The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has won an international award for the development of a complex three-dimensional computer model of the North Myrtle Beach Connector project.  

SCDOT used computer software called MicroStation V8 to produce visualizations for display at public meetings in Horry County. Virtual tours of the model helped communicate proposals for sound walls, placement of sign bridges and landscaping. Rendered stills and flyover animations explained key details that otherwise would have been difficult to communicate.   

The visualization was created by SCDOT employee Steve Meetze, of the Office of Planning, with assistance from employees Eric Stuckey and Todd Anderson. 

“I am proud of our employees whose hard work led to this prestigious recognition,” said SCDOT Executive Director Elizabeth S. Mabry. “It is excellent to see new technologies being tapped to better inform the public of new highway projects in their communities.” 

When completed, the North Myrtle Beach Connector will establish a gateway over the Intracoastal Waterway into the North Myrtle beach community to ease congestion and expand commerce possibilities.  

This international award was presented by Bentley Systems (the developers of Microstation), and SCDOT was among 224 nominations for this year’s ceremony.  There were eight nominees that were selected for the category, “Civil: Visualization,” including other DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, consultants and a nominee from Quebec. 

The BE Awards of Excellence honor the extraordinary work of Bentley users improving the world’s infrastructure.  

“SCDOT was commended on several occasions for the realism of the renditions, and for elaborately involving the public in the decision process,” Meetze said. “Because of the overwhelming response and contribution to the success of this project, visualizations have become a standard part of all major or controversial projects at SCDOT.”

For more information, visit www.be.org.