IISTPS Report 96-4
ISSUES RELATED TO THE EMERGENCE OF
THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY AND
CALIFORNIA SOCIETAL CHANGES
December 1996
Dr. Jan L.
Botha, Professor of Civil Engineering,
Dr. Roger
Salstrom, Associate Professor, Organization & Management
Dr. R.
Benjamin Knapp, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering
Shirley Chan,
Research Assistant
A publication
of the
Norman Y. Mineta
International Institute for
Surface Transportation Policy Studies
IISTPS
Created
by Congress in 1991
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1.
Report No FHWA/CA/OR-96/23 . |
2. Government Accession No. |
3. Recipients Catalog No. |
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4.
Title and Subtitle: Issues Related to the Emergence of the Information Superhighway and
California Societial Changes |
5. Report Date December 1996 |
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6. Performing Organization
Code |
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7.
Author: Dr. Jan Botha, Dr. Roger L.
Salstrom, Dr. R. Benjamin Knapp, Shirley Chan |
8. Performing Organization
Report No.
A94RM63 |
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9.
Performing Organization Name and Address: California Department of Transportation New Technology and Research, MS-83 P.O. Box 942873 Sacramento, Ca. 94273-0001 |
10. Work Unit No. |
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11.
Contract or Grant No. 65VRM63 |
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12. Sponsoring
Agency Name and Address: California
Department of Transportation Office of Research- MS4 400 7thStreet, SW Sacramento, CA
94273-0001 |
13.
Type of Report and Period Covered: Final Report |
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14.
Sponsoring Agency Code |
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15. Supplementary Notes: |
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16. Abstract: The Norman Y. Mineta
International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies (IISTPS) at
San José State University (SJSU) conducted this project to review the
continuing development of the Internet and the Information Superhighway.
Emphasis was placed on an examination of the impact on commuting and working
patterns in California, and an analysis of how public transportation
agencies, including Caltrans, might take advantage of the new communications
technologies. The document reviews the
technology underlying the current Internet “structure” and examines
anticipated developments. It is important to note that much of the research
for this limited-scope project was conducted during 1995, and the topic is so
rapidly evolving that some information is almost automatically “dated.” The
report also examines how transportation agencies are basically similar in
structure and function to other business entities, and how they can continue
to utilize the emerging technologies to improve internal and external
communications. As part of a detailed discussion of specific transportation
agency functions, it is noted that the concept of a “Roundtable Forum,”
growing out of developments in Concurrent Engineering, can provide an
opportunity for representatives from multiple jurisdictions to utilize the
Internet for more coordinated decision-making. The report also included an
extensive analysis of demographic trends in California in recent years, such
as commute and recreational activities, and identifies how the emerging
technologies may impact future changes. |
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17. Key Words: Census; Demographics; Information transfer; Internet; Organization structure; Technology transfer; Telecommunications; Telecommuting; |
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