Digital Twins for Transportation

Departments of Transportation (DOTs) can use Imagery/LIDAR technology in several important ways to improve transportation infrastructure, safety, and planning:

Road Mapping and Infrastructure Assessment

• LIDAR creates highly detailed 3D maps of road surfaces, helping DOTs accurately measure road conditions, detect surface irregularities, and plan maintenance
• The technology can precisely map road width, grade, curvature, and elevation with centimetre-level accuracy.
• It helps identify potential drainage issues, pavement deterioration, and areas requiring repair.

Traffic Management and Safety

• LIDAR sensors can monitor traffic flow, count vehicles, and detect different types of road users (cars, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians)
• Provides real-time data about traffic patterns, congestion points, and potential safety hazards
• It can be used to optimize traffic signal timing and design safer intersections.

Construction and Design Planning

• Creates precise digital terrain models for new road, bridge, and highway projects
• Helps engineers accurately survey land, plan routes, and estimate earthwork volumes
• Assists in environmental impact assessments by mapping terrain and vegetation

Asset Management

• Allows DOTs to create comprehensive inventories of infrastructure elements like guardrails, signs, street lights, and road markings
• Helps track the condition and location of assets for maintenance scheduling

Autonomous Vehicle Testing and Infrastructure

• Supports the development of smart infrastructure for connected and autonomous vehicles
• Provides high-resolution environmental data that can be used in vehicle navigation systems

We generate Lanelet2 as well as OpenDRIVE formats for handling map data in the context of automated driving. It is designed to utilize high-definition map data in order to efficiently handle the challenges posed to a vehicle in complex traffic scenarios. Flexibility and extensibility are some of the core principles to handle the upcoming challenges of future maps.

These applications demonstrate how LIDAR technology is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for transportation agencies to improve infrastructure planning, maintenance, and safety.