SECTION 8 - COMPUTERIZED PRIORITIZATION MODEL

8.1 PRIORITIZATION MODEL OVERVIEW

One of the elements of the Vermont Airport Capital Facility Program was the development of a user-friendly computerized project prioritization model. This WindowsÓ-based program was developed as a separate, stand-alone program, which will be modified in the future to become a module of Vermont Airport Information Management System (AIMS) program which is currently under development. The following sections describe the various elements of this model

8.2 PROJECT PRIORITY RANKING SCREEN

Select the Project Ranking command under the Airport Data menu to access the Project Priority Ranking screen shown below. This screen complements and contains components needed for Vermont's priority rating system. The priority rating system assigns points to landing facility improvement projects based upon the landing facility's ranking in numerous categories. The sum of the points in each category constitutes the project's total evaluation score.

Project Priority Ranking Screen

8.2.1 Airport Categories. The Project Priority Ranking screen is comprised of four (4) tabs located on the top portion of the screen, all of which contain airport-related information. The bottom portion of the screen contains three (3) sub-tabs relating to project-specific details pertaining to the project currently selected in the "Project Selector" listing.

The Facility Summary and Owner/Manager tabs, shown on the following page, display general location and contact information currently listed in the FAA's 5010 database.

Project Priority Ranking Screen, Facility Summary Tab

Project Priority Ranking Screen, Owner/Manager Tab

7.1.0.1 Activity. The Activity tab, shown below considers the number of annual aircraft operations at the airport in addition to the number of based aircraft at the airport.

Project Priority Ranking Screen, Activity Tab

Select any "Info" button to display a definition of that particular ranking category and the points that may be awarded in a dialog window, as shown on the right when the button is selected in the "Based Aircraft" frame.

All data displayed in the information dialog windows are non-editable. To change a category point structure use the particular reference table edit screen accessed via the Reference sub-commands under the Airport Data menu. Refer to the subsequent section titled "Editing Category Parameters" for more information.

8.2.1.2 Ratings. The Ratings tab, shown below, displays additional airport related priority categories relating to the facility's proximity to populated areas, local and governmental support the facility receives, and existing or proposed development of local zoning regulations which specifically addresses development adjacent to the airport.

Project Priority Ranking Screen, Ratings Tab

8.2.2 Project Categories. As stated previously, the lower portion of the Project Priority Ranking screen contains project related information relating to the particular facility selected in the Airport Selector pickbox at the top of the screen. The Project portion of the screen is basically divided in to three main areas: Project Selector, Project Information, and Project Points sub-tabs.

8.2.2.1 Project Selector. The Project Selector, shown below displays all projects entered for the selected facility. Simply select a particular project to view information specifics. Adding projects to this listing is accomplished by entering the name of the new project on the last record line in the listing. To delete a project from this listing, select the particular project then select the button at the top of the project grid listing.

8.2.2.2 Project Information. The Project Information section of the screen, shown below, contains general project identifiers, such as a tracking number, detailed description, and allows for estimated costs and duration lengths of the project to be entered and tracked.

8.2.2.3 Project Points Sub-Tabs. The Project Points section of the Project Priority Ranking screen, shown below, contains the remaining categories of Vermont's priority rating system broken down into three (3) sub-tab screens. Each sub-tab screen contains a heading describing the ranking category numbers.

Categories V - VII

This sub-tab screen, shown below, assigns points for projects with documented proof that the project is required to maintain or attract new businesses, or for projects with particular political support, special funding (i.e., line item), or which are otherwise considered to be particularly important. In addition, this tab considers the type of project to be undertaken, with priority given to airside construction. For pavement rehabilitation or reconstruction projects, additional points will be given based on the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) score of the pavement to be rehabilitated

Categories V - VII Tab

Categories VIII - XI

This sub-tab screen, shown below, assigns points for projects eligible for FAA funding, projects which will upgrade the airport to FAA safety standards, projects which will upgrade the airport to VAOT's minimum development standards for the specific classification of airport, and projects with VAOT or FAA funding committed to the project.

Categories VIII - XI Tab

Categories XII - XIV

This sub-tab screen, shown below, gives points for projects that will significantly increase the utility of the airport at a relatively small cost. To be eligible, project must cost less than $75,000. Points are also awarded to projects that are not anticipated to have significant environmental impact and for projects with demonstrated local interest and support.

Categories XII - XIV Tab

8.2.3 Project Totals and Report. Following data entry of all ranking categories presented in the Project Priority Ranking screen, the total points awarded to the particular project are automatically calculated and displayed in the lower left hand section of the screen, as shown below. The button, upon selection will display a preview of the "Aviation Capital Project Evaluation Worksheet," reports for all projects for the airport selected in the Airport Selector pickbox.

8.2.4 Printing Summary Reports. Select the Summary Reports command under the Summary Data menu to display the sub-commands shown on the right. Each sub-command, upon selection, will generate a summary report in preview, allowing viewing prior to printing.

Facility Listing by County: This sub-command generates a report listing all airports in the state along with airport geographic coordinates and the names, phone numbers and addressees for the managers and owners of the airport.

Project Rankings by Airport: This sub-command generates a summary report listing all projects including project name, estimated total cost and current evaluation score for all projects and all airports. All projects are grouped by airport. All projects are sorted by total evaluation score in descending numerical order.

Project Rankings - All Airports: This sub-command generates a summary report listing all projects including project number, name, estimated total cost and current evaluation score for all projects sorted by total evaluation score in descending numerical order. All projects are listed with no airport grouping.

Project Priority Rating Worksheets: This sub-command generates Aviation Capital Project Evaluation Worksheets for all projects entered in the system.

8.2.5 Editing Category Parameters. The Project Priority Ranking screen is designed with numerous category pickboxes allowing selection of data values. These pickbox values aid the user in eliminating typing data for particular items. Because changes are inherent in any operation, the Project Priority Ranking screen is structured to allow all values displayed in these pickboxes to be edited.

The values displayed in each pickbox accessed in the Project Priority Ranking screen are stored in database tables known as "reference tables." Each reference table is represented as a sub-command as shown on the following page. All References sub-commands access Reference Table Edit screens, which allow edits to the values displayed within these category pickboxes and combo boxes.

Each Reference Table Edit screen is similar in appearance and function in the same manner. A typical Reference Table Edit screen is shown below when the Economic Development sub-command is selected under the Airport Data menu (Airport Data + References + Economic Development).

Typical Reference Table Edit Screen

(Economic Development)