The Gordie Howe International Bridge will facilitate transport across the busiest commercial land border between the United States and Canada. The project includes four major infrastructure components, including the Michigan I-75 interchange design, and features 12 ramps, 20 bridges, and complex drainage systems. AECOM faced coordination and technical challenges, compounded by unforeseen COVID-19 restrictions. They sought to establish a connected data environment for collaborative 3D modeling and effective communication among the geographically dispersed project team.

AECOM selected MicroStation and OpenRoads to navigate the unique interchange design, as well as ProjectWise to facilitate coordinated modeling and information sharing. They integrated over 1 million megabytes of data, 60 design reference files, and over 85 models within a single, accessible, federated model. The cloud-based environment provided a seamless shift to remote working, with zero impact on the project schedule. The digital workflows will reduce design time by 12%, reduce the overall carbon footprint by 5%, and accelerate project delivery.