Figueiredo Ferraz

Autodesk BIM Experience Award Winner

Figueiredo Ferraz is one of Brazil’s foremost engineering companies, with a reputation for delivering innovative solutions for complex engineering challenges that minimize environmental impact. The firm’s close ties to São Paulo University’s Polytechnic Institute and research centers provide continuous enhancement of its engineering and technology expertise. Over 20 years ago, Figueiredo Ferraz was one of the first civil engineering firms in Brazil to implement AutoCAD® software and now the company relies on Autodesk Building Information Modeling (BIM) solutions for all its projects in the transportation, infrastructure, and urban development sectors.

About Figueiredo Ferraz

Founded in 1941, Figueiredo Ferraz is an award-winning civil engineering firm. Notable projects include the subway systems in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Lisbon, and Caracas; the Immigrants’ Highway in Brazil; and bridges over the Orinoco River in Venezuela.

In addition to the recent environmental recovery project for the Sapolandia and Franco watercourses in Manaus, Brazil, the firm’s current BIM projects include the new ring road surrounding São Paulo and new stations and tunnels for São Paulo’s subway expansion.

Figueiredo Ferraz Uses BIM for Multidisciplinary Civil Engineering Projects

Figueiredo Ferraz adopted BIM in 2008 to deliver maximum value to its clients—primarily government agencies—whose large, multidisciplinary projects require design agility, coordination, and efficiency. Today, the firm utilizes Autodesk BIM solutions such as AutoCAD® Civil 3D® software for its civil projects and Autodesk® Revit® Structure software for bridge, viaduct, and tunnel design projects. The firm also uses Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design software for visualization and AutoCAD software for drafting and documentation.

One of the firm’s recent BIM projects targets environmental recovery for the Sapolandia, Franco, and Quarenta watercourses in Manaus, Brazil. Currently under construction, this government project will protect these watersheds and improve the quality of life for nearby residents and businesses. The project includes urban renewal of the land adjacent to the watercourses, implementation of drains and sewer systems, and construction of bridges and pedestrian overpasses.

The Figueiredo Ferraz design team used Civil 3D software to develop several sustainable design alternatives for both watercourses, including plans for watercourse channeling, drainage systems, and traffic circulation. The team aggregated existing GIS and survey data in a BIM-based design model to efficiently create, visualize, and evaluate design options. BIM design processes enabled the company to react more quickly to design decisions and changes, which helped to keep the construction on schedule and avoid the downtime when seasonal flooding of the Amazon River limits waterfront construction.

BIM also proved valuable for cross-discipline design coordination with the project architect and other members of the extended design team. In addition, the firm transferred its design models into 3ds Max Design to create visualizations for design reviews, approvals, and public outreach efforts.

For more information, see the Figueiredo Ferraz customer story.

Reseller

Figueiredo Ferraz uses Frazillio & Ferroni Informática as its Civil 3D reseller and Best Software Information Technology Ltda. as its Revit Structure reseller. Both companies are located in São Paulo, Brazil.