IDS Initiative Breaks New Ground at SHA

What is IDS?

Integrated Design System (IDS) refers to an initiative Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) started in 2002. The initiative is dedicated to:

  • Improving design productivity;
  • Integrating diverse workflows; and
  • Managing highway information.

The organizational structure at SHA spearheading this effort consists of the IDS Committee,  the IDS Team, and several IDS Subcommittees.

Since the inception of the IDS Initiative, RAM provided onsite support services that led to the release of SHA V8 CAD Standards, the implementation of ProjectWise, and the development of numerous workflow automation applications such as the Contract Tracking System.

Improving Productivity

The IDS CAD (Computer Aided Design) Subcommittee is charged with the development of CAD Standards that address design needs of all SHA Districts, Offices and Divisions. The new standards are expected to be delivered to coincide with the adoption of MicroStation V8 at SHA. Additionally, the Subcommittee will oversee the development of Productivity Tools that simplify the adoption of Standards and automate many aspects of creating drawings and related bid documents.

Integrating Workflows

By deploying an Internet-enabled Engineering Information Management (EIM) system, SHA expects to make its engineering design data available in real time to all project participants, including consultants and contractors. SHA is testing ProjectWise technology for this purpose. Research of other systems to integrate construction and operations workflow with design workflow is also planned with recommendations and deployment expected within the next two years.

Managing Highway Information

By integrating our design workflows with GIS technology, our highway and related structures such as bridges, traffic signs and signals, drainage structures, and other assets can be reviewed on a map based interface for simpler management and reporting needs. SHA recently initiated its IDS/GIS integration subcommittee to foster collaboration between IDS and the SHA GIS team.