2.1.3.1 Data Collection Needs

Road data can broadly be categorized into various data groups, as shown in Table 2.1.3.1.1.

When collecting data, the road organization needs to consider the level of analysis for which it will be used, as summarized in Table 2.1.3.1.2.

The amount of data to be collected and the frequency at which data will be collected will depend on the following:

• Relevancy of data to the road management process;
• Appropriateness;
• Reliability; and
• Affordability.

The road data collected should be programmed or strategized to match their function in the asset management process and the data IQL. A data collection program that can be adapted by other transportation agencies is shown in Table 2.1.3.1.3.