Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Statewide
The Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) LiDAR Freeway Data Collection System project is part of the larger Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program Saving Lives with Connectivity: Accelerating V2X Deployment, which aims to enhance roadway safety and mobility through leading technology. In June 2024, Utah was awarded $20 million in grants by the FHWA to accelerate Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) deployment projects.
In 2025, UDOT selected Econolite to provide a non-intrusive Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor solution for its Freeway Data Collection project. Econolite again partnered with Ouster, a leading global provider of high-performance LiDAR sensors. For the UDOT Freeway Data Collection System project, Econolite will deploy Ouster’s LiDAR sensor technology along the Utah’s freeway system. Econolite will also integrate the sensor systems into the State’s existing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), leveraging technology to capture high-resolution data to help address the dynamic nature of the state’s freeway network. The improved efficiency and resolution of the data can be used to inform State-level planning and decision-making.
For this project, Econolite will deploy Ouster’s LiDAR sensor system that includes their Gemini Detect perception software. This system will provide real-time insights into traffic volumes, vehicle classifications, and potential safety risks. The complete LiDAR solution will monitor traffic across all lanes of a freeway segment. The sensors will be mounted on poles along UDOT-specified freeway segments without intrusive installation into the roadway surfaces. The detection system provides continuous, lane-by-lane data collection for vehicle speed, lane occupancy, volume (count), and vehicle classification. It will cover 12 total lanes (6 per approach) on a straight freeway segment divided by a 54-inch-high concrete barrier. This will be managed through an ITS Edge software running on an edge computing system. Econolite will be deploying the systems at UDOT’s request into 2030.