Potholes form when moisture collects in small holes and cracks in the road surface. As temperatures rise and fall, the water expands and contracts due to freezing and thawing. This breaks up the pavement and, combined with the weight of passing cars, eventually results in a pothole.

The City of Syracuse is famous for its heavy snowfalls during winter. Due to the extreme weather conditions and constant need to plow snow to prevent ice formation, potholes appear frequently on all city roads. However, the Department of Public Works often struggles with poor road conditions. When dealing with potholes sighting, traditional methods like phone calls, emails, or filling out forms on the city website to report are sometimes impractical and inconvenient.