Client:
State of Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

Project Size:
U.S. $1 million+

Project Duration:
June 2002 to
June 2005

Parsons Responsibilities:
Systems and
database design, development, and implementation;
training and documentation;
call center management; equipment recommendation
and specification;
and ongoing
software enhancement
and support.

Automobiles are the greatest source of urban air pollution, yet they are vital to a thriving economy. Parsons has been in the vehicle inspection business since 1984, helping communities around the globe protect the environment and keep roadways safe by designing and managing vehicle emissions and safety inspection programs.

On June 5, 2002, the Louisiana 2002 Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program was officially launched in the greater five-parish Baton Rouge area in response to requirements of the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. At that time, the State of Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) selected Parsons to provide state-of-the-art On-Board Diagnostics II (OBDII) test equipment and custom software for inspection equipment. In addition, Parsons is implementing a comprehensive vehicle inspection data management system.

Inspector performing OBDII/safety test. Parsons performs 400,000 inspections annually using 150 test stations and 500 inspectors.

Parsons will enhance Louisiana’s current vehicle inspection network to meet federal requirements by incorporating on-board diagnostic testing and real-time data collection. The Parsons team will apply its extensive vehicle inspection and compliance, software development, and data management skills on this project to supply the following four deliverables:

• A vehicle inspection system (VIS) database for data warehousing

• Several user-friendly, real-time, browser-based applications for program administration (e.g., facility configuration, inspector licensing, and reporting)

• Inspection station software to enable inspectors to perform visual, safety, gas-cap, and OBDII component tests as well as communication software used for data transmission between the inspection station test equipment and the VIS

• Continuous software service (enhancements), training and documentation, and support (technical and call center) to assist LDEQ staff in daily system operations

In addition to these activities, Parsons has participated in, performed, and provided the following services to the state of Louisiana:

• Industry open house meeting

• Media day presentation of Parsons’ OBDII software/hardware solution

• Call center setup and training

• Pilot program involving 10 beta stations up and running in three weeks

• Rollout to non-pilot stations (currently 150 active stations)

Both the Parsons Information Technology group and the help desk staff have played—and continue to play—a key role in software development and infrastructure needs by using state-of-the-art technologies and best practices.

Since 1984, Parsons’ programs have removed millions of tons of pollution from the air we breathe. Parsons’ objective on this project is to assist the state of Louisiana in its goal to reduce pollution and vehicle safety hazards while providing its citizens with convenient, customer-oriented testing facilities.

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