Same great road safety, tones less salt. That’s an award winning diet we can all model.

When Max Miner shook the Mayor’s hand on June 1, 2010, he did so on behalf of a long list of OETS staff, who were instrumental in the work that earned us a nomination for the 2009 Environmental Excellence Award.

As part of its own salt management plan, City staff implemented GPS/AVL technology on its fleet of salt spreaders.  The result, less road salt entering our ditches and storm sewers, and ultimately into creeks, rivers, lakes and groundwater, while keeping Ottawa's roads safe.

Much more than the GPS technology most of us understand, the GPS/AVL system reads and transmits real-time data to a central location, data including positioning, routes and salt usage.

This monitoring allows staff to understand and adapt - on the fly - to the changing conditions of our weather and roads. The continuous adaptations result in a more efficient use of our salt resources, and less impact on our ecosystem.

Like with most technological innovations, the skill and experience of our roads supervisory staff is the cornerstone of any success.  This project is no exception.  The reduction in salt usage would not be possible without the leadership of supervisors and operators alike.  It’s a success, and a nomination we can all be proud of.

For more information, please contact Max Miner, Prg Mgr, Operational Research.

GPS/AVL Primary Staff

OETS - Max Miner, David Vander Wal
IT - Lise Brisebois
Supply - Colin Tuthill
Roads - Brian Ducey, Matt Girard, Karen Martin, Neil Matthews, Kevin Monette, Ania Schoof, Joanne Stanley

Andrew Pohl, Sonmy Conyedo, Charles Uzoaba, Gery Braganca - IT