USDOT Taps The Ray for Multimodal Infrastructure Corridor Mapping

In September 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), through its Build America Bureau, engaged The Ray to provide geospatial analysis and corridor mapping for the America’s Great Corridors of Commerce initiative. The project uses geographic information system (GIS) capabilities to identify highway and railway corridors that could support infrastructure beyond transportation, including electricity transmission, broadband networks, and water pipelines. The reported scope places mapping and spatial analysis in a federal planning context where transportation rights-of-way may be evaluated for multiple infrastructure uses.

For government contractors, the project is a practical example of GIS supporting infrastructure coordination and investment planning. Identifying potential routes for utilities and broadband alongside highway and rail corridors can inform early-stage planning, help assess where infrastructure could be colocated, and support analysis across transportation and utility networks. The source does not describe the specific technical requirements, deliverables, schedule, or contract structure, so firms should treat the announcement as an indication of agency demand rather than a detailed guide to a follow-on procurement.

The procurement signal is limited but relevant to companies offering geospatial analysis, corridor mapping, infrastructure planning, and utility-network applications. GIS platform providers and service firms may use the stated project scope to assess their ability to combine transportation data with information relevant to energy, broadband, and water infrastructure. The source also notes interest in AI-enabled GIS and related infrastructure applications, but it does not establish that artificial intelligence is part of The Ray’s work for USDOT. No contract value, contract number, procurement contact, or open solicitation was provided.

The source separately reports a global GIS market forecast: the market reached US$14.25 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach US$32.02 billion by 2033, representing a 10.8% compound annual growth rate over the 2026–2033 forecast period. These figures describe the global market, not the value of the USDOT engagement or a U.S. federal procurement market estimate. Other industry developments cited in the source include Esri’s demonstrations of AI-enabled digital twin applications and an expanded strategic alliance with PwC for geospatial intelligence in energy and infrastructure. These broader developments provide market context but are separate from the corridor-mapping engagement.

• USDOT’s Build America Bureau engaged The Ray in September 2026 for geospatial analysis and corridor mapping.
• The work supports the America’s Great Corridors of Commerce initiative.
• The mapping identifies highway and railway corridors with potential for electricity transmission, broadband networks, and water pipelines.
• The source provides no contract value, contract number, duration, procurement contact, or solicitation information.
• Contractors can assess capabilities in GIS analysis, corridor mapping, infrastructure planning, and utility-network applications against the stated scope.
• The announcement indicates federal use of GIS for multimodal infrastructure planning, but does not confirm a planned follow-on acquisition.
• The reported GIS market forecast is global: US$14.25 billion in 2025, projected to reach US$32.02 billion by 2033 at a 10.8% CAGR.
• Esri is cited separately for AI-enabled digital twin demonstrations; the source does not say that Esri is a participant in The Ray’s USDOT project.