Mobile Automatic Vehicle Locator

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) led a collaborative effort in the development and release of a new robust Snow Management Application known as SnowIQ. In 2011 Montgomery County was recognized by NaCO for its development of a Storm Management Operations Map. Later, in 2012, MCDOT was recognized by NaCO for its development of the Navigation Guided Plow Project; both recognitions are snow/storm related. Leveraging momentum from its past successes along with emerging technologies, MCDOT has now developed an integrated initiative that combines contemporary AVL technology with metrics technology, navigation technology, and surface mapping technology - all delivered through an Application that runs on everyday handheld devices and available to the public, free of charge. The County's Departments of Transportation (MCDOT) and Technology Services (DTS), along with its Public Information Office (PIO), and the Montgomery CountyStat Office designed and commissioned the development of SnowIQ with outsourced assistance by Eastbanch Technologies to bring this initiative to everyday handheld devices through a mobile Application. SnowIQ is a holistic snow management system that serves two vital functions; (i)internal for robust resource management and (ii)external for providing real-time storm clean-up information to the public. Internally, SnowIQ provides for robust resource management functionality (personnel, equipment, contractors, and materials) while simultaneously providing an external array of real-time information to the public to make informed travel decisions in the midst of disruptive winter storms. The core functionalities of SnowIQ core are built to leverage and operate on a cloud platform, Microsoft Azure and run on any Android or iOS platform regardless of the device manufacturer or cellular carrier. This enables county personnel, private contractors assisting in the clean-up effort, and residents alike to simultaneously access information with practically any everyday handheld device. A demo of system can be accessed at the following URL: http://youtu.be/m214g7cVhmQ