New technology the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is introducing to intersections across the state will help pinpoint where the problems are in an intersection so engineers can fix them.
According to UDOT, LiDAR technology is expected to “revolutionize” how traffic engineers identify and address potential hazards to pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) uses eye-safe laser light to create a detailed 3D representation of the scene at an intersection.
“While traditional detection devices only allow engineers to see the stop line, LiDAR uses eye-safe laser light to recreate the entire scene in 3D, including vehicle, pedestrian and bicyclist movement,” UDOT said in a statement to KUTV. “This gives traffic engineers a complete view of the intersection, including hundreds of feet in each direction.”
LiDAR can also detect red light violations, near-miss incidents, red light ignoring patterns, and typical walking paths, including average walking speeds.
Mark Taylor, a traffic signal operations engineer with UDOT, described several potential uses, including adjusting signal timing to accommodate bicyclists or extending crosswalk times based on pedestrian behavior.
“These and countless other safety solutions will be enabled through LiDAR's lighting patterns,” he added.
UDOT has already installed LiDAR systems in high-traffic locations across the Salt Lake Valley, including at Redwood Road and 2100 South, and the intersections of 700 East and 1300 South in Salt Lake City.
The agency is also testing the integration of the technology with a connected vehicle system in two locations in Provo, focusing on areas with high pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
UDOT Transportation Engineer Blaine Leonard said LiDAR could be a key component of a more connected transportation future.
“The more our cars and roads can communicate, the safer we all are,” he said in a statement to KUTV. “We're excited that this LiDAR data will be another key component of this new connected future.”
The department plans to expand its efforts using some of the $20 million Utah received from the federal government's “Saving Lives with Connectivity: Accelerating V2X Adoption” program.
Source: KUTV.com, Kslnewsradio.com