HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – The Ottawa County Road Commission is in the process of installing GPS devices to their fleet of snow plows and equipment. The GPS system will allow the tracking of material use, such as salt, sand and liquid anti-icing agents. It will also provide engine information for maintenance and operating times, as well as real-time information for citizen inquiries.
The cost to implement the GPS system on the fleet will cost $15,000 and the city says it will pay for itself within the first year. The GPS software will give real-time data of the route and location of each snow plow truck as they manage a storm. Supervisors can review the information to adjust responses for the next big storm.
The technology will be installed in time to help increase maintenance efficiency and effectiveness this winter. The city says the system will also help identify overlapped, missed and redundant snow removal routes to provide a better service for the residents of Ottawa County.