How Wisconsin DOT effectively communicates the value of AASHTOWare Project

November 21, 2024

Is your leadership confident in maximizing the full benefits of AASHTOWare Project?

At the 2024 PUG (Project User Group) meeting, David Castleberg from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) delivered an insightful presentation on how they provide their leadership with clear, actionable information to showcase the value of their contributions to AASHTOWare, and how it enhances project efficiency across the state.

David highlighted the significance of joint development and peer collaboration among agencies, demonstrating how shared efforts in gathering requirements lead to more effective software solutions.

Insights from the Executive Overview

In his Executive Overview, David provided an engaging walkthrough of AASHTOWare Project’s history, explaining the volunteer model’s structure and how input from various levels shapes the final product.

“AASHTOWare Project has streamlined our processes by eliminating several costly custom-built applications and transitioning us to a unified database platform,”
— David Castleberg

Throughout the presentation David covered three major points to his executives;

1. AASHTOWare Project is Agency Owner Centric
2. Leveraging enterprise systems to advance change in both agencies and the infrastructure construction history
3. Evolving to continuously improve the delivery of infrastructure at the same time evolve to maintain its position as a trusted partner with the public

A Long History of Involvement

WisDOT has been a part of the AASHTOWare community since 1995. Over the years, their construction management program has expanded to manage $4.2 billion in projects, supporting over 2200 users with a maintenance team of fewer than 10 people. This success is largely attributed to their active participation in AASHTOWare Project initiatives, including Technical Review Teams (TRTs), Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), the Project User Group, and special committees.

“Volunteering for various AASHTOWare Project groups has been invaluable for DOT staff. Participating in TRTs, TAGs, AETs, and the PUG Board has enhanced our understanding of the products and allowed us to build lasting relationships with other agency users and our vendor, Infotech,”
— David Castleberg

David’s presentation demonstrated the power of collaboration and shared expertise, underscoring the benefits of active involvement in the AASHTOWare Project community.