Parsons, a global engineering and construction company, has secured a five year contract for providing Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) and automatic vehicle location system and services on 650 snow plows throughout Nebraska.

Parsons will be using MDSS informatics system that has been developed by Iteris, a company offering applied informatics for transportation and agriculture sectors.

Parsons Group president Michael Johnson said: “One of the most expensive and labour-intensive operations performed by many states and provinces during the winter months is snow removal and roadway treatment.

"The process will provide information about roadway salt and other chemicals that will be applied prior to an incoming weather event."

“We’re proud to bring our intelligent transportation systems expertise to the state of Nebraska and to increase the safety of its winter roadways through our technology solutions for increased efficiency and effectiveness of its snow plow operations.”

MDSS uses data from the weather stations along with temperature data from a Parsons-equipped snow plow, and offers precision treatment suggestion for a specific segment of road.

The suggestions are then sent to the in-vehicle Parsons touch-screen unit along with actual weather maps.

The process will provide information about roadway salt and other chemicals that will be applied prior to an incoming weather event.

The advance information will help in reducing the need for retreatment’s and lowering material, fuel, and maintenance costs while diminishing the need for overtime labor.

Nebraska Department of Roads director Kyle Schneweis said: “We are excited about this opportunity to not only improve our response to winter events, but to do so while creating system efficiencies, resulting in a better value for our customers.

“We are committed to providing good customer service to the citizens of Nebraska and those who travel our roadways, and these new tools will help improve our customer impact.”