Rethinking Road Planning and Design Workflows:

Rethinking Road Planning and Design Workflows: Unlocking the Potential of LiDAR Craig Speirs Softree Technical Systems

Forest road construction is one of the most expensive components of timber harvesting.

Forest roads are a major source of disturbance in forest development.

Our goal is to help engineers find better road locations. Reduce construction costs Reduce environmental impact Reduce cycle times Improve safety

A new methodology for How are we going to do it? planning and designing forest roads using accurate LiDAR data and mathematical optimization software.

Road planning optimization is not new.? However, applying these tools to imprecise map data renders them impractical.??

Traditional Workflow Contour Maps Route Area of Interest Selection Field Verification & Route Selection L2 Field Survey (C/L, side shots +) Design & Construction Documents Air Photos Terrain Maps Identify suitable alignments Geometric Centerline Identify unstable & design: side soils shot plans, and survey profiles, regions, (typically cross-sections steams compass and wetlands chain) Road pegging for grades & switchback locations Done Can Confirm be for inaccurate grades contractual and switchback documentation locations or permitting No geometric design Cost Labour-intensive estimates are investigation available of route alternatives No detailed cost information

Traditional Workflow Contour Maps Route Area of Interest Selection Field Verification & Route Selection L2 Field Survey (C/L, side shots +) Design & Construction Documents Air Photos Terrain Maps Geometric Centerline Identify unstable & design: side soils shot plans, and survey profiles, regions, (typically cross-sections steams compass and wetlands chain) Done Can Confirm be for inaccurate grades contractual and switchback documentation locations or permitting Cost Labour-intensive estimates are investigation available of route alternatives

Traditional Workflow Contour Maps Route Area of Interest Selection Field Verification & Route Selection L2 Field Survey (C/L, side shots +) Design & Construction Documents Air Photos Terrain Maps Geometric Centerline & design: side shot plans, survey profiles, (typically cross-sections compass and chain) Done Can be for inaccurate contractual documentation or permitting Cost Labour-intensive estimates are available

Traditional Workflow Contour Maps Route Area of Interest Selection Field Verification & Route Selection L2 Field Survey (C/L, side shots +) Design & Construction Documents Air Photos Terrain Maps Geometric design: plans, profiles, cross-sections Done for contractual documentation or permitting Cost estimates are available

Increasing Use of LiDAR in the Forest Industry LiDAR Usage in the Forest Industry 63% of forestry companies using LiDAR now, +18% in the near future Lower acquisition costs 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Time Quicker return on investment

Opportunity to improve the workflow A new methodology for road planning using: Accurate LiDAR Data Geometric Design Optimization Software LiDAR-based Field Software Improved engineering & route selection Improved field time Reduced construction costs

LiDAR-based Workflow Route Selection & Pre-Field Design Field Verification & Route Selection C/L Field Survey Design & Construction Documents Terrain Maps Air Photos LiDAR Quickly locate & optimize alignments (with Geometric Optimization Software) Geometric Centerline More route survey design: confirmation, (compass plans, profiles, less and reconnaissance chain cross-sections or GPS) Compare costs and quantities Final Uses Identify LiDAR alignment unstable for side-shots optimization soils and regions, steams and wetlands, pit locations Review geometry and cross sections for stability, safety, etc. before going to the field Get Less Assistance construction time-intensive from LiDAR-enabled quantities compared and to updated in-field L2 side-shot solutions costssurvey Prepare digital map and design data for field use

LiDAR-based Workflow Route Selection & Pre-Field Design Field Verification & Route Selection C/L Field Survey Design & Construction Documents Terrain Maps Air Photos LiDAR Geometric Centerline More route survey design: confirmation, (compass plans, profiles, less and reconnaissance chain cross-sections or GPS) Final Uses Identify LiDAR alignment unstable for side-shots optimization soils and regions, steams and wetlands, pit locations Get Less Assistance construction time-intensive from LiDAR-enabled quantities compared and to updated in-field L2 side-shot solutions costssurvey

LiDAR-based Workflow Route Selection & Pre-Field Design Field Verification & Route Selection C/L Field Survey Design & Construction Documents Terrain Maps Air Photos LiDAR Geometric Centerline survey design: (compass plans, profiles, and chain cross-sections or GPS) Final Uses LiDAR alignment for side-shots optimization Get Less construction time-intensive quantities compared and to updated L2 side-shot costssurvey

LiDAR-based Workflow Route Selection & Pre-Field Design Field Verification & Route Selection C/L Field Survey Design & Construction Documents Terrain Maps Air Photos LiDAR Geometric design: plans, profiles, cross-sections Final alignment optimization Get construction quantities and updated costs

Optimization Software Use Route Selection & Pre-Field Design Field Verification & Route Selection Geometric Optimization Software C/L Field Survey Design & Construction Documents Terrain Maps Air Photos LiDAR

LiDAR Field Solution Software Use Route Selection & Pre-Field Design Handheld Field Solutions Field Verification & Route Selection C/L Field Survey Design & Construction Documents LiDAR Air Photos Terrain Maps COST ESTIMATE AVAILABLE

Handheld Field Software Enabled with LiDAR & GPS Road layout check grades check switchback locations find alternate routes Cable logging deflection analysis

What is Geometric Design Optimization? Mathematical process to determine the lowest cost alignment which satisfies constraints and standards. Divided into vertical and horizontal optimization.

Vertical Optimization Existing ground (LiDAR) Preliminary Horizontal Alignment Cross Section Geometry OPTIMIZATION Costs Constraints

Vertical Optimization Existing ground (LiDAR) Preliminary Horizontal Alignment Cross Section Geometry Costs Constraints Cut / fill for sub-grade and surfacing materials Movement & loading costs Additional costs: culverts, pit opening costs, clearing and grubbing

Vertical Optimization Existing ground (LiDAR) Preliminary Horizontal Alignment Cross Section Geometry Costs Constraints Min./max grades Min. K Fixed control points (elevation or grade) Full bench sections Material movement direction

Vertical Optimization Existing ground (LiDAR) Preliminary Horizontal Alignment Cross Section Geometry Costs Constraints OPTIMIZATION Optimal Alignment Geometry $ Cost Earthwork Movement Schedule

Route Selection B Using Vertical Optimization OPTION 2 OPTION 1 A

Horizontal Optimization B Optimization Corridor Optimized Horizontal Alignment OPTION 1 OPTION 2 A

Efficiencies Improved early stage planning and costing Improved usage of field time Benefits Reduced engineering time Lower earthwork & construction costs Better road location

Thank You