Cost-Benefit Analysis of Mobile Terrestrial Laser Scanning Applications for Highway Infrastructure

Abstract

This paper presents a cost-benefit analysis of mobile terrestrial laser scanning (MTLS), specifically in highway infrastructure (HI) applications using data and requirements from the western United States. MTLS can be used for rapid data collection in a digital point-cloud format. This data can then be analyzed for mapping and feature inventory in several applications including asset management, preservation, maintenance, and operational planning performed by State Department of Transportation agencies. In this paper, data and requirements related to some of the operations of Washington State Department of Transportation and the California Department of Transportation are used as the basis for this cost-benefit analysis.