Woolpert Selected by USGS to Evaluate New Lidar Technologies for 3DEP

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has contracted with Woolpert to evaluate new lidar (light detection and ranging) technologies to assess the suitability to support the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP).

This use of the single photon and Geiger mode lidar for this evaluation is new to the commercial market, according to Woolpert Project Director John Gerhard.

“This technology provides the ability to fly at higher altitudes while acquiring data at an increased point density,” Gerhard said. “The USGS has asked us to provide an evaluation of this sensor technology in support of 3DEP.”

The USGS is developing the 3DEP initiative to respond to the growing need for high-quality topographic data nationwide, to address issues that include flood-risk management, precision agriculture, natural resource management, infrastructure management and hazard mitigation.

Woolpert—a national architecture, engineering and geospatial firm—will then evaluate the data, conduct an accuracy analysis, develop final data products and provide a comprehensive report to the USGS by the end of the year.

About Woolpert
Woolpert is a national architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm that delivers value to clients by strategically blending engineering excellence with leading-edge technology and geospatial applications. With a dynamic R&D department, Woolpert works with inventive business partners like Google; operates a fleet of planes, sensors and unmanned aerial systems (UAS); and continually pushes industry boundaries by working with advanced water technologies, asset management, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and sustainable design. Woolpert’s mission is to help its clients progress—and become more progressive. For over 100 years and with more than 25 offices across the United States, Woolpert serves the needs of federal, state, and local governments; private and public companies and universities; energy and transportation departments; and the United States Armed Forces. For more information, visit woolpert.com or call 937-531-1258.

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Study to Examine Road Widening, Signal Needs in Lewis Center

Delaware County has contracted with Woolpert for road improvement studies on a mile-and-a-half stretch of South Old State Road from Orange Road north to Lewis Center Road in Lewis Center.

Woolpert will collect and analyze data to determine whether the two-lane road should be widened, up to five lanes at select areas, and if intersections require signals, roundabouts or turn lanes.

“Our role is to look at traffic, accidents, delays, environmental issues, concerns for right-of-way, overall project cost, (etc.),” said Ron Mattox, Woolpert project director. “Then we can develop feasible roadway alternatives for two lanes or three lanes or five lanes to alleviate existing traffic and safety issues.”

U.S. Census data shows that Delaware has been among the fastest growing counties in Ohio for years, and multiple subdivisions have been built along South Old State Road.

“We’ll be looking at five major intersections to determine if a signal is warranted or a roundabout would provide the necessary capacity and safety,” Mattox said. “Plans also call for a 10-foot-wide multiuse path, with a sidewalk on the opposite side.”

Woolpert—a national architecture, engineering and geospatial firm headquartered in Dayton—has worked with Delaware County in the past. The firm provided aerial imagery and mapped this stretch of road three years ago as part of a countywide project using light detection and ranging (LiDAR).

Earlier this year, the South Old State Road corridor was reflown to get higher resolution imagery and more precise mapping.

“LiDAR produces better and tighter data, with more than three collection datapoints per meter,” Mattox said. “This will give us more detail regarding drainage and runoff, and more information on roadway issues like sight distance—whether drivers can see over an upcoming hill, if there are trees or a building blocking a turn, etc.”

Woolpert will use the LiDAR mapping to develop alternatives for South Old State Road improvements and create documentation for the county. The county will share its findings with the public once the study has been completed.

The study should take about eight months. Roadwork is expected to take place in 2019 and is dependent on funding.

About Woolpert
Woolpert is a national architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm that delivers value to clients by strategically blending engineering excellence with leading-edge technology and geospatial applications. With a dynamic R&D department, Woolpert works with inventive business partners like Google; operates a fleet of planes, sensors and unmanned aerial systems (UAS); and continually pushes industry boundaries by working with advanced water technologies, asset management, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and sustainable design. Woolpert’s mission is to help its clients progress—and become more progressive. For over 100 years and with more than 25 offices across the United States, Woolpert serves the needs of federal, state, and local governments; private and public companies and universities; energy and transportation departments; and the United States Armed Forces. For more information, visit woolpert.com or call 937-531-1258.

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