Project
In Des Moines, Iowa, the Department of Transportation (IaDOT) is reconstructing a 0.4-mile stretch of Hubbell Avenue where many accidents have occurred. Foth was tasked with redesigning the dangerous intersection to include traffic signals, turn lanes, and raised crosswalks for pedestrians. The main challenges for this IaDOT pilot project included keeping the project crew safe in a high-traffic corridor and providing streamlined communication with all stakeholders.
Solution
The project team challenged itself to implement the reality modeling technology that it had only recently learned to use at the time it was awarded the project. Foth created a digital twin of the project site using a combination of conventional surveying methods, mobile LiDAR, and vehicle-based capturing methods that the project team termed “PhoDAR.” For aerial capture, the project team used two unmanned aerial systems, including fixed-wing and multirotator vehicles to create a reality mesh. Using Bentley’s OpenRoads application, Foth combined the reality mesh with the OpenRoads model to create a 3D model that included all project data in one location.
Outcome
Using Bentley’s ContextCapture, Foth captured a total point cloud data amount of over 450 million points. The average control error reported was 0.005 square feet, with a National Standard for Spatial Data vertical accuracy of 95%. The final digital twin will be used to present the plan to project stakeholders and the local community, allowing them to easily see how the final design will impact their daily lives. Foth was able to create a model that was precise, georeferenced, and accurate. Ultimately, the project team successfully completed the 3D model, which applied all their reality modeling technologies and featured a design that was clearly presented. Moving forward, once the design is approved, Foth plans to use a virtual reality version of this model to streamline the construction process.
Software
ContextCapture was used to gather all the point cloud data and create a reality mesh of the exterior of the project. OpenRoads was used to design the core in the middle of the project. MicroStation was used to prepare the model before implementing it into LumenRT, which was used to publish and present the model, bringing it to life with traffic simulation.
Project Playbook: ContextCapture, LumenRT, MicroStation®, OpenRoads™