Implementation of Aerial LiDAR Technology to Update Highway Feature Inventory

Highway assets, including traffic signs, traffic signals, light poles, and guardrails, are important components of transportation networks. They guide, warn and protect drivers, and regulate traffic. To manage and maintain the regular operation of the highway system, state departments of transportation (DOTs) need reliable and up-to-date information about the location and condition of highway features. Different methodologies have been employed to collect road inventory data. Currently, ground-based technologies are widely used to help DOTs continually update their road database, while air-based methods are not commonly used. The focus of this project is to analyze the capability and strengths of an airborne data collection system in highway inventory data collection. In this study, a field experiment was conducted to collect both light detection and ranging (LiDAR) point cloud data and high-resolution aerial imagery data. A comprehensive introduction to highway inventory methodologies, especially airborne LiDAR technology, was provided to relevant departments and personnel to promote their understanding of the pros and cons of different inventory techniques. An ArcGIS-based algorithm was developed to analyze and process LiDAR data as well as extract desirable features from raw LiDAR point clouds. In addition, a MATLAB-based drainage grate detection algorithm was proposed to demonstrate the effectiveness and economic efficiency of the airborne data collection system. The detection results were provided and compared with a Mandli dataset. Economic comparison between airborne LiDAR and mobile LiDAR was also provided. From the results of this project, the authors can conclude that airborne LiDAR technology is a promising method for road inventory data collection.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Edition: Final Report
  • Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 133p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01635099
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: UT- 17.06, MPC 18-356
  • Contract Numbers: 15-8544
  • Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: May 22 2017 4:00PM