Utilization of Lidar Technology to Assess Vertical Clearances of Civil Infrastructures
Levi McIntosh, Bashar Haddad, Mark Revels

Abstract
Minimum vertical clearances along highway systems impact the functionality of the road network. Extracting current routing clearances for each structure can be a challenging and hazardous task. Pavement changes and roadway rehabilitation projects can alter roadway geometry, complicating efforts to maintain accurate clearance databases. Inherently, traditional methods that are used to obtain the measurements routinely impede traffic flow and subject workers to dangerous environments. This study will examine the use of a Mobile LiDAR system and its applicability and accuracy to obtain vertical clearances on bridge structures. This study aims to propose an alternative method for extracting minimum clearances along highway systems while investigating the impact of work zone safety and traffic disruption. The proposed method is assessed using a statistical analysis of data obtained through traditional and Mobile LiDAR collections. Results show that there were no statistical differences between methods while the exposure to safety hazards was greatly reduced.

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