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MoDaC™, McKim & Creed’s state-of-the-art mobile data collection system, is revolutionizing the way our surveyors capture roadway data. MoDaC combines 3-D laser scanning, GPS, inertial measurement and video technologies to provide mobile scanning services. Multiple scanners are mounted on an SUV, a rail truck or a survey vessel. These scanners collect dense and accurate 360-degree data while the vehicle travels at posted speeds. The data is used for design, modeling and simulation in 2-D, 3-D and 4-D formats. MoDaC features the Optech LYNX™ mobile scanner and makes McKim & Creed one of the few firms on the East Coast to offer turnkey mobile scanning services. |
Mobile scanning is most applicable for large transportation
projects that:
- cover more than one mile,
- require normal design accuracies (less than ½-inch tolerance),
- have extremely tight deadlines,
- involve heavily traveled or potentially dangerous areas, and
- can benefit from the addition of video imagery for feature
collection and presentation purposes.
Faster, Safer, More Cost Effective
Traditionally, data for survey design grade pavement digital terrain
models (DTMs) is collected using a combination of helicopter mapping
and aerial photogrammetry. This approach can be costly and time
consuming, and can put surveyors at risk when putting survey control
on the ground in areas of high traffic volume.
Using MoDaC to collect this same DTM data can cost up to 30% less than low-altitude photogrammetry (helicopter) methods. And it’s faster. Prior to investing in mobile scanning technology, McKim & Creed compared mobile scanning with static scanning on a three-mile test site. Two crews worked for one week to collect the data using static scanning. With mobile scanning, the data was collected in less than half a day.
Because data is collected inside a vehicle traveling at posted speeds, mobile scanning is much safer than conventional surveying for many transportation projects. And it does not impede traffic flow or require lane closures.
“Scan in a Can”
MoDaC can collect up to 400,000 points per second. Due to its dense
data coverage, mobile scanning collects volumes of highly accurate
data outside the initial limits of the survey. This data can be used
later as needed without requiring surveyors to return to the site to
collect additional data.
Mobile scanning is a safe, fast, cost-effective way for DOTs, railroads, engineers and other transportation consultants to capture highly accurate data on pavement infrastructure. And by creating models and simulations, these organizations can improve existing infrastructure, design new facilities, project future needs and plan for the future.
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