The Utah Department of Transportation (UDoT) is deploying Ouster’s BlueCity lidar traffic management system for actuation, alerts and analytics at an additional 160 intersections statewide.

California-based Ouster specialises in high-performance lidar sensors and intelligent software, powering physical AI across the automotive, industrial, robotics and smart infrastructure sectors. Intelligent transportation system (ITS) firm Econolite was awarded an expansion contract from UDoT to install the Ouster technology.

With the first Ouster BlueCity with integrated Rev8 installation already live in Utah, this expanded deployment marks a technological leap for the state through the integration of Ouster’s OS1 Max Rev8 digital lidar sensor. The system introduces up to 150-metre advance detection for corridor-level traffic management alongside what is said to be the world’s first native colour lidar detection system.

By simultaneously capturing colour data and 3D depth, the system delivers situational awareness to create accurate, high-fidelity digital traffic twins, simplified zone set-up, and more intuitive event recording analysis through improved colour visualisation. System-level privacy technologies at the edge blur pedestrians and cyclists while retaining the operational benefits of colour data.

The UDoT contract expansion follows a real-world assessment of six distinct lidar proposals conducted by the Utah State Evaluation Committee in 2024 where Econolite’s provision of Ouster BlueCity received the highest overall vendor score and ranked first in the lidar hardware and perception software categories.

UDoT’s primary objective is to reduce collisions and protect vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, through smarter, safer and more sustainable infrastructure. By leveraging an open API architecture, BlueCity integrates seamlessly with UDoT’s existing traffic control ecosystem, including Econolite Cobalt traffic signal controllers.

Installed non-intrusively in as little as three to five hours per intersection, the BlueCity system generates a colour 3D digital traffic twin to enable dynamic traffic signal actuation based on live multimodal demand. Furthermore, the system’s long-range multimodal detection and tracking provides a continuous stream of high-fidelity, automated data for corridor-level intelligence and actuation logic. This enables high-impact safety applications such as automated crosswalk extensions for slow-moving pedestrians, dilemma zone protection, turning-vehicle yield warnings, and real-time vehicle-to-everything (V2X) safety alerts broadcast via integration with intersection roadside units.

“The scaling of Ouster BlueCity’s footprint to hundreds of intersections in Utah is a powerful testament to the real-world value it delivers daily to transportation agencies and municipalities both large and small,” said Asad Lesani, vice president at Ouster. “By leveraging our latest Rev8 OS1 Max digital lidar sensor for these system deployments, UDoT is unlocking a new era of corridor-level, advance detection in native colour alongside critical transportation infrastructure compliance, and we are proudly positioned to support the state’s long-term roadway modernisation and safety goals.”

This expansion builds on the momentum of a 2025 UDoT (connect.udot.utah.gov) contract awarded to Econolite, which initiated the deployment of BlueCity across more than 100 intersections statewide using Rev7 digital lidar sensors. The latest agreement brings UDoT’s total contracted BlueCity footprint to nearly 300 intersection and roadway deployments. With Utah included, BlueCity powers the USA’s top three largest, fully integrated lidar traffic management deployments, alongside Nashville and Chattanooga in Tennessee.

“UDoT’s decision to expand this deployment underscores the heightened levels of situational awareness Econolite-Ouster integrated lidar brings to modern traffic management,” said Jim Madden, senior vice president at California-based Econolite. “By combining Ouster’s advanced system capabilities with Econolite’s proven traffic management technologies, we are helping provide the critical mobility intelligence to optimise signal operations and create safer, more efficient roadways across Utah.”

By combining Ouster’s digital lidar sensors and proprietary AI software, the system (ouster.com/bluecity) captures colour and 3D depth for enhanced digital traffic twin and 2D image visualisation.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Ouster (www.ouster.com) serves thousands of customers with offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

With over 92 years of experience. Econolite (www.econolite.com) has provided more than 160,000 traffic controllers deployed at over 60,000 intersections. Its traffic management software has been installed by more than 500 agencies across North America. With nearly 850 employees primarily in North America, Econolite drives innovation in traffic management and safety, including connected and automated vehicles research and development. In 2022, Bridgepoint acquired a majority stake in Econolite. Since 2023, Econolite and PTV have been united under the brand Umovity.