Visualization Services play a valuable role in depicting modern infrastructure projects, particularly within the realm of transportation and civil engineering.

DRMP’s Visualization Services provide real-world representations of projects and translate technical data into high-level visual narratives. These visualizations can help demonstrate the potential impacts of a project and aid in building consensus among all stakeholders and the public, which is essential for successful project implementation.

As DRMP’s Lead Visualization Designer, I have witnessed the evolution and significance of visualization in our field. Visual aids have evolved over the years with software/hardware advancements and demonstrate a clearer understanding of a project’s aesthetic appeal, dimensions, and suitability within the local community.

Our Visualization experts look to support all divisions within DRMP, our partner firms, and public and private clients. Our services have been used for presentations to win work, 3D roadway typical sections, 3D modeling of bridge structures, interchanges, complex designs, maintenance of traffic (MOT), and Project Development and Environment (PD&E) studies for public involvement and public hearings. As DRMP continues to expand and welcome new partner firms, we are growing our Visualization Services team to meet the evolving needs of our clients.

Visualizing Projects

Once considered a luxury, high-end visualizations have transitioned from extravagance to necessity and are now considered in most budgets. Some clients have attributed their project successes to the power of these visuals. The evolution of visualization extends beyond mere video presentations. Augmented reality (AR) has emerged as a groundbreaking tool and provides an immersive experience akin to being physically present. Using software, apps, cell phones and tablets, and AR glasses, augmented reality overlays digital content onto real-life environments and objects. It is one of the cutting edges of visualization.

Attendees at public meetings can no longer be expected to grasp project intricacies through 2D visualizations. Rather, a three-dimensional (3D) visualization better explains the design and scale of a proposed project.

DRMP was recently entrusted by The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach homeowners association, a suburb near Jacksonville, Fla., to create a comprehensive 3D modeling for proposed lighting enhancements at the Cornerstone Park sportsplex.

We provided a detailed visualization and lighting analysis of the proposed installation of 60-70-foot light poles within the sportsplex and an assessment on their potential impact on The Plantation community and the environment. Our team recreated the environment in a 3D format, which enabled our client to effectively convey the potential effects of the project to the St. Johns County Commission.

For the State Road 31 Project and Environment (PD&E) Study and its final public hearing in Lee County, Fla., DRMP delivered a slide presentation and 25 display boards exhibiting 2D aerial plan views and 3D roadway and bridge typical sections. Additionally, we provided 3D bird’s-eye views of the project layout, while a Fly-Thru 3D animation depicted traffic movements and the project’s overall design. These visualizations significantly enhanced the public’s understanding of the project details.

Real-World Precision

Many clients stand to gain substantial benefits from incorporating visualization at key stages of their projects, particularly at junctures of 30 percent, 60 percent, and 90 precent completion. Through the use of 3D visualization tools, engineers can identify and rectify potential issues that may not be as evident through traditional 2D analysis.

To keep up with the latest visualization software, DRMP invests considerable time and resources toward ongoing professional development and proficiency in software technologies to stay current with industry trends. Our engineers have transitioned to designing their projects in 3D, a significant upgrade from the previous 2D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) work.

The Visualization team actively collaborates with the engineers and designers throughout the entire process, working side by side to achieve a polished final product.

Our visualizations undergo multiple rounds of review to ensure precision and real-world accuracy. While the engineers and designers tackle the technical aspects of CAD, our Visualization team adds the finishing touches, transforming designs into visually appealing and lifelike representations.

DRMP’s Visualization Services are critical for today’s civil engineering projects. They provide real-world representations that help everyone agree on plans and make projects run smoothly. DRMP remains committed to meeting client needs and growing with the times with our Visualization services.

To view examples of our project visualizations, please click here.