The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is using advanced technology to preserve the Red Canyon Arches along State Route 12, a unique gateway to Bryce Canyon National Park.
Built in 1925, the historic arches have stood for a century, but recent vehicle collisions and natural wear have raised concerns about their long-term stability.
In response, UDOT launched a monitoring initiative in 2019, using drones and LiDAR — a laser-based scanning system — to create 3D models and detect signs of erosion, rockfall or deformation.
Engineers combined thousands of drone-captured photos with LiDAR scans to analyze structural changes over time. The project’s second phase, funded this spring, will involve installing new sensors at key points on the arches to supplement or replace earlier sensors that were damaged or underperforming.
“These archways are icons in our state, and we want to make sure we’re doing what we can to preserve them for the future,” said Kirk Thornock, UDOT Region Four director, in a statement.
UDOT plans to install the sensors in the fall after the summer tourism season. Project engineers say the devices will be positioned in discreet locations to avoid disturbing the surrounding landscape.
“We believe good roads cost less,” said James Corney, UDOT Structures Project engineer, in a statement. “Preserving and maintaining infrastructure proactively helps save taxpayer dollars in the long run.”
Source: Utah Department of Transportation, ABC4news.com
