{"id":9808,"date":"2022-06-06T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-06T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/?p=9808"},"modified":"2022-06-06T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-06-06T16:00:00","slug":"civil-engineer-and-contractor-build-3d-digital-bridge-with-trimble-model-collaboration-platform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/civil-engineer-and-contractor-build-3d-digital-bridge-with-trimble-model-collaboration-platform\/","title":{"rendered":"Civil engineer and contractor build 3D digital bridge with Trimble model collaboration platform"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the first time, engineering and consulting firm WSB was able to meet what is becoming a benchmark in the new era of digital civil construction: 3D delivery. Working for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), WSB used Trimble\u2019s BIM collaboration platform Quadri<\/a> to facilitate a new collaborative and iterative way of working that resulted in paperless, fully digital plan delivery for MnDOT\u2019s Highway 169 Redefine project. But that\u2019s just the beginning of this highway\u2019s digital journey.<\/p>\n

Highway 169 in Elk River connects Minnesota\u2019s central lakes region with the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area. The highway and adjacent streets in this area have exceeded capacity, creating a bottleneck for travelers.<\/p>\n

In response, the MnDOT initiated the $158M Highway 169 Redefine \u2013 Elk River project to improve this three-mile stretch. The multi-year effort includes the reconstruction of all four lanes and adjacent road connections, four new interchanges with improved and safer pedestrian accommodations. <\/p>\n

The constructible model in Quadri<\/a> will be used for asset management, harnessing the predictive analysis within preservation. This also unifies the owner-operator as design, construction, and asset management teams who have not historically interacted and whose activities tend to be sequential instead of collaborative. <\/p>\n

Goodbye Duplicate Data, Hello Machine-Ready Models <\/h4>\n

WSB designed the highway overhaul using Bentley\u2019s OpenRoads, a parametric model-based design solution for developing horizontal and vertical alignments, profiles, and cross-sections, as well as underground stormwater, watermain, and sanitary sewer networks.<\/p>\n

WSB is also working closely with Ames Construction, the general contractor for the project and a Trimble superuser, to deliver that same digital data for construction. Too often within construction, there are assumptions that the model can be used for machine control when it can not, requiring significant rework. The use of Quadri ensures that the data does not stop at the river\u2019s edge.<\/p>\n

Kyle Klasen, Director of Survey at WSB, said, \u201cHistorically, the workflow from the design platform into the contractor\u2019s platform has required a lot of duplicated effort from the contractor, who essentially has to build their own models from paper plan sets and 2D design files. As everyone is moving to digital delivery, the ability to seamlessly transfer usable 3D data has become a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

WSB and Ames teamed with Trimble and Bentley to assure the smooth transfer of data, largely with the use of Quadri<\/a>, an integrated data model collaboration platform that drives BIM-based workflows. It\u2019s designed to help users maximize the value of the 3D models through construction.<\/p>\n

WSB is the first engineering design firm in the U.S. to implement Trimble\u2019s Quadri collaboration platform \u201cWith this connection,\u201d said Klasen, \u201cAmes will have the ability to perform quantity takeoffs in this early phase, and, ultimately, export 3D models to their machine control systems in the field.\u201d <\/p>\n

Approaching Design in a Flexible, Dynamic Way<\/h4>\n

The benefit of this collaboration platform has become evident in the early design phase. In one case, the engineering team sought to raise one of the bridges by six feet. WSB and Ames were able to use that same design file to balance earthwork quantities at the different stages, reduce the number of retaining walls and even minimize noise.<\/p>\n

Further, Peter Muehlbach, Senior Director of Transportation Program Management at WSB and project manager for the Highway 169 effort, said, \u201cThrough this cohesive and collaborative workflow, we were able to make iterative design changes such as moving a noise wall closer on a berm to reduce the wall size by half. Our team can design the iterative changes, quantify them in real-time and work with MnDOT design, construction, and maintenance to move it forward. It\u2019s a great way to keep innovating and delivering the best possible solution.\u201d<\/p>\n

Currently, WSB has been able to successfully transfer data through the OpenRoads connector to Quadri, including element types. \u201cDesign data has been seamlessly transferred from ORD to Quadri thus far,\u201d Klasen added. <\/p>\n

Partnering for Progress<\/h4>\n

The larger benefit of this digital bridge between design and construction models, according to WSB Chief Operating Officer Jon Chiglo, is the opportunity to further enhance today\u2019s more collaborative procurement methods.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think everybody recognizes that technology can really make this project more successful,\u201d he noted, \u201cThe technology fosters a much more collaborative environment. Each of us [Ames and WSB] have already benefited in multiple ways. That’s why we brought Trimble and Bentley into the process\u2014we knew there were some challenges there and looked to them to facilitate a resolution. I think it’s worked out well.\u201d<\/p>\n

The construction of this two-year conversion project is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2022. <\/p>\n

This item was originally posted here: Read More<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the first time, engineering and consulting firm WSB was able to meet what is becoming a benchmark in the … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":9809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1066,457],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-posts","category-construction-dive","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9808"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9808\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}