Pilot Uses GIS, Software to Plan Efficient Routes
The City and County of San Francisco is working with ESRI and NAVTEQ to implement a pilot program that reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
This project is part of a commitment with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI).
By using ESRI's ArcLogistics software, San Francisco will optimize its fleet operations and reduce its carbon footprint. NAVTEQ's highly detailed map data, which is essential for efficient route planning, is built into the routing software.
The project is a result of these companies' and government participation in CGI, with a goal to reduce carbon emissions. The William J. Clinton Foundation launched the Clinton Global Initiative to create and advance solutions to the core issues driving climate change, including reducing carbon emissions. At the CGI 2009 Annual Meeting, held in New York City recently, ESRI President Jack Dangermond announced his company's commitment to the CGI endeavor and described San Francisco's pilot program.
This commitment includes a grant of the route optimization software to local governments in large metropolitan areas. San Francisco is the pilot participant in this national project.
"ESRI's ArcLogistics software is being used in San Francisco's GreenRoutes pilot program," notes San Francisco's Mayor Gavin Newsom. "It will create more efficient routes for the city's fleet vehicles, thereby helping decrease municipal fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions."
Prior to this project, San Francisco's fleet did not use a route calculation technology product.
The pilot project includes an emissions analysis. Fleet managers will identify candidate fleets to be used in the project, and analysts will determine each fleet's current carbon emission level. They will then deploy the routing technology and, after one operational year, calculate the emission reductions realized. San Francisco will publish its findings so that government fleet managers around the nation can better assess the value of fleet routing software for emission reduction.
The companies have made a 10-year commitment to supply San Francisco with ArcLogistics Desktop software, ArcLogistics Navigator software, and NAVTEQ map data.