Keep it rolling: How BIM helped speed up a complex interchange project in China

Transferring the infrastructure project from the real to the digital world involved multiple steps.

First, the Design Institute had to populate an accurate 3D model. To achieve this, the team uploaded comprehensive tilt drone photographs to Autodesk ReCap. The live 3D model of the reconstruction project worked for reconnaissance and comparison of various model alternatives. Civil 3D also helped with site, route alignment and road subgrade design. Once they exported the data derived from the Civil 3D models into Revit, BIM professionals could factor in structural design considerations for bridges and underground passages. They created the bridge's superstructure by using space coordinate data of proposed design routes generated by Civil 3D. The narrow space constraints for the infrastructure demanded a high level of accuracy at every stage of the process.

The project planners achieved said accuracy with the help of the Autodesk suite. It worked in concert to help the Design Institute solve complicated engineering problems.

The highway reconstruction project involved multiple engineering specialties, including bridge, tunnel, traffic, drainage, landscape, and lighting. They collected all their data and input from multiple stakeholders via the BIM 360 Cloud. Using one true model also facilitated project review from various government departments.

The integration of 3D BIM with traditional design processes helped Chongqing Architectural Design Institute of China realize project goals on time and within budget. It allowed for better definition of the spatial relationships between the proposed project and the surrounding terrain.

Project planners could pinpoint and rectify potential design problems in advance, to save costs. For example, the project design initially overlooked an interpenetration of structures at Pier1 Hengsheng Interchange. Through BIM visual modeling and analysis, they consolidated the pier and ground passage. The net result met new design specifications.

With its seamless design, planning and analysis, the Wutaishan interchange project is well on its way to improve traffic conditions in Chongqing. The infrastructure project was a finalist at the AEC 2019 Excellence Awards.