Understanding Scores
AV Docket Watch uses a scoring system to help you quickly identify the most relevant agenda items. Each item is assigned three scores: AV Score, Approval Score, and Overall Score.
AV Score
The AV Score (0–100%) measures how likely an agenda item is related to autonomous vehicles or mobility technology.
How It's Calculated
The system scans the item's title and description for AV-related keywords and phrases. Different terms are weighted based on specificity:
| Weight | Examples |
|---|---|
| High (+30%) | "autonomous vehicle", "self-driving", "robotaxi", "driverless", "autonomous shuttle", "paratransit", "microtransit" |
| Medium (+25%) | Company names: Waymo, Cruise, Zoox, Nuro, Aurora, May Mobility, Kodiak, Gatik, etc. |
| Low (+15%) | General terms: "AV", "autonomous", "connected vehicle", "V2X", "smart mobility", "MaaS" |
The score is the sum of all matched keywords, capped at 100%.
Examples
- "Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Program Approval" → High AV Score (matches "autonomous vehicle" and "pilot")
- "Waymo Permit Application" → High AV Score (matches company name "Waymo")
- "Smart Mobility Initiative" → Lower AV Score (general term only)
- "Budget Discussion" → 0% AV Score (no AV keywords)
Approval Score
The Approval Score (0–100%) measures how likely an agenda item involves a decision or action being taken (rather than just a discussion or informational item).
How It's Calculated
The system looks for action-oriented keywords in the title, description, and action type:
| Weight | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Standard (+20% each) | approve, approval, adopt, authorize, grant, permit, license, contract, award, resolution, ordinance, motion |
| Bonus (+30%) | If the action type field contains: "approval", "adopt", "authorize", or "approve" |
The score is the sum of matched keywords plus any action type bonus, capped at 100%.
Examples
- "Approve Contract for AV Services" (Action Type: "Approval") → High Approval Score
- "Resolution Authorizing Pilot Program" → High Approval Score (multiple keywords)
- "Receive and File Update on AV Study" → Low Approval Score (informational)
- "Discussion of Future Initiatives" → 0% Approval Score (no action keywords)
Overall Score
The Overall Score (0–100%) combines both scores to give you a single measure of how interesting an item might be. It uses a weighted formula:
Overall Score = (60% × AV Score) + (40% × Approval Score)
This weighting emphasizes AV relevance while still factoring in whether action is likely to be taken.
Why This Weighting?
- AV relevance (60%) is weighted higher because finding AV-related items is the primary goal
- Approval likelihood (40%) helps surface items where decisions are being made, not just discussions
High Priority Items
Items are flagged as High Priority when they meet both of these thresholds:
- AV Score ≥ 75%
- Approval Score ≥ 60%
Use the "High Priority" filter to quickly find the most actionable AV-related agenda items.
Tips for Using Scores
- Start with Overall Score to get a quick sense of relevance
- Check AV Score if you want to ensure strong AV connection regardless of action type
- Check Approval Score if you specifically want items with pending decisions
- Use High Priority filter for the most actionable items
- Scores aren't perfect — always review the actual agenda item to confirm relevance