Benefits of Three- and Four-Dimensional Computer-Aided Design Model Applications for Review of Constructability

Abstract

This paper presents recent developments and applications of three- (3-D) and four-dimensional (4-D) modeling on two transportation projects and their added value for constructability reviews. Transportation projects are characterized by challenges, such as design complexity, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and traffic management, which truly need to be addressed by constructability reviews so as to make projects successful by minimizing delays, cost overruns, change orders, and so on. The 3-D and 4-D computer-aided drafting (CAD) models are new emerging tools that can tremendously aid constructability reviews. Although the models are extensively used in building projects for this purpose, their use in transportation projects is limited. The 3-D and 4-D CAD models in building projects could also be applied to transportation projects. The 3-D and 4-D CAD model applications developed for the two transportation projects in this paper emphasize the value added by this new technology to communication, technical design checking, construction planning, and work area management applied to transportation projects.

Visualization for Decision Support on North Texas Projects

“…Visualization as a communication tool for design information is well documented in O'Brien et al, Khwaja and Schmeits, Liapi, and Kim et al, [3][4][5][6]. O'Brien et al, and Khwaja and Schmeits also document the benefits of analyzing construction sequencing through 4D construction animations [3] [4].…”

“…O'Brien et al, and Khwaja and Schmeits also document the benefits of analyzing construction sequencing through 4D construction animations [3] [4]. This paper focuses on analyzing the proposed design with 3D visualization.…”

Potentialities of a Highway Alignment Optimization Method in an I-BIM Environment

“…However, despite these encouraging innovations, there has not been a parallel and complete development for these solutions in the infrastructure field. Concerning BIM for infrastructures, the related standardization process and the available solutions are not fully adequate for reliable practical applications [24,25]. For instance, due to the intrinsic differences in the models, IFC format is not directly adaptable for I-BIM projects, but attempts have been already made for improving this standard or producing new formats strictly related to road modelling [26][27][28][29].…”

Civil Integrated Management for Highway Infrastructure: Case Studies and Lessons Learned

“…Three-dimensional models for construction provide transportation agencies, contractors, and other stakeholders with a clear understanding of the design with a virtual representation of the facility. The capabilities of modeling the facility before it is built have been leveraged to address several issues such as identification and resolution of spatial conflicts among design elements, constructability reviews, visualization and management of site logistics, and public information and communication among stakeholders (11). Process benefits for integrating schedule (four-dimensional) and cost (five-dimensional) information are also identified in the literature as enhancing clarity in the communication process, construction sequencing, and quantity estimation (9,12).…”