State DOTs Are Secretly Using Geospatial Tech—Here’s How It Could Save You $1,000!

The landscape of transportation in the United States is undergoing a seismic shift, driven largely by innovative geospatial technologies. At the recent Geo Week 2026, a panel featured groundbreaking methods that state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) are employing to modernize their workflows. With the overarching goal of enhancing safety, optimizing long-term planning, and improving infrastructure management, these advancements highlight the significant role technology plays in developing efficient transportation systems.

The session titled "DOT Case Studies in Digital Delivery" showcased a series of presentations that illuminated the diverse tools and techniques being adopted across the country. Among the presenters were Aaron Morris from Michael Baker International and Alex Baikovitz from Mach9, who shared insights into their collaboration aimed at automating workflows for asset inventories across extensive roadway networks. This is a vital aspect of transportation management, particularly for maintaining safety and compliance, as well as for long-term capital planning.

Morris discussed a statewide project initiated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), emphasizing the importance of maintaining a comprehensive and high-quality inventory of assets. He revealed that traffic backups in the state’s major metropolitan areas can result in economic losses of approximately $30 million per hour. This staggering figure underlines the urgency of the issue. Baikovitz introduced Mach9’s Digital Surveyor—a software solution that integrates mobile lidar technology and artificial intelligence to automatically classify assets along the highway, significantly reducing the time and costs associated with inventory collection.

The discussion continued with Sinan Abood from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Aeronautics Division, who detailed the transformative impact of the MassDOT Drone Program since its inception in 2017. Abood highlighted how the strategic use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technology has enhanced operational efficiency across various sectors, including emergency response, aeronautics, highways, and rail. His presentation illustrated how UAS-derived data is applicable at all stages of project management—covering design, construction, and ongoing operations.

Central to Abood’s presentation was the collaborative nature of the Aeronautics team’s work. He showcased MassDOT’s platform, which facilitates data sharing among multiple stakeholders. This platform allows users to easily search for project data by type, location, and other criteria, ensuring that all parties have access to critical information when they need it.

Wrapping up the session, Michael Olsen from Oregon State University (OSU) discussed a national initiative funded by the Transportation Research Board aimed at developing a Surveying and Mapping Guide for Transportation Projects. This guide seeks to address a significant challenge faced by DOTs: the lack of standardized practices. Olsen noted that such inconsistencies can lead to inefficiencies, miscommunication, and errors throughout the infrastructure lifecycle. He cleverly likened standards to toothbrushes: “We all agree we need them, but no one wants to use somebody else’s.”

Olsen emphasized that the current moment is ripe for establishing national standards, especially as the surveying community is on the brink of a major transition with the modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). His presentation outlined several goals for the guide, including creating standardized definitions of key terminologies, developing a methodology to measure the return on investment (ROI) for these standards, and supporting future lifecycle and business applications.

The session concluded with a brief Q&A, during which Abood elaborated on how UAS data is utilized throughout the project lifecycle and discussed the role of analytics in enhancing operational efficiency. The audience also raised concerns regarding the challenges of updating geographic standards when data is shared across different stakeholders, with the consensus being that prioritizing accurate data is essential for achieving high-quality deliverables.

As the transportation sector increasingly embraces these advanced technologies, the implications for efficiency and safety are profound. The integration of tools like mobile lidar, UAS data, and standardized practices may well pave the way for a new era in transportation management, ultimately benefiting not just state agencies but the millions of Americans who rely on these systems daily.