Summer Cruising on One of the World’s First Roads

Summer Vibes, Cools Cars, and the Open Road

Picture this: It’s summer time. The sun is shining, a warm breeze is blowing and the carefree vibe of summer has taken hold. So, what do you decide to do? If you’re someone who likes classic cars or hot rods, then you go cruising. A favorite pastime for many, seldom do people ever give a second thought on how that road came about. Take it a step further, and let’s talk about the first concrete stretch of highway; the kind that lets you cruise or maybe do a burnout when nobody is looking.  Have you ever wondered when it all began?

The First Mile of Concrete Highway

Woodward Avenue in Detroit is indeed widely recognized as having the first mile of concrete highway in the world. This seems like a natural fit for a town referred to as the “Motor City,” doesn’t it? According to Michigan Advance magazine,  on April 20, 1909, “Woodward Avenue in Detroit made history when it became a paved road. The Woodward Avenue road construction came at a time when several streets in Detroit were lined with brick pavers, with wood, ground granite, asphalt, dirt or clay sometimes used.” Over the years, it has been described as the world’s first concrete highway.

Where is Road Construction Today?

With pre-concrete materials and plans on paper long gone, modern times construction of any kind starts with the continued advancements of the digital age. Several challenges must be addressed to optimize team operations for continuous improvement in construction. DELMIA solutions, along with the creation of virtual twins of road projects, allow for detailed planning, simulation, and collaboration.

For example, DELMIA solutions for Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) help optimize construction processes, supply chain management, and project scheduling. Real-time data equips stakeholders with the support and insights to make the right planning decisions. Workers in the construction industry know that new materials and methods are constantly being introduced and often changing building codes and regulations add to the mix.

Paving the Way to Modern Roads

Road construction factors also include the overall scope of project work, the number of workers, possibly numerous suppliers, contractors and trades that all need to be planned and coordinated precisely to ensure continuity of work and to avoid delays. These operations and teams work regardless of the elements and often in hazardous environments and under pressure to reduce cost and time.

The safety of site workers also needs to be considered. Team safety comes a view of real-time activities and construction methods taking place throughout the lifecycle of projects. Understanding how to mitigate the risk of physical labor as well as the use of heavy machinery and materials is critical.

The challenge is that workers often need help to ensure the information is received and understood properly. An ideal solution is to provide a collaborative environment where information can be visualized and workers are engaged, so that their feedback and comments can be captured and put into practice. This is far better than traditional presentations and documents shared by email.

Taking the Virtual Twin Experience Route

Powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform, the Virtual Twin Experience enables construction companies to plan right down to the smallest details so they can minimize errors as well as material and operational waste. This level of planning and execution maximizes productivity while creating safe work conditions and operations with minimal environmental impact. How does it work? By leveraging the virtual world to extend and improve the real world, the Virtual Twin Experience provides capabilities for construction companies to model, collaborate and optimize processes and operations so that they can perform flawlessly.

For road construction, this translates to creating virtual twins of road infrastructure projects, enabling stakeholders to visualize the project in 3D and simulate various scenarios. This approach transforms the entire construction value chain with integration-ready modules and drives efficient construction.

Fueling the Passion for Cruising

Nothing fuels a passion for cruising more than a nice, smooth road. Once road construction is complete, many enthusiasts will gear up for a road trip. No surprise, Woodward Avenue is still today a favorite among drivers.

From its cruising and drag racing heydays in the 1950s and ‘60s to driving along today, Woodward Avenue doesn’t disappoint. In fact, this is obvious during the third weekend in August as millions gather for an annual cruising event. It’s North America’s largest one-day automotive celebration, draws over a million spectators and 40,000 classic cars from around the globe.

What else would you expect from a road that made history?