Visualization of Demolition Activities and Construction Sequencing
A Case Study of the Dallas Horseshoe Project
Presenters: Bharathwaj Sankaran, Jojo France-Mensah, William O’Brien (Ph.D, P.E)
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The Project—Introduction
The Horseshoe Project is a $798 million design-build highway construction project led by the Texas
Department of Transportation. The construction improvements include the replacement of aging
bridges and roadways along Interstates 30 and 35E and the construction of a new signature
bridge, the Margaret McDermott Bridge (MMD), over I-30. Notably, this is the first design-build
project for the Dallas district of TxDOT.
 Physical
Application of 3D and 4D Models
 3D models of the I-30 and I-35 bridges were created based on detailed design submittals.
 3D
models of MMD bridges were included with accurate representation of cables, arch segments, and steel decks.
 A 4D virtual simulation is created in Autodesk Navisworks using the construction schedule
and the 3D model.
Autodesk 3dsmax was used to create models that enables better rendering solutions to enhance
public communication of project details.
 Aesthetic
and interactive 3D model was created to make it easy for the public to understand
how the new project will look when completed.
 All the white and yellow lane markings and travel routes for the I-30 highway were created.
deterioration – increasing maintenance and repair costs as well as bridge deteriora-
tion.
 Large increase in the amount of commuters – since the original construction in 1960, the population of Dallas County has more than double in 40 years.
 Outdated geometric lane layout – forced lane changes, abrupt and unexpected merges, short
weaves and quick exits compound the problems.
 Project area ranks among the 17 most congested roadways in Texas.
 460,000 vehicles travel interstate highways I-30 and I-35E every weekday.
Figure 3 (Left): Perspective view of
MMD Bridge on
Figure 6 (Left): Rendered
image of the proposed I30 bridges with lane
markings (EB view)
I-30 side.
Figure 4 (Right):
Drive -through view
from MMD
Figure 7 (Right):
Perspective view of the
proposed conditions
Pedestrian Bridge.
on I-30
 Visualization of Traffic Control measures
Detection of lane closures and space conflicts.
Assess the impact of the proposed TCPs on project.
 Traffic modeling and network analysis of lane closures
Simulation of real-time traffic data with 3D CAD
models
Incorporation of network-wide traffic information to
understand impacts of Liquidated damages, etc.

 The
Figure 1: Project Location Map for Dallas Horseshoe
Project showing Downtown Dallas and Trinity River
Figure 2: Bird’s eye view of 3D model of Dallas
Horseshoe Project (DHS)
project plans helped in providing modeling information (PVI of profiles, pier numbers and
locations etc.) and the DGN files helped in geo-referencing for creating the 3D model .
 Demolition of the Trinity Bridge as specified in the project schedule is simulated in 4D using
Autodesk Navisworks.
 These models can provide the project stakeholders the ability to visualize the complex demolition sequence alongside the new construction activities.
Figure 8: Perspective view of DC 6 (Bridge 28)
 Replace existing bridges over Trinity River and existing levee system with 8 new bridges.
 Construct
Santiago Calatrava designed steel arch structures (Margret McDermott Bridges –
MMD) over Trinity River.
 Reconstruction of I-30/ I-35E – Multi-Level Interchanges at two locations.
 Widening of I-30 and I-35E to a total of 23 lanes.
William J. O’Brien ,Ph.D., P.E.
Nabeel Khwaja, P.E.
Bharathwaj Sankaran
Jojo France-Mensah
Figure 3: Sequence showing construction of I-30 bridges alongside demolition of existing Trinity Bridge (left to right). The “green” color represents construction-related activities, while “red” indicates demolition.
 Project started in 2013– Construction in progress
 Scheduled to be completed in 2017 including MMD Bridge.
Cameron Schmeits
Kristopher Pruner
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