NTL Record

Title Effective Use of Geospatial Tools in Highway Construction
Record ID 68725
Personal Name
Creator
Mallela, Jagannath; Mitchell, Alexa; Gustafson, Jonathan; Olsen, Michael J.; Parrish, Christopher; Gillins, Daniel T.; Kumpula, Matthew; Roe, Gene
Personal Name
Contributor
Kessler, Morgan
Corporate Creator United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Research, Development, and Technology
Corporate
Contributor
WSP; Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
Publisher United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Research, Development, and Technology
Publication Date 20180801
Language English
Abstract Geospatial technologies such as photogrammetry and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) have been an integral part of highway mapping for decades. However, geospatial technologies continue to evolve, and new technologies are becoming more accessible for a wide range of highway construction applications. Tools such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), lidar, aerial imagery, GNSS, automated machine guidance, and their derivative products offer many benefits to the highway construction industry. These benefits include improved efficiencies and streamlined processes, as well as more accurate and reliable data. The key to using these technologies successfully to optimize benefits is to correctly select the appropriate tool for the application and understand limitations. In many cases, data from each of these technologies will be integrated for a project to develop the necessary survey products. This research investigates effective uses of geospatial technology for a wide variety of highway construction and maintenance applications; identifies a number of tools and their related accuracies; offers recommendations for tool selection, workflows, and strategies for conducting benefit-cost analysis (BCA); and analyzes future directions of these technologies in highway project and service delivery applications. The research explores several case studies using these technologies to document their benefits and limitations. In particular, the research determines the return on investment (ROI) associated with using these technologies in several of those case studies.
Rosap ID dot:50531
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/50531
TRT Terms Laser radar; Photogrammetry; Satellite navigation systems
General Subjects Geospatial data; Geospatial technology; UAS; GPS; GNSS; Lidar; Photogrammetry; Automated machine guidance; Construction; Surveying; ROI; BCA
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
1726181
Contract Number DTFH61-15-C-00042
Report Number FHWA-HIF-19-089
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/68000/68700/68725/FHWA-HIF-19-089.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository