Low Cost 3-D LIDAR Development for Transportation

As evident when reviewing past and current research projects supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), mobile light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology offers a significant opportunity to increase transportation safety and efficiency. Unfortunately, these projects typically rely on expensive commercial hardware that prevents widespread usage and potentially mitigates LIDAR’s overall benefits. Previous efforts within the PI’s laboratory resulted in the construction of an inexpensive LIDAR system ($300) that was able to capture up to 700k data points for a respectively accurate point cloud; hence, setting the stage for extensive implementation. However, data collection took too long for effective usage. As a result, this project will build on this past research by increasing the sampling and data collection rate while enhancing connectivity and improving the post-processing of the point cloud information. Dissimilar places on campus will be captured (e.g., intersections and parking lots) using the system to understand how well it can identify street signs, potholes, pedestrians, etc. Overall, this will ensure that a low-cost and mobile LIDAR system will be suited for transportation-based safety outcomes.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $182177
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747107

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Mid-America Transportation Center

  University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  2200 Vine Street, PO Box 830851
  Lincoln, NE  United States  68583-0851
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Kansas, Lawrence

  1530 West 15th Street
  Lawrence, KS  United States  66045
• Principal Investigators:

  Depcik, Christopher

• Start Date: 20200624
• Expected Completion Date: 20210630
• Actual Completion Date: 20230630
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
• Source Data: RiP Project 91994-67

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cost effectiveness; Data collection; Laser radar; Transportation safety
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01752959
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Mid-America Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747107
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Sep 25 2020 3:12PM