Bentley Case Studies Reality Modeling and IoT in Bridge Infrastructure: The Mobile River Bridge Project

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	Reality Modeling and IoT in Bridge Infrastructure: The Mobile River Bridge Project Bentley

Reality Modeling and IoT in Bridge Infrastructure: The Mobile River Bridge Project

Bentley

Technology Category	Networks & Connectivity - Routers & Bridges Robots - Wheeled Robots
Applicable Industries	Telecommunications Transportation
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Traffic Monitoring Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing
Services	Testing & Certification
Challenge	The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) faced a significant challenge with the Interstate 10 (I-10) highway, particularly in Mobile, Alabama. The George C. Wallace Tunnel, constructed in 1973 to accommodate 36,000 vehicles per day, was experiencing heavy congestion due to increased traffic volumes, averaging 73,000 vehicles daily and peaking at 100,000 during the tourist season. The tunnel's design, which reduces four lanes to two and includes a hairpin turn that slows traffic to 25 miles per hour, was causing bottlenecks. Additionally, vehicles transporting hazardous materials (HAZMAT) were restricted from using the tunnel, resulting in an hour-long detour. To alleviate these issues, ALDOT proposed a bridge and bayway widening project. The proposed infrastructure design was a six-lane cable-stayed bridge, spanning approximately 2.75 miles with 215 feet of air draft clearance across the Mobile River. The USD 850 million project required approval and buy-in from the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), environmental agencies, local government and businesses, and the community. Read More
About Customer	The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is a government agency responsible for the construction and maintenance of Alabama's state transportation system. This includes highways, bridges, and public transportation. ALDOT's mission is to provide a safe, efficient, environmentally sound intermodal transportation system for all users, especially the taxpayers of Alabama. For the Mobile River Bridge project, ALDOT needed to propose a solution to alleviate the heavy congestion on the I-10 highway, particularly in Mobile, Alabama. The proposed solution was a six-lane cable-stayed bridge, which would replace the George C. Wallace Tunnel and provide a more direct route for HAZMAT vehicles. The project required approval and buy-in from various stakeholders, including the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), environmental agencies, local government and businesses, and the community. Read More
Solution	To communicate the project's potential and achieve crucial buy-in, ALDOT turned to reality modeling and visualization technology. They collected GIS data and over 600 perspective images using aerial LiDAR and helicopters flown over the full 10 square miles of the project site. The team used Bentley's design and visualization technology, along with other third-party applications, to incorporate the mapped imagery into a 3D virtual model of the existing city skyline, corridor, and Battleship National Park. They created a 3D conceptual model of the entire proposed project with realistic renderings and animations of the driving experience, as well as a 360-degree flyover to provide context from all angles around the city. With Bentley LumenRT, ALDOT created an immersive LiveCube that was especially useful for public communication and understanding, allowing community members to view the model from any virtual perspective. The software enabled the team to quickly generate the presentation and communicate in real time several feasible alternatives to address environmental issues, meet stakeholder requirements, and alleviate public concerns. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Networks & Connectivity - Routers & Bridges

Robots - Wheeled Robots

Applicable Industries

Telecommunications

Transportation

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Traffic Monitoring

Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing

Services

Testing & Certification

Challenge

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) faced a significant challenge with the Interstate 10 (I-10) highway, particularly in Mobile, Alabama. The George C. Wallace Tunnel, constructed in 1973 to accommodate 36,000 vehicles per day, was experiencing heavy congestion due to increased traffic volumes, averaging 73,000 vehicles daily and peaking at 100,000 during the tourist season. The tunnel's design, which reduces four lanes to two and includes a hairpin turn that slows traffic to 25 miles per hour, was causing bottlenecks. Additionally, vehicles transporting hazardous materials (HAZMAT) were restricted from using the tunnel, resulting in an hour-long detour. To alleviate these issues, ALDOT proposed a bridge and bayway widening project. The proposed infrastructure design was a six-lane cable-stayed bridge, spanning approximately 2.75 miles with 215 feet of air draft clearance across the Mobile River. The USD 850 million project required approval and buy-in from the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), environmental agencies, local government and businesses, and the community.

About Customer

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is a government agency responsible for the construction and maintenance of Alabama's state transportation system. This includes highways, bridges, and public transportation. ALDOT's mission is to provide a safe, efficient, environmentally sound intermodal transportation system for all users, especially the taxpayers of Alabama. For the Mobile River Bridge project, ALDOT needed to propose a solution to alleviate the heavy congestion on the I-10 highway, particularly in Mobile, Alabama. The proposed solution was a six-lane cable-stayed bridge, which would replace the George C. Wallace Tunnel and provide a more direct route for HAZMAT vehicles. The project required approval and buy-in from various stakeholders, including the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), environmental agencies, local government and businesses, and the community.

Solution

To communicate the project's potential and achieve crucial buy-in, ALDOT turned to reality modeling and visualization technology. They collected GIS data and over 600 perspective images using aerial LiDAR and helicopters flown over the full 10 square miles of the project site. The team used Bentley's design and visualization technology, along with other third-party applications, to incorporate the mapped imagery into a 3D virtual model of the existing city skyline, corridor, and Battleship National Park. They created a 3D conceptual model of the entire proposed project with realistic renderings and animations of the driving experience, as well as a 360-degree flyover to provide context from all angles around the city. With Bentley LumenRT, ALDOT created an immersive LiveCube that was especially useful for public communication and understanding, allowing community members to view the model from any virtual perspective. The software enabled the team to quickly generate the presentation and communicate in real time several feasible alternatives to address environmental issues, meet stakeholder requirements, and alleviate public concerns.

Impact #1	The use of Bentley LumenRT and reality modeling technology was crucial in achieving stakeholder approval and public buy-in for the Mobile River Bridge project. The immersive LiveCube allowed community members to view the model from any virtual perspective, enhancing their understanding of the project. This facilitated communication and understanding of the project, which was crucial in obtaining stakeholder approval and public buy-in. The presentation and public dialogue achieved the necessary community and stakeholder buy-in to move to the preliminary design phase, an important step toward finalizing the Environmental Impact Statement. The project is now being pushed forward largely as a result of the LiveCube, demonstrating the effectiveness of reality modeling in visually communicating the proposal.

Impact #1

The use of Bentley LumenRT and reality modeling technology was crucial in achieving stakeholder approval and public buy-in for the Mobile River Bridge project. The immersive LiveCube allowed community members to view the model from any virtual perspective, enhancing their understanding of the project. This facilitated communication and understanding of the project, which was crucial in obtaining stakeholder approval and public buy-in. The presentation and public dialogue achieved the necessary community and stakeholder buy-in to move to the preliminary design phase, an important step toward finalizing the Environmental Impact Statement. The project is now being pushed forward largely as a result of the LiveCube, demonstrating the effectiveness of reality modeling in visually communicating the proposal.

Benefit #1	Using Bentley LumenRT helped reduce animation production time of the project by 70 percent.
Benefit #2	The economic impact of the new bridge and roadway project is estimated to range from USD 537 million to USD 1.08 billion annually, with 64 percent of these benefits as a result of reduced congestion.
Benefit #3	The proposed bridge will be the second highest bridge with a 215-foot vertical clearance in the United States, alleviating congestion and increasing capacity along the I-10 corridor.

Benefit #1

Using Bentley LumenRT helped reduce animation production time of the project by 70 percent.

Benefit #2

The economic impact of the new bridge and roadway project is estimated to range from USD 537 million to USD 1.08 billion annually, with 64 percent of these benefits as a result of reduced congestion.

Benefit #3

The proposed bridge will be the second highest bridge with a 215-foot vertical clearance in the United States, alleviating congestion and increasing capacity along the I-10 corridor.

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Overview

Reality Modeling and IoT in Bridge Infrastructure: The Mobile River Bridge Project

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit