The Salvador-Ilha de Itaparica bridge is part of a new road system that will improve connectivity between Salvador de Bahia and Itaparica Island in Brazil, while fostering regional development and strengthening transportation infrastructure. Sener is performing geotechnical engineering works for the bridge and faced complicated soil and rock conditions, compounded by integrating multisourced geotechnical data that previous software failed to accommodate. To optimize the bridge foundation, Sener needed interoperable geotechnical engineering applications capable of data integration and collaborative modeling and analysis.

Sener selected Leapfrog and PLAXIS to generate accurate 3D geological models and perform simulations of soil-structure interaction. Through advanced modeling and analysis, they gained clear visualization and reliable insight into the ground conditions in approximately 10% to 20% less time, compared to 2D-based models. The accurate geotechnical model is expected to reduce on-site construction changes by 15% and minimize material waste, optimizing foundation design and reducing the project’s carbon footprint.