IDOT looks at using GPS to monitor road conditions

Posted on January 28, 2017
Using GPS systems and real-time monitoring could help IDOT manage response times for road crews. (WJBC File Photo)
Using GPS systems and real-time monitoring could help IDOT manage response times for road crews. (WJBC File Photo)

By Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois roads are some the most travelled in the nation, which has caused the state to begin employing the latest technology to monitor and maintain the roads for drivers during the winter season.

Kelsea Gurski, bureau chief of communication services at the Illinois Department of Transportation, says that the state is looking to utilize GPS tech to provide real-time monitoring of road conditions.

“IDOT is exploring the use of VDL GPS technology in our fleet to better monitor road conditions and manage our response,” Gurski said. “Right now during weather events we update and manage a website called Getting AroundIllinois.com and that includes information on road conditions throughout the state that is based on information provided by from our crews on the road.”

The city of Springfield has already looked at something similar: implementing automatic vehicle location on all its snow plows and trucks, in an effort to push information from the city’s snow trucks to dispatch and then onto citizens. The system tracks where the trucks are and then indicates if and when an area has been plowed. GPS is used by the vehicle locators to determine the location of trucks and track past locations. AVLs can be used to transmit all sorts of data back to municipalities including road salt usage, road conditions and specifics about use of plows.

Gurski explained her department is moving aggressively to implement technology as part of its overall plan to provide the best service possible.

“IDOT has made a tremendous pledge to introduce and embrace new technologies that have improved efficiencies on our roads and provide overall better value for taxpayers,” said Gurski. “We want to be one of the most innovative departments of transportation in the nation and were looking at every available opportunity to reach that goal by leveraging the available technology.”

The system will allow the city to better allocate resources based on the road conditions — as opposed to just monitoring if a road been plowed or not.

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