Initial question : “Will the studs of the top steel plate of the abutment fit into the current rebar cage of the foundation?”

Using simple photos, thanks to a technique called photogrammetry, (the technique used for projects like Zeebrugge) we managed to create a geo-referenced reconstitution (point cloud and mesh) of the foundation. 

The BIM team then integrated the geo-referenced point cloud immediately into the theoretical REVIT model. This allowed us to superimpose the existing rebars of the foundation with the studs of the top steel plate of the abutment.

The combination of the reconstitution and the theoretical 3D model empowers redesign of this particular spot in preparation of putting the new bridge in place.