Streamlining Data Collection and Processing with gNext: The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT)

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is a state agency with the primary responsibility of statewide transportation through all modes of travel, employing about 4,000 people across the Heart of Dixie. With a small UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) group based in Montgomery, ALDOT has used drone technology to collect data and streamline processes for over eight years. JD D’Arville, the UAS Program Administrator for ALDOT, has been leading this initiative and actively seeking innovative solutions to enhance its operations.

ALDOT and gNext have aligned to revolutionize the ALDOT UAS program and streamline data collection and processing for enhanced infrastructure management.

“We are the first Department of Transportation to jump on the gNext ship. At the end of the day, we needed something that was easy to use and very efficient at processing data. gNext delivers that and more.”

-JD D’Arville, UAS Program Administrator, Alabama Department of Transportation

Challenges Faced by ALDOT

With a team of seven drone pilots covering the entire state of Alabama and conducting over 4,200 flights per year, ALDOT faced several challenges in effectively processing and utilizing its collected data. Some of these challenges included:

  • Limited time available for data processing due to busy drone pilots.
  • The need to quickly process data into digital twins for actional results.
  • Data distribution to end users within ALDOT and external entities like emergency response teams.
  • Building accurate 3D models from UAS data, especially when tying top/bottom data on assets like bridges.

“I love what gNext is doing with 3D modeling. You can easily distribute data to your end users. It’s imperative that the UAS team gets the data to our users and decision makers as quickly and accurately as we can.”

-JD D’Arville, UAS Program Administrator, Alabama Department of Transportation

Streamlining Workflows by Partnering with gNext

In search of a solution that could address their challenges and provide advanced 3D modeling capabilities, ALDOT partnered with gNext. The main reasons behind this partnership were:

  1. Seamless Integration: gNext’s software allowed the ALDOT UAS team to easily link all its existing bridge data with new aerial data collected using Skydio drones.
  2. Efficient Processing: gNext’s ease of use and quick processing time enabled ALDOT’s UAS pilots to generate models within minutes.
  3. Data Accessibility: Data generated by gNext was accurate and easily accessible by anyone within ALDOT or external stakeholders without requiring training or photogrammetry skills.

“I’ve used a lot of software where you have to be a rocket scientist to use it; gNext is easy to use, and our end users can view and navigate the data in a matter of minutes, and that’s important to us.”

-JD D’Arville, UAS Program Administrator, Alabama Department of Transportation

ALDOT’s end users use gNext’s data for photogrammetry, building models, preliminary design, generating point clouds, inspection, emergency preparedness, and more. Users can easily generate models, download point clouds, and distribute them for various purposes, including visualization. The platform offers intuitive navigation, allowing anyone to explore the data and models without guidance.

Data captured by ALDOT of the Lakeview bridge to assist with construction and maintenance planning.
Data captured of the Lakeview bridge to assist with construction and maintenance planning.
3D model of the MOL bridge. Data captured by ALDOT.
3D model of the MOL bridge.
gNext 3D model used for stockpile and inventory management, captured from drone collected data by ALDOT.
gNext 3D model used for stockpile and inventory management.

Benefits of gNext and ALDOT Partnership

Working with gNext brought several benefits to ALDOT’s UAS program. Some of the key advantages include:

  1. Time Savings: The ability to quickly process data and generate reports in real-time significantly reduces the time spent on manual data collection and analysis.
  2. Accuracy: The data obtained through gNext surpasses the accuracy of traditional methods, such as using rovers to measure quantities on stockpiles.
  3. Enhanced Asset Management: ALDOT leverages gNext for asset management, enabling it to monitor and maintain its transportation infrastructure efficiently.
  4. Forward-Thinking Approach: By embracing drone technology and advanced software solutions like gNext, ALDOT has positioned itself at the forefront of innovation in its industry.
  5. Construction Support: With a focus on road maintenance and capacity expansion rather than new construction, ALDOT utilized gNext for construction purposes, such as road widening projects.

“gNext has given us fantastic time savings, and you just can’t get that with the traditional methods.”

-JD D’Arville, UAS Program Administrator, Alabama Department of Transportation

Like most states, Alabama doesn’t construct many “new” roadways. Instead, ALDOT focuses on adding capacity or maintaining the current roadways. There are two large projects that gNext will get to play a significant part in during the next couple of years:

  • The West Alabama Highway: The 77-mile corridor is expanding from two lanes of traffic to four. The ALDOT UAS team flew the corridor and processed all 77 miles worth of data within three and a half days.
  • The Mobile River Bridge: The tunnel’s infrastructure was originally built for 46,000 vehicles daily. However, it cannot accommodate the 90-100,000 vehicles that can occur during high-traffic seasons and holidays. Due to the severe backup, this five to seven-year project will involve constructing a new bridge on Interstate 10 over the Mobile River and tying it into the bay way, which will be raised an additional 20 feet.
The ALDOT UAS team collected drone-captured data to assist with construction planning for the West Alabama Highway.
The ALDOT UAS team collected drone-captured data to assist with construction planning for the West Alabama Highway.
UAS data captured by ALDOT of the West Alabama Highway construction during the earthwork phase.
West Alabama Highway construction during the earthwork phase.
Comparing the gNext 3D model against the original collected data by ALDOT to monitor the West Alabama Highway Construction.
Comparing the gNext 3D model against the original images to monitor the West Alabama Highway Construction.

A Tailored Level of Customer Service

gNext’s responsiveness and willingness to listen have made working together a positive experience for both parties.

“Besides the data processing that speaks for itself, the #1 benefit of working with gNext is their team. They trust me and I trust them! If I suggest a change or a feature, the gNext team takes it into account when making change to enhance their software.”

-JD D’Arville, UAS Program Administrator, Alabama Department of Transportation

JD appreciates the responsiveness and effectiveness of gNext and values the strong relationship he has developed with the team.

The Future of Alabama’s Department of Transportation with gNext

ALDOT’s collaboration with gNext has proven instrumental in overcoming challenges related to data processing, 3D modeling, and efficient information distribution within their organization. By leveraging the power of drone technology combined with user-friendly software like gNext, ALDOT has streamlined operations while saving time and improving accuracy.

JD and his team are enthusiastic about what lies ahead for ALDOT’s UAS program and its partnership with gNext. There is still untapped potential in utilizing more features offered by gNext. Still, JD follows a “crawl, walk, run” approach when adopting new technologies and plans to explore further possibilities with the platform.

As JD continues leading his group toward future advancements, he remains committed to exploring new technologies and software solutions to enhance ALDOT’s UAS program further.

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