Use of 3D Technologies for
Managing Utilities
Research Contract DTFH61-12-C-00025
Federal Highway Administration
Cesar Quiroga, Ph.D., P.E.
Senior Research Engineer, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Traditional 2D Plan View
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Utilities
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3D Model Including Utilities
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Utilities
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Utility Process and 3D Workflows
• Comprehensive development agreements (CDAs)
– Concession development agreements
• Developer is responsible for all utility investigations
– Design-build projects
• TxDOT conducts QLB (and some QLA) utility investigations
– Contract provision to support the use of 3D models
• 3D model of existing surface AND underground features
(drainage structures, bridge and wall foundations, and utilities)
• 3D design features for existing and proposed elements of work
• Software that enables interactive 3D visualizations
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Utilities
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Utility Process and 3D Workflows
• Design-bid-build projects
– TxDOT conducts QLB (and some QLA) utility
investigations, but not consistently
– Transition from 2D to 3D
• Business case
• Plan on how to train TxDOT staff on the process to build 3D
models internally
• Focus on basic functionality, not sophisticated rendering
• Roadway surface and drainage features
• Utilities: Broken lines shown on surface if Z data are not
available
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Utilities
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FHWA Research Objectives
• Feasibility of having SHAs as the central
repository of utility data within the state highway
right-of-way
• Potential benefits of having accurate utility data
available during project development and
delivery
• Barriers for collecting and managing utility
location data, as well as strategies to overcome
those barriers
• Cost to manage 3D utility location data and mark
utilities with RFID technology
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Utilities
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2D Utility Mapping
• Utility location services: X, Y
• Test holes at specified locations: Z (X, Y if surveyed)
• ASCE/CI 38-02 Standard Guideline:
–
–
–
–
QLD: Review of existing records: X, Y
QLC: Survey of visible appurtenances: X, Y
QLB: Geophysical methods for underground utilities: X, Y
QLA: Exposed utilities at specified locations: X, Y, Z
•
•
•
•
•
Test holes
Valves
Manholes
Vaults
Building basement walls
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Utilities
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Locations with QLA Data
Test hole
Valve
Test hole
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Utilities
Manhole
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Assumed Curved Pipe Alignment
Test hole
Valve
Test hole
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Utilities
Manhole
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Assumed Straight Pipe Alignment
Test hole
Valve
Test hole
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Utilities
Manhole
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Assumed Horizontal Interpolation
Test hole
Valve
Test hole
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Utilities
Manhole
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GPR and EMI Arrays
GPR array
EMI array
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Utilities
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3D Imagery – GPR Array
3D imagery
Interpreted pipe locations
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Utilities
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3D Imagery – EMI Array
Zoomed-in
view, all
levels
shown
Zoomed-in
view, with
one level
hidden
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Utilities
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3D Model of Existing Facilities
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Utilities
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Case Studies
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
California: Data model, 3D modeling, 3D utility inventory
Connecticut: Guidelines for use of 3D in projects
Florida: Radar tomography for 3D utility mapping
Iowa: 3D for design and grading and paving AMG
North Carolina: data collection costs, 3D visualization
Texas: 3D for design and construction, utility conflict
Virginia: RFID for utility monitoring and inventory
Washington State: 3D for design and visualization
Wisconsin: 3D utility data collection
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Utilities
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California – Port of Los Angeles
• $42M Berths 144-145 Backland Improvement Project
• 21 acres of container terminal backland improvements
• Design while existing berth was in operation
– Limited utility investigation capability
– Existing utility records and info from utility companies
• Utility conflict management during construction
– GPR-based utility inventory + test holes
– 3D of existing and proposed utility installations
– Effective web-based communication with designer
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Utilities
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Utilities
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Utilities
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California – Port of Los Angeles
• Lessons learned:
– Importance of quality inventory of existing utilities to
manage conflicts during construction
– Focus on the basics, i.e., 3D design with no frills
– Highly cost effective, will continue to use 3D for future
construction projects
• Already used 3D for AMG earthwork
• Would like to include utilities (both existing and proposed)
• Need for standard library of 3D components
– Better to resolve utility conflicts during design
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Utilities
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Texas – TxDOT
• Grand Parkway Project in Houston
• $1.1 billion for segments F-1, F-2, and G
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Utilities
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Texas – TxDOT
• 3D utility model and utility conflict resolution:
– Review all previous utility information, including QLB data
– Collect additional QLB and QLA data
• New utility installations on the ground after bidding
– Strengthen utility permitting process
• PE signature and seal required
• Field inspection and surveying required
– Build 3D utility model and integrate into main 3D model
– Conduct ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ clash detections
– Use UCM approach from SHRP 2 R15B
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Utilities
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Washington State – WSDOT
• Process to develop 3D utility model:
– Calculate spot utility elevations from data gathered at
points such as vaults, valves, basements, and records
– Use SMEs to estimate depths between spot locations
– Develop 3D utility model
– Collect QLA data at critical locations
– Update 3D utility model as needed
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Utilities
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Washington State – WSDOT
• Maintain the utility data current during PDP:
– Review all city construction permits
• Check for utility conditions that do not need a permit
– Review all One Call tickets
– Contact utility owners and request information on
any changes
– Walk the project and scan for evidence of new
construction
– Conduct QLB investigation at locations with changes
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Utilities
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Project Impacts
Cost/Benefit
Item
Project Impact
Costs of 3D modeling/BIM
Additional upfront cost
Minor project cost impact
Difficult to separate cost to
develop 3D models
Minor project cost impact
Reduction in construction
change orders
75% fewer change orders
Project cost savings
4-15% of total project cost
Benefits of 3D modeling/BIM
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Utilities
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Project Impacts
Cost/Benefit
Item
Project Impact
Costs of conventional
QLB/QLA utility investigations
Cost to gather QLB and QLA
data
0.2-3% of total project cost
Benefits of conventional
QLB/QLA utility investigations
Coverage and detection
80-90% of utility facilities
Project cost savings
4% of total project cost
Costs of using advanced
geophysics to generate 3D
inventory of utilities
Cost to gather data
0.1-2% of total project cost
Benefits of using advanced
geophysics to generate 3D
inventory of utilities
Additional utility features
detected and mapped
Depends on local conditions
Depth identification
Significant benefit
Use of cost
3D Technologies
Project
savingsfor Managing
Up to 4% of total project26cost
Utilities
Implementation Goals
Goal 1
Goal 2
Goal 3
Goal 4
Goal 5
Facilitate the
development of
reliable
repositories of
utility facility
data
Highlight the
benefits of
reliable, accurate
utility data
during project
development
and delivery
Address barriers
for collecting
and managing
utility location
data
Document the
cost and ROI of
collecting, using,
and maintaining
3D utility data
Provide strategic
support to
implementable
strategies
Overarching Goal: Manage Utilities within the Highway Right-of-Way Effectively
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Utilities
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Implementation Strategies
Goal 1: Facilitate the
development of reliable
repositories of utility
facilities
• Use utility data model
• Strengthen utility permitting requirements
• Update SHA policies and procedures
Goal 2: Highlight the
benefits of reliable, accurate
utility data during project
development and delivery
• Conduct webinars to highlight benefits of reliable utility inventories
Goal 3: Address barriers for
collecting and managing
utility location data
• Use standards-based utility data collection and reporting protocols
• Include mechanisms to update database in response to changes
• Integrate 3D utility conflict management process
Goal 4: Document the cost
and ROI of collecting, using,
and maintaining 3D utility
data
• Develop catalog of projects that manage utilities in 3D
• Promote the use of RFID technology to mark utilities
•Use
Assess
total cost of damage to underground utilities
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Utilities
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Implementation Strategies
Goal 5: Provide strategic
support to implementable
strategies
• Develop robust, reference 3D utility data model
• Develop robust data exchange standard for utilities
• Develop library of 3D components for utility installations
• Develop manual for effective utility investigations
• Improve coordination between SHAs and the One Call process
• Develop tool to quantify utility location risk levels
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Utilities
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Thank You!
• Additional information:
– Cesar Quiroga, Ph.D., P.E.
– Email: [email protected]
– Phone: (210) 321-1229
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Utilities
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