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Bentley > Case Studies > Digital Construction Optimizes Installation of World’s Longest Pedestrian Walkway at Seattle-Tacoma Airport
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Digital Construction Optimizes Installation of World’s Longest Pedestrian Walkway at Seattle-Tacoma Airport

Technology Category
  • Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization
  • Networks & Connectivity - Routers & Bridges
Applicable Industries
  • Cement
  • Construction & Infrastructure
Applicable Functions
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Product Research & Development
Use Cases
  • Construction Management
  • Digital Twin
Services
  • System Integration
  • Testing & Certification
The Challenge
Clark Construction Group was tasked with the construction of a new International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a project initiated by the Port of Seattle with a budget of USD 968 million. The project involved the construction of a three-story grand hall building, a new connecting international corridor, and an 85-foot-high pedestrian aerial walkway. The most complex part of the project was the construction and installation of the world’s longest pedestrian bridge over an active airport taxi lane. The bridge’s center span, a 3-million-pound, 320-foot-long structure, had to be constructed at an airport cargo area three miles from the installation site, transported to the installation spot amid a busy airport, and then hoisted 85 feet high to connect to the piers. The project required meticulous planning and sequencing with no room for error, and the airport had to remain fully operational throughout the construction process.
About The Customer
The customer in this case is the Port of Seattle, which initiated a USD 968 million project to update the 1970s-era facilities and build a new, expanded 450,000-squarefoot International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The project was aimed at accommodating Seattle’s growing demand for international travel. The new IAF was expected to more than double passenger capacity, reduce passenger connection times, provide additional access for international wide-body aircraft, and nearly triple baggage claim carousel sizes. It was the most complex development program in the history of the 71-year-old airport, expected to significantly enhance the international passenger experience and advance the Puget Sound region as a leading tourism and business gateway.
The Solution
To meet the demands of the project, Clark Construction Group used cutting-edge survey technology and Bentley’s SYNCHRO 4D to visualize and analyze the existing site and bridge structure. They modeled the site, remote assembly of the bridge span, and on-site pier supports using laser scanning and point clouds to ensure accurate bridge measurements and determine a safe transport route along the busy airport grounds. By leveraging BIM and reality modeling technology with SYNCHRO 4D, Clark linked the model with the construction schedule to develop a digital twin to fully visualize the construction sequencing. The team implemented 3D digital BIM and virtual reality solutions to review their designs and used SYNCHRO 4D to visualize every step of the construction sequence, including schedule simulations, site utilization optimizations, and logistics planning. After many digital iterations, Clark had an exact plan of how they were going to move the bridge from the remote prefabrication area on airport property, down the correct taxi lanes and runways, all while avoiding active airport traffic and parked airplanes to get the structure lifted into place.
Operational Impact
  • The use of innovative planning and state-of-the-art construction technology helped the IAF project team successfully execute the technically complex maneuver that demanded meticulous planning. The digital applications provided accurate measurements and visualization to safely transport and install the 3-million-pound span structure three miles through an active airport. The SYNCHRO animation helped the team establish and test their sequencing logic in advance, ensuring that they minimized airport impact and could provide a tool to communicate their plan in real-time to project stakeholders. The structure came together seamlessly without need for further adjustment. Additionally, Clark began incorporating the necessary digital tools and data from the very beginning of the design process to meet the Port of Seattle’s request for a data-rich BIM deliverable. They seamlessly delivered a digital twin with 18 standard attributes per asset, that the client will also later use for facilities management and ongoing operations of the airport. This world-class expansion project sets a benchmark for digitalization in the industry.
Quantitative Benefit
  • Clark Construction Group successfully achieved a narrow fit within three-eighths of an inch using 4D construction workflows.
  • The new International Arrivals Facility will more than double passenger capacity.
  • The new facility will reduce passenger connection times.

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