Perceived Usefulness of Airborne LiDAR Technology in Road Design and Management: A Review

Airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) surveying technology plays an important role in road design, and it is increasingly implemented in the design stage. The ability of LiDAR as a remote sensing technology to be used in non-accessible places (i.e., hilly terrain, steep slope) makes it a powerful tool, and it has the potential to provide benefits that simplify existing design processes for designers and practitioners. This paper reviews the application of airborne LiDAR in road design and factors including items from the perceived usefulness of technology. The context of the future direction of LiDAR technology is highlighted in civil engineering road design, roadway inspection and as-built documentation. The implementation of this technology is expected to assist the end-users in developing more manageable planning for road construction and thus to ensure the usage of LiDAR technology is enhanced from time to time, especially in Malaysia.

Automated summary

Airborne LiDAR surveying technology is increasingly important in road design, simplifying design processes and being applied in inaccessible areas. The future direction of LiDAR technology in civil engineering road design is emphasized, likely to help end-users develop more manageable road construction plans.