50% reduction in tunnel downtime through
UX/UI optimization and the creation of a tool for intuitive, visual incident management
01_The problem detected
The complexity of performing tunnel maintenance
impacts time, costs and operational friction
Inspecting the condition of tunnels requires not only on-site visits but also a significant amount of time and effort. Roads cannot be easily closed, which complicates maintenance and increases risks for personnel, ultimately driving up costs.
In this project, I was responsible for the design, conceptualization, and development of the interface using Figma and Unity. I worked closely with programmers, understanding both their requirements and the handling of 3D models.
02_UX Research: meet the user
The first step was to conduct a study on the current maintenance practices and assess the feasibility of several cost-reducing ideas, such as: scanning the tunnels to create a digital twin for further work, modeling a generic tunnel to document incidents, or using 360-degree photos taken from a vehicle to generate a simplified digital twin.
Ultimately, we decided to use a LiDAR camera to create digital twins through point clouds. This type of camera offers high precision and detail when generating point clouds.
The tunnels would only need to be closed for the time required to generate the point clouds (approximately 2–3 hours). Once completed, a detailed review could be conducted in the office using virtual reality, allowing as much time as necessary for thorough analysis.
How to transform physical inspections
into an intuitive digital experience
Once the technology was selected, we began designing a solution tailored to the client’s needs, considering that they were already using a 2D management software for such situations.
The solution would involve creating an application connected to the company’s database, enabling the reporting of incidents in virtual reality on digitally recreated models. By being linked to the company’s database, the information could be accessed by all systems.
This integration ensures incident synchronization and traceability, facilitating the subsequent planning of repairs.
03_Low-fidelity creation (Wireframes)
The wireframes were translated into a virtual reality environment to
validate the product experience
After conducting a feasibility study and initial planning, we proceeded with the conceptualization of each screen. These wireframes were later replicated in VR, allowing us to perform a small viability study and review development problems.
Following user testing with internal company staff, we identified that the primary issue faced was the physical limitations of real-world inspections.
Based on the viability study, we concluded that one of the most critical features would be the ability to move freely, overcoming the movement constraints of the physical world. We decided to grant users the ability to fly within the application, thus eliminating distance limitations and fully leveraging the high-resolution point cloud.
04_App homepage
The homepage is designed for quick access to virtual reality, allowing for fast and efficient consultation during review processes. It also provides access to the tutorial page, where users can refresh their knowledge from the implementation courses.
This virtual reality application is intended to complement the company’s existing programs, enabling on-demand consultations and seamless collaboration between the computer and virtual reality environments.
Additionally, several tutorials and an implementation plan were created to help understand how to use the application.
The app’s controls were designed using intuitive controls, such as triggers for pressing and placing notes in the air.
New work environments UX/UI-centered onboarding to
facilitate employees’ adoption of new digital environments
These new technologies, which are not yet familiar to users, have new security measures, so warnings about the use of the application and usage recommendations were created.
05_Report issues
The process of generating a report for each incident consists of three steps derived from the software systems already implemented within the company.
This approach significantly enhances the understanding of the application, as it follows the same process but utilizes a different device.
First, the incident marker is placed.
Next, the editing window automatically opens, allowing us to fill in details such as text and photos.
The incident is then saved in the system and can be viewed or edited later if needed.
A minimalist menu system was designed and seamlessly integrated into the immersive experience,
positioning it on the user’s left hand to enable quick and natural access
Check how the product helps the company here:
06_The result
As a result, the times that the tunnels are closed have been reduced by 50%, saving costs and decreasing risks for workers thanks to point cloud–based incident management.
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Additionally, incidents have been digitized, making them traceable and editable. This will allow us to generate statistics easily in the future and anticipate potential incidents before they occur through predictive models.
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As a first contact with the company’s virtual reality environment, it opens the door to new collaborations.
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Throughout this project, I had the opportunity to collaborate with specialized 3D developers. Additionally, I gained valuable skills in modeling, texturing, and lighting, which complement my prior experience in this field.
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In the area of interface design, I learned how to conduct user testing effectively, even with limited budgets, and how these tests significantly enhance the usability of the application.
Main techniques in this project:
Figma, Wireframes, High/low fidelity mockups, Developers support, tech studio, viability studio, viability study, Agile, Scrum and design thinking. Design for multi-device app, architecture and work on site
Design for multi-device app, architecture and work on site