Pilot program combines aerial LiDAR and construction scheduling to provide more accurate progress tracking and improve safety on major transportation infrastructure
As construction continues on the final phase of North Carolina’s Complete 540 project, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) is using drone-based LiDAR to gain a more detailed view of construction progress while reducing the need for personnel to work in active construction zones.
The initiative, implemented in January 2026 in partnership with engineering firm WSP, combines monthly drone-based LiDAR surveys with cost-loaded Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling. The approach is designed to give project managers a more accurate understanding of construction progress than traditional surveying methods alone.
The work supports Phase 2 of Complete 540, a 10-mile extension of the Triangle Expressway that will complete the Interstate 540 loop around the greater Raleigh area. The project is expected to open in late 2028 and is intended to improve mobility and reduce congestion throughout North Carolina’s fast-growing Research Triangle region…