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Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
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Construction

3D Engineered Models

About 3D Engineered Models

Every Day Counts

Three-dimensional Engineered Models for construction (or just 3D models) are among a few select technologies being promoted by the FHWA Every Day Counts program. Our focus is on helping owner-agencies, designers, and construction contractors with little or no experience in 3D engineered models get started in implementing this technology. Read more about 3D Engineered Models

Utilizing 3D Digital Design Data in Highway Construction

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Utilizing 3D Digital Design Data in Highway Construction - Case Studies (.pdf, 12 mb) This research explores opportunities to refine processes for generating the 3D digital design data used in construction, identifies priorities for addressing data schema gaps, offers strategies for determining and controlling 3D data quality, and identifies project characteristics that lend themselves toward creating 3D digital design data for use in construction.

Companion TechBrief (.pdf, 3 mb)

3D Case Studies and How-to Guidance

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These technical documents in the form of case studies and guidance documents highlight new and emerging 3D technologies and practices with the goal to increase overall awareness and education of transportation professionals in the application of digital data. The technical documents feature best practices and emerging practices in use, existing challenges with implementation, and actions needed to further implement 3D digital data.

3D Case Studies
3D How-to Guidance



  • Web Based Training

    This web-based training (WBT) on 3D Engineered Models for Construction is made up of four 120-minute modules focused on critical topics that support new users' implementing 3D models. Module 1 is an introduction to 3D engineered models and serves as an overview to the topics presented in Modules 2, 3 and 4. Module 2 covers surveying and 3D engineered models, Module 3 looks at 3D models in highway design, and Module 4 covers applications of 3D models in highway construction and quality assurance. While all of the modules explore a new topic within 3D modeling, they are also designed with enough recurring content to serve as individual learning experiences. The training is accessible at 3D Engineered Models for Construction.

  • Workshops

    FHWA and State transportation agencies are hosting electronic Technology Sharing (eTS) Conferences, which are virtual peer exchanges that address a critical hurdle to a state's 3D engineered models implementation efforts. These conferences provide rapid EDC technical assistance that is more customized to a state's specific 3D issues than the webinars; issues that are often common to several other states. The FHWA 3D team and the host state build the agenda and faciliate these 90 minute discussions between a small group of agency practitioners and appropriate subject matter experts (SMEs). Contact FHWA if you'd like to host an eTS for your state.

  • Webinar Series

    In EDC-2 and EDC-3, the FHWA created two webinar series to increase overall awareness and general education of transportation professionals in uses of 3D engineered models in all phases of project delivery that include the areas of planning, data collection and management, design, construction, operations and maintenance of highway facilities. EDC-2 emphasized 3D engineered models for design and construction, while EDC-3 promoted the broader use of 3D models and digital data to further advance other application areas.

    View EDC-2 webinar series recordings | View EDC-3 webinar series recordings


photo credits: Surveying - Trimble; Design - HNTB; Construction - Autodesk; Post-Construction - Industrial Housing Solutions; Training - Trimble; Resources - Michigan DOT;
Updated: 08/23/2017
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000