JEFF WELLIK: A lot of the people say

if you don't like the weather in Iowa, just wait 10 minutes.

It will change.

MATT PATTON: On a typical day, kids

will be traveling 10 or 12 miles to get to school.

As a school superintendent, my primary concern

is making sure that we get everybody to and from school

safely.

JEFF WELLIK: Normally, we get up about 4:30.

We go out and scan the roads.

Matt usually goes one direction.

I go the opposite.

MATT PATTON: As the road conditions change,

it's important for us to stay on top of knowing

what's happening out there.

The Iowa DOT has been very valuable to us.

BONNIE CASTILLO: The goal of the Department of Transportation

is to get travelers to their location efficiently

and safely.

We have operators continuously looking

at over 400 cameras and other data sources 24 hours a day,

seven days a week.

It's very difficult to analyze all the different information

coming in.

TRACEY BRAMBLE: We're hoping to condense that data flow

and be able to analyze it much more quickly with help

from Iowa State.

NEAL HAWKINS: We're really excited to use

machine learning to address the operations of the road.

TensorFlow is helping us understand the traffic

patterns.

And with that information, we can

be better in alerting and being predictive.

TINGTING HUANG: Machine learning can automatically

check those images from the camera

to detect if a crash happens, and we can send the information

to traffic engineers.

TRACEY BRAMBLE: And if there's going

to be something that's going to impact your commute,

we want to get them that information as soon

as possible.

MATT PATTON: If technology could help us determine what's

occurring across the entire school district,

we'd make better decisions for our kids.

We wouldn't be up at 5 o'clock in the morning

driving the roads.

I would sleep in, to be honest with you.

NEAL HAWKINS: Machine learning has really

revolutionized the way we think about the data we have,

the connection we have to vehicles.

BONNIE CASTILLO: The Iowa roadways

are safer because of all the technology

we've been able to bring.

We're making travel more safe and efficient.

And so I only see that getting better.

[MUSIC PLAYING]