Development of a street sweeper fleet management system

Abstract

Street sweeping is a vital public service that not only facilitates traffic flow and improves the appearance of the neighborhoods. It also helps removes debris and dust from the roadways thus enhancing drainage and reducing air pollution. The need for a street sweeper fleet management system is to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of street sweeping programs. In this research, an application is developed for the management of street sweepers with the aid of a mapping system interface to query and analyze the data collected using Global Positioning System (GPS) devices installed in the sweeper trucks. Based on the functional needs of the system, an architecture is first developed for the system. Then, existing software and hardware components are used as the basis to design the system. Customized interfaces and processes are developed to integrate various system components. The resulting system is expected to provide accurate records of machine activity, improving fleet cost management and vehicle productivity. The system has the capabilities to generate reports and graphical summaries of various aspects of resource allocation and utilization. Examples of such reporting capabilities include records of machine usage and activity including dates, exact times and locations that vehicles start, drive, idle and stop as well as the use of various events such as even when and where the brooms and dust suppression systems were engaged. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)