Welcome to NECTAR
Helping Sweeten Your Access to Transportation Data

What Is It?
How Does it Work?
Why Was It Developed...and How?
Who May Access the Program?

What Is It?

NECTAR is the acronym for Nebraska Enterprise Centerline Transportation Attribute Resource. It's a new web-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tool that has been developed by NDOR’s Information Systems Division to provide employees with a user-friendly access to current transportation related information. It provides access to data pertaining to roads, bridges, railroads, average daily traffic (ADT) locations, and a variety of other transportation categories, which were not easily accessible in the past.

One example of the wide range of information available includes access to current construction projects, including project name and number, location, contractors, type of work and amount of time used and money spent. While this type of information is available on another program, SiteManager (a construction software package), NECTAR provides the information in a more concise manner, generating less paperwork.

How Does it Work?

NECTAR works by allowing the user to query multiple databases. Once the query results are generated, a map can be created and viewed in any of the following categories: statewide, U.S. Congressional Districts, Nebraska Legislative Districts, NDOR Districts, NDOR Maintenance Superintendents, NDOR Maintenance Supervisors, Counties or First Class Cities. Reports may also be generated using the data.

Some other helpful utilities include the 71/2 minute quads, which are scanned images of topographic maps, called Digital Raster Graphics (DRG), from the United States Geological Survey, as well as aerial photography, called digital ortho photo quarter quarter quads (DOQQ). Digilog photos taken by the GIS Section may also be viewed with the generated features.

Other information that has been incorporated within NECTAR includes maintenance activity, guardrail locations, State of the System (SOS), fatal crash locations and Needs Study data, which incorporates the Integrated Highway Inventory (IHI).

In addition to information relating to NECTAR, several other applications frequently used by NDOR employees are accessible via the page, including the reference post logbook, Digilog, 511 information and Road Weather Information System (RWIS).

And this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the possibilities. Some ideas already being examined include the expansion of NECTAR to other divisions and applications, and plans to create an Internet version of the program.

Why Was It Developed...and How?

The program came about after a GIS strategic plan was completed indicating the need for easier access to a broader range of data. The consultant, GeoDecisions, who developed the strategic plan, found that:

• Many NDOR staffers would like to improve their access to, and understanding of data for use in completion of their work tasks.
• Extension of GIS capabilities to district offices is desirable.
• A simpler, more direct access to data for GIS analysis was needed, especially through web-enabled interfaces.
• There was a data access “roadblock” because most of the databases are on the state Department of Administrative Services (DAS) mainframe.

Utilizing these observations, a plan was set in motion, Some of the initial goals were:

• Establishing GIS as an integral part of the way the department conducts business;
• Distributing the technology throughout the organization; and
• Gaining cooperation and buy-in for GIS through marketing, education, training and providing a support structure throughout the department.

Work began in September of 2002. A pilot project was developed and shown to District Engineers and a few Division Heads with favorable results. Work continued and the NECTAR program became available on the NDOR Intranet early in July of 2003.

NECTAR’s implementation should ultimately result in a better acceptance of the technology, enterprise-wide use of the technology, improved data accuracy and better use of time, which will translate into savings for the department.

Who May Access the Program?

Anyone within the NDOR firewall and having a web browser may access the program. The program is NOT accessible at this time from outside the firewall. Open a web browser. Navigate to the NDOR InTRAnet area page. Click on NECTAR.

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