Pilot Study on Laser Scanning Technology for Transportation Projects

This paper describes the results from a pilot study to investigate the use of laser scanning for the Iowa Department of Transportation in delivering projects in a safer and more efficient manner. Laser scanning is a terrestrial laser-imaging system that quickly creates a highly accurate three-dimensional image of an object for use in standard computer-aided design software packages. Included in this paper is a description of the technology, discussion of the pilot tests, lessons learned, and results. It appears that laser scanning technology may be an alternative tool for design and construction of transportation projects. Based on results from the study, laser scanning can be used cost effectively for preliminary surveys. It also appears that this technique can be used quite effectively for construction measurement in a safer and quicker fashion compared to conventional approaches. Laser scanning technology would be quite beneficial for determining volume calculations.