From CITY OF BOWLING GREEN
Bowling Green residents and commuters alike now have a way to know the latest on road conditions during winter weather. The “SKnow BG” dashboard provides real-time information on snow and ice removal in the City of Bowling Green. Designed in-house by the GIS and Public Works Departments, Sknow BG can be accessed on any mobile device or desktop, allowing viewers to receive timely snow emergency alerts, request services from the city, and search the status of snow removal based on address.
The dashboard provides a detailed overview of the resources that Public Works staff utilize to prepare and plan for winter weather. SKnow BG gives the public access to:
- An interactive map based on route status, utilizing GPS tracking to follow snow plow progress.
- Snow emergency status for residents to plan when they need to move vehicles off snow streets.
- 24/7 live camera feeds displaying road conditions on East Wooster Street and Prospect Street, allowing drivers to get a glimpse of the city’s most trafficked areas.
- An “end of event” clock reminding residents to clear sidewalks within 24 hours of a snow event.
- Live road sensor data that showcases surface temperatures of five main intersections, and a color-coded map of surface temperatures and snow route history based on 1 – 6 hours of servicing.
- The Bowling Green Police Division’s weather station.
This innovation enables the city to monitor internal operations while providing crucial information to the public, offering insight into the factors influencing winter weather decision-making. The data collected through SKnow BG directly supports the city’s winter response efforts.
Real-time pavement and intersection temperature sensors, paired with weather forecasts and current field activity, allow Public Works to prioritize when and where treatment is needed. This helps determine the most effective response, whether it be salt application, pre-treatment with brine, dispatching plows, or adjusting to changing conditions, helping to ensure efficient use of resources and road safety.
“Safety is our number one priority,” said Bowling Green Public Works Director Mick Murray. “SKnow BG aims to inform and educate the community about how their driving can be affected and how they can influence others.”
