Customer Showcase

Situation

In any major U.S. city today, road construction is a common scenario, with construction signs foretelling inevitable traffic slowdowns.

Large and complex infrastructure projects can take state and federal agencies years to complete, and can cost billions in taxpayer dollars. The New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department (NMSHTD) District 3 faces these challenges every day. The group oversees transportation projects in the greater Albuquerque area, home to 750,000 residents, and is responsible for the state’s two largest interstates—I-40 and I-25—which converge in the heart of the city. Everyday, some 200,000 people drive the "Big I," as the interstates are called.

Software Produces Best Results

Engineering productivity is vital to the efficient, cost-effective maintenance of District 3’s infrastructure system.

The NMSHTD boosts productivity by using a suite of Autodesk® products, including AutoCAD® Land Development Desktop, Autodesk® CAD Overlay®, and AutoCAD LT® software, that run smoothly on its Microsoft Windows NT network.

"Autodesk software is proven, cost-effective engineering technology that is far superior to other choices on the market today," declared Rodney Apdoaca, a design specialist with the NMSHTD's Distrcit 3. "And since the software runs on our existing computers, it is the best use of texpayers' money."

"By using software early in our developement process, we take the trial and error out of civil engineering," says Apodaca. "For example, it is critical knowing the exact volume of earthwork when we're moving thousands of cubic yards of soil. We can determine this figure with three percent accuracy with the Civil Engineering Module in Land Development Desktop."

"No matter what project comes down the road, we will execute it confidently and efficiently with Autodesk tools."
—Rodney Apodaca, Design Specialist

Completing Projects Faster Improves Traffic Safety

The NMSHTD completes work faster and more accurately by combining its expertise with advanced civil engineering software. For instance, prompted by a fatal head-on collision, District 3 mobilized quickly to redesign a three-mile section on nearby Tierjas Canyon. The project, which will cost $16 million, calls for widening the freeway and adding a life-saving concrete mid-section wall.

On this project, District 3 engineers and design specialists used digital survey data and AutoCAD Land Development Desktop software to design the foundation needed to support the structural improvements. They created profile, alignment, cross-section, and contour drawings of the construction site. Then using Autodesk CAD Overlay software and U.S Geological Survey records, they created an aerial site map. When the civil engineering design was completed, construction drawings were put out for bid.

Using AutoCAD Land Development Desktop, District 3 produced these construction documents faster and better. Project completion is scheduled for fall 2000.

"Using software is simply smart," adds Apodaca. "We don’t waste any time manually creating land development drawings that are required for civil engineering design."

Design changes are constant throughout the course of an infrastructure project. The NMSHTD completes these requests quickly by creating new drawings in the field with AutoCAD LT running on laptop computers. This action keeps projects on schedule, minimizes extra costs, and produces accurate as-built drawings.

With the Tierjas Canyon Project in progress, Apodaca already has his eyes on the next undertaking. The recent installation of a semiconductor manufacturer in nearby Rio Rancho promises just that—increasing infrastructure to meet the needs of the growing region. "No matter what project comes down the road, we will execute it confidently and efficiently with Autodesk tools," he says.