Case Study: Economic Analysis of Statewide Roadway 3D Mapping Using Mobile LiDAR

Abstract

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has been using survey-grade mobile Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to scan and create three-dimensional (3D) representations of its more than 12,880 km of roadways and gradually replacing traditional surveying when possible since 2015. The application of such technology to create a repository of images of all roadways within a state is in the early adoption phase; the direct impact of such an endeavor on the public is minimal, as it mainly affects the state agency. This article presents a method to quantify the benefits and cost savings of this endeavor using a case study approach, a present value index, and a breakeven analysis. The present value index showed over a $2 saving for every $1 invested over the technology’s 5-year useful life. The breakeven analysis showed that ODOT will breakeven with its annualized cost when mobile mapping is used to survey 79.2 km of roadways and 14 projects annually, regardless of the amount of funding received.