Digital Transformation Transforming NCDOT into a fully digital department

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  • Digital Transformation
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    NCDOT is embracing Digital Transformation to develop a vision and implementation roadmap for advancing the Department's Digital maturity for transportation infrastructure.   Digital Transformation will enable the Department to leverage digital data exchanges and workflows for project development, delivery of construction projects, maintenance and operation activities, and asset management.

    Digital Transformation focuses on transitioning from traditional paper/pdf plan sets to digital 3d models (digital twins), designs, and asset information.  Beyond the plan set and ORD implementation, other focus areas include the impacts and value-added benefits of rich design and project data on inspection, asset management, permitting, and all other project and asset management lifecycle aspects.


  • 2023 PreCon Workshop Digital Delivery Q&A

    1. ​Are contractors successfully using ORD models in construction?   

      NC Contractors have embraced the use of GPS technology for construction activities. Contractors widely use earthwork models for Automated Machine Guidance (AMG), and the Information they need for the AMG equipment is currently recreated from contract plans.  The NCDOT now provides GEOPAK tin files to contractors for Information Only.

       
    2. Are contractors capable of providing digital utility as-built models now? 

       Contractors are more than capable of providing utility as-builts today, leveraging current technology. If scoped appropriately, Information can be attained using various tools and stored in a repository. A few other States are investigating this as a general practice, including Colorado and Pennsylvania. 

    3. Are we engaging our construction contracting partners to verify they can accept our new deliverables? I.e., they don't have to create models from our data like they currently do.

      The contracting community will be heavily involved during the implementation phase as part of the Digital Delivery initiative. NCDOT will produce a Communication and Engagement Plan to guide NCDOT in stakeholder outreach, including AGC and the contracting community.  

       
    4. How will Digital Delivery work with locally administered projects that have NCDOT oversight? They have historically only used PDFs, and many consultants use Autodesk products.

       NCDOT will engage stakeholders such as Local Programs early and often to ensure they can continue to deliver projects after the digital transformation. Not every project or part of a project needs a detailed 3D model to convey the design intent and for construction/as-built activities. Thus, every group creating or reviewing Information will be engaged to determine the correct level required for their particular function, which could deviate from a complete 3D deliverable. More to come on this and the engagement with other stakeholder groups that do not typically access CADD models.

      As for other CADD platforms, the goal of Digital Delivery is to create an information exchange that is not dependent on a particular software vendor. Since there is no holistic software package for Digital Delivery, the NCDOT will leverage various technologies to facilitate the exchange of digital Information. The digital delivery committee will explore these technologies further during the Gap Analysis and Implementation Plan.  

       
    5. What if the 3D design software we use to produce designs today becomes obsolete in the next 10-15 years? How will it still be helpful to the maintenance and asset management side? 

       Even with our current software suites, software obsolescence is a valid concern. Digital Delivery aims to create an information exchange not dependent on one file type or software vendor. Eventually, open standards for information exchange (such as IFC) will aid in the longevity of this archived data. Until those are in place, the Digital Delivery initiative will take steps to ensure that in the near term, data is not locked nor lost due to file types or other changes to proprietary systems.  

       
    6. How will utility companies design their plans? 

       As a significant stakeholder in the delivery of DOT projects, Utility providers will play a considerable role during Digital Delivery. Utilities will be engaged early and often to accommodate their needs in a way that aligns with the vision of NCDOT. No decisions about how this will happen have been made, but engagement in other states has proven fruitful, and those can be used as models to begin the engagement process.  

    7. Going from RFC plans to Plan of Record to maintenance/future improvements, is there a benefit to keeping versions of the models?  Is that in the strategic plan? 

       The concept of having different model versions throughout the life of an asset (or system of assets) is a possibility. Version control, sometimes called State or Real World State, can be used to see the progression of the model data from design through the as-built collection process. NCDOT will definitely consider this during the strategic planning phase and beyond.  

       
    8. Would digital surfaces and imagery be a part of digital models?  
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      Yes, all data would be structured to provide the Information stakeholders need to do their work, whether compliance review, construction activities, or asset analytics. Digital terrain data of existing conditions is critical to using this Information by contractors and will be evaluated and submitted for use in preparing bids and AMG activities. 



  • Preconstruction Workshop - Digital Delivery Survey Results

    ​Below is a summary of the Digital Delivery Survey.   These results help us gage industry readiness for Digital Delivery.​

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