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71
APPENDIX F
Utah Department of Transportation--Virgin River Arch Bridge Case Study
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MARKET STORIES 2004 BE Award Winner
CIVIL
3D modeling helps UDOT verify critical
design areas, secure public approval
Cost reductions yielded 15-to-1 return on technology investment
A
new steel arch bridge spans 392 feet Engineering Technology Support (ETS) staff The ability to render the drawing let
across Utah's Virgin River between imported the 2D designs using Bentley 3D UDOT see whether the element was located
Hurricane and LaVerkin.The $11 mil- tools to create a model that was accurate to correctly, or whether there were any gaps or
lion project was designed to add a second the smallest detail. overlaps. With 3D and rendering tools, the
bridge, easing traffic congestion on the exist- agency was much more efficient at recogniz-
Using MicroStation, the team was able to
ing, 384-foot steel arch bridge over the Virgin ing potential conflicts or design deficien-
graphically review the design at every step.
River gorge. In addition, it was to be a work cies, and could resolve them swiftly and
The ability to render and shade each compo-
of art in its own right, blending into the accurately.
nent as it was being graphically constructed
area's scenic surroundings.
helped the engineers visually inspect the
The older bridge was built in 1937 along structure. "Critical design areas--such as
State Route 9, the main road to Zion National bolt spacing and drill-hole angle and loca-
Model brought to light
tion, gaps, and complex angle measure- new design challenges
The principles that we ments--could not have been easily verified Working together, ETS and the UDOT
without MicroStation," said Greg Herrington, Structures department were able to find and
discovered ... led us to believe
ETS manager for IT at UDOT. fix several design challenges that were not
that the value of 3D design apparent in the 2D drawings and plans.With
The main components of the bridge were
and visualization was not just built on two large parabolic arches, making
MicroStation, the team was able to meet a
as tools for large, very complex it difficult to verify fit and angle of the cross- very tight project schedule while constantly
ing members, diaphragms, and joints. Using improving the design. As a result of design
projects, but that it would
MicroStation's 3D and rendering tools, issues being resolved before the release of
bring us significant value on the plans, there were no significant change
UDOT could create each structural member
almost every project. graphically to verify its location and fit.This orders during construction of the structure.
helped the designers verify the clearance on Herrington stated that although the learn-
Park. Over the years, the bridge has been a large crossbeam location as well as the gap ing process was initially demanding, the
well-traveled, due to the hundreds of thou- clearance on a half-inch bolt. time and cost of modeling the structure gave
sands of tourists that visit the park each year.
Bob Nash, a structural engineer for the
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT),
developed the initial design for the bridge
using a combination of electronic and manu-
al methods.The design was then passed to a
drafting technician, who used MicroStation
and InRoads to create 2D drawings and
detail sheets of the design.
Creating 3D model
from 2D designs
Not long into the project, the designers
realized they would need a 3D computer
model of the structure to facilitate public
involvement, and also to meet Context
Sensitive Solutions requirements and verify The ability to render and shade each component as it was being graphically constructed helped the engi-
constructability. Bob Peterson of UDOT's neers visually inspect the structure.
44 · BE Magazine · Volume 2, Issue 2
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MARKET STORIES
CIVIL
Project
Virgin River arch bridge
Organization
Utah Department of Transportation
BE Awards category
Civil visualization
Project objectives
UDOT created a 3D computer model of
A wireframe view of the main arch with column and splice connection. the structure to facilitate public involve-
ment, meet Context Sensitive Solutions
a return on investment of 15 to 1 based on on almost every project," Herrington said.
reduced change orders and construction "We have taken what we learned and are requirements, and verify constructability.
cost savings. currently applying it to a project with a sim-
The 3D visualizations were useful exter- ple, single-span, concrete bridge," he contin- Fast facts
nally as well, helping UDOT secure public ued. "We have designed the bridge and the
roadway components completely in 3D The time and cost of modeling the struc-
approval and support for the project. Long
before the bridge was constructed, UDOT from the start, and our ability to recognize ture in 3D gave a return on investment of
used photo matching, fly-throughs, and ani- design problems is now clear, rapid, and
apparent to all." 15 to 1, based on reduced change orders
mations in public hearings to showcase the
designs and ask for feedback. In turn, feed- "The added benefits of being able to try and construction cost savings.
back from these sessions was used to multiple aesthetic treatments in seconds,
improve the design. inspect utility conflicts, and drive the proj- The 3D visualizations were useful exter-
ect reviewing sight distance, pavement
nally as well, helping UDOT secure public
marking, and signing have already proven
Applying 3D design to invaluable to the design process. We intend approval and support for the project.
a wide range of projects to further measure the value of 3D visualiza-
"The principles that we discovered dur- tion by defining construction sequencing,
Bentley products used
ing this process led us to believe that the staging, and traffic control."
value of 3D design and visualization was not The success of the Arch Bridge project MicroStation
just as tools for large, very complex projects, earned UDOT a 2004 BE Award of
but that it would bring us significant value Excellence for civil visualization.
`Applied technology in Civil market news
a way we'll see more of'
The Utah Department of Transportation's use of visualization ... stands out to me. Not
from Bentley
only did the team create rendered images of the final bridge for the activities involved
David Evans and Associates
with gaining public acceptance, but it applied the technology in the a way I think we'll
joins Bentley ETS program
see more of in the future: to identify design deficiencies prior to construction.
Oregon firm joins Enterprise Training
By reducing change orders and construction costs, this team provided real value to Subscription program, for unlimited
UDOT, not just a pretty picture. training on Bentley software products
Shanon Fauerbach, P.E., editorial director, CE News at a fixed annual fee.
2004 BE Awards juror >>more
Volume 2, Issue 2 · BE Magazine · 45
