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48 csengineermag.com august 2019 Bentley Systems | www.bentley.com A Massive Reconstruction Initiative The only east-west interstate through Birmingham central business district, the I-59/I-20 interchange is Alabama's heaviest trav- eled corridor, accommodating more than 160,000 vehicles per day. Built in the 1960s, the six-lane divided highway has minimal shoulder width and has more than tripled its original traffic capacity. As a result, more than 600 accidents have occurred within the past four years. The infrastructure has become functionally obsolete, with structurally deficient bridges and inefficient road- way alignment. To improve functionality, safety, and overall capacity of the 3.5-mile city interchange, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) initiated a USD 750 million reconstruction project. "This is the largest amount of money and largest amount of traffic ALDOT has ever dealt with in one place," said John Cooper, director at ALDOT. The massive renovation included construction work for 36 bridges, roadway widening, and utility work. Subject to a fast-paced schedule, the project presented numerous coordination challenges and changes in the overall design scheme. ALDOT Visualiza- tion Group was tasked with coordinating data access and information exchange among multiple offices and utilities, as well as communicating with the public and stakeholders, to quickly deliver an accurate 3D model that could be provided to contractors for precise cost estimates. These models were then referenced to complete phased construction within 14 months. Collaborative Digital Engineering To optimize information exchange and meet the fast-paced schedule, ALDOT implemented a collaborative 3D BIM process. With no precedent for developing the digital engineering model, the team relied on Bentley's integrated 3D design, collaboration, and visualization applications to facilitate the BIM strategy. ALDOT first modeled the existing site and infrastructure from more than 2.3 million data survey points using Descartes and MicroStation®. Then, they established an open, connected data environ- ment using ProjectWise as the collaborative platform to seamlessly share and exchange models and information. The team used OpenRoads™ to create the digital terrain models and StormCAD, CulvertMaster, and FlowMaster to address drainage and utilities design. All 3D models were imported into MicroStation for design verification and clash detection to generate a comprehensive 3D model. To support precise cost estimation and lower bids for the project, it was critical that the 3D digital engineering model include accurate and timely data to support multiple uses. ProjectWise allowed designers, department heads, drafters, reviewers, and consulting teams to have real-time, electronic access to all project files, and ensured that everyone was working on the right data. The software provided an open, connected data environment to streamline information exchange throughout the project lifecycle, accelerating accurate, integrated 3D modeling. "This was the biggest game changer. Using ProjectWise for data and information exchange worked fantastic," said Matt Taylor, P.E., state engineer at ALDOT. Model accuracy also played a critical role in avoiding construction delays. Using Bentley's 3D engineering design and construc- tion analysis applications enabled ALDOT to identify potential issues and potential construction delays before the project broke ground, eliminating costly on-site errors and keeping the project on schedule. Integrating LumenRT to produce and present animated renderings of the 3D model through Live Cubes to city officials, stakeholders, and the public brought visualization and understanding of project impact, alleviating concerns and accelerating project approval. Maximizing Model Potential ALDOT sought to maximize the potential of the digital engineering model for multiple uses, including visualization, design checks, construction analysis, clash detection, right-of-way (ROW) negotiation, lawsuits, and aesthetics. Using the 3D model Alabama DOT Reconstructs State's Busiest Roadway with BIM Processes Bentley's Integrated Applications Optimized Design Verification to Save $10 Million By Amy Heffner

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