Before cutting metal, the ship was to be conceptualized, designed, constructed, tested, trained, and operated within a computer as part of the LPD 17 Integrated Data Environment (IDE). By simulating shipboard operations, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps were able to guarantee that the LPD 17 would fulfill mission requirements and prevent expensive modifications after delivery. Additionally, it eliminated "trial and error" prototyping and production by allowing the shipbuilder to validate and optimize the production process prior to construction.

Consequently, the program achieved its goals of lowering total ownership costs and implementing design for ownership. The technical leadership required by the Navy to envision, design, develop, and maintain the first ship acquisition IDE was supplied by Hexagon US Federal.