Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Digital Delivery?
A modernized approach to project delivery processes of contract media that incorporates the exchange of digital project models and design data.
2. What are the benefits of implementing digital delivery?
The benefits of digital delivery include:
• Increased collaboration and coordination between all stakeholders.
• Efficiency of workflows through automation.
• Clarity of design intent.
• Ability to see, and resolve, conflicts between field conditions, construction methods, and design development prior to getting “boots on the ground”.
• Integration and ease of specification from design and continued situational awareness for entire asset lifespan.
3. What is PennDOT’s vision for digital delivery?
By 2025, construction projects will have the potential to be bid using digital data and 3D technology and will no longer be in a traditional construction (2D) plan format. We have met this goal by advertising the first model as the legal deliverable (MALD) project in the fall of 2024.
4. How is PennDOT planning to expand the initiative past 2025?
Following the initial 2025 pilots, there are plans to expand the number of pilots and projects to incorporate additional aspects of digital delivery . The ADCMS grant is expanding the roadmap for open data standards with two pilot projects to be let in 2025. Additional pilot projects for each district are being defined for 2026 through 2030.
5. How can I participate in a pilot project?
Internal PennDOT staff can reach out to Allen Melley, Digital Delivery Chief, for more information. Consultants can reach out to the pilot project DIstrict. Other stakeholders such as local agencies, utility companies, and contractors can reach out to RA-PDDigitalDelivery@pa.gov.
6. How do the contract deliverables differ from traditional project delivery methods?
Traditional project deliverables include signed and sealed paper or PDF plan sets that are the contractual deliverable and traditional reports or documents such as specifications or survey reports. On digital delivery projects, the original project model files are the signed and sealed contractual deliverable. Additional digital deliverables may include export file types such as LandXML terrain files or Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) files and/or digital roll plans.
7. How does digital delivery impact my current projects?
Current projects without digital delivery deliverables will continue to be designed and constructed using traditional workflows and deliverables. Current projects can implement model-based design processes, such as modeling standards, naming conventions, and item types, and plan sets can be derived from modeled elements.
8. How can industry partners and stakeholders stay updated on the initiative’s progress?
The PennDOT website has the most up to date information on pilot projects, webinars, and resources. Upcoming quarterly webinars are posted for registration and previous webinar recordings are available. Digital delivery newsletters are posted on the website and distributed through our email subscription service.
9. Who can I contact for additional questions about digital delivery?
For additional questions or information, please email RA-PDDigitalDelivery@pa.gov
1. What tools and technologies are used for modeling digital delivery projects?
The Department is currently using OpenRoads Designer CONNECT and OpenBridge Modeler for the digital delivery projects. Pilot projects are working on the PennDOT ProjectWise server and utilizing the current workspace.
2. What software is being used to review 3D models on digital delivery projects?
PennDOT is currently using Bentley’s Infrastructure Cloud, which is a web-based software application. Pilot project teams and PennDOT staff receive training prior to each design milestone review.
3. Are digital delivery projects still using PennDOT applications such as ECMS, PPCC, and URMS?
Yes. Digital delivery projects are using ECMS, PPCC, and URMS for design and construction workflows. There are new workflows to import information for better data exchanges, but the current processes and tools are still being utilized.
4. What PennDOT standards are used in Digital Delivery projects?
PennDOT has a series of standards such as Digital Delivery guidelines, Modeling Standards, and additional documentation provided on the Digital Delivery website. Project teams can refer to the necessary workflows, processes, and technologies that are utilized on the digital delivery pilot projects.
5. What are Roll Plans and how are they being used on traditional and digital delivery projects?
Roll Plans are 34 in wide x 200 in maximum length 2D layouts of the project that area typically provided as pdfs used for plan and profile sheets. SOL 430-24-03 provides information on the use and preparation of roll plans on all new projects started after September 1, 2024.
6. What are open data standards and how is PennDOT utilizing Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)?
Open data standards that can be consumed by humans and computer systems to allow for the use of the best tools/software of choice for the task at hand. The Department is currently developing standards for the use and implementation of open data standards for seamless data transfer between software vendor products using IFC data exchanges. There are currently two pilot projects as part of the PennDOT ADCMS grant. More information can be found on the ADCMS page on the PennDOT Website.
7. What training resources are available for PennDOT and consultant design staff?
Training resources are available on the PennDOT Digital Delivery website. In person and virtual software training is posted on the PennDOT Training Calendar. Pilot project teams are provided just in time training for review software and modeling assistance.
8. What training resources are available for Contractors?
All digital delivery pilot projects have a mandatory pre-bid meeting during the advertisement period. During this meeting training is provided on how to access and view the digital deliverables. After an award, hands-on training is provided to the awarded contractor, subcontractors, and fabricators.
Additional resources are available to all stakeholders such as the Contractor Synchro Control Sandbox, in person Contractor Summits, and annual sessions at APC.
9. What training resources are available for PennDOT Construction and Inspection staff?
PennDOT construction and inspection staff will receive hands on training prior to construction projects starting within their District prior to the next construction season. The Digital Delivery Team also presents at District Winter Schools where staff can ask questions and gain an understanding of upcoming pilot projects.
10. What is the Contractor Synchro Control Sandbox?
The sandbox is a demo project simulation to provide stakeholders with the ability to explore the use and functionality of Synchro Control. Stakeholders can participate by sending an email request to RA-PDDigitalDelivery@pa.gov.
Glossary of Terms
The terms below provide a foundation for our Digital Delivery process.
The following are industry specific terms.
ADCMS The Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems Grant Program provides Federal funds to promote, implement, deploy, demonstrate, showcase, support, and document the application of advanced digital construction management systems, practices, performance, and benefits. The funds are for State DOTs and their grant partners. Desired outcomes include leveraging digital data in some or all phases of the infrastructure lifecycle and maximizing interoperability between systems/applications.
buildingSMART International (bSI): The parent body leading buildingSMART, a global community of chapters, members, partners and sponsors. buildingSMART is a worldwide authority driving the adoption of international open digital data-sharing standards for infrastructure and buildings. buildingSMART is an open, neutral, and international not-for-profit organisation.
bSI Data Dictionary: Also known as the buildingSMART Data Dictionary Service. Online service that hosts catalog of standard information classifications and their properties, allowed values, units, and translations that can be referenced when identifying the meaning of data in an exchange. The service is provided by bSI for free and content is published by independent organisations. The IFC data dictionary created by bSI is one of many data dictionaries available.
ISO 19650: Is a series of international standards which define a common unified framework for the effective collaborative production and management of information across the full lifecycle of a built asset using building information modelling (BIM).
NBIMS-US V4: National BIM Standard-United States Version 4: a consensus-based national-level standard focused on defining standard approaches and guidelines to defining requirements, planning BIM adoption, and exchanging information between project team members. These approaches are aligned with many other international and national standards. The V4 standard contains 6 modules: NBIMS-US Overview, Project BIM Requirements, BIM Execution Planning, BIM Use Definitions, Information Exchange Guidelines, and COBie Version 3.0.
The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS): Is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-governmental organization that supports advances in building science and technology. Established by the U.S. Congress in the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Public Law 93-383. Congress to serve as an interface between government and the private sector – one that serves as a resource to those who plan, design, procure, construct, use, operate, maintain, renovate, and retire physical facilities.
The following entries provide references used to compile PennDOT’s Glossary of Terms.
Brenner, J. et al., 2018. Development of 3D and 4D Bridge Models and Plans, Lansing: Michigan Department of Transportation.
buildingSmart International: http://www.buildingsmart.org
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Publication 408/2020 Specifications
International Organization for Standardization, 2018. ISO 19650-1:2018. [Online]
Available at: https://www.iso.org/standard/68078.html
[Accessed 14 August 2019].
National BIM Standard - United States Version 4: https://www.nibs.org/nbims/v4/introduction
[Accessed 16 July 2024].
National Institute of Building Sciences, 2015. United States National Building Information Modeling Standard Version 3, Washington, DC: National Institute of Building Sciences.
Utah Department of Transportation, 2020. Glossary of Terms. [Online]
Available at: https://digitaldelivery.udot.utah.gov/pages/terms
[Accessed 9 December 2020].
US Department of Transportation
Available at: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/adcms/overview.cfm
TPF-5(372) Technical Solution Summary infographic