The 17th Street Canal Pump Station is a cornerstone of New Orleans’ critical flood protection system, requiring maximum operational readiness and resilience against increasing climate threats. The digital breakthrough was a persistent, geospatially accurate digital twin using the Bentley iTwin Experience platform, supported by iTwin Capture and MicroStation. Forte and Tablada (F&T) federated all technical file formats—including legacy as-builts, 3D models, and AI-processed point clouds—into a single, cloud-native environment. This eliminated data silos and provided a live, 3D representation constrained by real-world coordinates, critical for managing infrastructure in a constantly changing coastal environment.

This digital foundation delivers significant efficiencies. Engineers can now virtually access the station from any location, saving over 150 hours annually in travel and site coordination. The twin saved approximately 200 man-hours in a single project evaluation by enabling virtual measurement and conflict resolution. It is also projected to reduce the time to begin future design projects by 50%, significantly boosting emergency response speed and securing the safety of the New Orleans community. This project sets a new global standard for critical flood infrastructure management.