MnDOT Plant Selector Website/ Plant Selector Admin Website

Summary: The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) plans to rebuild the Plant Selector program using Power Apps and Power BI. This initiative will meet MnDOT and external customers' needs by identifying the best plant materials for project locations, thereby minimizing loss and optimizing state funding for plant material. The primary focus is on meeting accessibility requirements and enhancing usability within the Plant Selector Website Program, aiming to provide a stable, ADA-compliant platform that aligns with a more strategic department architecture. 

His project will see the update of outdated programs with significant technical issues and potential security risks. A recent security scan identified a high security risk that cannot be resolved due to the age and complexity of the current design. Additionally, there is no support available for the existing program, making it vulnerable to technical issues. 

The project includes redesigning and migrating the database to a new platform, which will be hosted on an SQL Server or an Azure SQL database compatible with Power Apps. A new Admin Tool will be created in Power Apps, taking advantage of a newer, more strategic architecture. The new publicly accessible website application will be developed in Power BI, ensuring full accessibility and compliance with WCAG 2.1 A and ADA accessibility standards. 

Value: The program meets MnDOT and external customers' needs by identifying the best plant materials for project locations, thereby minimizing loss and optimizing state funding for plant material. Additionally, the program supports the Governor’s objectives of installing 90% native plant material along rural highways and 80% in urban areas by enabling the filtering of materials that meet these goals. 

Impact: Address security issues by upgrading the Plant Selector Admin Tool to be compatible with the updated Plant Selector Website. Additionally, the upgrade will ensure the website meets ADA standards. The project will involve rebuilding the app using MS Power Apps.