Connecticut State Department of Transportation

CTDOT CONNECT DDE GUIDE VOLUME 6 - TRAFFIC ENGINEERING BASE MODELING


Section 1 - Traffic Engineering Base Modeling Overview


MODEL-CENTRIC DESIGN
ITEM TYPES OVERVIEW
PLACEMENT TOOLS AND ITEM TYPES
TRAFFIC ASSETS
MODEL-CENTRIC DESIGN

CTDOT is standardizing on producing model-centric designs. This will allow for increased productivity and adherence to FHWA Every Day Counts (EDC) Innovations and Building Information Modeling for Infrastructure also known as BIM for Infrastructure or BIMFi.

Industry trends across the world using BIMFi include:

  • Mobile Field Inspection and Data Collection
  • AMG (Automated Machine Guidance)
  • GPS Construction Layout
  • eConstruction
  • GIS and Asset Management

The “I“ in BIMFi is one of the most important aspects of the technology.  CONNECT Edition products will allow designers to produce a product that retains the business data (the “I” in BIMFi) by assigning Item Types placed on CAD Graphics. This data, also known as Electronic Engineering Data (EED), can be consumed further downstream during Design Reviews then to Construction, Asset Management and Maintenance. 

When producing model-centric designs it is extremely important that model types be used as intended. A Design Model Type will be used for all Base Models.

Base Models will:   Base Models will not have:

- be geospatial

 - Border Cells

- contain cells, shapes, and lines that represent the physical design elements

- call outs

- include Item Type information on cells, shapes and lines.

- notes             
 

-  tables
 

 - dimensions


Each Model Type is represented by a different Icon on the Models Dialog Box.

Models Dialog Box

 

The two other types of models will be used in downstream processes as described in VOLUME 13 - CONTRACT PLANS PRODUCTION.

  • Drawing Model — Contains annotations, dimensions and callouts.
  • Sheet Model — Contains a Border Cell, Sheet Boundary (plotting shape) and may also have annotations, dimensions and callouts.

 

ITEM TYPES OVERVIEW

An Item Type is a user defined set of properties used to describe graphical and non-graphical information of an object or element. Item Types are set up and managed by the CTDOT CAD administrators as part of the delivered workspace. Item Types will be attached after placement for elements such as lines and shapes. The workspace has been set up for certain Cells to have Item Types attached upon placement. The properties of an Item Type can be edited by the user in the Properties dialog box along with the other properties of an element. These properties can be used to label and report.

CTDOT Item Types are connected to the Department’s Master Bid List that contains pay item numbers, descriptions and units. Users will enter the required pay item description and the item number and pay unit fields will auto-populate. The most up to date Master Bid Item Lists can be found on the Department’s Contract Development Website.

Signal Equipment comes with both Asset and Pay Items Attached.  A Controller cell has multiple pay items attached to it, the controller box, a foundation, sidewalk, time clock and excavation. The look up information is grayed out and the user input is not. The greyed-out properties are getting auto-populated by other Item Type property fields or other attributes on the file itself.  Some user input fields are actually pick lists and others are strictly manual input. 

2 -Traffic Signal Controller Cell with Attached Item Types

PLACEMENT TOOLS AND ITEM TYPES
The Traffic tab on the CTDOT workflow will be used to place the Signs, Pavement Markings and Signal Features. These tools place 2D lines, shapes and cells. Most of the Cells available on this ribbon will get automatically placed with Item Types already attached.

 Traffic Menu Tab

 

The tools in the Line Work pull down menu do not automatically attach Item Types like the Cell tools. Item Types will be attached after placement by using the Attach Item tool. 

 4 - Attach Item Type Tool Box Traffic Signal Equipment

TRAFFIC ASSETS

The following CTDOT assets will be tracked moving forward so all Property fields in the Item Types below should be fully populated and filled out for each item placed in a signal\project.

Traffic Signal Equipment

  • AREAS - CONTROL AREA
  • AREAS - PRE-EMPTION
  • AREAS - SIGNAL COMMUNICATIONS
  • CONTROL BOXES
  • PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL
  • PUSH BUTTON
  • SIGNAL HEAD
  • SIGNALFACES
  • SUPPORT STRUCTURES
  • VEHICLE DETECTION

 

Traffic Signs

  • SIGN – Assembly
  • SIGN – Panel 1
  • SIGN – Panel 2
  • SIGN – Panel 3
  • SIGN – Panel 4
  • SIGN – Panel 5
  • SIGN – Panel 6
  • SIGN – Panel 7
  • SIGN – Panel 8
  • SIGN – Panel 9

 

Sidewalk

  • DETECTABLE WARNING SURFACE