Description:
(See below for a project list.)
Our researchers and analysts are skilled in transportation analysis, policy, planning, and research; statistical measures and indicators development and analysis; economic policy research, especially as it relates to productivity measurement and analysis, impact analysis and performance measurement, and program evaluation; and large-scale statistical systems analysis, research, development, and implementation. They are also experts in survey design and data collection, from survey strategy and planning and sample selection to the development of online systems to collect and deliver survey data.
Our professional library services offer real-time reference desk support and metadata system maintenance and records management and administration. Our information services staff supports and regularly uses key online resources such as the National Transportation Library and TRIS Online to serve our clients. Our staff also provides more traditional library and reference services such as those at the FHWA’s Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center.
Service type |
Tools |
Language |
Data manipulations, statistical and economic modeling, and spatial analysis |
SAS, SPSS, STATA, S-Plus, Minitab, Matlab, Mathematica |
|
Geographic information system (GIS) |
AML Programming; Big/IP NLB Servers; Clarify; Clark Labs IDRISI Kilimanjaro; Compaq DL 380 Server; Corel CorelDraw, Quattro Pro; Cubist; dBase-III; Definiens eCognition; Eftia; Ert Studio; ESRI ArtGIS 9.0, ArcHydro, ArcIMS v8.1, v9.1, ArcInfo, ArcInfo License Manager, ArcInfo Network Analyst, ArcInfo Portal Toolkit, ArcMap, ArcPad, ArcSDE v8.1, v9.1, ArcView 3.3, Atlas GIS; FORTRAN; FragStats*ARC; Java Applets; Leica ERDAS IMAGINE; MapInfo MapMaker, MapXtremeVisio, Professional; MapVisio; Metasolv; Model Builder; Microsoft Access, Excel, FrontPage, IE 5.0, IIS 5.0, SQL 2000 Server, SQL 2003 Server, Visio, Windows 2000 Advanced Server; Netscape Navigator 4.0; netViz; NeuroDimension NeuroSolutions; Oracle; PCI Geomatica; PL/SQL; Purdue Research Foundation MultiSpec; Python; RSI ENVI; SPSS; SAN; Surfer 8; TCP/IP; TOAD; Trimble GeoXT GPS, GPS Pathfinder Office, GPS Pathfinder Pro XL System, NavBeacon XL; UNIX |
C, HTML, Java, XML |
Project List
Select a client from the list below to view related research and analysis projects:
- Bureau of Transportation Statistics
- Corporation for National and Community Service
- Department of Commerce/Bureau of Economic Analysis
- Department of Commerce/Census Bureau
- Department of Education/National Center for Education Statistics
- Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Department of Housing and Urban Development
- DRI-WEFA, Inc./Maritime Administration*
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
- Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
- National Academy of Sciences
- Office of Technology and Industrial Relations
- Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA)
- Small Business Administration: National Women’s Business Council
- Transportation Security Administration
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Aviation Data Analysis and Support
MacroSys transportation and data analysts developed databases and reports for the Office of Airline Information on aviation data; developed indexes to reflect costs to air passengers; and collected and analyzed data and developed tools to assess the impact of regulatory changes on the airline industry.
Digital document and metadata maintenance
MacroSys maintains The Digital Collection: A Virtual Catalog and Repository, a metadata repository of information about digital documents preserved in online collections and links to other Web-accessible resources. MacroSys’s team maintains and enhances the National Transportation Library Web search interface to make the digital collection searchable and works with the Office of Transportation Information Resources and Bureau of Transportation Statistics staff to develop, maintain, and support systems for taxonomy, categorization, and metadata management.
Estimating Multifactor Productivity in the Trucking Industry
The MacroSys team is replicating the methods, procedures, and data sets of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’s (BLS) labor productivity index to produce a multifactor productivity index for the long-distance trucking industry, and eventually all transportation industries.
National Household Travel Survey Data Users and Uses Report
As a part of the comprehensive services MacroSys provided to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics NHTS project, the MacroSys team produced a comprehensive report on how NHTS data were used by different users to address travel behavior, safety, environment, congestion, land use, intermodal travel, and travel by special populations, such as the elderly, school-age children, and how NHTS data were used to inform policy and planning decisions. The publication also reported users’ feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the 2001 NHTS and how they thought NHTS could be best improved.
Transportation Statistics Annual Report
To support the Bureau of Transportation Statistics TSAR’s annual production, the MacroSys team assists in planning production schedule; collects data and information and conducts initial research; prepare drafts and edits them; reviews comments on TSAR drafts; and prepares and formats the final draft of TSAR for print and Web publication.
U.S. Transportation Infrastructure Capital Stocks Accounts
Working with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, MacroSys is building the first Transportation Infrastructure Capital Stocks Accounts for the U.S. economy.
Census Transportation Planning Package
MacroSys provides direction and support to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for its involvement with the Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP).
Economic Impact of Tourism in the United States
For the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, MacroSys developed the conceptual framework and analytical tools that were lacking to measure the size of tourism in the United States and its impact on the U.S. economy.
Transportation Services Index
A MacroSys team worked with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to improve the process for updating and releasing estimates for the Transportation Services Index, including research and processing data, analyzing tests to update data, and preparing releases of estimates.
Transportation Indicators
MacroSys’s team formed the entire production team for the Transportation Indicators (TI) report that provides monthly updates to more than 100 indicators that monitor changes in every aspect of the U.S. transportation system for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Government Transportation Financial Statistics
For many years, MacroSys has been supporting the development and production of the Government Transportation Financial Statistics (GTFS), as well as GTFS-related reports, by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to report transportation revenues and expenditures of Federal, state and local governments.
Household Production of Transportation Services
MacroSys transportation and data analysts developed a methodology for estimating the size of transportation service output provided by the household sector for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
U.S. Global Competitiveness and Transportation
MacroSys experts developed a conceptual framework, measures, and data sources for measuring U.S. global competitiveness in terms of transportation for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Transportation and Air Pollution
MacroSys staff conducted an international comparison and analysis of transportation and air pollution for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Fuel Tax and Economic Impact in the United States
MacroSys conducted a detailed study to model gas demand and quantify the impact of gas taxes for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Transportation Investment in Relation to GDP
MacroSys staff assisted with this project conducted for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics by reviewing literature examining the link between transportation investment and economic performance and then surveyed, discussed and analyzed this information in regards to other agencies and the gross domestic product.
Federal Subsidies to the Transportation Sector
MacroSys economists and transportation analysts performed research to create a database of federal subsidies for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to be used for policy analysis.
Measuring the Relationship between Airport Congestion and Air Travel Delay
MacroSys worked with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics Office of Advanced Studies to develop a chained index of aviation time travel and a measure of airport congestion so that the data from both could be used to increase the efficiency of the transportation system.
Confidential Close Call Reporting System
MacroSys transportation analysts and database developers worked together on the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) Demonstration Project for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to accept, store, process, and analyze the reports, as well as to disseminate reports to participants and FRA on trends and new risks regarding railroad risks and safety.
Development of Transportation Greenhouse Gas Intensity Measurements
MacroSys analysts produced a report for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics that reviewed, researched, and analyzed the transportation GHG intensity measurements.
Commodity Flow Survey
For many years, the MacroSys team has been providing research, methodology, and analytical support to the Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) for the Census Bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, supporting BTS’s effort to significantly improve interagency comparability of transportation data, make data consistent across modes and across time, and enable people to make comparisons for broad program and resource decisions.
September 11th Security Fees Quarterly Reports Website (for TSA/BTS
In 2002, a MacroSys team of systems analysts, Web application programmers and designers, and database administrators built an effective and efficient application for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to collect, audit, and analyze quarterly data submitted by airlines regarding September 11th security fees and generate quarterly reports.
Corporation for National and Community Service
AmeriCorps Member Satisfaction Survey
MacroSys developed and facilitated the AmeriCorps Member Satisfaction Survey for the Corporation for National and Community Service through a series of tasks involving usability testing; data collection and analysis; reporting data and analysis; and providing recommendations.
Department of Commerce/Bureau of Economic Analysis
U.S. Transportation Infrastructure Capital Stocks Accounts
Working with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, MacroSys is building the first Transportation Infrastructure Capital Stocks Accounts for the U.S. economy.
Department of Commerce/Census Bureau
Commodity Flow Survey
For many years, the MacroSys team has been providing research, methodology, and analytical support to the Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) for the Census Bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, supporting BTS’s effort to significantly improve interagency comparability of transportation data, make data consistent across modes and across time, and enable people to make comparisons for broad program and resource decisions.
Department of Education/National Center for Education Statistics
Statistical research and analytic support for ESSI
Through its subcontract with the American Institutes for Research, MacroSys provides support to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in statistical methodology research, statistical analysis, data development, and project management through the Education Statistics Services Institute (ESSI), a contract whose functions mirror and extend the work of the NCES.
Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Survey and Analysis of Purchase of Professional Services Contract Labor by Hospitals, Nursing Facilities, and Kidney Dialysis Centers
MacroSys has been conducting a survey of hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and kidney dialysis centers for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the professional services contract labor used by these facilities. MacroSys is responsible for generating samples, conducting the survey, and managing the security of data.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Statistical Analysis of Housing Programs and Rent Errors
MacroSys provided assistance to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Public and Indian Housing for program analysis, including technical writing and editing, and analysis of special projects under the Rental Housing Integrity Improvement Project (RHIIP).
DRI-WEFA, Inc./Maritime Administration*
Assessing the Economic Importance of the U.S. Marine Transportation System
MacroSys staff developed the conceptual and accounting framework to draw the boundary of the U.S. Marine Transportation System (MTS) and present data regarding the economic importance of MTS for DRI-WEFA, Inc., under its primary contract with the Maritime Administration.
Federal Aviation Administration
Traffic Flow Management Data Analysis (for FAA)
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Traffic Flow Management (TFM) Organization is responsible for developing and deploying technology to support the safe and efficient movement of aircraft through the national aviation system. To determine how to best approach the modernization of the TFM system, the FAA contracted MacroSys to document the data flows and data architecture of the system and make recommendations. MacroSys developed two documents: a data dictionary for the entire system, with detailed data layout for each data file; and a data flow report, including a data flow diagram. MacroSys also provided input for the system’s redesign, recommending a data architecture that focused on flexibility, maintainability, scalability, security, and usability.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Logistics and GDP: How Big is the Logistics Industry in the U.S. Economy?
MacroSys analysts produced a report for the Federal Highway Administration that examined the efficacy of currents metrics to quantify U.S. logistic costs accurately.
FHWA JobGauge – A Database Application for Estimating Job Impact
MacroSys developed a job impact assessment system for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that embodies a specialized model for highway operations and provides a user-friendly interface for data entry, impact assessment, and presentation of results. The system allows officials and analysts from FHWA and other highway agencies to conduct quick job assessments and manage a multitude of data on highway operational activities without having to develop a sophisticated understanding of the methodologies and data needed to perform impact analyses.
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
Confidential Close Call Reporting System
MacroSys transportation analysts and database developers worked together on the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) Demonstration Project for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to accept, store, process, and analyze the reports, as well as to disseminate reports to participants and FRA on trends and new risks regarding railroad risks and safety.
National Academy of Sciences
Data Support for Commuting in America, Third Edition
MacroSys transportation analysts provided technical and analytical services supporting Commuting in America, Third Edition, published by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences, including preparing and importing data into the GIS for visual presentation.
Office of Technology and Industrial Relations
Digital document and metadata maintenance
MacroSys maintains The Digital Collection: A Virtual Catalog and Repository, a metadata repository of information about digital documents preserved in online collections and links to other Web-accessible resources. MacroSys’s team maintains and enhances the National Transportation Library Web search interface to make the digital collection searchable and works with the Office of Transportation Information Resources and Bureau of Transportation Statistics staff to develop, maintain, and support systems for taxonomy, categorization, and metadata management.
Library reference services
The National Transportation Library reference service is staffed by MacroSys library professionals. The MacroSys team assists customers with finding statistics, locating reports, and contacting experts, in addition to handling questions about TRIS Online and TranStats databases.
Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA)
Research Support to RITA’s Office of Governmental, International, and Public Affairs
MacroSys has provided support to the Research and Innovative Technology Administration’s (RITA) Office of Governmental, International, and Public Affairs in regards to preparing up-to-date documentation and records for Congressional personnel.
RITA Records Management
MacroSys records specialists have provided expertise and technical and management assistance to support the DOT Research and Innovative Technology Administration to establish and implement scientific and systematic records management.
Small Business Administration: National Women’s Business Council
Utilization of Women-Owned Small Business in Government Contracting
MacroSys economists and survey methodologists conducted a study for the National Women’s Business Council of the U.S. Small Business Administration that examined the disparity of women-owned small businesses in federal subcontracting.
Transportation Security Administration
In 2002, a MacroSys team of systems analysts, Web application programmers and designers, and database administrators built an effective and efficient application for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to collect, audit, and analyze quarterly data submitted by airlines regarding September 11th security fees and generate quarterly reports.
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