LSU CARTS adopts AutoScene Draw for statewide crash diagramming

By AI, Created 11:12 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Louisiana State University’s CARTS is rolling out SmartSafety Software’s AutoScene Draw statewide, giving more than 9,700 officers access to new diagramming tools. The first-ever statewide deployment is designed to speed crash documentation, improve accuracy and support investigations across Louisiana.

Why it matters: - Louisiana is becoming the first state to deploy AutoScene Draw statewide, giving law enforcement a single diagramming platform across more than 300 agencies. - The rollout is meant to speed crash reporting, reduce manual errors and produce diagrams that can be used in investigations and court. - CARTS says the upgrade supports documentation and analysis of more than 148,000 crashes each year.

What happened: - The Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety at Louisiana State University announced the statewide deployment of AutoScene Draw as the official diagramming solution for law enforcement agencies across Louisiana. - The deployment equips more than 9,700 investigating officers with SmartSafety Software’s latest platform. - LSU CARTS said the move builds on a partnership with SmartSafety Software that began in 2004 with Louisiana’s adoption of Easy Street Draw.

The details: - AutoScene Draw connects directly with Louisiana’s LA eCrash software system, so crash data, including vehicle VIN information, can transfer automatically into a diagram before an officer begins drawing. - The system uses GPS coordinates to generate a road layout with intersections, lane configurations and road geometry. - Officers can complete a diagram in under 30 seconds using geolocation and automated data transfer, according to the company. - AutoScene Draw includes an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and an extensive symbol library. - The software works offline without a cell signal or internet connection. - Louisiana agencies keep their data local, with no mandatory cloud storage and no third-party data exposure. - AutoScene Draw integrates with more than 60 records management systems nationwide, according to SmartSafety Software. - CARTS, housed within the E. J. Ourso College of Business at LSU, collects, improves, maintains, integrates, analyzes and disseminates traffic-related data for the state. - CARTS oversees the eCRASH program, which captures electronic crash reporting information in a standardized and timely manner. - CARTS also serves as custodian of Louisiana’s traffic records data warehouse. - LSU CARTS Director Cory Hutchinson said the agency chose AutoScene Draw because officers already know and trust SmartSafety products and because the system integrates with existing systems and is easy to use in the field.

Between the lines: - The deal deepens a long-running vendor relationship rather than replacing a familiar workflow with a new one. - Louisiana’s emphasis on automation, offline use and local data control suggests the state wants faster crash documentation without adding cloud dependency or new operational risk. - SmartSafety Software is positioning AutoScene Draw as both a productivity tool and a courtroom-ready documentation standard.

What’s next: - Louisiana officers across the state will begin using AutoScene Draw as the standard diagramming platform. - CARTS and SmartSafety Software are expected to continue supporting deployment and field use as agencies transition fully to the new system. - The statewide rollout could become a reference point for other states considering similar crash diagramming upgrades.

The bottom line: - Louisiana is modernizing crash scene diagramming at statewide scale, aiming to save time for officers while improving the quality and consistency of crash records.