About the Project
At Nashville International Airport (BNA), Hensel Phelps is advancing the next generation of aviation construction through the integration of Track3D, an AI-powered construction tracking and coordination platform. Track3D has redefined how complex airport infrastructure is documented, tracked and delivered. By combining 360° imagery, LiDAR, and AI, the platform enables precise progress tracking, improved collaboration, and greater transparency for stakeholders.
Delivered by the Hensel Phelps and Fentress Architects Progressive Design-Build Team as part of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority’s (MNAA), $3 billion New Horizon capital improvement program, the $229 million, 190,000 SF Concourse D Extension expands BNA’s operational capacity while elevating the passenger experience. The extension adds five gates, expanded concessions and retail, new restrooms, airline support areas, and passenger hold rooms. Signature features include a moving walkway, large-scale art installations, striking “record node” rotunda and BNA’s first outdoor terrace with panoramic airfield and downtown views.
Scheduled to open in July 2028, the new Concourse A will be BNA’s largest concourse, featuring 16 gates, two moving walkways, indoor and outdoor passenger spaces, and expanded concession that showcase Music City’s local culture. This project includes the full demolition and reconstruction of Concourse A, a landside extension of the North Ticketing and North Baggage Claim as well as an airside apron expansion for dual Aircraft Design Group (ADG) III taxi lanes. The project also includes new and remodeled passenger boarding bridges and selective demolition/upgrades in existing Concourses C and B to enable airline and tenant relocations. Additional scope includes renovations of the North Terminal Wing’s baggage claim and ticketing areas, extension of the existing utility tunnel, a new North CUP and cooling tower facility, expanded landside surface parking, and an airside triturator.
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“The Hensel Phelps Midsouth team has shown great attention in utilizing Track3D to its fullest. By definition, Track3D is a Computer Vision AI technology that produces physical construction progress data from reality captures. The real impact we’ve seen comes from how teams use our data on their projects. The MidSouth region is pushing the boundaries of what insights and actions can be drawn from our platform, as well as painting the picture of where Track3D is headed. They are partners in the truest sense.”
– TIM ROBERTS, CUSTOMER SEUCCESS MANAGER | TRACK3D
Challenge
On large aviation projects, verifying installed quantities for billing and progress tracking can be like aiming at a moving target. Because construction continues throughout each billing cycle, teams often struggle to confirm exactly how much work has been completed at a given moment. This uncertainty can lead to disagreements among stakeholders and time-consuming manual field walks to progress, overall creating an inefficient process that risks delays and increasing costs.
Solution
To streamline verification and reduce rework, Hensel Phelps implemented Track3D, which integrates 360° photography, drone imagery, and LiDAR scans within an AI-powered reality intelligence platform. This platform centralizes all captured information and provides real-time, actionable insights into project progress, deviations, and performance.
Leveraging iPhone LiDAR and 360 phone capture, teams could locate, identify and track installed materials directly on project drawings, in turn merging field data with visual documentation. The system’s AI analyzed progress, detected deviations and produced real-time metrics for material quantities and equipment placement.
To increase accuracy, the team trained Track3D’s AI to recognize specialized wall finishes, including the large-format tiles and green glass unique to the Nashville airport design. This enhanced customization improved reporting precision and reduced the need for manual verification. Reviewing captured information provided an added benefit: identifying installation deviations from the coordination model, providing early insights for quality control and reduced costly rework.
Results
By implementing the Smart 360° photography process with Track3D, the project team streamlined material verification and eliminate the inefficiencies of repeated field walks. The integration of 360° photos, LiDAR, and AI-driven analysis provided accurate, real-time tracking of installed quantities, ensuring billing matched actual progress.
This innovation improved trust and accountability among stakeholders while strengthening financial and construction management processes. Enhanced AI recognition of finishes improved reporting accuracy, while automated deviation detection supported proactive quality control.
Overall, Track3D’s Smart 360° photography process increased efficiency, reduced disputes, and delivered consistent documentation all contributing to Hensel Phelps’ record of completing every phase on time, under budge, and to LEED Silver standards.
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