Innovation at UDOT
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.
2025 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
(click to open .pdf)
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.
Submit an Innovation
UDOT consultants, contractors, and partners are encouraged to submit innovations they have implemented at UDOT.
STEP 1: Verify that you are submitting an implemented innovation
Please submit implemented innovations, not ideas.- An implemented innovation is something that 1) is already tested, approved, and in use, 2) has not already been reported, 3) solves a problem, and 4) results in value for UDOT, its stakeholders, and/or customers.
- Ideas are thoughts or suggestions about what is possible and should be submitted on the Ideas Portal (open to employees only).
STEP 2: Download, fill out, and submit the worksheet
Download a copy of the Innovation Submission Worksheet, fill it out, and then send it to the contacts listed in the worksheet.What’s Next?
Your submission will be reviewed according to the criteria in step one above. We will work with you to answer questions and draft an innovation story. This process may include the calculation of efficiency and ROI values. Approved stories are published in the UDOT Innovation Catalog.Innovation Award Nomination
Published innovations are automatically considered for one of the annual UDOT Innovation Awards. While non-employees may win an award, they are not eligible for the associated monetary prize.UDOT Innovation 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
2024 Innovation Awards
Innovation of the Year
Winner – Keeping Utah Beautiful – Litter Collection Application
In recognition of the innovation that advances safety, saves costs, and/or improves public service, the Central Maintenance Division wins the 2024 Innovation of the Year Award for replacing the Adopt-a-Highway program with a new app-driven process that enables community volunteers to effortlessly sign up for a one-time litter pick-up project. Participation has increased, UDOT is saving money, and the roadways are cleaner and safer. UDOT congratulates, Ryan Ferrin, Shawn Lambert, Ed Graves, Christopher Meredith, Jennifer Hall, Camber Wilkey, Cheryl Marz, Karyl Keanaaina, Ashlee Matthews, Josephine Archuleta, Matt Patterson (ESRI), and Adrian Sellers (HDR) for their excellent work. For the full story, read Keeping Utah Beautiful – Litter Collection Application.
- Region Three: Deeper Hot-In-Place Recycled Asphalt Saves Money and Time
- Central Maintenance: Mobile Pavement Marking Data Collection Made Safer
- Region One: Composite Quality Organization and Digital Tools Developed for US-89 PDB Project
- Region Four: Void Reducing Asphalt Membrane (VRAM) Expected to Prolong Pavement Lifespan
Spark Award for Inventive Innovation
Winner – Region Four Program Tracker Application
In recognition of creativity in developing novel processes, tools, or technologies to solve problems and make improvements, Region Four wins the Spark Award for Inventive Innovation of 2024. They developed an FME (Feature Manipulation Engine) application to automatically provide data from ePM and other sources to Program Management, Design, Environmental, Traffic and Safety, and Public Information groups. Each user group has the information they need to track projects and is less reliant on the program manager to create special reports. Join us in congratulating Braken Davis, Cameron Gay, Kurt Marchant, Jordan Jarrett, Anne Ogden, Rashelle Crowther, Rachel Morris, and Kevin Kitchen. Read Region Four Program Tracker Application for the whole story.
- Region One: Paint Tank Level Indicator Tool Reduces Health Risk for Crew
- Motor Carrier: Time of Duty Calculator Saves Time and Improves Quality
- Environmental Division: Utah Roadkill Reporter App Helps Guide Mitigation Efforts
Enhance Award for Adaptive Innovation
Winner – Super Capacitors Power Signal and ITS Devices in Challenging Environments
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 2024. Tyson Larson, Jayden Smith, Graig Ogden, Troy Torgersen, Catherine Jones, Devin Routson, Chris Smith, Tyler Laing, Craig Wagner (Econolite), and Tracy Cope (Econolite) implemented super capacitor technology to power off-grid ITS devices at night or when there is insufficient solar power. This keeps Utah moving even in challenging locations where traditional batteries do not perform well. To read more, see Super Capacitors Power Signal and ITS Devices in Challenging Environments.
- Traffic Management Division: Fiber Optic Network Used for Early Detection of Avalanches
- Region One: Continuous Flight Auger Piles Are the Right Solution for 5600 S Pedestrian Bridge
- Central Materials: Hydrated Lime Test of Extracted HMA Using FTIR
Flow Award for Process Innovation
Winner – Winter Operations Center Provides Situational Awareness and Cost Analysis
The Central Maintenance Division wins the Flow Award for Innovative Process of 2024. This award recognizes the implementation of a new or redesigned process that achieves excellence results. UDOT’s Winter Operations Center allows for real-time management during a storm event and provides accurate information for planning and budget-making. Thanks go to Ben Teran, Corey Unger, Shawn Lambert, Ryan Ferrin, Andrea Moser (BioWest) and, Kevin Wells (BioWest) for a job well done. See Winter Operations Center Provides Situational Awareness and Cost Analysis for details.
- Performance Management: Highway Performance Management System (HPMS) Data Management and Reporting Process Improvements
- Risk Management: New Paperless Claim Appeals Process Enhances Transparency and Efficiency
- Strategic Technology: Evolution From Road Usage Charge (RUC) 1.0 to RUC 2.0 Saves Money and Time
2023 Innovation Awards
Innovation of the Year
Winner Finalists- 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 Spark Award Finalists- 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
Winner Enhance Award Finalists- 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
Winner Flow Award Finalists- 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 Award Winners
- UDOT Innovation of the Year Award – Incident Management Team’s Use of Drones (2:57 video)
- Spark Award – Inventive Innovation of 2022 – Saddle Lift Tool for Sign Repair (2:19 video)
- Enhance Award – Adaptive Innovation of 2022 – Valve Body Location (2:10 video)
- Flow Award for Innovative Process of 2022 – ROW Water Rights Tracking System (2:30 video)
Annual Innovation and Efficiencies Reports (current and previous)
2025 Innovation and Efficiencies Report
Check out some of UDOT’s groundbreaking innovation. The 2025 Innovation and Efficiencies Highlights Report features 15 implemented innovations that save time and money, improve safety, and Keep Utah Moving! Topics include maintenance, data visualization, process improvements, safety, and construction.
For all innovations, visit the Innovation Catalog. See the “Efficiencies Report” tab of the catalog for up-to-date efficiency numbers.
Previous Year Reports
- 2024 Innovation and Efficiencies Highlights Report
- 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.