Project Purpose
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is adapting from 2D to 3D workflows using Mobile Laser Scanner (MLS) like Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR). CDOT is considering asset data collection and maintenance options that include remotely-sensed mapping technologies aerial systems aircrafts or drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and mobile systems roadside vehicles. Current trends in asset management, infrastructure, inspections, and maintenance are data processes that requires latest innovation in geospatial technologies. CDOT’s data migration, data integration, and data interoperability-among-asset-groups can benefit from this mapping expertise. In the past, CDOT has used contractors to collect airborne and terrestrial LiDAR data for flood assessment. For a recent project, TSH consultants, collected data from a vehicle-mounted LiDAR to map Center Concrete Barriers for design verification purposes. The geo-hazard Unit plans to use LiDAR data to quantify rock fall, rock- slide, and landslide events. These and other efforts are used for survey and environmental crisis-prevention and crisis-assessment purposes, but not yet for asset management at the operational level.
Over the past few months the Division of Transportation Development (DTD) has met with some companies that offer terrestrial and airborne LiDAR data collection solutions. These meetings have been set with the purpose to learn and to know more about what the LiDAR technology
can offer for future asset data-collection and maintenance needs. DTD has been approached by CDOT asset groups to participate in remote-sensing data collection efforts. DTD will be
happy to participate, but DTD does not know at this point what the technology can offer in terms
of best economic and efficient product mix to meet CDOT’s asset data collection business
requirements. DTD would like to know what the business needs are and how CDOT is going to meet economic and technical resources requirements before embarking into a larger remote sensing asset data collection program.
The Interstate 70 (I70) point cloud assets data collection pilot project aims to learn, assess, and evaluate asset data collection and maintenance from remotely sensed LiDAR methods. It is expected LiDAR derived by-products can be used and consumed in various applications within CDOT. The proposed LiDAR assets data collection pilot study is being planned that will help to assess the usefulness of the data, if necessary make amendments to the data to be collected, consider where inefficiencies might exist, reduce errors that can be encountered later on, and track time and/or resources information when deciding in a large scale project.
The proposed pilot study site area covers one corridor, I70, see Appendix A. A stretch of I70 will be used for mapping that will run from the Denver Metro Area to 25 miles going west of the Interstate. It lies under Region 1 jurisdiction. It is expected the sampled lanes should have various asset structures on the ground to be mapped. The structures should include among other things pavement marking, wall, guardrail, striping, fences, signs, light post, and bridge heights. DTD encourages the participation of interested parties including Traffic Engineering, Staff Bridges, Plant Maintenance, Environmental, and other.
CDOT would like to hire two or more contractors to work on assets data collection. The LiDAR
pilot study will serve as:
a) A guide for resource consolidation among the different CDOT asset groups, b) Look at filling transportation data collection gaps and information, and
c) Provide for safe data collection practices.
This project will focus mainly on asset inventory data gathering and we hope it will offer deliverables for specific asset groups and future implementation of remote sensing data collection programs. In order to support CDOT asset work among the different disciplines, this effort also looks at promoting honed skills among CDOT staff, identify scientific methods, workflow processes, consolidate assets data collection and maintenance. We believe the option to use LiDAR remote sensing can be a viable alternative to achieved operational asset management needs of all stakeholders.
Statewide