Project Overview
The Arlington Grand Prix, a key project for the IndyCar racing circuit, demonstrates the integration of advanced LiDAR technology and precision engineering in motorsports. In collaboration with HNTB, SAM played a pivotal role in delivering the base map for the racetrack’s design, leveraging mobile LiDAR mapping technology and traditional surveying methodologies to meet the event's demanding accuracy specifications.
Located near AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the track utilizes public streets for the race, incorporating features like pit stops and high-speed turns. A detailed and precise 3D map was necessary to ensure a smooth and stable racing pavement surface, meeting both safety standards and the event's high-speed demands.
Technological Challenges and Solutions
A key challenge of the Arlington Grand Prix project was the accuracy requirements for the racetrack mapping. To ensure the road surface's smoothness, the mapping standard was set to meet or exceed a 1-centimeter accuracy, far exceeding the typical accuracy for mobile mapping surveys. SAM’s team worked diligently to achieve this level of accuracy.
Utilizing mobile LiDAR technology, SAM’s mobile mapping crew captured up to 2,000 points per square meter. Our Dallas Survey team incorporated static GPS and digital levels to tie the mobile LiDAR data to a highly accurate survey control network, ensuring the required accuracy was met.
For this project, SAM used the Riegl VMX 2 HA dual-head LiDAR sensor, which captures data in a 360-degree environment and provides data redundancy to prevent gaps. SAM also employed a high-resolution camera system to capture street view imagery, which provides an overview of the project corridor and facilitates technicians to verify critical features from the LiDAR point cloud.
Collaborative Effort and Expedited Timeline
The Arlington Grand Prix project required a swift turnaround. After receiving the notice to proceed in late January 2025, SAM’s team worked diligently to meet a very tight deadline, ensuring all client requirements were met. The INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington is scheduled for March 13-15, 2026, and SAM was committed to delivering all data promptly. Additional resources were allocated to expedite the acquisition and processing of LiDAR data, with experienced technicians ensuring the quality required for such a time-sensitive project. "The success of the Arlington Grand Prix project is a testament to our team's ability to work under a very critical timeline while maintaining the highest standards of quality. Our use of mobile mapping technology, combined with efficient collaboration across various traditional survey and LiDAR production teams, allowed us to meet the positional accuracy within centimeter level and deliver valuable data for the racetrack's design,” said Carlos Montoya, Senior Aerial-GIS Project Manager.
Non-Traditional Deliverables
In addition to the base map, SAM provided non-traditional deliverables to support the track’s infrastructure design. One key deliverable was a pavement heat map generated using LiDAR data to represent elevation changes across the pavement surface. This map allowed the design team to identify high and low points in the pavement, helping ensure the track would meet IndyCar speed requirements.
The pavement heat map proved crucial, providing insights into pavement conditions that could impact vehicle performance. Combined with the base map, it allowed the design team to move forward with confidence, knowing they had the necessary data to create a stable and smooth racing surface.
A High-Speed Success
Despite tight deadlines and the project’s nature and complexity, SAM delivered all data on time, meeting accuracy standards and providing key insights for the Arlington Grand Prix track's design. The collaboration between SAM’s mobile LiDAR and field survey teams ensured the project was completed to the highest standards.
The Arlington Grand Prix project not only showcased SAM’s ability to handle high-pressure, high-precision mapping but also reaffirmed the company’s leadership in delivering geospatial solutions that meet the unique demands of the motorsports industry.