Bentley > Case Studies > Digital Twin Technology Revolutionizes East 138th Street Bridge Replacement

Digital Twin Technology Revolutionizes East 138th Street Bridge Replacement

Bentley Logo
Technology Category
  • Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation
  • Networks & Connectivity - Routers & Bridges
Applicable Industries
  • Transportation
  • Utilities
Applicable Functions
  • Procurement
  • Product Research & Development
Use Cases
  • Digital Twin
  • Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing
About The Customer
The customer in this case study is the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). NYSDOT is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways, and aviation facilities in the U.S. state of New York. This includes the development and implementation of the state's transportation policy, as well as the coordination of public and private transportation services. In this project, NYSDOT was tasked with replacing the aging East 138th Street Bridge in New York City, a critical part of the city's traffic grid that sees daily traffic volumes exceeding 150,000 vehicles. The project's complexity was compounded by the need to keep the bridge functional throughout the replacement process, the bridge's location in a busy urban area, and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Challenge
The East 138th Street Bridge, built in 1938, is a critical part of New York City's traffic grid, accommodating over 150,000 vehicles daily. However, the bridge's limited vertical clearance has led to numerous accidents, and its aging infrastructure was unable to handle the heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) initiated a USD 48 million project to replace the bridge with a new 100-foot, single-span bridge. The project's complexity was compounded by the need to keep the bridge functional throughout the replacement process, the bridge's location in a busy urban area, and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project also faced challenges related to utility management, including the design of an abutment to span a 58-foot-wide opening for a future sewer line expansion. Traditional plan sheets were deemed inefficient for stakeholder and community understanding of the project, necessitating a more innovative approach.
The Solution
NYSDOT turned to Bentley applications to create a digital twin of the bridge as the primary contract document and public outreach tool. Using OpenBridge Modeler, ProSteel, and MicroStation, NYSDOT developed a 3D model of the entire bridge structure, enabling the team to build directly from the model without needing a complete set of 2D plans. The iTwin Design Review was integrated into the project, allowing over 180 reviewers across 15 agencies to access and comment on the model digitally. The 3D model was imported into SYNCHRO to build a 4D simulation depicting the construction staging, and LumenRT was used to generate animated renderings from the 4D simulation for public outreach. The digital twin helped identify and resolve potential issues before construction, allowed contractors to calculate more accurate bids, and facilitated the prefabrication and installation of modular deck beams.
Operational Impact
  • The use of a digital twin as the primary contract document revolutionized the East 138th Street Bridge replacement project. The digital twin allowed NYSDOT to accurately design and generate a 3D model that helped identify and resolve costly issues before construction. It also facilitated efficient collaboration with utility owners and the public, enabling stakeholders and the community to understand the complex project staging without having to review hundreds of traditional plan sheets. The digital twin also proved extremely helpful with prefabricating and installing the required modular deck beams, allowing the contractor to visually see the installation being specified in the contract while providing all the required design information electronically for the fabricator. The 4D simulation generated from the 3D model provided stakeholders a visual understanding of the project staging in just minutes, and the animated rendering of the construction process helped alleviate public concerns. The project sets new standards using a digital twin as the primary contract document, industrializing delivery of the East 138th Street Bridge.
Quantitative Benefit
  • The digital twin resulted in the winning bid being 15% lower than anticipated.
  • The 4D simulation saved stakeholders from manually sifting through over 200 pages of planning documents.
  • The digital twin will be continuously updated to reflect design changes and the as-built environment, providing a tool for asset management and bridge inspection.

Case Study missing?

Start adding your own!

Register with your work email and create a new case study profile for your business.

Add New Record

Related Case Studies.

Contact us

Let's talk!
* Required
* Required
* Required
* Invalid email address
By submitting this form, you agree that IoT ONE may contact you with insights and marketing messaging.
No thanks, I don't want to receive any marketing emails from IoT ONE.
Submit

Thank you for your message!
We will contact you soon.