Over the last decade, data collection technologies and analysis methods have advanced rapidly. Government agencies and industry stakeholders now employ a variety of in-road and on-board sensors with potential to capture information on goods movements and on freight vehicle activity. At the same time, states and MPOs are working to rapidly respond to new federal requirements for freight planning and freight performance measurement. These activities have traditionally relied on major federal data products such as the Commodity Flow Survey and the Freight Analysis Framework. While these data sources provide an important baseline for interregional analysis, new approaches are needed to address critical and persistent data gaps such as local vehicle and commodity flows, intermodal movements, and underrepresented commodities – e.g. e-commerce - that are not covered by the CFS. Given the complexity and the pace of change in the organization of modern supply chains, planners also need data sources that recognize the time-variability of freight flows and that provide timely information.

The 2017, 2019 and 2021 Innovations in Freight Data Workshops included representatives from local, regional, state, federal, and international agencies; consultants; academic researchers; and data professionals. The workshop included a variety of content, including: expert panel sessions; interactive demonstrations sessions; an interactive poster sessions; and awards ceremonies. Major themes addressed included data collection technologies; case study applications; and methods for and challenges of collecting and sharing new data sources.

Building on lessons learned from the 2017, 2019 and 2021 workshops, the objective of the 2023 and 2025 Innovations in Freight Data Workshops will be: to once again bring together freight data users and decision makers to learn and share the latest applications of emerging “big” data sources to improve freight planning, freight operations and mobility, and freight visualization; to showcase data applications, with particular emphasis on identifying adaptable/open source user-friendly tools; to invite participation from across the modal spectrum of goods movement, including highway, rail, marine, and air; and to invite participation from data scientists and technology developers to move the conversation beyond making incremental improvements to traditional freight planning and analysis methods.

The 2023 and 2025 Innovations in Freight Data Workshops are expected to follow the format of the previous workshops. The planning committee will seek applications form interested participants and will invite expert panelists to participate in a variety of session types, including panel presentations, speed presentations, live demonstrations of applications or technologies, and breakout discussions. A workshop report will be published that provides an overview of the entire workshop proceedings. A pooled fund technical representatives-only workshop session will be provided to discuss key takeaways, lessons learned and technology transfer actions for members to take back to their states. Pooled fund technical representatives will be invited to join the overall workshop planning committee but will be required to serve as a session moderator, speaker, poster presenter, technical representatives-only workshop session planner or technical representatives-only technology transfer webinar planner.

The minimum commitment needed per organization, per workshop is $14,000, for a total commitment of $28,000. This commitment includes workshop registration, travel and room & board for two attendees to attend project meetings at the workshop event site. One of these attendees should be designated as the organization’s technical representative.

An organization may choose to participate in one or both workshop events, as long as a commitment of $14,000 is committed for each workshop cycle. For example, an organization may choose to split their $14,000 commitment between years 2022 and/or 2023 for the 2023 workshop or may commit $14,000 in 2022 or 2023 for the 2023 workshop. This process cycle is repeated for the 2025 workshop using total commitments in 2024 and 2025.

The 2023 and 2025 efforts are being combined into a single pooled fund to streamline these related activities. The minimum commitment needed for the solicitation reflects only the 2023 workshop. An equal minimum commitment would also be required for the 2025 workshop but cannot be correctly reflected in the solicitation entry field. The location of each workshop has not been determined at the time of this posting, though past workshops were located in Irvine, California.

A 100% SPR Part II waiver will be pursued.

This pooled fund is always accepting new member organizations. Please inquire with the Lead Study Contact noted above to join this effort.