and Gap Analysis
3.2. Targeted Surveys and In-depth Interviews
4. Chapter 4 – Ontology Development Framework
4.2.1. Pillar D: Designing a Plan
4.2.2. Pillar A1: Assembling the Ontology
4.2.3. Pillar T: Testing the Ontology
4.2.4. Pillar A2: Adapting to Change
5. Chapter 5 – Conclusions and Suggested Research
Appendix A – Literature and Practice Review
A.2. Business-Driven Data Representation
A.3.1. Knowledge Organization Framework
A.3.2. Knowledge Engineering Solutions
A.3.3. The Role of Standards in Ontology Development
A.4. Re-engineering Legacy Information Systems: State DOT Examples
A.4.1. New York State Department of Transportation
A.4.2. Hawaii Department of Transportation
A.4.3. Utah Department of Transportation
A.4.4. Vermont Agency of Transportation
A.4.5. Texas Department of Transportation
A.6. Findings, Challenges, and Next Steps
A.6.2. Challenges, Gaps, and Analysis
Appendix B – Synthesis of Survey and In-depth Interviews
B.1. Survey Objective and Approach
B.2. Summary of Survey Results
B.2.1. Experience with Ontologies
B.2.2. Legacy Data Representation and System Modernization Efforts
B.2.3. Drivers for Improvement
B.3. Potential Case Studies and Use Cases
B.3.1. Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans)
B.3.2. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
B.3.3. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
B.3.4. Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT)
B.3.5. Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)
B.3.6. Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT)
B.3.7. Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
B.3.8. Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)
B.3.9. Best Practices, Lessons Learned, and Conclusions
NCHRP Web-Only Document 441 contains the conduct of research report for NCHRP Project 23-27 and accompanies NCHRP Research Report 1169: Data Ontologies for Data-Driven Decision-Making: Development and Use. Readers can read or purchase NCHRP Research Report 1169 on the National Academies Press website (nationalacademies.org/publications).
