Austin Peay GIS Center to assist Vanderbilt in LiDAR traffic project
By: Colby Wilson March 14, 2025
Dr. William Barbour of Vanderbilt University presented LIDAR technology to Austin Peay and Clarksville Street Department officials at the Warfield Boulevard and Rossview Road intersection. The project aims to enhance traffic safety through data collection and analysis.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. 鈥 You will soon notice an interesting-looking white box near a busy intersection as you drive around Clarksville.
Fear not: it鈥檚 there to enhance your safety.
will support a research project with Vanderbilt University and the Clarksville Street Department. This project will enhance public safety using light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology to analyze the travel patterns of cars, pedestrians, and cyclists in Clarksville.
The project aims to deploy LIDAR technology, known for creating detailed 3D models through pulsed light, to gather data on traffic behaviors and improve safety. Unlike traditional license plate readers or red-light cameras, LIDAR offers a nonintrusive and comprehensive way to study traffic without compromising privacy.
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts and APSU College of STEM Dean Karen Meisch at the project unveiling.
Vanderbilt University secured a state grant for this project, with Austin Peay providing data analysis and assistance. This funding is part of a broader initiative led by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) through the Transportation Network Growth Opportunity (TNGO) initiative.
TNGO awarded $2.9 million in grants to position Tennessee as a mobility research and development leader. Under GIS experts鈥 guidance, the APSU GIS Center will assist in setting up LiDAR systems, collecting geographic data, and analyzing it to improve traffic flow and safety.
鈥淭丑颈蝉 collaboration aims to address traffic safety proactively,鈥 said Cara Ince, 痴补苍诲别谤产颈濒迟鈥檚 research and innovation public partnerships director. 鈥淲ith the data we collect, we can design interventions that reduce accidents and improve the flow of traffic in 颁濒补谤办蝉惫颈濒濒别.鈥
Dr. William Barbour, a senior research scientist at Vanderbilt, recently demonstrated the technology at Warfield Boulevard and Rossview Road, which will be the project鈥檚 first data collection site in Clarksville. The data collected will optimize signal timings and contribute to future city planning.
鈥淏测 employing LIDAR technology, we can receive almost instantaneous feedback on traffic interventions,鈥 Barbour said. 鈥淭丑颈蝉 data helps us make informed decisions to enhance road safety in real time.鈥
APSU's involvement strengthens the partnership between local institutions and provides students with experience in cutting-edge technology for collecting and analyzing geographic data, preparing them for careers in this rapidly advancing field.
鈥淟IDAR provides a unique opportunity to gather data without infringing on privacy,鈥 said Dr. Mike Wilson, director of the APSU GIS Center. 鈥淚t allows us to monitor traffic patterns effectively and safely. 奥别鈥檙别 eager to see how this data can influence street designs for improved safety.鈥
About the Austin Peay College of STEM
The College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) provides studies for students in the areas of agriculture, astronomy, aviation sciences, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth and environmental sciences, engineering physics, engineering technology, information technology, mathematics, medical laboratory sciences, radiologic sciences and physics. Our outstanding, discipline-based programs are student-centered and designed to prepare students for responsible positions at all levels of research, industry, education, medicine and government.
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