NCDOT's Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management

NCDOT has developed a system for coordinating the management of roadside vegetation to maximize the effectiveness of both operations while increasing cycle times between mowing operations.

The Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) is a decision-making and quality management process for maintaining roadside vegetation that integrates cultural, biological, mechanical, and chemical pest control methods to economically manage roadsides for safety plus environmental and visual quality.

In developing the IRVM system the following factors are also considered:

• needs of local communities and highway users
• knowledge of plant ecology processes
• design, construction, and maintenance considerations
• monitoring and evaluation procedures
• government statutes and regulations
• technology

Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM)is a spin-off of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) concept used in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a term used to describe a system of managing pests whereby all possible methods of reducing pests are combined (integrated) to maintain (manage) pest levels below economically damaging levels. IPM employs proven practical and least costly methods in a plan designed to exclude pests from the management unit.


IVRM is used to manage vegetation by simply applying logical information, communication, technology, planning and research.

An effective IRVM program improves safety for the public and employees, satisfies long-range economic goals, maintains or improves quality, provides aesthetically pleasing facilities, and improves public relations. The highest priority for NCDOT employees is supplying safe transportation corridors with hazard- free safety clear zones, low growing vegetation in the operational zone and open sight distances.

Those involved with the Integrated Vegetation Management Project (IVMP) in Australia are looking to develop a model spcifically suited to Australia's conditions. We welcome your thoughts on the subject and invite you to visit the IVMP website for further information.

Managing the costs of maintaining sports turf

Project Representatives met with the superintendent of the City of Coronado Golf Course, right under the famous Coronado Bridge and directly opposite the Navy Seal training facility.

Coronado’s fairways are a mix of kikuyu and green couch and once again we were able to get a first hand view of how they manage their facility with limited rainfall.

The Superintendent uses plant growth regulators (PGRs) on the course to keep the Kikuyu under control and reduce maintenance costs. He had a number of new herbicide technologies available to manage weeds and used pre-emergents to manage the most difficult areas of weeds.

For the Superintendent, the biggest challenge is the mounting cost of the potable water used to irrigate the course. Coronado doesn’t have access to recycled water so they irrigate with potable drinking water... to the tune of $400,000 US last year.

The use of water for amenity horticulture purposes is an issue we have been grappling with for many years. What strategies have you implemented to reduce water usage in these areas? Are you moving towards recycled water for these areas and do you have strategies in place to counter the effects that water will have on the soil profile and plants you are irrigating?

Are you using PGR’s as part of a broader strategy to reduce water usage? What are you using …and how effect has it been? I welcome your comments, questions and feedback. Images from the visit to Coronado Golf Course can be viewed in the image gallery on our project website.