Today, GDOT’s use of WebEOC provides real-time information to support daily operations and enable fast and effective response to emergencies. The significance of GDOT’s technology choices is difficult to quantify in terms of public safety and economic competitiveness statistics, but the information these solutions gather is broadly shared and, as a result, considered indispensable for coordinated and comprehensive response to any situation affecting Georgians’ mobility.
“WE ARE COMPRISED OF SEVEN DISTRICT OFFICES AND 39 AREA OFFICES. THERE IS A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HEADQUARTERS IN EVERY COUNTY. THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE PAST WERE THAT, EVERY HOUR, AN UPDATE HAD TO BE SENT TO THE DOT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS. THE UPDATE WAS THEN PREPARED AND SENT OVER TO THE STATE OPERATIONS CENTER. YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME COMPILING THIS INFORMATION WITH UPDATES.”
– Jeffrey Hill, GDOT
Efficient transportation networks and effective traffic management are essential for safety, as well as economic development. Innovative technology is at the center of GDOT’s strategy to keep traffic moving smoothly throughout the state–especially in densely populated metropolitan areas – regardless of the situation.
“I THINK WHAT SEPARATES US FROM A LOT OF OTHER STATES AND AGENCIES IS THAT THEY ONLY USE THEIR TECHNOLOGIES DURING A MAJOR EVENTS; THEY ARE NOT REALIZING THE FULL FUNCTIONALITY OF THEIR APPLICATIONS. WE BROUGHT A LOT OF OUR ROADWAY SENSORS, MAPPING FEATURES AND ABILITY TO TRACK VEHICLES IN WEBEOC. SO IT ENDS UP BEING THE PORTAL TO EVERYTHING WE DO: FROM DAY- TO-DAY OPERATIONS TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THIS IS WHERE EVERYBODY IS GOING TO GET THIS INFORMATION.”
– Jeffrey Hill, GDOT
WebEOC provides technology consolidation and situational awareness for GDOT, while at the same time reducing labor costs, through feature options that include:
- Enhanced resource management
- Improved intra- and inter-team and agency communication
- Accurate, real-time vehicle tracking
- Faster incident-response assistance
- More effective weather and emergency event planning
- Clear, concise information for drivers
- Effective exchange of information with the media
- Proactive collection and analysis of data to support decisions for improving daily operations and strategic planning for future enhancements
- Required aggregation of costs for FEMA reimbursement and reports
- 24/7 access to cloud-based technology through web and mobile devices
Before implementing WebEOC, GDOT had 30 workers assigned to maintain paper records and spreadsheets. Since WebEOC is more efficient at compiling and storing this critical information, those workers have been reassigned to other duties.
Not only has the workforce been maintained in quantity, but WebEOC’s ability to automatically populate geolocation information and make it immediately available has also ensured that the workforce maintains its quality. WebEOC has not only enabled GDOT to function more efficiently without increasing its workforce, but also enhanced the personal safety of responders on scene at emergencies. With WebEOC, responders are not distracted by duties that require them to manually enter data. This allows them to focus on the situation at hand.
GDOT’s Traffic Management Center and District Office EOCs can access and update information in WebEOC, effectively reducing the volume of phone calls and potential for errors in interagency communications. WebEOC ensures a high level of situational awareness that was previously unattainable. Further, WebEOC addons and integrations connect with other state information systems to facilitate communication, information sharing and response coordination across state, local and federal agencies.
Ultimately, GDOT’s partnership with Juvare has made the state’s transportation network safer and more efficient, supporting its residents and a dynamic, growing economy. With Juvare, GDOT has undoubtedly advanced in today’s technology-driven world and they will continue to reap the benefits of partnering with an international organization whose reach is ever expanding.
01. World Top 30 Airports. (2015). Retrieved January 30, 2017, from https://www.world-airport-codes.com/world-top-30-airports.html
02. Top 20 U.S. Ports. (2016). Retrieved January 30, 2017, from http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/top_20_u.s._ports_competition_heats_up_for_ discretionary_cargo