Enhancing Road Safety with MIRE 2.1 and Iris’s A.I. Mapping Solutions

U.S. States like Michigan, Florida and North Carolina are following MIRE standardization and it’s now becoming the standard across the country, according to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) there are avenues for these states to obtain funding alternatives. 

 The Model Inventory of Roadway Elements (MIRE) a complete guide designed to help the states collect roadway and traffic data to improve safety. MIRE 2.1 released in 2024, is the updated version of the original framework to meet federal safety requirements. This update makes it easier for states in the U.S to manage data by simplifying it into six main types: road segments, intersections, ramps, curves and grades. To meet federal safety requirement, recent legislation has made it mandatory for states to collect 37 Fundamental Data Elements (FDEs) subsets by September 30, 2026 2.  

 MIRE 2.1 supports the “Safe System” approach, focusing on reducing risks for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and residents, as mentioned by the FHWA. By ensuring that decisions are backed by reliable data, MIRE helps in reducing risks and preventing accidents through safer roads, vehicles, speeds and better post-crash care. This also means that underserved neighbourhoods may see safer crosswalks, improved road conditions and better traffic management. For example, a case study from North Carolina shows the impact of MIRE data. The state’s Department of Transportation used MIRE data to create an automated intersection inventory which helped identify hazardous locations and guide safety improvements 3  .  

How States can Achieve Funding for MIRE 

MIRE- aligned projects can benefit from federal funding opportunities, through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which authorizes funds from 2022-2026 4 . The Reconnecting Communities and Neighbourhoods (RCN) Program offers $1.8- billion through 2026, is another example of grants that can be used for transportation infrastructure 5. The Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program is offering $1 billion for facilitation of safe transportation 6 . These funding opportunities can help states and local governments adopt MIRE standards and make transportation networks safer.   

The main goal of MIRE is to increase safety across the U.S with high precision geospatial data which represents transportation infrastructure 1. Iris contributes to this mission with our A.I. powered mapping system which works with ESRI’s ArcGIS to combine customer maps with detailed layers for tracking assets, routes and segments. Iris’s platform runs on the cloud, making it scalable and easy to manage which supports the states in meeting MIRE data standards efficiently. Additionally, our platform allows for climate control factoring during winter patrols which enables patrollers to update road conditions in real time. This all fits perfectly with MIRE’s vision to use high-quality data to create safer roads. 

Prepare for the September 2026 deadline-book a demo with us today. 

References: 

1. Federal Highway Administration. (2024). Model Inventory of Roadway Elements (MIRE) Version 2.1 [Report]. U.S. Department of Transportation. https://highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/2024-09/MIRE_2.1_FINAL_508v4.pdf 

1. Federal Highway Administration. (n.d.). Model Inventory of Roadway Elements (MIRE). U.S. Department of Transportation. https://highways.dot.gov/safety/data-analysis-tools/mire-fde/model-inventory-roadway-elements-mire 

1. Federal Highway Administration. (2023). Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) North Carolina 2023 Report. U.S. Department of Transportation. https://highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/2024-04/HSIP%28North%20Carolina%29%202023%20Report.pdf 

1. Federal Highway Administration. (n.d.). Funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/funding.cfm 

1. U.S. Department of Transportation. (n.d.). Reconnecting Communities. https://www.transportation.gov/reconnecting 

1. H.R. 2991, 117th Cong. (2021). Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2991/text?r=12&s=1