Project Spotlight: Mobile LiDAR for East Sixth Streescape Improvements

Mobile LiDAR for East Sixth Streetscape Improvements

The City of Austin was in the preliminary design phase of streetscape improvements for East Sixth in Downtown Austin, beginning at Congress Avenue and extending to I-35. Project goals included widening sidewalk and related pedestrian facilities, roadway paving, and enhancing other transportation related features for this busy downtown area, in keeping with the Great Streets Program design plan. It was crucial to the City’s planning staff that they have detailed and accurate information of all visible ground street features.

Surveying And Mapping, Inc. (SAM, Inc.) was contacted by the City of Austin to perform a design survey of the East Sixth Street project area, including side streets that extend one block north and one block south of Congress along San Jacinto, Trinity, Neches, Red River and Sabine Streets.

Mobile LiDAR technology is ideal for projects like this that require an extraordinary level of detail, such as streetscape design. This mobile laser scanning technology incorporates the most advanced LiDAR sensors, cameras and position/ navigation equipment to collect survey-quality point data quickly and accurately. SAM, Inc.’s mobile LiDAR vehicle arrived at the project site at dawn and in less than four hours the data acquisition was complete. Using mobile LiDAR technology, the City received the survey-grade data they needed in a fraction of the time it would have taken conventional surveying methods. Using this technology also increased safety for project personnel and the general public because data was collected remotely in early morning hours, eliminating the need for traffic diversion required by traditional surveying activities.

Topographic survey information was extracted from the robust point cloud, combined with tree identification from Baer Engineering, and delivered in Autodesk Civil 3D using the City of Austin’s ESD CADD Standards, drawn on the appropriate level and in the format required by the City. This allowed the data to be seamlessly integrated into the preliminary engineering design efforts for the City. Additionally, the detailed data set can be used for 3D visualization and modeling and other project needs without additional mobilization costs.

Owner
City of Austin

Land Surveyor
Surveying And Mapping, Inc. (SAM, Inc.)

Subconsultant for Survey Control
Unintech Consulting Engineers, Inc.

Tree Identification
Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc.