Use Winter Weather Outreach

The Winter Weather Outreach solution delivers a set of capabilities that help you to share winter weather plans, communicate route status updates, and solicit winter weather requests for service from the public.

In this topic, you’ll learn how to use the solution by assuming the role of a user and performing the workflows below.

Note:

Use your organization's data or configured apps to follow these workflows.

Discover winter weather response information

Adverse weather conditions have a major impact on the safety of roadways, and communities depend on efficient winter weather operations to keep roads safe and keep traffic flowing. To provide a safer commute during winter storms, progressive communities use mapping technologies to help inform the traveling public about community winter response plans and when routes were last serviced so that drivers can plan for a safer commute.

In these workflows, you will assume the role of a resident or member of the public who wants to understand when roads were last serviced and when and where parking restrictions are in effect. Finally, as a concerned resident, you will notify the city of a problem that occurred during recent snow and ice clearing efforts by the local municipality.

View road status updates

First, you will view the most recent service information for local roads.

1. In a browser, from the Winter Weather Outreach solution, view the Safe Winter Roads ArcGIS Hub site.

   The Safe Winter Roads site provides access to winter weather information provided by your local municipality or state government agency.

2. Scroll to the Current Road Status section.

   The Route Status app is embedded in this section. It features a map with current, up-to-date information about the status of routes in your community.

   Tip:

   Click Launch App to open the Route Status app in full screen.

3. Use the Route Status legend to understand when different routes were last serviced.
4. Click a route on the map to get more detailed information about when the route was last serviced.
5. After you have finished reviewing when routes in your community were last serviced, scroll to the top of the Safe Winter Roads site.

   Note:

   If you've launched the Route Status app in full screen, at the upper left, click the Safe Winter Roads site title link to return to the main site.

Explore winter weather response plans

Next, you will review information about the community's winter weather response plans.

1. In a browser, from the Winter Weather Outreach solution, view the Safe Winter Roads site.
2. At the top of the site, review the scrolling text.

   Note:

   For more information about configuring scrolling text, see Configure the Safe Winter Roads site.

3. Scroll to the How We Operate section, and then under Snow Routes and Restrictions, click Learn more.

   The Snow Routes and Parking Restrictions opens. This app provides information about where the municipality or state agency is responsible for providing snow and ice removal services and where priority routes and parking restrictions are located.

4. On the map, select a feature to view snow route or parking restriction information.
5. After you have finished reviewing the information, at the upper left, click the Safe Winter Roads site title link to return to the main site.

Submit service requests

Finally, you will submit a service request.

1. In a browser, from the Winter Weather Outreach solution, view the Safe Winter Roads site.
2. Scroll to the Request Service section.

   Tip:

   To jump to this section, scroll to the Winter Road Information section and click the Request Service button.

3. Click Submit Request to launch the Snow Request form.
4. For Select Request Type, choose a request type from the drop-down list.
5. For Add a Location, use the search field to set the service location; alternatively, click the Find my location button or click the location on the map.
6. Optionally, add additional details, photos, and contact information.
7. To complete your service request, click Submit.
8. At the upper left, click the Safe Winter Roads title link to return to the main site.

Triage service requests

Staff can use the Snow Request Manager app to triage snow and ice service requests from the community. The app allows staff to monitor and address small issues before they become too big, costly, or unsafe for your community.

You will assume the role of an operations manager responsible for providing status updates on service requests. You will use the Snow Request Manager app to triage submitted reports and update the status of reports as they move through queue.

1. In a browser, sign in to your ArcGIS organization, and then browse to the Winter Weather Outreach solution.
2. View the Snow Request Manager app.

   All requests are listed in the table at the top. The table can be sorted and filtered in various ways.

3. In the table, use column header filters and arrows to filter results.
4. Select a request of Submitted from the table.

   The details open at the lower left.

5. Review the details of the service request.
6. In the app, click the Edit record button .
7. For Status, choose Received.

   Updating the status of a new service request to Received acknowledges receipt of the new request. Continue to update the status of the request as you further investigate, prepare to address, and complete or cancel the service request.

8. Click Save.

Provide manual route status updates

Operations managers and dispatch can use the Route Status Manager app to provide updates to last-serviced information on snow routes, which allows staff to manually update route status as information is received from drivers in active operations. It also enables staff to provide an accurate account of when certain routes, such as high-priority routes, were last serviced so that operations managers can understand if levels of service are being met during active winter events.

In this workflow, you will assume the role of a dispatcher. You are responsible for maintaining an accurate account of when routes were last serviced. As operations unfold, drivers radio updates of their progress. You will use the Route Status Manager app to provide route updates and use filters and indicators to monitor the progress of operations.

Note:

If you are using the Winter Weather Operations solution, use of the Route Status Manager app is not necessary because route status updates are automated using the ArcGIS Velocity analytics deployed with the Winter Weather Operations solution.

1. In a browser, sign in to your ArcGIS organization, and then browse to the Winter Weather Outreach solution.
2. View the Route Status Manager app.

   A driver has called in to report that drivers have serviced all roads in their district.

3. On the left, in the Filter Routes panel, enable the District filter, and then search and filter for the district the driver reported.
4. On the right, in the Update Route Status panel, click the Extent button.
5. On the map, draw a box around all visible snow route features.
6. In the Update Route Status pop-up, click Last Serviced Date, and then provide the time and date that you received updates.
7. Click Save.

   A driver calls to report that a street in the district has been serviced.

8. On the left, in the Filter Routes panel, use the District filter to search and filter for the district the driver reported.
9. Enable the Road filter to search and filter for the street that the driver reported.
10. On the right, in the Update Route Status panel, click the Extent button.
11. On the map, draw a box around all visible snow route features.
12. In the Update Route Status pop-up, click Last Serviced Date, and then provide the time and date that you received updates.
13. Click Save.

    Winter conditions have worsened over the operational period and Operations Management wants to know if snowplow operators have serviced priority routes within the last hour.

14. At the lower left, in the Filter Routes panel, click the Reset filters button.
15. Enable the Route Priority filter to search and filter for a given route priority.
16. Enable the Serviced within last hour filter.

    Using the Roadway Serviced and Percent Serviced indicators, you can provide Operations Management with an accurate account of last service status information for high-priority routes in the last hour.