Innovation Station
Statewide Innovation Program
UDOT Innovation Catalog
The UDOT Innovation Catalog features innovations created or adopted by UDOT.
You can also view UDOT’s live Innovation Efficiencies Report, Impact Dashboard, Award Winners, and Maintenance Innovations by clicking on the links along the top of the catalog.
2024 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
What is Innovation at UDOT?
This three minute video will get you started!
About the Innovation Program | Contact Information
UDOT’s Statewide Innovation Program is led through the Research and Innovation Division via UDOT’s larger Technology and Innovation Group. At UDOT, innovation efforts are an essential part of everyone’s job. Many employees are hired and promoted based, in no small part, on their ability to influence innovative outcomes. This page is dedicated to continuing UDOT’s proud tradition of being a world-class leader in the transportation innovations space. Please review this content to learn more about how UDOT continues to invest in a better tomorrow, and how you can accelerate these efforts by actively participating today!
Program Management
Winston InowayInnovation and Implementation Program Manager
801-455-3911
winoway@utah.gov
Quinten Klingonsmith
Innovation and Implementation Program Coordinator
801-386-0473
qklingonsmith@utah.gov
UDOT Innovation Process
Click the blueprint for an overview of UDOT’s innovation process.
(click image above for details)
UDOT Innovation Station Videos
What is innovation at UDOT?
This three minute video will get you started!Get inspired with these brief innovation example videos!
- Digitized Customer Feedback Process for IMT Vehicles (4:54min.)
- Virtual Heavy Equipment Simulators (4:18min.)
- Custom Lock Bolt Puller (3:41min.)
- Port of Entry Workstation Efficiency (3:08min.)
- Loader Multitool (4:08min.)
- Median Barrier Saddle Lift (3:55min.)
- Curb Design Collaboration (4:19min.)
Innovation Award Winners
2023 Innovation Awards
Innovation of the Year Winner
In recognition of the innovation that advances safety, saves costs, and/or improves public service, the Traffic & Safety Division wins the 2023 Innovation of the Year Award for implementing wrong way driving warning systems to improve safety at freeway ramps. Congratulate Adam Lough, Daniel Snell, Grant Farnsworth, Justin Wilstead, Lisa Zundel, Mark Taylor, Robert Miles, and Tyler Laing for their work to protect the traveling public and Keep Utah Moving. For the full story, read Wrong Way Driving Project Improves Safety at Freeway Ramps.
- Snowplow Signal Preemption Using Vehicle-To-Everything (V2X) Technology
- Using AI & Computer Vision Tools to Enhance Parcel Detection from Right of Way Plan Sheets
- Thermal Imaging Data Analysis Tool Helps Advance Asphalt Performance Assurance
Spark Award for Inventive Innovation Winner
In recognition of creativity in developing novel processes, tools, or technologies to solve problems and make improvements, the Traffic Management Division wins the Spark Award for Inventive Innovation of 2023. They implemented innovative technologies to help visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing, and disabled pedestrians cross intersections safely and navigate more independently. Join us in congratulating Adam Lough, Degen Lewis, Jesse Sweeten, Karen Roylance, Lisa Zundle, Mark Taylor, and Troy Torgersen. Read Pedestrian Crossing App Enhances Accessibility and Safety for the whole story.
- Highly Modified Hot Mix Asphalt on Bridge Decks Promises Longevity
- “Sign Post Erector” Improve Safety for Sign Repair
- New Innovation Catalog Built In-house with Google Looker Studio
Enhance Award for Adaptive Innovation
The Enhance award honors ingenuity, adoption, adaptation, or resourceful problem solving using available resources. The Traffic Management Division wins the Enhance Award for Adaptive Innovation of 2023. Matthew Smith, Todd Wright and Brandon Clark implemented a monitoring system that saves hundreds of labor hours and helps keep our roadways brightly lit and safer at night. To read more, see Interstate Lighting Maintenance From The Cloud.
- In-House NAPA Auto Parts Store Saves Time and Improves Work
- Quarry Noise Modeling Software Extends Mining Season
- Transportation Performance Management Creates Group Performance Index
Flow Award for Process Innovation
The Motor Carrier Division wins the Flow Award for Innovative Process of 2023. This award recognizes the implementation of a new or redesigned process that achieves excellence results. Their use of mobile technology increases inspector’s access to systems and streamlines the documentation process saving time and improving customer service. Thanks Chad Sheppick, Daniel Hunter, Howard Trexler, Lane Murphy, Rick Clark, and Stephen Goodrich for a job well done. See Smart Use of Smartphones Speeds Up and Improves Port of Entry Inspection Process for details.
- UDOT Emergency Accountability Form Helps Track Employee Status After an Emergency
- Weekly Safety/Toolbox Meeting Application Increases Crew Safety
- New Damage Claims Intake Portal Improves Claims Process and Customer Experience
- Unassigned Resident Engineer Dashboard Creates Efficiencies in Assigning Projects
2022 Innovation Awards
UDOT Innovation of the Year Award: Incident Management Team
The 2022 winner of the UDOT Innovation of the Year Award is the Incident Management Team. Their use of drones to gather crash scene information helps clear accident scenes quicker and increases safety. UDOT congratulates Ben Goddard, Ben Kelly, Robert Bratton and the whole Incident Management Team for their pioneering work. Special thanks goes to the Utah Highway Patrol for their close partnership and great working relationship both out on the road and in the coordination, training and implementation of this new technology. The UDOT Aeronautics Division was also instrumental in getting this effort off the ground. Thanks for Keeping Utah Moving!
Spark Award – Inventive Innovation of 2022: Saddle Lift Tool for Sign Repair
The winner of the 2022 Spark Award for Inventive Innovation is the crew of the Sign and Guardrail Shop, Shed 2444 in Region 2 for their creation of the saddle lift tool used to repair concrete barrier signs. UDOT congratulates Jayson Kesler, Dexter Forbush, Anthony Platner, Dylan Butters, Aaron Winn, and Robert Graham for their innovative tool that allows workers to repair signs more easily, at a lower cost, and most importantly in a safer way.
Enhance Award – Adaptive Innovation of 2022: Valve Body Location
UDOT is proud to announce the winners of the 2022 Enhance Award for Adaptive Innovation. This award recognizes individuals and teams who creatively solve problems and make improvements using available resources. UDOT congratulates Mike Maez, David Devore and Jace Archuletta of the IMT Shop and Ben Kelly, Statewide IMT manager, winners of the 2022 Enhance Award for Adaptive Innovation. Their innovative efforts to reduce wheel lift maintenance saves money and improves safety for mechanics, IMT and the traveling public.
Flow Award for Innovative Process of 2022: ROW Water Rights Tracking System
The Right of Way Division wins the 2022 Flow Award for the most innovative process improvement project. They developed new processes and systems to better manage UDOT’s water rights and shares. Special thanks go to Charles Stormont, Darek Sagers, Ben Teran, Ryan Tiu, Christopher Meredith, Todd Sweeten, and Logan Riley for their innovative work on the Water Asset Tracking System.
Annual Innovation and Efficiencies Reports (current and previous)
2024 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
Check out some of UDOT’s groundbreaking innovation. The 2024 Innovation and Efficiencies Highlights Report features 16 implemented innovations that save time and money, improve safety, and Keep Utah Moving! Topics include maintenance, data visualization, artificial intelligence, community engagement and advanced air mobility.
For all innovations, visit the Innovation Catalog. See the “Efficiencies Report” tab of the catalog for up-to-date efficiency numbers.
Previous Year Reports
- 2023 Innovation and Efficiencies Report (Highlights Version)
- 2022 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2021 Innovation and Efficiencies Report*
- 2019 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2018 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2017 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2016 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2015 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2014 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2013 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2012 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2011 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2010 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2009 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2008 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2007 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
- 2006 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
*Reports are now published towards the end of the calendar year and do not receive broad circulation until the next calendar year. As a result, reports are now labeled in the year where they receive broad circulation. The 2020 report was not skipped, rather the 2021 report covers the preceding year which is 2020.