Technology to Remove Snow

Microwave beams to be transmitted from City Hall to melt snow before it even hits the ground?

No.

Secret chemical to be sprayed on city streets that will prevent sticking and freezing ice patches?

No.

Cameras and GPS?

You bet!

• How do you avoid a blizzard of budget-busting overtime and still remove the snow from Chicago streets?

  By using technology to measure and improve productivity.

  Today, Mayor Daley unveiled plans to put GPS, high-tech sensors and the city's vast network of surveillance cameras to work to get the snow off Chicago streets.

  Sensors on the trucks will tell camera-monitoring supervisors how much salt is being spread, how many tons are still in the truck and whether the blade on a plow is up or down on the street clearing snow.

  And by using safety cameras, the city will be able to track the movement of snow plows without putting nearly as many supervisors on the street.

Is there anything GPS and cameras can't do? Besides actually make sure that enough plows and drivers are on the streets when the snow hits?