A new iPhone application could allow citizens to report potholes in Charleston on their phones, said an inventor from Virginia.

Minh Tran, a dentist from Springfield, Va., invented an application for the iPhone and Android that allows individuals to report potholes to the appropriate local officials in their communities.

When a driver hits a pothole, they pull the car over and tap the icon twice on the iPhone or Android screen, then the potholes’ GPS coordinates are then sent out to the transportation officials, Tran said.

The free application is called “pothole alert,” and Tran said he hopes the application will help street officials spot all the holes.

When a person is driving they do not necessarily know who to report a pothole to and the application will solve this problem, he said.

Tran said he came up with the idea for the pothole application after the severe snowstorms in the northeast last year and the many potholes he encountered.

Currently, Tran’s pothole application is being used in 20 different states, and he is trying to implement his program in other communities in Illinois.

“I want to implement my pothole application nationwide,” Tran said.

He is interested in computer programming and invented iPhone applications in his spare time.

Tran said all he needs to implement the application is verification from the street superintendent in Charleston.

Quincy Combs, Charleston street superintendent, was not available for comment on Tran’s invention Wednesday afternoon.

In the past, Combs, said the severe winter storms have taken a toll on Charleston streets. If anyone would like to get more information about the pothole application, they should go the savemytire.com, Tran said.

Soon, the website will also allow people to report potholes in their community.

If a student wishes to report a pothole currently, a student should email Combs at the Charleston Public Works Department at qcombs@consolidated.net.

Potholes are caused by many different factors such as moisture or freeze-thaw action, Combs said in an earlier interview.

Once a pothole is reported, the city will fix the hole within two business days Combs said.?

Elizabeth Edwards can be reached at eaedwards@eiu.edu