Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)

How UDOT is building a smarter, safer future with Ouster BlueCity

The state of Utah is setting a new global standard for intelligent infrastructure. Ouster, in partnership with Econolite, was selected by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to deploy Ouster BlueCity traffic management solution to over 100 intersections across the state. From Salt Lake City to Cedar City, this initiative—aptly part of the Connecting the West Program—is transforming how a state manages multimodal safety and real-time traffic flow.

Evaluation by a UDOT committee

As part of a rigorous traffic signal detection project, a UDOT committee performed a technical evaluation of six proposed lidar systems and determined that five met the minimum requirements.

Based on the technical evaluation, Econolite received the highest overall vendor score with its proposed Ouster BlueCity integrated solution. In addition, BlueCity was awarded the top score for its high-resolution digital lidar hardware and its proprietary AI perception software among all five lidar systems.

The solution: A complete traffic management ecosystem

Ouster BlueCity replaces outdated inductive loops and traditional sensors with a non-intrusive, 3D digital twin of the roadway. By mounting just two Ouster sensors on existing traffic poles per intersection, UDOT gains a turnkey system that integrates directly into their established Econolite Cobalt® controllers and EOS firmware.

How Ouster BlueCity helps Utah residents:

• Precision detection: Ouster provides 24/7, all-weather 3D spatial awareness that tracks vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians with near real-time precision to provide enhanced safety for vulnerable road users

• Dynamic actuation: The system triggers signal changes based on real-time demand rather than pre-set timers, reducing unnecessary idling.

• VRU protection: UDOT can now automatically extend crosswalk lights for slow-moving groups or pedestrians, ensuring they clear the intersection safely.

Leading the way in V2X

Utah is pioneering the Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) ecosystem using 3D digital lidar. Ouster BlueCity acts as the "eyes" of this network, detecting hazards that onboard vehicle sensors might miss—such as a pedestrian hidden behind a parked truck.

Deployment at a glance

Ouster BlueCity is a turnkey solution that provides smarter signal actuation at over 100 intersections across the state while generating an analytics data stream. This stream offers traffic operators and city planners high-quality insights into their public corridors. Ouster BlueCity integrates digital lidar with perception software and data analytics, creating a real-time 3D digital traffic twin of an intersection or roadway.

Scale: 100+ Intersections across the state

Primary Applications: Multimodal actuation, VRU safety, V2X communication

BlueCity Solution: Ouster high-resolution digital lidar sensors combined with AI-enabled perception for real-time detection, classification and tracking of pedestrians, two-wheelers and different types of vehicles

Integration: Integrated directly with Econolite Cobalt® and standard Roadside Units (RSUs)

Learn More

Download the ITS International Case Study

Watch the ITS America Webinar with UDOT, Econolite and Ouster