Technology in Trail Building and Planning: Drones and LiDAR

The webinar will introduce a state-of-the-art technology solutions for trail assessments.

Matt Woodson (Okanogan Trail Construction) will briefly explain his use of LiDAR technology. We will host an entire webinar on this topic in Spring of 2021. Stay tuned for a link to register. This new scientific approach to assessment removes the subjective variability inherent in current approaches. The methodology incorporates geospatial technologies used in other industries to produce measurable baseline conditions as well as subsequent changes. These results can then be converted into trail maintenance and reconstruction data that will guide in the management of trail resources, prioritization of agenda and real time data on existing conditions. Data results can be processed from the office to set up a strategic management plan based on definitive measurements rather than subjective observations.

Jon Altschuld (Chinook Landscape Architecture) and Tony Boone (Tony Boone Trails) are using drone technology to help inventory and plan several nonmotorized trail projects, including the 18 Road Master Plan north of Fruita, Colorado and the Austin Bluffs Open Space Master Plan in Colorado Springs. This webinar will dive deep into demonstrating how they are using emerging and evolving technologies such as drones, photogrammetry, RTK GPS, and 3D modeling to inventory and analyze the existing conditions, as well as to communicate design ideas and potential trail alignments. Lessons learned and the benefits of using these technologies will be shared, as well as startup/ongoing costs, licenses, and concerns for commercial drone use.

Learning Objectives:

• Types of drone data, how it can be collected and used
• Drone costs, licenses, and liabilities
• Understand what LiDAR technology is

Trail Competencies

• Project Planning and Design
• • Trail Inventory and Assessment

Relevant Trail Types

General. All trail types are relevant.