AECOM marks first use of groundbreaking PlanEngageTM platform for transportation client in U.S.

AECOM (NYSE:ACM), the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, today announced that it has successfully deployed its PlanEngage^TM platform for a proposed interstate highway, marking the first use of this technology on a transportation project in the U.S. A Digital AECOM product, PlanEngage is an interactive online platform that enhances communication and engagement by presenting highly technical information in an easily accessible and simple-to-use format.

AECOM utilized its digital software solution to create an interactive Final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) Interstate 11 Corridor project. After five years of study, technical analysis, and input from communities and stakeholders, the publication of the Final Tier 1 EIS is an important milestone for the proposed corridor. As part of the interactive format, project components are illustrated graphically, allowing readers to zoom in and out of maps and click through layers of information.

“We’re extremely proud to have deployed this groundbreaking platform for the I-11 EIS, a vital step in realizing the high-capacity transportation corridor that would diversify, support, and connect important metropolitan areas and improve travel efficiency,” said Jennifer Aument, chief executive of AECOM’s global Transportation business. “While approval documents, such as an EIS, are traditionally limited to hard copy or pdf formats that can be complex, large, and not easily navigable, our PlanEngage platform allows anyone to intuitively locate relevant information.”

PlanEngage is designed to streamline the typical paper-based planning process by enabling teams to create, edit, and publish project information into a single interactive platform. This includes photos, visualizations, sound demonstrations, videos, project dashboards, models, and narrative. In addition, PlanEngage has built-in feedback capture and reporting, which supports communication consistency, enhanced collaboration, regulatory compliance, improved accessibility, and social license.

"The interactive EIS was a first for ADOT and the State of Arizona, and it was a huge accomplishment for the I-11 study team,” said Steven Olmsted, ADOT Program Delivery Manager. “It allowed ADOT and FHWA to explore an alternative method for virtual public involvement, while providing tools such as shapefiles and map layers to help the public and agencies fully understand the Final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement document. The success of the interactive EIS and the number of views that it has received has clearly demonstrated its value to ADOT and the necessity to implement this kind of interactive tool for other studies."

Using PlanEngage, AECOM completed the first-ever National Environmental Policy Act-compliant digital EIS in the U.S. on a project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Department of the Treasury. Originally born from the need to improve the traditional environmental impact approval process, PlanEngage has now expanded for use throughout the entire project lifecycle across a wide range of project types.

“PlanEngage offers greater accessibility and transparency for project stakeholders to engage with the planning process,” said Todd Battley, AECOM’s chief strategy officer. “This provides widespread opportunities for stakeholders to understand the project, its impacts, and its potential before it goes ahead, but also throughout its lifecycle, facilitating deeper engagement. We’re proud to continue to lead the industry through this unprecedented period of digital transformation, helping our clients reach a broader audience on complex projects.”

Digital AECOM brings together the company’s global digital-focused consulting services, hosted services products to help clients accelerate their digital journeys and achieve better project outcomes, and digital tools to enhance its delivery of core engineering and design services. The branded offer leverages the strengths of the firm’s more than 2,000 integrated digital practitioners globally and proven AECOM technology to connect data, projects, and communities. Digital AECOM is a key enabler of the company’s Sustainable Legacies strategy and demonstrates for clients that progress is possible to deliver a better world.

About AECOM

AECOM (NYSE: ACM) is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy, and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical expertise and innovation, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $13.3 billion in fiscal year 2021. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

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