An Innovative Approach to Smarter Mowing, Utilizing Automated Vehicle Location to Enhance Mowing Operations

In 2015 and 2016, Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) equipped thirty mowers in the Metro District with Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) systems. The pilot project relied heavily on the work MnDOT has done with AVLs in snow plows and utilized some of the same hardware and software. The project included five tasks of developing software interface, developing data exchange, purchasing and installing the AVL systems, developing a reporting system from collected data, and providing training. This pilot project is a start to gaining a sense of the benefits of AVL in mowing operations and what it takes to plan, budget, and implement these systems. With additional quantitative data, the project will generate a return on investment, highlight safety improvements, and enhance future mowing operations. The following report documents the process of completing the five tasks, what end user products came out of the implementation, lessons learned and challenges, and what future developments are expected as MnDOT continues to move forward with the AVL in Mowers program.

• Record URL:
  http://www.dot.state.mn.us/research/reports/2017/201711.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  SRF Consulting Group, Incorporated

  One Carlson Parkway North, Suite 150
  Minneapolis, MN  United States  55477-4443

  Minnesota Department of Transportation

  Research Services and Library
  395 John Ireland Boulevard
  St Paul, MN  United States  55155
• Authors:
  • Potter, Adrian S
  • Bayer, Clayton
• Publication Date: 2017-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos;
• Pagination: 60p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic vehicle location; Data collection; Implementation; Lessons learned; Mowers; Mowing; Software
• Identifier Terms: Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01637766
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MN/RC 2017-11
• Contract Numbers: (c) 06849
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 5 2017 11:45AM