Development of Methods for Rapidly and Accurately Processing LiDAR Data for Evaluating Deformations in Bridges and Bridge Elements

Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) is a remote sensing method that creates point-clouds defining physical configuration of objects within line of sight by measuring travel time of pulsed lasers. It promises to revolutionize structural testing and health monitoring by allowing for the replacement of a legion of point measurement devices with a single device that provides exceptionally accurate and synchronized data to accurately describe external structural features. The point clouds that are generated are useful in both qualitative visualization and quantitative analysis of structural state and changes. LiDAR produces very large data sets which are typically well-suited to assessment with data science methods. These methods include both classical curve/surface fitting methods, and modern machine learning (ML)-based approaches. However, there must be engineers “in the loop” at the development stage to ensure that models produce engineering quantities of interest. For example, models that automatically identify beam and girder elements, and generate plots of deformation, slope, curvature, or changes in these quantities over time. The proposed work seeks to provide a bridge from the raw data to engineering insights with easy-to-use software tools.

• Record URL:
  • https://abc-utc.fiu.edu/development-of-methods-for-rapidly-and-accurately-processing-lidar-data-for-evaluating-deformations-in-bridges-and-bridge-elements/

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $100,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348322

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Innovative Bridge Technologies/Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center (IBT/ABC-UTC)

  Florida International University
  Miami, FL  United States 

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

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

  University of Washington, Seattle

  Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
  201 More Hall, Box 352700
  Seattle, WA  United States  98195-2700
• Principal Investigators:

  Wiebe, Richard

• Start Date: 20250101
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Data analysis; Information processing; Laser radar; Structural health monitoring
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Data and Information Technology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01973311
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Innovative Bridge Technologies/Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center (IBT/ABC-UTC)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348322
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Dec 2 2025 4:22PM