Quantm Desktop

The Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning system supports road and rail planners and engineers through the complex process of selecting and generating 3D corridors and alignments. Its unique route optimization technology generates millions of alternative alignments and returns a range of 10-50 best options for review by various stakeholders.

In over 20,000 km of delivered alignments, the system has consistently enabled planners and engineers to reduce project planning time, substantially lower alignment construction cost, and deliver improved alignments that meet environmental, heritage, urban constraints, and design standards set by each project.

Quantm alignment optimization is available in user methods:

The Quantm System uses a thin client and advanced IT technology to access data that is processed on the Quantm server. Suitable for road, rail, and mine access projects of unlimited distance, the Quantm System is implemented on a consultative project-by-project basis.

The Quantm Desktop software has been optimized to process alignments locally on the user's computer. It is ideal for short distance road projects up to 20km x 20km (approximately 25 square miles) such as local and regional roads, bypasses and ring roads and others. The Quantm Desktop also allows the customer to use the software for multiple projects rather than on a project-by-project basis.

Road Alignment

Overview

Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solution simultaneously considers all environmental, cultural and community issues involved in planning a new road project, thus substantially reducing the planning time and alignment construction cost.

A project planner or engineer can investigate literally millions of alternative alignments for any given set of constraints. The system enables a holistic approach that integrates all elements and delivers a range of alignment alternatives that best meet the relevant environmental, cultural, social, engineering and cost constraints. The resulting options can be analyzed quickly to address stakeholder concerns and maintain the momentum of the road project.

The Quantm Alignment Planning system is available as a Desktop PC version for projects up to 20km or as a service for longer projects.

Configurations

Quantm Desktop Premium: Quantm Desktop Premium is a PC-based application for project owners, planners, engineers, GIS professionals and contractors. Quantm Desktop Premium can be applied at every step of the planning process from initial scoping through feasibility and value engineering. The software performs corridor identification, and full horizontal and vertical alignment optimization, considering environmental, social, geological, engineering, and construction constraints to provide and optimal alignment for detailed design. Quantm Desktop Premium is available for project study areas 10kmx10km or 20kmx20km.

Quantm Desktop: Quantm Desktop is a PC-based application that performs vertical optimization only. It is intended for engineers and contractors to refine the vertical geometry of alignments that lie within a defined corridor with final or fixed horizontal geometry. Quantm Desktop optimizes the vertical geometry to minimize costs based on barriers to construction, dump locations and borrow locations. Quantm Desktop is available for projects of up to 10km in length or projects of up to 20km in length.

Quantm Service: Quantm Service is offered on a project by project basis for clients with projects longer than 20km. The Quantm Service provides for a collaborative environment with 5 project licenses of the powerful Quantm Integrator software for data input and review. Quantm Service uses a thin client/server architecture with the optimization processing performed at one of Trimble Planning Solutions worldwide data centers. The Quantm Service is supported by a team of Transportation Engineers, Planners and Surveyors who specialize in alignment optimization. The Quantm Service team collaborates with each project's planning and engineering teams to ensure maximum benefit from the system. The Quantm Service is offered for scoping studies, corridor investigations, environmental impact studies, and alignment alternative selection.

All the Quantm product and service configurations generate outputs for to support public presentation through the NEPA or other planning processes. The final approved alignment can be easily exported using industry standard formats, such as LandXML for detailed design.

Benefits

The Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning System allows planners and engineers to collaborate with various road project stakeholders and deliver improved outcomes. The process maintains positive community relations, considers environmental impact, and reduces project construction costs - all while maintaining the momentum of the road project.

Improved Community Relations
Communities globally are increasing the influence they have over where new roads are created. The combination of community input and the need to avoid certain urban areas, cultural heritage zones and areas of environmental sensitivity have made the planning process extremely complex.

The Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning System allows community input to be integrated into the planning study. Community "no-go" constraints can be added in just minutes. Cost implications and alignment alternatives can be reviewed almost immediately for projects under 20km and within 48 working hours for larger projects.

Better environmental outcomes
The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Research Results Digest 304, describes eight technologies that can be used by transportation agencies to improve the consideration of environmental concerns in transportation decisions.

The Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning System was identified as one of these emerging technologies that support the integration of environmental considerations into transportation planning. For more information, download the "Technologies to improve consideration of environmental concerns in transportation decisions" full report.

Reduced Project Planning Time and Delays
The current industry approach to road planning addresses each constraint issue in series, which often leads to conflict between the stakeholders and requires numerous subsequent impact studies. This can lead to a planning spiral that delays, or even terminates, a project.

The Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solutions encourage cooperation between the road project planners and stakeholders from the onset. Planners can quickly investigate alignment and cost implications of numerous 'what if' scenarios simultaneously. As a result, planners can demonstrate they have considered all feasible alignments and substantially improve the quality of the alignment without project delay or cost increase.

Road Construction Cost Savings
The Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solution delivers substantial alignment construction cost savings while meeting the defined environmental, community, heritage and design constraints.

Typical alignment construction cost savings, in undulating or rougher terrain, are in excess of 15% for highways, when compared to results determined using the previous industry best practice planning method

Reports and Audits

As more governments require extensive impact studies and supporting documentation, the Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solutions have become essential tools for road planners. From stakeholders and governments, through to environmental groups, community organizations, and project financiers, numerous groups want to know that their concerns are being addressed when creating new roads.

Planners and engineers can use the Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solution to prepare in-depth impact studies and public presentations. The software allows presentations to display the complete route or zoom-in demonstrating how an alignment impacts or avoids a particular zone or landowner, including the earthworks footprint.

The planner can also provide a process audit that tracks individual scenario investigation, consideration of alternatives and costs, and document the methods used in reaching a 'preferred' corridor or alignment.

Rail Alignment

Overview

Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solution simultaneously manages all environmental, cultural and community issues involved in planning a new freight, passenger or high speed rail project. In doing so, it substantially reduces the planning time and alignment construction cost.

Using the service, a project planner can investigate literally millions of alternative alignments for any given set of constraints. The system enables a holistic approach that integrates all elements and delivers a range of alignment alternatives that best meet the relevant environmental, cultural, social, engineering and cost constraints. The resulting options can be analyzed quickly to address stakeholder concerns and maintain the momentum of the rail project

How it Works

Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solution is offered in a cost-effective and secure client/server business model, with significant collaborative input from the Trimble team of transportation engineers and Geographical Information System (GIS) technicians. The optimization workflow follows 6 easy steps:

The optimization workflow follows 6 easy steps:

• 1.Initial client set-up and training,
• 2.Data and database coordination,
• 3.Data input by project planner,
• 4.Alignment generation on the Quantm Pathfinder engine,
• 5.Return and review of 10-50 optimal alignments per scenario, and
• 6.Analysis and manipulation by the project planner.

Resulting alignments can be easily exported to CAD, GIS and 3D visualization software packages for preparation of presentation materials, or completion of the detailed design.

Benefits

The Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solution allows planners and engineers to collaborate with various road project stakeholders and deliver improved outcomes. The process maintains positive community relations, considers environmental impact, and reduces project construction costs - all while maintaining the momentum of the road project.

Improved Community Relations
Communities globally are increasing the influence they have over where new roads are created. The combination of community input and the need to avoid certain urban areas, cultural heritage zones and areas of environmental sensitivity have made the planning process extremely complex.

The Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solution allows community input to be integrated into the planning study. Community "no-go" constraints can be added in just minutes. Cost implications and alignment alternatives can be reviewed within 48 working hours.

Better Environmental Outcomes
The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Research Results Digest 304, describes eight technologies that can be used by transportation agencies to improve the consideration of environmental concerns in transportation decisions.

The Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solution was identified as one of these emerging technologies that support the integration of environmental considerations into transportation planning. For more information, download the "Technologies to improve consideration of environmental concerns in transportation decisions" full report.

Reduced Project Planning Time and Delays
The current industry approach to railway planning addresses each constraint issue in series, which often leads to conflict between the stakeholders and requires numerous subsequent impact studies. This can lead to a planning spiral that delays, or even terminates, a project.

The Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solution encourages cooperation between the project planners and stakeholders from the onset. Planners can quickly investigate alignment and cost implications of numerous 'what if' scenarios simultaneously. As a result, planners can demonstrate they have considered all feasible alignments and substantially improve the quality of the alignment without project delay or cost increase.

Railway Construction Cost Savings
The Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solution delivers substantial alignment construction cost savings while meeting the defined environmental, community, heritage and design constraints.

Typical alignment construction cost savings, in undulating or rougher terrain, are in excess of 15% for highways, when compared to results determined using the previous industry best practice planning method.

Lowest Total Cost of Ownership
The Quantm system enables sensitivity analyses to be carried out rapidly to determine alignment and cost implications of changes to constraints. This type of analysis directly feeds into, and supports, decisions leading to the selection of a 'preferred' alignment. When combined with Rail simulation software the trade-offs between construction costs and operating costs can be investigated and the alignment can be refined using new constraints to achieve the lowest total cost of ownership.

Reports and Audits

As more governments require extensive impact studies and supporting documentation, the Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solution has become an essential tool for rail planners. From stakeholders and governments, through to environmental groups, community organizations, and project financiers, numerous groups want to know that their concerns are being addressed when creating new railways.

Planners and engineers can use the Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning Solution to prepare in-depth impact studies and public presentations. The software allows presentations to display the complete route or zoom-in demonstrating how an alignment impacts or avoids a particular zone or landowner, including the earthworks footprint.

The planner can also provide a process audit that tracks individual scenario investigation, consideration of alternatives and costs, and document the methods used in reaching a 'preferred' corridor or alignment.

Case Studies

The Trimble Quantm Alignment Planning System has been used worldwide on hundreds of projects ranging in length from less than 1 km to national transportation links of over 1000 km, in all types of terrain.

Below are examples of customer success stories:

Nevada

•·         Value engineering that saves time and cuts costs

"Quantm was able to analyze thousands of alignments and output alignments with 10-15 percent construction cost savings."
- Carter & Burgess

Download Case Study: Boulder City Bypass

Louisiana

•·         I-69 Corridor, Shreveport to El Dorado

"The comprehensive nature of the system and the speed with which it can re-optimize alignments as new constraints or suggested routes arise from the public, or the various agencies involved in the EIS process, allows the team to maintain the momentum of the project. It also enables demonstration that "all reasonable alternatives" have been considered, as required by NEPA and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act. and substantially lowering the alignment construction cost."

California

•·         Integrating transportation planning with environmental considerations

"Quantm was able to greatly improve the collaboration between the engineering and environmental project teams."
- Transport Corridor Agencies

Download Case Study: Integrating transportation planning with environmental considerations

•·         A highway corridor planning process for NEPA compliance

"ITD and DMJM Harris with the assistance of the Quantm system have implemented a highway corridor planning / environmental / engineering process to establish highway corridors and select alternatives that will comply with NEPA regulations. This process can address many of the challenges found in highway environmental process by being objective, comprehensive, cost-effective, and quicker than conventional methods."

Download Case Study: Goose Creek bpass summary project

Texas

•·         1,000 mile I-69 trans-Texas corridor study - Tier One

"Quantm, in conjunction with EPA GISST Data, was extremely effective in preliminary corridor development during the corridor alternatives evaluation process. The large number oa alternatives generated by Quantm provided extensive and consistent options throughout a large and diverse study area."
- David Bacon - I-69/TTC Corridor Study GEC

Download Case Study: 1,000 mile I-69 trans-Texas corridor study - Tier One

Idaho

•·         Goose Creek Bypass Summary Project

"ITD and David Evans and Associates, Inc. used the Quantm system to define highway corridors, limit the areas of intensive environmental field work, and still provide a product that would comply with NEPA."
- David Evans and Associates, Inc. and Idaho Transportation Department

Download Case Study: Goose Creek Bypass Summary Project

Portugal

•·         European High Speed Rail Reduces Costs By 10%

"The studies by Quantm, specialists in optimising stretches of rail, will keep tunnel and viaduct construction to a minimum, reducing investment by 10% of the infrastructure cost."
- Ana Paula Vitorino, Portuguese State Secretary of Transport

Download Case Study: Lisbon-Madrid High Speed Rail

New South Wales

•·         Roads and Traffic Authority Assessment

"The capabilities of Quantm may dramatically change current route identification and selection processes, providing the ability to generate much greater detail very early in the process and to rapidly respond and interact during public consultation."
- New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority

Queensland

•·         Roads and Traffic Authority Assessment

"The study also demonstrated the ability to 'audit' amd improve on alignments previously derived using the conventional approach to planning."
- Queensland Department of Main Roads (QDMR)

Download Case Study: Roads and Traffic Authority Assessment

•·         Bauhina Mine Regional Project

"The project planners demonstrated that there is significant benefit to applying the Quantm System to mine haul/access roads, and have stated that the earlier Quantm is applied, the greater the benefits".
- MIM Holdings

Download Case Study: Bauhina Mine Regional Project

China

•·         Quickly Review, Assess and Present Multiple Alignment Results

"The Quantm system not only provides technical and scientific basis for the route alignment selection/optimisation, reduces alignment cost and planning time, but also provides a powerful and efficient tool for alignment review, assessment and presentation during the planning and design process."
- Zhejiang Provincial Plan, Design and Research Institute of Communications (ZJIC)

Download Case Study: 150 Kilometer (93.2 mile) Zhejiang Huangqunan Expressway Project

•·         Quick Evaluation and Cost Control

"The application of the Quantm system enables the project team to gain greater depth of information on which to make their recommendations and to be able to present alternatives and the rationale for decisions to stakeholders and the community."
- The Third Railway Survey and Design Institute Group Corporation (TSDI)

Download Case Study: 660 Kilometer (410.1 Mile) Beijing-Shenyang High Speed Rail Project

•·         Rapidly Assess Existing Alignments and Identify Viable New Alignments

"With its unique DTM and optimisation engine, Quantm is capable of handling vast amounts of data efficiently and empowers our engineers to deliver multiple viable alignments with great reduction in bridge and tunnel length. The system also provides us new ideas on station location, environmental protection and land acquisitions along the route."
- The Fifth Railway Survey and Design Institute Group Corporation (T5Y)

Download Case Study: 30 Kilometer (18.6 Mile) Shaoshan-Ganzhou Railway Project