Plowing the Way with GPS

The holiday cheer “Let it snow” has become true.The first weeks of 2014 saw heavy snowstorms that dropped several feet of snow in the Midwest. Even the South fell victim to the polar winter. The storm situations left messes that took days or weeks to clean. Of course, the biggest challenge is clearing snow and ice. How does all this snow get off the roads? As anyone who lives near snowy cities can tell you, the answer is the mighty plow trucks.

The heavy work of snow removal takes time. Although a few feet of snow may have fallen overnight, it does not all disappear in a day. The task is so great for plows that the system needs help. Thanks to several GPS monitors, the plow drivers are beginning to get some help.

On the Way

The morning after a snowstorm, the first thought on people’s minds is how they are going to get to work. While some people can skip work or work from home, for people in important positions, it is critical to find a safe route. Where is the plow, and how long will it take to clear the road to your house?

The guessing game has become easier now, with the help of GPS. Several cities, including Boston and New York, have started to install GPS on snow plows in order to give citizens a way to follow the plow as it clears the roads. As the plow goes along the route, the GPS broadcasts the location to city computers, which then show its location using color-coded maps. The maps show the status of the roads, including those that are clear, those that are being plowed, and those that are still snow-covered. A list of cleared roads could allow a driver to determine whether to take the interstate, use an alternate route, or take public transportation.

Plow tracking with GPS has proven popular throughout the country. In New York thousands of people follow the plow routes online. Other cities also provide downloadable apps that allow commuters to view road conditions in the area on their mobile device.

Along the Way

Snow plow operators and their supervisors depend upon GPS along the entire route. As the systems start up they monitor crucial aspects of the plow’s journey:

• Location. Showing where a vehicle is serves as the basic function for all GPS units. Real-time tracking of snow plows is important. Winter weather can change in an instant, and the plow operators need to know what is coming their way. The location of a plow is also important to the overall clearing process. Plows are sent out in shifts, and each plow needs to be at a certain location at a certain time so that the workload is spread out and staggered. GPS allows plow drivers to meet up at exactly the right position. Instead of relying upon external reporting or traveling to the base, supervisors track plows in real time.

Another advantage of GPS is the ability to monitor the speed of a plow as it proceeds down the road. Knowing the speed allows controllers to estimate the approximate time a plow could arrive at a destination. The controllers can also notify plow drivers of accidents or trees or debris blocking the roads.

• Breakdowns. Plows perform hard work that can be hard on their mechanics. Some GPS units can indicate basic maintenance problems such as under-inflated tires and low oil levels. But mechanical failures still stop plows, just like any other vehicle. If a plow breaks down supervisors can know exactly where to find and fix the plow.

• Plow Functions. Some snowplow GPS installations can also show the actual movements of a plow  blade as it moves up and down. The recorded rate of movement can indicate the weight and depth of the snow or ice. This data can be used to estimate the amount of time it could take to plow an area. If the snow height or weight is too great, reinforcement drivers could be sent for assistance.

Planning the Way 

Many states and counties employ snowplow GPS in order to conserve both money and energy by creating more efficient plowing routes that clear snow faster and minimize traffic delays.

GPS tracking of plows allows county and city supervisors to see broad traffic patterns. If a plow has to stay idled at routes with traffic lights or downed trees or wires, the public works department can design new routes. If several accidents occur in the same spot, then route planners could prioritize the area that should be cleared first. Plow GPS data could also show the most frequent commuter routes to the downtown area. By observing the flow of traffic along the side roads, controllers can set up detours and redirect plows to the most needed areas. Cities can also save money by recalculating the necessary amount of salt or sand needed to clear each route.

Clearing the Way 

GPS for snowplows benefits commuters and plow drivers and their supervisors. Real-time tracking shows everyone what the plow has accomplished and where it is heading. With the information citizens can prepare their trips, and controllers can monitor the plowing and cleaning progress. The data collected by the GPS can also help supervisors plan new routes that make travel even faster.

So next times the plow comes scraping down the street, you can thank GPS for clearing the way.

Plowing the Way with GPS