GeoBabelFish turns 10

Software translates between different road data types WYDOT uses

By Jordan Achs

Depending on what department you work with at WYDOT, you may use different methods to determine the exact location of something along a highway.

Some may use common road names and mile posts, while others use the exact latitude and longitude coordinates. Others may focus on WYDOT maintenance sections instead.

What if you need to cross-translate this information to all of these data points and more? Luckily, there is a method to do so easily and quickly: GeoBabelFish

The software, created by WYDOT’s Geographic Information Systems department, translates locations on highways through a variety of systems easily and quickly.

Translatable systems include:

• Common road name (i.e., Interstate 25, mile post 3)

• Latitude and longitude

• Linear Referencing System

• WYDOT Maintenance section

• Public Land Survey System

• Wyoming Travel Information reporting section

• WYDOT Albers Projection

First introduced in 2013, the software has recently undergone some upgrades, including a new intranet map viewer.

“We recommend any users who encounter errors with the software, especially users who have used the software in the past without issue, clear the cache on their internet browser,” said Vince Garcia, WYDOT GIS/Intelligent Transportation System program manager.

GeoBabelFish can be found on the GIS Intranet page. Once the site is pulled up, users use the drop down menu to pick the starting reference system and then the next drop down menu to choose the one they want to translate to. Then the system pulls up a section to type in the more detailed parameters and a button to calculate. There is also a link at the top of the page that gives definitions and information about how to interpret the results.

Those who have any issues with the GeoBabelFish software can contact Nicholas Graf: Nicholas.Graf@wyo.gov or Jacob Jackson: Jacob.Jackson@wyo.gov