TxDOT supports consistent, accessible, and credible visual communication through two complementary but distinct initiatives: agency-wide Data Visualization Guidelines and a formal GIS governance and mapping standards program.

The Data Visualization Guidelines provide clear direction for charts, dashboards, and reports, including guidance on chart selection, color use, hierarchy, accessibility, and common design pitfalls. These guidelines are publicly available and apply to both internal staff and external consultants, ensuring visual consistency regardless of who produces the work. Adoption and shared learning are reinforced through a Tableau Community of Practice, where staff regularly share dashboards, discuss best practices, and build visualization skills across the agency.

In parallel, TxDOT’s GIS Governance and Map Guidelines establish standardized approaches for basemaps, symbology, labeling, scale, and metadata for spatial products. Developed initially through the TxDOT GIS Work Group and later institutionalized within a permanent Statewide GIS section, these guidelines ensure that maps and spatial analyses are interpretable and comparable across districts and divisions. An active GIS Community of Practice supports these standards through training, collaboration, and ongoing knowledge sharing.

Together, these efforts demonstrate how TxDOT uses centralized standards paired with professional communities to enable decentralized creation while maintaining quality, clarity, and trust across both data visualizations and maps.

TxDOT Brand Guidelines

TxDOT Map Guidelines

Case Studies