Success Story · BIM Modelling · Canada
BIM Modelling Helped Avoid $18M in Cost Risk on a Toronto Highway Upgrade
Optimar Precon consolidated more than 400 legacy CAD drawings and survey datasets into a coordinated BIM environment for a $100 million, 10-kilometre urban highway upgrade. The model supported multidisciplinary coordination, clash management, construction phasing and environmental planning before work reached the site.
Outcome figures shown in this success story are based on the project information, coordination records and delivery data associated with this engagement.
Project overview
BIM Coordination for a Complex Urban Highway Upgrade
The project covered a 10-kilometre highway corridor in Toronto and combined roadway geometry, bridge interfaces, underground utilities, drainage infrastructure, traffic systems and environmental requirements within an active urban setting.
Optimar Precon assignment
BIM Modelling, Coordination and Construction Planning Support
Optimar Precon converted the available 2D information into a coordinated model environment and supported the multidisciplinary team with model integration, clash management, construction sequencing and structured collaboration.
Legacy data integration
Consolidate CAD drawings and supplied survey information into a structured model environment.
Multidisciplinary coordination
Review interfaces between highway, structural, utility, drainage and traffic-system information.
Clash management
Identify design conflicts, document the findings and support coordinated resolution before construction.
4D phasing support
Connect model information to planned work stages to support traffic management and construction sequencing.
Primary project objective
Create a coordinated and reviewable BIM environment that allowed the project team to identify design conflicts earlier, plan work-zone sequencing and reduce disruption and avoidable site changes.
The project challenge
Fragmented Design Information Created Significant Coordination and Programme Risk
The project team was working with hundreds of legacy drawings, separate survey datasets and design information produced by multiple disciplines. Without a coordinated model environment, design conflicts remained difficult to identify and resolve before construction.
Root causes
The Project Information Was Not Structured for Multidisciplinary Coordination
The separate drawing and survey sources made it difficult to establish a dependable view of how roadway, structural, drainage, utility and traffic systems interacted across the full corridor.
- Legacy drawings used inconsistent revisions, references and levels of detail.
- Survey information and discipline models were not maintained within one coordinated environment.
- Design reviews depended heavily on manual drawing comparison and stakeholder interpretation.
- Construction phasing and traffic disruption could not be assessed clearly from static 2D information alone.
High-risk interfaces
Conflicts Extended Across Structures, Utilities and Environmental Requirements
The challenge was not limited to individual drawing errors. It involved physical and programme interfaces between systems designed by different teams and delivered through multiple work zones.
Drainage and structures
Drainage routes and levels required coordination with bridge supports, foundations and roadway geometry.
Utilities and foundations
Underground utility routes intersected with structural footings and proposed construction zones.
Traffic-system interfaces
Smart traffic, lighting and containment systems required coordinated placement across active roadway areas.
Environmental integration
Sustainable drainage, permeable pavement and low-impact lighting requirements had to remain coordinated with the core design.
Why the existing coordination method could not continue
Manual drawing comparison could not provide the integrated spatial and sequencing visibility required for a 10-kilometre urban infrastructure corridor. The project needed a coordinated BIM environment before the team could manage clashes, phasing and design changes efficiently.
The BIM solution
A Coordinated BIM Strategy for Design Review, Clash Management and Construction Phasing
Optimar Precon established a coordinated model environment that brought the supplied roadway, structural, utility, drainage and traffic-system information together. The model became a shared reference for design coordination, issue management and planned construction sequencing.
Delivery strategy
Convert Fragmented Project Information Into a Reviewable Coordination Environment
The approach combined legacy-data integration, multidisciplinary modelling, rule-based clash reviews, environmental-feature coordination, 4D sequencing and controlled information sharing. Each stage produced records that the project team could review and use for design decisions.
Legacy Data Integration
More than 400 supplied CAD drawings and associated survey datasets were reviewed and organised before model development.
- Drawing and revision review
- Coordinate and reference alignment
- Discipline-based model structure
Coordinated Model Development
The available information was developed into discipline-based models covering the primary highway and supporting systems.
- Roadway and corridor geometry
- Structures and foundations
- Utilities, drainage and traffic systems
Clash Management
Federated model reviews were used to identify, classify and communicate physical design conflicts before site execution.
- Rule-based clash tests
- Issue ownership and status tracking
- Coordinated resolution reviews
Environmental Feature Coordination
Supplied sustainability and environmental design requirements were incorporated into the coordinated project environment.
- Permeable pavement interfaces
- Bioswale and drainage coordination
- Low-impact lighting layouts
4D Construction Phasing
Model information was linked to planned construction stages to improve work-zone reviews and traffic-management discussions.
- Phase and work-zone visualisation
- Sequence review with project teams
- Traffic-disruption planning support
Coordination workflow
From Source Data to Coordinated Design Decisions
The model was not treated as a one-time visual deliverable. It was updated through a recurring review and issue-management process as the project information developed.
The final coordination responsibilities remained subject to the project’s design-authority structure, approved information requirements and stakeholder decisions.
Review and structure inputs
Assess supplied drawings, survey files, references, revisions and discipline responsibilities.
Develop and federate models
Create the assigned discipline models and combine them for multidisciplinary review.
Run coordination reviews
Identify conflicts, classify findings and issue records to the responsible project participants.
Track resolution and revisions
Update coordination records as design responses and revised information are received.
Review construction phases
Use model-based sequencing to discuss planned work zones, access and traffic interfaces.
Issue coordinated records
Prepare the agreed models, reports, issue logs and review files for the project team.
Recurring coordination and stakeholder alignment
Bi-weekly coordination sessions supported issue review, responsibility assignment and progress tracking. Project participants also received guidance on accessing and using the coordinated information relevant to their role.
Scope clarification: Optimar Precon supported model development, coordination and issue reporting. The appointed designers and project authorities retained responsibility for engineering decisions, design approval, regulatory submissions and final construction information.
Reported project outcomes
Earlier Coordination Reduced Design, Programme and Construction Exposure
The coordinated model allowed the project team to review system interfaces, resolve design conflicts and evaluate planned construction phases before those issues reached active work zones.
Reduced design-related rework
Project records reported an estimated 95% reduction in design-related rework exposure after coordinated model reviews.
Field-hour exposure reduced
Earlier conflict resolution reportedly avoided more than 200 hours of potential site investigation and corrective work.
More timely design reviews
The project information indicated that 98% of scheduled design reviews were completed within the planned review period.
After coordinated delivery
The Project Team Gained a Shared Basis for Coordination and Decision-Making
The federated model and recurring issue-management process gave stakeholders a clearer view of design interfaces, unresolved items and planned construction phases.
Integrated design review
Multiple discipline systems could be reviewed within one coordinated environment.
Traceable issue management
Clashes could be classified, assigned, reviewed and tracked through resolution.
Improved phasing visibility
Model-based sequencing supported reviews of work zones, access and traffic disruption.
Environmental coordination
Supplied environmental features remained visible alongside the core infrastructure design.
Where the value was created
The reported benefit came from identifying and communicating problems while they could still be resolved through design coordination, rather than waiting for those conflicts to appear during excavation, utility installation, structural work or traffic-stage changes.
Outcome context: The figures presented above are reported project outcomes based on the engagement’s coordination records, programme information and cost-impact assessments. Actual savings on other infrastructure projects will vary according to project scale, design maturity, construction sequencing, issue severity and the timing of BIM involvement.
Technology and project outputs
Coordinated BIM Deliverables Prepared for Project-Team Review
The engagement combined model development, multidisciplinary coordination, clash reporting and sequencing support. Deliverables were structured around the agreed project information, review responsibilities and construction-planning requirements.
Project deliverables
Information Issued for Design Coordination and Construction Planning
The exact issue format and model content followed the agreed scope and available source information.
Discipline BIM models
Structured roadway, structural, utility, drainage and traffic-system model information.
Federated coordination model
Combined multidisciplinary information prepared for spatial and interface review.
Clash and issue reports
Classified coordination findings with references, responsibility and review status.
4D phasing reviews
Model-based work-zone and sequencing information for construction-planning discussions.
Coordination records
Meeting outputs, issue logs, response tracking and model-review documentation.
Stakeholder guidance
Support for project participants using the coordinated models and review information.
Client feedback
Optimar Precon’s BIM modelling transformed our highway project. Their Revit expertise and clash-detection process helped us identify high-impact coordination issues before construction and supported the project’s compliance requirements.
Project Director
Toronto Infrastructure Project
Testimonial attribution: Replace “Project Director” with a person’s name only when Optimar Precon has documented permission to publish the name, role, organisation and quotation. Keep the generic attribution when that permission is unavailable.
Infrastructure BIM enquiry
Need BIM Modelling and Coordination Support for a Canadian Infrastructure Project?
Send the available CAD drawings, survey information, discipline models, BIM requirements, coordination priorities and project programme. Our team will review the source information before confirming the modelling scope and delivery workflow.
- Road, highway and transportation projects
- Utilities, drainage and structural coordination
- Clash management and issue reporting
- 4D construction phasing support
Project requirements
Request a BIM Scope Review
Include the location, infrastructure type, available files, required BIM uses and target dates.
