The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) manages
large amounts of project, planning, and operational information across multiple divisions.
However, communication and coordination between divisions can be slow and fragmented
because information is distributed across documents, systems, and personnel. This project
proposes the development of an AI-enabled decision support system to improve coordination
and help decision-makers make better, faster, and more informed decisions across divisions.
As a pilot study, the project will focus on three NCDOT divisions. For each division, a
dedicated AI-enabled assistant will be developed using publicly available or shareable
documents, reports, schedules, maps, and planning data related to that division. These
assistants will primarily function as accessible knowledge and communication tools that
institute personnel and stakeholders from outside the division can interact with to quickly
retrieve relevant information, understand division-specific processes, and accelerate the flow
of information needed for coordinated decision-making. The system will support two levels of
interaction. 1) Human-to-Agent Communication (implementation): Staff and decision-makers
can interact directly with division-specific AI assistants to quickly obtain information,
summarize documents, identify relevant contacts or resources, and improve coordination
between divisions and stakeholders. 2) Agent-to-Agent Communication (feasibility
exploration): As the system evolves, AI assistants from different divisions will be able to
communicate with one another to share relevant information, identify conflicts or overlaps,
and support more coordinated cross-division planning and decision-making. The goal is not
to replace human decision-making, but to improve information flow, reduce communication
barriers, and create a more connected and intelligent decision-support environment across
divisions. The study will evaluate the feasibility, usefulness, and potential benefits of AI
enabled coordination tools in supporting collaboration, communication, and strategic decision
making within transportation infrastructure programs.
