Case Study: HDR saves time and improves subsurface communication with Seequent

How 3D visualisation saved time and improved communication for the Scoggins Dam Project

HDR, working on the Scoggins Dam Project for Clean Water Services and the Bureau of Reclamation, needed a better way to understand and communicate complex subsurface conditions for a proposed new RCC dam near Gaston, Oregon. With only 20 borings across a large site and little outcrop to confirm the geology, HDR faced challenges explaining variable bedding orientations, a marker bed, landslide risk, and the possibility of faults.

To address this, HDR used Seequent’s Leapfrog Works to build a 3D subsurface model, test geological scenarios, and share the results more clearly with stakeholders. Seequent helped HDR reduce model setup time from weeks in Civil 3D to days, improve error checking and collaboration, and present geologic risks more effectively through 3D visualization, supporting faster decision-making and better communication.

HDR

Andrew Little

Geotechnical Engineer