Roadway Safety Data Program

IOWA’S REAL-TIME DATA INTEGRATION OF 

SNOWPLOW INFORMATION AND ROADWAY 

SAFETY

STRATEGIES FOR USING GIS TO ADVANCE HIGHWAY SAFETY 

CASE STUDY

FHWA-SA-16-030

Prepared for

Federal Highway Administration

Office of Safety

Roadway Safety Data Program

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/rsdp/

May 2016

Fewer 

Fatalities & 

Serious 

Injuries 

Better 

Targeted 

Safety 

Investment 

More 

Informed 

Decision 

Making 

Improved 

Data 

Collection 

& Analysis 
Iowa’s Real-Time Integration of Snowplow Information and Roadway Safety 

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CASE STUDY OVERVIEW 

OBJECTIVE 

The objective of this case study is to illustrate how Iowa has successfully used GIS to implement 

a snowplow project that provides real-time weather/road information and creates a database of 

consistent information. 

BACKGROUND 

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) deploys about 900 snowplows each winter to

plow 9,479 centerline miles of road and 25, 215 lane miles of roadway. The Iowa DOT 

continuously seeks ways to improve winter operations and provide information to the traveling 

public. A current effort involves the Iowa DOT deploying the Plow Cam Project—a statewide 

real-time integration system. The project, started in winter 2013–2014, involves collecting upto-date photos that create a database of road conditions.(1)

To gather this information, the Iowa DOT used its existing communications infrastructure and 

the snowplows deployed on a regular basis in the winter. The process also required an iPhone 

(with camera and GPS), an Iowa DOT-developed app, phone charger, cigarette lighter socket 

and fuse, and a suction cup phone mount. The iPhone is mounted inside the front windshield of 

the snowplow; once activated, it automatically takes photos and accumulates data.(2) 

The information collected from the snowplow cameras is available for internal and public use. 

The public accesses the information through its Track A Plow Web site, which provides 

snowplow locations, as well as up-to-date Plow Cam photos.(2)  

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENT 

The project’s accomplishments are the following: 

 Combines the Plow Cams and the Track A Plow Web site to show garage supervisors 

real-time road conditions and helps them manage their resources. 

 Provides real-time information on road conditions to assist the public in making safe, 

informed travel choices when weather is bad. 

 Helps control cost while eliminating the need for laborious record keeping.(2) 
Iowa’s Real-Time Integration of Snowplow Information and Roadway Safety 

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TARGET AUDIENCE

Highway safety professionals, transportation planners, and transportation engineers can use the 

Plow Cams and Track A Plow technology through the Internet. While Iowa is currently the 

only program user, three States (Ohio, Idaho, and Missouri) have been able to imitate it. The 

Iowa DOT encourages its use and will provide the base framework of the program at no cost 

to any government entity that might want it. Once obtained, the program is fairly intuitive and 

self-explanatory.(1) The results from the program, including pictures and data collected, are 

available both internally and to the general public.(2) 
Iowa’s Real-Time Integration of Snowplow Information and Roadway Safety 

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PROGRAM AND PROCESSES 

THE IOWA DOT SNOWPLOW COORDINATION PROJECT 

The Iowa DOT has equipped 435 of its 900 snow-removal trucks with Plow Cams.(2) The 

iPhone is mounted on the windshield; the app is set up on the phone and drivers must simply 

activate the phone when they start the trucks.(3) The DOT developed an app specifically for this 

purpose. To avoid processing photos when a truck is parked, the DOT uses the app to track 

where a truck is and verifies that it is on a road. The truck must also be traveling at least 8 mph 

for the app to process the photo. Once it verifies that it should be collecting data, it can be set 

up to take photos every 5–10 minutes. Garage supervisors can determine what timing 

increment they think will be most effective.(1)

The photos are automatically uploaded to the Internet where they are available to the Iowa 

DOT as well as the public through the Track A Plow Web site, which is located on the Iowa 

DOT page.(2) The Web site advises users about which roads are safest to travel and when might 

be the best time to travel. Figure 1 shows an example of what users see. The image presents 

the current state of the roads, current temperature, where snowplows are at the moment, and 

if they are applying deicing material to the roadway. One extra click on the Web site 

information shows photos taken from the snowplows and special weather statements (see 

Figure 2).(2, 3) 

Figure 1: Screenshot of the Track a Plow Web Site 
Iowa’s Real-Time Integration of Snowplow Information and Roadway Safety 

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Figure 2: Track A Plow Web site Snowplow Photo 
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SUMMARY 

BENEFITS/RESULTS 

Using real-time integration in the Plow Cams and Track a Plow projects benefits government 

entities, garage supervisors, snowplow operators, and the general public. It allows the DOT to 

share valuable, timely information, in the form of both data and photos.(2) In addition, because 

the roadway information is available to drivers, DOTs and other government agencies hope to 

see a reduction in crash rates during inclement weather. The snowplow cams and associated 

Web site involve minimal work to set up and the process of collecting data is relatively selfsufficient as it requires limited control from the snowplow operators.(1)

 

IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES 

Agencies must account for several factors when choosing the equipment, specifically the quality 

of photo it can take, availability of hardware, availability of software/application, functionality 

and simplicity, connectivity and data transfer, and cost.(4) Although the app is currently only for 

iPhones, the Iowa DOT believes it could probably be easily transferred to other phones.(1) 

FUNDING/COST 

The Track A Plow program cost about $75,000 to launch(1) and included the cost of the initial 

hardware, wiring, power cords, and labor. The cost also included the nominal cost to develop 

the app and the Web site, which was created internally by the Information Technology Division 

of the Office of Maintenance.(5) Iowa DOT obtained the phones at no cost from Verizon. The 

only charge was a $35/month data fee for the Iowa DOT. This data cost covers all phones.(1) 

With this framework already set up, cost for future endeavors will likely be lower. The Iowa 

DOT will provide the base framework at no cost to any government entity wanting to replicate 

this program. The base framework includes the app and website template. No training or 

instruction is needed; setting up the program is a quick, self-explanatory process.(1)

TIME FRAME 

The DOT began to develop this program in August 2013, and implemented it during winter 

2013–2014. It would be a quick process for any State that might wish to use it in the future.(1) 
Iowa’s Real-Time Integration of Snowplow Information and Roadway Safety 

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LESSONS LEARNED 

 Real-time information can be integrated into various projects with multiple uses.(4)

 There is a public need for information regarding road conditions in winter.(5)

 Although this program could be modified and used to monitor driving conditions (when 

it is raining, for example) in non-winter months, there is no demand for it.(1)

 Despite initial costs and getting everything completely set up, users will pay a nominal 

fee each month for data plans.(1)
Iowa’s Real-Time Integration of Snowplow Information and Roadway Safety 

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REFERENCES 

1) Bargfrede, C. Iowa Department of Transportation. Phone interview, September 3, 2015. 

2) Iowa Department of Transportation. Plow Cam Project and Track A Plow Website, 

PowerPoint presentation, 2015. 

3) McCart, M. Snowplow Tracking, PowerPoint presentation, GIS-T 2015 Workshop, Des 

Moines, Iowa, Iowa Department of Transportation, 2015. 

4) Burkheimer, D. “Iowa’s Winter Maintenance Technologies Research,” Research News, 

Federal Highway Administration, Bureau of Research and Technology, 2009. 

5) Iowa Department of Transportation. Do You See What I See? Iowa DOT’s Track A

Plow Website A Hit With Travelers, Iowa DOT Web site, 

http://www.transportationmatters.iowadot.gov/2015/01/do-you-see-what-i-see-iowadots-track-a-plow-website-a-hit-with-travelers.html, Accessed September 1, 2015. 
Iowa’s Real-Time Integration of Snowplow Information and Roadway Safety 

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EXPLANATION OF TERMS 

DOT – Department of Transportation

GIS – Geographic Information System

GPS – Global Positioning System
Iowa’s Real-Time Integration of Snowplow Information and Roadway Safety 

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AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION 

Craig Bargfrede 

Winter Operations Administrator, Iowa DOT 

Craig.Bargfrede@dot.iowa.gov 

(515) 239-1355 

Jan Laaser-Webb 

Transportation Safety Supervisor, Iowa DOT 

Jan.Laaser-Webb@dot.iowa.gov 

(515) 239-1349