During the last several years , 3D modeling in the transportation industry has gained attention with many agencies, consultants, and contractors having different understandings of what information 3D models can provide. Contractors of past have viewed 3D models as solely a public involvement tool. Transportation consultants have con- sidered 3D models as products only vertical engineers use for Building Information Models (BIM) and don’t have much use in the horizontal world. Transportation agencies have previously viewed 3D models as an extra cost and effort for a pretty picture or movie that is not geo- metrically accurate. But these views are changing. Today’s 3D design models increasingly are viewed as important tools that offer a design-centered approach to visualize accurate information. These 3D models are now used to de- velop the design of transportation projects to help engineers and stake- holders make more informed decisions and deliver better projects. 3D design mitigates risk, reduces time in alternative design exploration, develops quantities faster, and, overall, 3D models convey the design intent in a mathematically accurate and digestible format. Evolution of 3D design models in transportation Increasing industry adoption and technology development are providing a better way to deliver projects more efficiently. By Alan Esguerra, P.E. types of projects your firm should focus on. In short, you’ll finally have the data you need to both take note of minute changes and understand large trends. Empower your staff — When your staff manages the day-to-day financials and key performance indicators for their projects, they be- come responsible for profitability. In essence, each project manager becomes the CEO of his or her project. Most employees are thrilled to have these reins in their hands and con- sider it a sign of trust. Moreover, with their performance (and incen- tives) more closely tied to project profits, you’ll likely see an uptick in both. Cultivate collaboration — Sometimes it’s beneficial for one part of your team to just focus on the tasks at hand while letting managers worry about the bigger picture. However, it’s also possible that siloing information and people can be holding them back. If there’s greater visibility and information moves freely, you can increase performance on individual projects and get everyone to contribute to the larger strat- egy of your firm.
More visibility doesn’t have to entail chaos. Rather, everyone becomes invested. Lower-level employees will understand why certain decisions are being made and what they can do to help. For example, if everyone knows that a project will be a net loss but an important stepping stone for your firm’s reputation and relationships, it’s straightforward to get the whole team on board. In short Project accounting has amazing benefits, but it may also seem over- whelming. Involving more stakeholders and more data analysis doesn’t sound simple, and if you’re a member of a small firm, you might not think you have the bandwidth to undertake this. However, with the right project accounting software, it’s surprisingly straightforward. BQE Core, for example, unifies all the disparate data you need such as invoicing, time and expense entries, accounting, project management, and business intelligence. Your goal should be to equip yourself with the right tools so you can spend your time growing your business.
Information provided by BQE Software. To learn more, visit www.bqe.com/core.
Original design: Less right-of-way and materials and a larger bridge.
Alternative design: Smaller bridge with more right-of-way and earthwork.
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february 2018
csengineermag.com
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