Morgan State Deploys Lidar To Improve Urban Traffic Safety

Morgan State University researchers have been testing a light detection and ranging optical approach to better detect and measure roadway conditions and moving objects, a project aimed at reducing crashes and improving signal timing and infrastructure decision making in urban corridors. The team recently presented their findings and expanded collaborations with transportation partners as they move from research toward practical applications in city streets and intersections.

The system uses high resolution optical sensing to capture detailed information on vehicle movements, pedestrian activity, and roadway surface conditions. That data can sharpen traffic signal timing, inform maintenance priorities, and provide engineers with a clearer picture of how people and vehicles use specific corridors. By improving the accuracy of measurements, the project seeks to help agencies make evidence driven decisions that reduce collision risk and improve traffic flow.

For Baltimore residents the potential benefits include safer intersections, more reliable transit and bus routes, and targeted infrastructure investments in neighborhoods that have historically borne a disproportionate share of traffic injuries. Better detection of pedestrians and bicycles at crossings can directly affect public safety outcomes, especially on arterial streets with high speeds and frequent crashes. More precise timing adjustments can also reduce idling and emissions, with positive effects on local air quality and community health.

The research team emphasized collaboration with transportation partners, a step that can accelerate adoption of the technology in planning and operations. Partnerships with local agencies and regional planners are critical to ensure data generated by new sensors is integrated into traffic signal systems and engineering workflows. Those collaborations also create opportunities to prioritize corridors where safety improvements will have the greatest equity impact.

As the project moves from demonstration toward implementation, policy choices will determine how quickly communities see change. Decisions about procurement, funding and where to deploy limited resources will shape whether improved sensing leads to measurable reductions in crashes in Baltimore neighborhoods. The research offers tools that can support those choices, and the next phase will test how effectively new measurement methods can be translated into safer streets for city residents.