Build a Better Mousetrap National Competition
This highlights innovative solutions to everyday problems and issues that local and tribal transportation workers encounter. They can range from the development of tools, equipment modifications, to processes that increase safety, reduce cost, improve efficiency and the quality of transportation. Read more.
Submit an Entry for BABM
Download the 2025 BABM Brochure
2024 Louisiana Innovations
Tangipahoa Parish Government Utilizes Mobile Solution to Develop Drainage Inventory
The Tangipahoa Parish Government (TPG) recently had a tremendous opportunity to enhance drainage effectiveness across the parish, but they lacked the data needed to maximize this potential. In 2022, both the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI) were working to model and map the parish watershed. However, TPG had no current data regarding the number, locations, sizes, and conditions of the cross-drain pipes crucial to effective drainage. In response to this challenge, the TPG staff worked overtime to develop an innovative mobile solution to close this information gap.
Addis: From Small Town to Smart City
The Town of Addis is a growing town located in West Baton Rouge Parish, along the Mississippi River. It is situated on Louisiana Highway One, just minutes from the state’s Capital city of Baton Rouge. Addis is known for its small-town atmosphere while offering unique advantages of close location to metropolitan areas, major universities, business and industry.
Previous Competitions
Geaux Mow - Submitted for Pioneer Award
The Lafayette Consolidated Government built the Geaux Mow web application that stored all of the grass cutting locations virtually and could bid them out to vendors in an open bidding system. The system runs efficiently, and LCG has enough grass cutting vendors to have good competition which gets them good prices on cuts. Even though the cuts are now cheaper, they are actually spending more money as a city on grass cutting. Since they now have a convenient and manageable solution to cut grass efficiently, their city and parish councils voted to increase money allocated to grass cutting. As a result, they now cut more grass than expected for 8 different divisions of Lafayette Consolidated Government, and the city looks much better and cleaner for it.
Storm Mode - Submitted for Bold Steps Award
LCG’s staff from the Traffic Roads and Bridges Department built the Storm Mode platform with an online map where dispatchers could place and assign requests. The Storm Mode system was tested during Hurricane Delta. LCG received 2,414 requests, including 690 trees/limbs down. The system greatly improved operational and response capacity for LCG and provided a framework for historical data collection. The data are used to make improvements to LCG's roads and drainage systems to reduce future hazards.
Ouachita, Terrebonne recognized for their local innovations
Two transportation innovations had the locals talking at the recent Louisiana Parish Engineers and Supervisors Association (LPESA) Spring Conference where the winners of the 2019 Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) Competition were awarded.
Ouachita Parish Public Works Department’s Catch Basin Lid Assist Tool was selected as this year’s Louisiana Winner. Jeremy Clack, Assistant Public Works Director of Ouachita Police Jury, shared how this tool was lightweight, efficient, and inexpensive way of lifting and lowering catch basin lids for inspection purposes. It only cost them less than one hundred dollars ($100) including labor. Truly innovative, indeed.
The Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government’s (TPCG) Salt Spreader, on the other hand, won the “People’s Choice Award” for having earned higher number of LIKES on social media. TPCG Public Works Director David Rome shared how this innovation saved them during the freeze of 2016 wherein they had numerous bridges and roads being iced over. They modified the seed spreader into a salt spreader, then used it as a deicing agent dispensing large amounts of pellets. It cost them $250 for modified casters only plus 4 hours of labor.
The entries were judged by a panel of judges based on four criteria: cost savings (30%), effectiveness (30%), ease of transfer (20%), and ingenuity (20%). Both entries were under the same category—Maintenance Tools and Methods The other categories include Asset Management Techniques, Facilities Improvements, and Inspection and Data Collection.
Ouachita’s Catch Basin Lid Assist Tool will be entered as Louisiana's entry at the national level to be done during the #NLTAPA conference in Stowe, Vermont this August.
BABM is an effort initiated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and coordinated through the LTAP Centers across the nation. The goal is to encourage local government agencies to create innovative solutions that respond to everyday problems that local transportation workers encounter.
View Louisiana's entries: https://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/ltap/pdf/2019_babm.pdf
LTAP Director Marie Walsh presented both awards to the winning agencies. LPESA President Tommy Durrett (left photo) accepted the First Place Winner award on behalf of Ouachita Parish. Senior Mechanic Christopher Infante (right photo) accepted the People’s Choice Award on behalf of Terrebonne Parish.
Lafayette Shares BABM Project: A Curb Inlet Drain Top
Through the years, Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) employees have experienced numerous job injuries as it relates removing and reinstalling curb inlet catch basin tops. In an effort to reduce the number of injuries and make access safer, LCG contacted East Jordan Iron Works (EJI) with concepts of what they wanted and how we wanted these tops to work. The result is a safer top at a relatively small increase in cost. "We discussed with EJI the need to provide a more effective less injury type of cover. We requested a cover that would be hinged and still removable but could be lifted by one person with minimal effort," shares LCG public works city engineer Mitch Wyble. The benefits of this project include reduction of workmen's compensation claims which ultimately reduces insurance premiums and provides for more man-hours at work in lieu of sick leave. JOIN the BUILD A BETTER MOUSETRAP 2019 COMPETITION!