The Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) national recognition program highlights locally relevant, innovative solutions and provides a platform to share innovations to everyday challenges that local and tribal transportation professionals encounter on local roads. These local road solutions range from the development of new project delivery or design processes to the invention of new tools, equipment, or modifications that increase efficiency, enhance safety, reduce cost, and/or improve the quality of transportation on local roads. (Link)

BABM is open to any government agency (town, borough, city, township, county, parish, state and tribal) in the United States and territories. Whether big or small, your innovations are worthy of celebration and may help another agency. Our center, AZ LTAP, accepts all submissions on behalf of our state for entry into the national competition. To submit an innovation, simply complete the form linked here: https://forms.gle/asebz6vUWmcn5VvQ9.

To have your innovation considered, your agency must complete the BABM Entry Form per innovation. We accept entries on a rolling basis, however, submission dates do impact which cycle of the national competition your innovation will be entered into. In addition to the entry form, agencies must also be ready and willing to provide:

• A minimum of (2) different high-resolution photographs (3 megapixels or more) in JPEG format. Other formats will not be accepted. If people appear in your photographs, each person appearing will need to sign a Photo Release Waiver that we will provide.
• An optional Spotlight Video can be submitted to demonstrate the problem, development, and working solution. 

Agency: Mohave County Public Works 

Description: Mohave County is the 5th largest county in the United States. They needed a solution for completing annual inspections of 994 maintained culverts not included in the National Bridge Inventory, across 2,095 maintained road miles. This was a pretty huge effort that required a system to maintain geospatial inventory, document culvert characteristics, rate culvert condition, enable image capture and timestamp and archive inspection findings in a central location, in real time and electronically. Mohave County officials came up with the idea to look towards technology and develop a mobile application. “We had already successfully launched a mobile app for road closures and thought why not try this again with the culvert inspection program,” says Steven Latoski, Director of the Mohave County Public Works Department in Arizona. They used similar programs already in use in FEMA as a guide to help them develop their new mobile application in-house. It took them a week to create the concept and several months to develop and test the app. According to Steven, there were two main benefits for developing the mobile app in-house, “We were able to use existing technology and resources to build the app and we were able to achieve the product we wanted because we worked on it ourselves.”

The Culvert Inspection Mobile Application features easy manual data entry; a live dashboard with pie charts and color coded fonts to track progress; and options for uploading photos, adding notes and generating quick reports. The information is in real-time, which helps with quality control because now inspectors no longer have to try to translate handwritten notes and rely on memory to create reports. Steven says despite their success producing the mobile application in-house, there were some challenges, “Cell service was a huge obstacle. Also, the mobile application was a new technology for many and some users were simply afraid of the technology. But once we trained them to use the app and they started to see the benefits, everyone became pretty excited about it.”

“When trying to develop a solution, keep the end user in mind,” says Steven. “Don’t be afraid, jump right in. Understand the needs of the end users and ensure the product is developed to meet their needs.”

Congratulations to Mohave County Public Works on receiving the 2020 Build a Better Mousetrap Smart Transformation Award.

Agency: AZ Department of Transportation

Description: Prior to traffic control trailer modules being created, a contractor or unit staff had to load and off load traffic devices each time a road closure was needed or requested. The barricades, light and signs were all in separate locations. Once the traffic control trailer module was designed, various electrical equipment, including power, control box switches, and lights, inside the work area was needed to function properly, as well as a mounting system to secure the module to the trailer.

The Arizona DOT’s innovation was a Traffic Control Trailer Module, an all-in-one removable unit. All items can stay on the trailer when being moved, and the module can be removed if the trailer is needed to haul equipment. The traffic control trailer is versatile, allowing it to be utilized for many closures. The barricades can be picked up quicker so traffic can return to normal operations, thus reducing the possibility of secondary accidents. This innovation improves safety, time, and money.

Congratulations to the Arizona Department of Transportation on being a 2023 Build a Better Mousetrap Innovative Project Award honoree.

Agency: City of Coolidge Public Works

Description: coming soon

Submitted for 2025 BABMT Competition | 

Agency: Navajo County Public Works

Description: coming soon

Submitted for 2025 BABMT Competition.

Agency: City of Globe Public Works

Description: coming soon

Submitted for 2025 BABMT Competition.