Investigating the Maturity and Implementation of Wireless and Sensing Technology in Highway Construction and Infrastructure Asset Management

The demand for safe, reliable, and higher-quality infrastructure systems often increases the complexity of transportation construction projects and necessitates more comprehensive evaluation methods leading to the incorporation of technologies. There has been growing interest in using wireless sensing technologies in highway construction, infrastructure asset management, and the overall AEC industry. Using technologies for highway construction and infrastructure asset management has helped DOT agencies realize faster results which are more accurate, and helps in more efficient planning during design, construction, and management. The study includes an analysis of nine wireless and sensing technologies including Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), barcoding and readers, object-recognition devices, Global Positioning System (GPS) or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Geographic Information System (GIS), Unmanned Aerial Systems or Vehicles (UAS/UAV), Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), and Electronic ticketing (e-Ticketing). Drawing from a literature review, surveys, and interviews with DOT personnel, this study holistically assesses technologies to evaluate their maturity and the variables that affect them, and investigates the factors that DOTs should consider to successfully implement the technologies in the construction and asset management phases. Results showed that GPS/GNSS is the technology with the highest maturity while object recognition is the technology with the lowest. Correlation tests also indicated that the total number of use cases, the number of years the DOTs used the technology, and the number of projects the technology is annually used on are all correlated with the maturity scores. Furthermore, results revealed that the six investigated implementation factors—i.e., Organization Structure, IT Infrastructure, Data Security Information Workflow, Personnel Training, and Stakeholder Engagement—vary in importance across different technologies, as well as between the construction and asset management phases. Findings from this study can provide DOTs with insights needed to successfully implement wireless and sensing technologies in their project.