December 2024 Digital Delivery Update

Welcome to this month's update from the Digital Delivery Program.  In this edition, we are excited to share some important advancements and insights.

We kick things off with the latest updates on our Drainage Utility initiatives, where we are making strides in enhancing efficiency and service delivery. We also feature a Q & A with Alejandro Franco, where he shares his expertise and thoughts on the ongoing digital transformation in our field.

Additionally, we have begun conversations on Models for Contractor's Information Only—a significant development aimed at improving collaboration and transparency with our contractors, ensuring smoother project execution and better-informed decisions.

Finally, we are happy to announce key updates to our Digital Delivery Program Website. These improvements are designed to provide easier access to information, foster better communication, and keep you connected with the program's evolving goals and resources.

Thank you for staying engaged with us as we continue to innovate and streamline our processes for the future.

Regards,
Jacob Tambunga, P.E.
Director, Digital Delivery

What do you find the most interesting about working with new technologies in the Digital Delivery Program?

The most interesting aspect of working with new technologies in the Digital Delivery Program is their significant adaptability to various projects. Each project comes with its own unique scope, functionality, needs, and constraints, and it's fascinating to see how these technologies can be tailored to meet those diverse requirements. This flexibility not only enhances our ability to innovate but also allows us to address specific challenges in creative ways, making every project a new learning experience.

What are some of the most common challenges you face when introducing new technologies in projects, and how do you overcome them?

When introducing new technologies, common challenges include learning how to utilize their features effectively and determining how they can integrate with our existing systems. Additionally, we often face learning curves that require us to adapt our approaches. To overcome these challenges, I focus on clearly understanding the specific needs of each project and ensuring that the technology can be customized to fit those needs. This proactive approach helps us integrate new solutions more seamlessly and fosters a culture of adaptability within the team.

Digital delivery often requires cross-functional collaboration. How do you foster communication and coordination between developers, designers, and stakeholders to ensure smooth project delivery?

Effective communication between designers and developers is crucial, as designers often possess valuable, unwritten knowledge gained through their expertise. I foster collaboration by creating open lines of communication, encouraging regular check-ins where team members can share insights and brainstorm enhanced solutions together.  By facilitating regular discussions and collaborative sessions, we can leverage their expertise to identify and enhance project requirements.  With stakeholders, it's essential to understand their perspectives, deliverables, and how they coordinate with other stakeholders.  I prioritize building strong relationships and facilitating regular updates and feedback loops, and ensuring everyone is aligned on project goals. Establishing clear channels of communication ensures that everyone is aligned on objectives and timelines, enabling us to deliver effective solutions while still allowing us to adapt and improve continuously and foster an environment for innovation.  Implementing structured meetings and updates allows for ongoing feedback and adjustments, ultimately supporting smooth project delivery.

Can you give us an example of a project where you introduced a new technology or innovative approach that significantly improved the outcome or efficiency?

One notable project involved the introduction of Bentley’s iTwin Design Validation, an innovative tool that allows teams to review 3D models of designs. This tool has significantly improved our workflow by enabling reviewers to visualize projects in three dimensions, making it easier to provide feedback and comments directly on the model.

Additionally, iTwin has streamlined our internal quality review process. We can gather and analyze information more quickly, allowing us to identify potential design flaws early on. This proactive approach has not only enhanced our efficiency but also led to more informed decision-making, ultimately improving the overall quality of our designs and project outcomes.

We are implementing this software on both the FM 971 and FM 236 projects to enhance our review processes, ensuring that we leverage its capabilities to the fullest for better collaboration and design accuracy.

How do you measure the success of a digital delivery project, especially when using new or experimental technologies?

In digital delivery projects, I measure success by evaluating how well we can visualize and assess all project components throughout the development process. This capability allows us to identify and address the need for additional design elements carefully.

For example, in the FM 971 project, we discovered that a retaining wall was necessary for a section of the pedestrian sidewalk due to an elevation change. This insight was made possible through the clarity provided by Bentley’s iTwin Design Validation. By effectively visualizing the project, we were able to make informed decisions early on, ensuring that our designs met safety and functionality requirements. This not only enhances our project's quality but also contributes to its overall success.

What are you most excited about in terms of the future of digital delivery projects and the opportunities they bring?

I’m particularly excited about the potential for digital delivery projects to significantly enhance the overall quality of our work. As technologies evolve, they can better inform designers about possible design clashes early in the process, leading to more efficient problem-solving and reducing costly rework.

This technology also allows stakeholders and the public to better visualize project intent, promoting a deeper understanding of designs and their impacts. By enabling immersive interactions with 3D models, we can improve engagement and collaboration, making the entire project delivery process more transparent and effective. This not only enhances design accuracy but also strengthens community support and involvement.

Additionally, the integration of virtual reality into construction practices is incredibly promising. The ability to interact with 3D models in a real-world setting can revolutionize how teams collaborate and construct, providing a better understanding of design intents.

One of the major initiatives for the Digital Delivery Program (DDP) is to provide model deliverables to the contractors to assist in the letting and construction process. The DDP will be transitioning to this practice through a phased approach.

• Phase 1 starts with internal review models on existing projects to assess training and software needs.
• Phase 2 will kick off in the summer of 2025 with the first requirements of model deliverables to the contractor as for-information-only (FIO) prior to letting.
  • The phase will utilize existing technology capabilities and district processes with an emphasis on earthwork model files.
  • Districts and project teams will be supported through DDP guidance on model development and quality control.

Additional phases will utilize new technology for 3D model review and increase efficiency for design applications to deliver model files and move toward the end goal of model deliverables as part of the official letting package.