The Quick Search box will appear in the center of the user's screen upon first entering the application; once closed, this tool can still be accessed through the "Quick Search" button on the Main Menu. If the user does not wish for this box to appear upon opening the application, they can uncheck "Show on startup."

Function

The Quick Search box is used to select from filter categories to search for business data on ALDOT's route network. The following filter categories are provided: Projects, Road Inventory, Traffic, Bridges, Rail (Crossings), and TSI (Traffic Signal Inventory). The Safety (Crash Data) filter category will be included if the user is logged in and has the appropriate permissions; Safety data will not be available to guest users.

Filters

The filter categories specify the type of results that will appear on the Map Frame after using the Quick Search function. The user can select one of these filter category boxes, then enter a route description in the search box to find the related data on a specific route. For example, if a user types in "AL 53" in the search bar under the Projects filter, all projects on AL 53 will be found and mapped. Once the "Search" button is selected, the Quick Search box will disappear, and the map will be zoomed into the inputted location to display the requested information.

The image above shows the filters for guest users. As previously mentioned, if the user is logged in with permissions, they will see an additional filter category: Safety.

Quick Search Help

Since the search bar is a free-fill textbox, the user may need guidance on the wording of a search. The Quick Search Help link targets this need. If the user clicks the link, a list of accepted quick search formats, route type formats, region numbers/names, and area numbers/names will be displayed. This will help the user understand the format of an acceptable search.