Wirelessly Keeping New York City Streets Clean

With on-the-street inspectors and a wireless reporting system, New York City is making a big dent in street maintenance.

January 2009, Government Fleet - Feature

By Shelley Mika

With more than 8.2 million citizens, New York City is one of the world's most populous cities. Part and parcel to a city of this size is an equally large infrastructure, and just like any roadway system in cities across the country, maintenance of these roads is an important factor in keeping the system running safely and smoothly.

Clearly, the more streets in a city and the more traffic on those streets, the more maintenance issues arise. To provide more complete street maintenance and repair, the City formed the Street Conditions Observation Unit (SCOUT), a team of 15 inspectors who patrol the streets looking for maintenance problems. Armed with a wireless reporting system, the SCOUT system has been able to significantly improve the condition of New York City's extensive street system.