Utilizing federal funds administered through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, about two-thirds of Wisconsin's county highway departments are installing Automatic Vehicle Locators in snowplows. The AVL systems use global-positioning technology that generates information about where plows are located, what routes have been covered, and when and how much deicing materials should be applied to roadways.

"County highway departments and snowplow operators throughout Wisconsin do an outstanding job keeping our roads safe and open for business throughout the winter season," David Vieth, director of WisDOT's Bureau of Highway Maintenance, said in a statement. "Wisconsin now has AVL technology in more snowplows than any other state, providing us a valuable new tool in dealing with winter weather."

More information is available from WisDOT at 1.usa.gov/WisDOT3124.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is among other state agencies using technology to improve snowplow operations.

VDOT is testing a new Web tool that shows the status of plowing in Northern Virginia neighborhoods. By clicking a link, residents can navigate a map, similar to using a Google map, to find out if snowplows have started working in their neighborhood once it snows two inches or more.

More information is available from VDOT at 1.usa.gov/VDOT1101.