In an effort to make traffic intersections safer, Utah Department of Transportation (DOT) has been using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to remotely retrieve three-dimensional information of a specific area. By using this technology, Utah DOT was able to track typical pedestrian and jaywalking paths as well as the patterns of collisions and near misses, leading to improvements that earned them an award from the U.S. DOT earlier this year.

 

Beyond making adjustments to traffic intersections, this technology has also been used to create in-depth, three-dimensional renderings of large or historical buildings to assist in public access of knowledge and restoration processes. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), LiDAR is most commonly used via airplane or helicopter to scan large areas for data, including land mapping and seafloor or lake measurements. Aerial drones are also an option, as the Mississippi DOT reported using ones equipped with LiDAR technology to assess the safety and efficiency of their construction projects.

Due to its remote nature, LiDAR usage minimizes the risk to ground crews in traffic surveying and protects fragile structures or delicate landscapes. When used in a disaster, like the rockslide seen above, teams can assess the remaining danger risk and how much of a given material is within a specified location. The implications of this technology are great, as it will give Landscape Architects more options when working on projects with unique site situations.

To see more uses of this technology, specifically regarding traffic intersections, go to: https://etapnews.transportation.org/utah-dot-deploys-lidar-to-boost-intersection-safety/