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Montgomery County in Maryland plans to use GPS tracking devices by TomTom to wage war on the snow. States like Michigan and New Jersey have already implemented GPS and noted marked improvements in their ability to clear snow more efficiently and effectively with far fewer complaints from those in residential areas.
Why the Need?
When most people think of a snow day, they think of a day off work and time to relax with the family; however, Maryland estimates that each day of work missed due to snow costs the state $300-$700 million from lost productivity and cleanup. Montgomery County, as the largest county in the state, bears the brunt of that loss, making them more determined than ever to use advanced technology to their advantage; in fact, Maryland’s snow removal teams upgrade their technology more than any other department because of the great need to get streets clean so that people can get to work.

How Does It Work?
Each of the county’s 217 snow plows with be outfitted with GPS units made by TomTom—yes, the same company that makes the GPS units everyday Americans use in their vehicles. Once plow routes are programmed in, the drivers need only input the route number and follow the voice commands. The command center is then able to see where the plows have been and where they still need to go. Residents can also access the county’s DOT website to get their questions answered, get links to emergency routes and snow plow maps, and even access phone numbers to lodge a request for snow removal.
What Is the Cost?
The cost of putting GPS tracking units in all county snowplows and trucks is actually more cost-effective than purchasing an entire AVL (automated vehicle locator) system; in fact, it is about $725,000 less. Each device would cost the state about $250, so even if there were 300 vehicles in its fleet, that is far less than the $800,000 base price for the AVL system, though this system will also be used on a limited basis for recording data and adjusting maps. Montgomery County is in a fight to maintain its economic security by having more control over the snow that will assuredly come.

Photo By Doortoriver via Flickr Creative Commons