NV5 surveyors in Denver were hired to provide hi-resolution 3D laser mapping of critical rock formations, thousands of feet above the active I-70 roadway, in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado. As the canyon is notorious for annual rock falls that severely impact I-70’s structures, traveling public and interstate commerce, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is proactively implementing programs to monitor, identify, and mitigate hazardous conditions in this canyon.
The surveyors were air-lifted to a thin, rocky ledge far above the highway, and secured themselves and the equipment, to lifelines installed by a CDOT rock scaling crew. The precarious location offered surveyors an unparalleled vantage point for mapping; otherwise appreciated only by soaring hawks and mountain lions.
NV5 generated digital terrain models of the entire 2,000 foot-high canyon wall, associated slopes and slide paths, together with portions of the I-70 roadway surface directly beneath these active geologic features.
NV5 provides HDS mapping services for public and private rock fall mitigation programs throughout the State of Colorado. Our experience integrating long-range and close-proximity hi-resolution 3D mapping with traditional surveying techniques, provides innovative solutions for complex mapping needs.