INTEGRATION OF GIS AND GPS TECHNOLOGIES FOR AUTOMATED MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNS

The Traffic Engineering Section of the Bernalillo County Public Works Division is responsible for maintaining approximately 10,000 traffic control signs on 750 mi (1,207 km) of suburban roads. Concerned that it had neither an adequate inventory of existing traffic control signs nor a system for documenting its inspection and maintenance activities, the county developed a computerized inventory system based on global positioning system (GPS) coordinates. Once the inventory database was established, the county developed a computerized inspection procedure that allows a single technician to drive a selected route, compare existing signs with the inventory database, create a record verifying the inspection of each sign, and generate work orders for any maintenance activities that are required. The system dramatically increases the efficiency of the county's inspection and maintenance activities. It also creates an inspection history that could be used in court to defend the county against allegations of inadequately maintained signs.