In preparing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high speed railway is being constructed to reduce travel time between the two cities from three hours to 50 minutes. The full length of the main line is approximately 170 kilometers, consisting of 71 subgrade sections, 64 bridges, 10 tunnels, and 10 stations, including China’s largest underground excavation station. China Railway Engineering Consulting Group Co., Ltd. is responsible for preliminary and detailed design and construction drawings. With 23 disciplines working on the CNY 53.5 billion project amid complex environmental conditions, the company implemented a collaborative BIM strategy to create its deliverables. Upon completion, the railway will become the world’s first high-speed train with a design speed of 350 kilometers per hour.

The project team used MicroStation, PowerCivil, and AECOsim Building Designer for collaborative design, model review, collision detection, and construction simulation, with ProjectWise providing the connected data environment for accessing and sharing information. China Railway used MicroStation and AECOsim Building Designer to establish a full component library and to perform parametric modeling, which accelerated the design process. The image rendering capabilities of LumenRT facilitated railway landscape design and enhanced client communication. ProjectWise and Bentley’s integrated BIM applications streamlined workflows, reduced rework, and improved efficiencies to save three months in design time and CNY 3 million in labor costs.

Infraero – Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuária, one of the three largest airport operators in the world, sought to virtualize Governador Jose Richa Airport (SBLO) in Londrina, which covers 727,000 square meters and transports 2.6 million passengers annually. This digital airport pilot project was initiated to create a central repository for infrastructure maps, building systems, and facilities management data. The BRL 330,000 project is the first of its kind in Brazil to be developed with a BIM methodology, and Infraero will reference this model when virtualizing its other 53 airports.

The interoperability of Bentley’s technology allowed the project team to model the entire airport facility via point cloud data. All files were rapidly processed with Bentley software, despite their large size. AECOsim Building Designer modeled the existing buildings, and it assisted in designing and organizing airport facility libraries. OpenRoads created the geometric project and runway system surfaces map. In addition to providing immediate access to current asset information throughout the lifecycle of the airport’s assets, having a single source of truth encourages cross-collaboration throughout the company. Asset performance modeling and information management benefit commercial, operations, maintenance, and engineering departments and is anticipated to save Infraero BRL 540,000 annually.

Hundreds of bridges in Seoul are aging and deteriorating, having almost reached the end of their design life. The South Korean government recognized the demand to establish a proactive bridge maintenance system for more reliable infrastructure operation and management. To determine a cost-effective solution for preventive maintenance, the government initiated a KRW 30 million bridge modeling project. Given the limitations of traditional modeling methodologies, the project team created a digital asset model to help with the detailed analysis and data exchange necessary for accurate design and prediction of the bridge structure’s future state.

To generate this hybrid engineering model, the project team developed a collaborative 3D BIM model and reality mesh using Bentley’s modeling and analysis applications. Using OpenBridge Modeler, the team created a parametric digital model of the bridge and exported it to RM Bridge for structural analysis. ContextCapture provided the necessary reality modeling capabilities to verify the design model and present the current condition of the damaged structure. The flexibility and interoperability of Bentley software facilitated real-time collaboration to optimize design accuracy while significantly reducing modeling time. These capabilities also enabled the integration of BIM processes and reality meshes to create the digital asset model.

The Lipu-Yulin Expressway runs through Guilin, Guigang, and Yulin in the Guangxi province, with a main roadway spanning 263.1 kilometers in length. Guangxi Communications Design Group Co. (Guangxi) is responsible for design, coordination, and construction management. Located among mountainous areas, the CNY 23.06 billion lengthy roadway project featured technically complex structures, involved numerous engineering disciplines, and required a large amount of land requisition and demolition amid geological and geographical site constraints. Guangxi implemented a collaborative BIM approach using Bentley’s integrated modeling, analysis, and project management applications.

The team used ContextCapture to create 3D reality meshes and conduct spatial analysis for site planning, saving CNY 300,000 in survey and mapping costs, and achieving 95 percent space utilization. Using OpenRoads optimized modeling of the highway elements and Navigator facilitated collision detection to identify and solve issues in advance. MicroStation improved construction accuracy, reduced material loss, and served as the construction management platform. Working in a connected data environment using ProjectWise enabled seamless information sharing and reduced communication and collaboration costs by CNY 400,000, while Bentley’s civil transportation technology avoided wasted land resources. Overall, Bentley’s BIM solutions saved 10 percent in design and construction management resources and reduced time-related costs by 30 percent. The software significantly improved construction quality and provided a solid foundation for timely completion.

The Thames Tideway Tunnels will alleviate pollution from the London sewage system into the River Thames during heavy rainfall, reducing the number of sewage discharge events from approximately 50 to four, annually. The GBP 4 billion project involves constructing a 25-kilometer tunnel, and has been divided into East, Central, and West contracts. AECOM is responsible for multidiscipline design and engineering and handover of construction models and drawings to the client for the Central contract. The team used an integrated portfolio of Bentley applications to meet these deliverables and address the environmental challenges and site constraints.

AECOM used AECOsim Building Designer for all modeling and MicroStation for drawing production. With Navigator, the team performed clash detection and design reviews, while ContextCapture was used to generate a reality mesh for specific sites to highlight difficult areas related to the river wall. Working in a connected data environment using ProjectWise, more than 1,100 users and in excess of 40 stakeholders shared and stored more than 140,000 documents, more than 4,500 drawings, and over 1,500 models. ProjectWise provided the vital single source of truth, optimizing collaboration, and integrated it with Bentley’s modeling applications, allowing the project to be constructed virtually to identify potential issues prior to on-site construction, eliminating delays, and to pinpoint cost overruns during the construction stage.

The Cha’anling-Xiaojiazhou 220-kilovolt transmission line will connect the Cha’anling substation with the newly built Xiaojiazhou substation, providing power for the new substation. The line corridor is in an urban area amid complex terrain and a densely populated environment, limiting the line route. POWERCHINA Hubei Electric Engineering Corporation Limited implemented a 3D collaborative, digital design approach to deliver the CNY 33.2 million project. Upon completion, the transmission line will improve the structure of the power grid in Xianning District, enhancing reliable power supply and the quality of electricity.

The project team used AECOsim Building Designer and MicroStation for 3D modeling of the towers, electric power fittings, and insulator strings, and imported the models into STAAD for stress analysis under extreme weather conditions to ensure optimal conductivity. Using aerial drones and ContextCapture to generate reality meshes of the four areas routing the transmission line saved two days of on-site reviews and prevented the demolition of six houses. Bentley’s integrated 3D BIM and reality modeling solution enabled the team to reduce the line length by 0.5 kilometers and save CNY 6.2 million.

Nagpur Metro is a USD 1.3 billion urban mass transit project to bring sustainable, efficient, environmentally-friendly transportation infrastructure to Nagpur, India. Upon completion, the railway will be 41.7 kilometers in length and include 40 stations and two depots. As part of its 5D BIM digital project management platform, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha-Metro) developed an Asset Information Management System to combine engineering and maintenance information and 3D models from disparate systems into a synchronized environment for an asset-centric approach that covers the entire lifecycle of the railway.

The team used AssetWise as the system’s foundation and configured the software to tag and register assets, establish a common naming convention, and extend permissions to authorized users upon full operation of the railway. The interoperability of AssetWise enabled seamless data exchange with Nagpur’s CMMS for effective workflow management. Using iModels offered longevity and open access to the 3D models without any data loss. Using the Asset Information System will extend asset life, increase productivity, improve decision making, and optimize operational performance, saving an estimated USD 222 million over 25 years.

As part of a coordinated development plan, Zhong-Guan-Cun will integrate the resources of Beijing, Tianjin, and Zhong-Guan-Cun to build a science and technology city. The CNY 2.2 billion project includes the design and construction of roads, utility pipelines, a 174,000-square-meter park, and green roadsides spanning 477,000 square meters. Given the large geographic span, wide construction area, and tight construction timeline, the overall project consultant CCCC Water Transportation Consultants Co., Ltd. implemented a collaborative BIM process to coordinate the many engineering disciplines to deliver the new digital city.

Using Bentley’s integrated BIM applications, the team generated a comprehensive 3D model of the entire city. CCCC identified and remedied more than 200 collision points, optimizing design and reducing costly rework. Performing construction simulation facilitated construction management, shortening the construction period by 64 days to save CNY 6.6 million in costs. ProjectWise provided the connected data environment to streamline workflows and improve design efficiency. By integrating ContextCapture to generate a reality mesh from UAV terrain data collected on-site, the team facilitated earthworks planning and saved approximately CNY 40 million.

Shell Polymers is constructing a multi-billion-dollar, world-scale ethane cracking plant to create polyethylene in the western Pennsylvania region. To help monitor and manage construction of the facility, the organization used unmanned aerial vehicles to capture real-time, accurate data of the entire site and the surrounding areas, close to 500 acres, and processed the data into a high-resolution orthophoto and 3D reality mesh. The 3D data provided a strategic perspective of the existing site condition and served as a single source of truth for both lookahead and retrospective progress analysis, optimizing collaboration and decision making between the client and EPC contractors, with over 500 multidiscipline end users across 10 companies.

On a weekly basis, the project team captured more than 8,000 images and processed the images as 2D and 3D deliverables within the required 72-hour window using ContextCapture. The high-speed processing engines of ContextCapture produced a dimensionally accurate 3D reality mesh, enabling the identification and resolution of potential construction problems before they impact operations on site. The 3D reality mesh models are expected to facilitate inventory control and improve emergency response management.

The IDR 1.3 trillion Teluk Lamong flyover bridge project is part of the National Strategic Program mandated by the Indonesian government to reduce severe traffic congestion along the road to and from Lamong Bay Terminal in Surabaya, East Java. The 2.4-kilometer-long bridge connects the terminal with the Gresik-Surabaya toll via the Outer West Wing. A unique bridge design with elevated, curved contours was required to accommodate three major crossing points and avoid religious relics and ancestral tombs. PT. WIJAYA KARYA (WIKA) was the main contractor, providing detailed engineering design and construction. To overcome the site constraints and meet a one-year project deadline, WIKA implemented a collaborative BIM strategy to deliver a piece of infrastructure that will further enhance economic growth in Surabaya and East Java.

The project team used OpenBridge Modeler and AECOsim Building Designer to build intelligent 3D models and automate bills of quantity, reducing overall design time by 80 percent. WIKA created an immersive reality mesh to optimize design strategy and accelerate construction using ContextCapture and LumenRT. ProjectWise and Navigator Mobile improved project coordination and accelerated information sharing. The team optimized collaboration and facilitated clash detection to save approximately IDR 5 billion in project costs by working in a connected data environment with Bentley’s integrated BIM technology.

The USD 27.5 million Sueo-chon bridge project is part of a new 7.8-kilometer bypass connecting Jungkun and Jinjeong in Gwangyang, South Korea. A prestressed concrete box girder bridge, the main bridge spans 745.8 meters over a tidal river. GS E&C Corporation was retained as the main contractor to provide design review and construction services. Faced with revising the original bridge design and obtaining approval from the client and stakeholders amid a tight construction schedule, the project team implemented a 3D BIM and structural analysis solution and piloted its integrated engineering platform concept using Bentley technology.

GS E&C Corporation reviewed and analyzed the original design using RM Bridge, OpenBridge Modeler, and MicroStation, visually demonstrating its flawed structural integrity to the owner. Despite the short schedule, the project team performed an efficient review of design alternatives and provided a timely, economical redesign. Bentley applications saved USD 2.3 million in costs and resolved 245 potential clashes, shortening the construction schedule by 14.5 days. Working in ProjectWise’s real-time, collaborative modeling environment streamlined workflows and reduced errors. Navigator and MicroStation enhanced communication and understanding through 3D modeling and visualization of the new bridge design proposal.

As part of a new railway project initiated by the Indian Railways, the Chenab Bridge will improve connectivity in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The USD 184 million bridge will be the world’s highest rail arch bridge, at 359 meters above the riverbed with an arch span of 467 meters. Located amid rugged and mountainous terrain in a highly active seismic zone, the project presented numerous geological and alignment challenges affecting design and constructability.

Indian Railways used OpenRail Designer to accommodate the transition from a straight to curved bridge rail alignment. RM Bridge and STAAD helped with the structural behavior and analysis during the planning stages, while ContextCapture helped with construction planning, monitoring, and interim surveys and inspections. Using unmanned aerial vehicles to survey the site and generate a reality mesh with ContextCapture identified potential issues, managed site progress, and conducted construction inspections safely and efficiently. Using drones and reality modeling saved 225 resource days compared to traditional survey methods, resulting in a USD 40,000 cost savings. These strategies also reduced construction inspection time by 80 percent to save more than USD 100,000.

Summary to be released in the 2018 Infrastructure Yearbook.

As the lead architect for the Regional Connector Transit Corridor (RCTC) project, Anil Verma Associates, Inc. (AVA) assisted with the civil engineering on the design of three underground railway stations in downtown Los Angeles for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA). The USD 1.7 billion building design project is a continuation of the Long Beach – Los Angeles Blue Line Transit System, expected to be completed by 2022. The organization’s challenge was to design all three underground stations in a way that works seamlessly with the infrastructure of the surrounding neighborhoods.

AVA provided real-time visualization of the entire facility and immediate area throughout the planning and design phases of the project. The interoperability of Bentley applications enabled the project team to view composite 3D models created from MicroStation and AECOsim Building Designer. AVA used ProjectWise to facilitate collaboration among the various engineers, designers, and contractors included in the Regional Connector Constructor Joint Venture. ProjectWise served as the single project database where clash detection and visualization took place. The application’s ability to quickly track information and reference files reduced travel time and cost, saving approximately USD 6 million in labor costs over the project’s lifecycle. As a result, the project is on schedule and under budget.

The Gwalior Railway Station sits in front of a historic fort near its namesake medieval city in central India. The Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Ltd. (IRSDC) hired Voyants Solutions Private Limited to develop the Gwalior Railway Station as a transportation hub and to enhance passenger-related amenities at stations. The USD 61.23 million railway redevelopment project is very challenging because all stations are currently in operation, located in highly congested urban areas, and the platforms cannot be closed during construction. Additionally, the railway track alignments are fixed and cannot be changed, and existing utilities, cables, and high-tension lines pose stringent design limitations.

To overcome these challenges, the project team used STAAD.Pro for structural design modeling and extracting reinforcement details. This application aided in design development by making best use of the limited space and time available to construct the columns and foundations on existing platforms. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) drawings were generated in MicroStation, and the team created a virtual model in AECOsim Building Designer. MicroStation’s 3D modeling capabilities enhanced collaboration among the many professionals that simultaneously worked on the multi-discipline project. The interoperability of Bentley applications simplified design modifications and analysis. By utilizing Bentley software, the team’s return on investment was more than five times the project cost.

iForte Solusi Infotek is one of the fastest growing fiber optic network operators in Indonesia, serving customers on the populous Java Island and other networks throughout the country. The organization planned to optimize design modeling to improve sales numbers. iForte sought to develop fiber optic management systems to aid in all lifecycle stages, from planning to operation and maintenance on this USD 230,000 project. These new systems will be designed to offer information to iForte’s sales division.

iForte chose Bentley channel partner FKA Global to set up Bentley Communications, which will help iForte make better business decisions. FKA Global installed and configured Bentley Communications into the server, and the organization migrated all existing data into the application. Prior to installing this application, sales team members were spending over an hour on the phone with iForte to find out if they could satisfy their clients’ requirements. With Bentley Communications, the sales team can log into Geo Web Publisher to view all the networks in under six minutes to determine if requirements can be met. Using Bentley applications, iForte saved 90 percent of time on tasks, and the organization says this platform will significantly increase sales numbers in the future. The organization intends to extend the implementation to all its sales force, and to add workflow for sales teams to book directly in the web portal, adding even more value.

PT. Linknet, the largest internet service provider in Indonesia, relied on manual data to locate internet service outages, a process that took days. Therefore, the company launched a USD 500,000 project to improve how the company detects outage locations by enhancing its management system. The Indonesian technology service provider chose Bentley Communications as the platform to speed up the search process of locating an internet service outage.

Bentley Communications created a collaborative working environment within the organization, which increased productivity, and efficacy, and enhanced the internal organization’s response to their customers’ issues. Bentley Fiber found outages quickly and accurately. Once located, MicroStation and Bentley Fiber produced data that can be viewed by the operations and maintenance teams, as well as third-party contractors. Since using Bentley Communications in operation and maintenance, customer downtime decreased and satisfaction increased. Previously, customer downtime could be as much as 10 days, but using Bentley applications reduced downtime to a maximum of two days per year. Consumer confidence in Linknet products has increased because of the beneficial results of using Bentley applications.

Telstra, Australia’s leading telecommunications service provider, wanted to evaluate reality modeling applications’ precision to determine if a portfolio-wide rollout of this technology would be economically beneficial. Creating a 3D reality mesh of communication towers is challenging because it requires specific camera settings, flight plans, and an expertise in photogrammetry. The telecommunications company hired SiteSee to create condition and as-built assessment reports on its assets by using machine learning and object recognition technology on reality meshes.

SiteSee used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to capture the images and used cloud-based processing to manage the data on this AUD 66,000 project. Then, SiteSee utilized ContextCapture to generate highly accurate reality meshes. ContextCapture provided the technological foundation for premium, web-accessible 3D models. SiteSee’s subsequent, as-built reports enhanced transparency and precision at a cost 25 percent less than a standard inspection. Telstra can now access updated, as-built information to make more informed decisions, which has reduced site visits and tower climbs by 60 percent. SiteSee’s web accessible solution achieved a 98 percent object recognition accuracy of all installed equipment, as well as identifying damaged equipment, which improved customer return-to-service. The solution has been used on more than 60 projects across multiple verticals, because of this project.

The Pustynnoe Gold Plant in the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan required renovation to increase plant capacity and accommodate changes in the metallurgy process. AA Engineering Group, LLP was awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract after demonstrating that they could meet the strict requirements imposed by the owner to accommodate its current digital enterprise management system, minimize plant production interference, and reduce utility consumption. The company utilized a set of Bentley engineering applications, beginning with the tender through front-end engineering, detailed design, and construction.

The team modeled the plant layout, equipment, and piping using Bentley’s civil design and analysis capabilities and used AECOsim Building Designer as the platform for model assembly. Reality modeling in ContextCapture and visualization of installation and construction work packages in Navigator facilitated construction management. Working in ProjectWise’s connected data environment streamlined workflows throughout the project’s lifecycle. Bentley’s integrated technology reduced rework, diminished plant interference, and generated accurate bills of quantity, saving costs. Facility handover occurred two months ahead of schedule, providing the client with an additional USD 2 million profit and full lifecycle asset management capabilities.

A new bridge over the Richmond River was built as part of the Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade in South Wales, Australia. Lendlease Engineering was contracted to design and construct the 1-kilometer-long, 35-meter-wide bridge, supported by 25 piers. The AUD 520 million project required that the bridge be designed as a visual landmark and built within a restrictive time frame. To optimize design and meet the shortened construction period, Lendlease implemented a collaborative 3D BIM and 4D construction management strategy.

Deploying Bentley’s integrated modeling technology optimized the conceptual design process, resulting in the innovative solution to construct a wide bridge with a single precast headstock shell, the first of its kind in Australia. Using a single precast headstock shell during construction eliminated most of the temporary construction works and 20,000 hours of manual labor. The precast unit was completed in three days, compared to three weeks to finish a headstock. Reality modeling and visualization applications facilitated 4D construction sequencing while ProjectWise provided a connected data environment to serve as a single source of truth.

The main channel road of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is part of a CNY 16.8 billion marine infrastructure project in China’s eastern city of Zhoushan to improve transportation and promote rapid development of the regional economy. Tianjin Tianhe-Cloud Building Engineering Technology is responsible for BIM implementation and China State Construction Bridge is responsible for construction. Faced with structural and technical complexities and a large amount of construction materials amid extreme weather conditions and site constraints, the organizations jointly carried out a collaborative 3D BIM design and construction management strategy.

The teams used AECOsim Building Designer, MicroStation, and Bentley’s civil and structural design and analysis applications to establish a 3D model, which identified and resolved 120 drawing problems and 624 collisions prior to construction. Using Navigator and MOSES for construction simulation optimized the construction plan, saving nearly CNY 5 million and accelerating construction progress by 10 percent. Reality modeling technology was used for construction verification to ensure accuracy. Bentley’s integrated BIM solutions drove intelligent construction, improving design reliability, reducing safety risks, and enhancing construction quality and efficiency.

As part of a CNY 9.9 billion initiative, the rapid transportation system project in the Wujiatang district of Kunming spans 20 square kilometers and will stimulate the economic development of the city and the region. The project consists of 23 roads, bridges, tunnels, and urban underground pipe corridors. Yunnan Yunling Engineering Cost Consultation is the lead BIM strategy consultant, responsible for managing the complex contract system and data sharing among many engineering and construction disciplines. The project team needed to ensure that project investment and financing, design, construction, and maintenance processes meet owner requirements.

The team used Bentley’s modeling and visualization applications to design the hydro-junction, quickly building the 3D model and providing access for all designers. ProjectWise’s platform managed the various file content and allowed each participant to work collaboratively through a secure access mechanism. Using Bentley applications increased design efficiency by 50 to 60 percent. The owner plans to apply the 3D standardized designs for 10 future construction projects, saving an estimated CNY 15 million and thousands of resource days per year for each project.

As part of its vision of becoming a digital city, the city of Rotterdam retained Avineon India Pvt. Ltd. to develop a textured 3D model of its buildings and assets. The project required the team to model Rotterdam’s 205,000 buildings and six landmark bridges to fit within the large-scale base map of the city in a CityGML 2.0 format. To create the 3D model, the team needed to incorporate large amounts of LiDAR point cloud data and integrate data from various sources while maintaining geometrical, topological, semantic, and appearance attributes. The virtual 3D model will be valuable for urban planning and improve residents’ quality of life.

Avineon used MicroStation to create the 3D building and bridge models from LiDAR point clouds and building footprints. Capable of handling large LiDAR point cloud data, MicroStation automated both the model extraction and attribute export to an open data model. The interoperability of MicroStation enabled the team to seamlessly load, capture, and process the data acquired from different sources. Team members could then quickly, accurately, and economically deliver the data in compliance with CityGML format. Compared to traditional survey techniques, MicroStation saved significant time and costs on creating the 3D models.

As part of a coordinated development plan, Zhong-Guan-Cun will integrate the resources of Beijing, Tianjin, and Zhong-Guan-Cun to build a science and technology city. The CNY 2.2 billion project includes the design and construction of roads, utility pipelines, a 174,000-square-meter park, and green roadsides spanning 477,000 square meters. Given the large geographic span, wide construction area, and tight construction timeline, the overall project consultant CCCC Water Transportation Consultants Co., Ltd. implemented a collaborative BIM process to coordinate the many engineering disciplines to deliver the new digital city.

Using Bentley’s integrated BIM applications, the team generated a comprehensive 3D model of the entire city. CCCC identified and remedied more than 200 collision points, optimizing design and reducing costly rework. Performing construction simulation facilitated construction management, shortening the construction period by 64 days to save CNY 6.6 million in costs. ProjectWise provided the connected data environment to streamline workflows and improve design efficiency. By integrating ContextCapture to generate a reality mesh from UAV terrain data collected on-site, the team facilitated earthworks planning and saved approximately CNY 40 million.

Two months before the annual Indonesian Homecoming Festival in West Java, a catastrophic landslide affected the main road between Bogor and Cianjur, worsening the already terrible traffic situation. The Ministry of Public Works retained PT. WIJAYA KARYA to provide an effective feasibility study while performing preventive measures on the site. The estimated IDR 50 billion project was given a strict, tight deadline of five months because the road is a main thoroughfare and traffic must move continuously.

The project team implemented a BIM process using Bentley applications to meet the many site challenges. WIJAYA KARYA properly investigated the site and captured images to make a digital terrain model with ContextCapture. The organization used OpenRoads and AECOsim Building Designer to quickly design the site, corridor, and necessary ancillary structures, while receiving automatic values for concrete volumes. This accurate quantification saved the team up to 20 percent in construction costs. ProjectWise made it easy to share information, streamlining the process and reducing the project design time by up to 20 percent. With this new BIM process, WIJAYA KARYA expects to increase the amount of infrastructure projects by up to 50 percent by 2020.

An important part of the Yangtze Economic Belt along China’s Yangtze River, the Jiangxi province is the site of the Bazizui Navigation-Power Junction project. This more than CNY 4 million project is a comprehensive utilization design for shipping and power generation, with an installed capacity of 12.6 megawatts. China Water Resources Pearl River Planning Surveying & Designing created the preliminary design and construction drawings for this hydro-junction project. The team needed a refined 3D model design while considering many environmental aspects, such as a fish pass to protect the aquatic habitats and ensure their survival.

The team used Bentley’s modeling and visualization applications to design the hydro-junction, quickly building the 3D model and providing access for all designers. ProjectWise’s platform managed the various file content and allowed each participant to work collaboratively through a secure access mechanism. Using Bentley applications increased design efficiency by 50 to 60 percent. The owner plans to apply the 3D standardized designs for 10 future construction projects, saving an estimated CNY 15 million and thousands of resource days per year for each project.

The Paris metro railway is planning to extend its line 11. Setec – Terrasol was responsible for designing two secondary access points at the existing Mairie des Lilas station along the railway line. The EUR 15 million project includes establishing geological, geotechnical, and hydrogeological models; designing the two secondary access points; anticipating site settling; and estimating the movement and constraints of the existing underground structures. Setec – Terrasol helped develop 3D geotechnical models to study the complexity of the soil and how the complex geometry of the structures would interact with it.

The project team used Plaxis to create a geotechnical model capable of simulating the behavior of the different soil layers. The team then created two 3D numerical models, one for each access point, to correctly model the existing structures’ geometry and to see how they interact with the soil. Plaxis helped the team quickly and precisely identify buildings that are expected to undergo settlement faster, compared with 2D calculations. The application improved the project’s reliability and security while reducing the project cost. Construction work on the two access points began in late 2017 and, by using Plaxis for the geotechnical model, the station is planned to be completed in 2020.

In January 2018, consulting company Digital Engineering (BIM) Center of Shenyang Aluminum & Magnesium Engineering & Research Institute Co., Ltd. completed a full-site digital information model. Covering an area of 55 hectares, this USD 4.3 billion project included production of a thermal power plant and gas house zone, auxiliary production zone, water treatment zone, off-site storage yard, living areas, and 60 sub-projects. Working with more than 15 divisions and 120 staff on project teams, Digital Engineering (BIM) Center of Shenyang Aluminum & Magnesium Engineering & Research Institute introduced a full 3D digital collaborative design technology, a first for the Chinese aluminum industry.

The project team used ProjectWise to build the project management platform, prepare a standardized structure for documents, and establish 1,000 work catalogs and 30,000 documents. A 3D collaborative design management system was created with AECOsim Building Designer and OpenPlant to facilitate effective collaboration among the multi-discipline team. OpenPlant also helped build a precise digital model. The project team saved nearly 5,000 resource hours and increased drawing and report accuracy to ±3.

Located in the northern part of Sabah, Kudat will soon become a renewable energy hub for the state. Solar energy is popular in the area because the region receives maximum sun exposure. Brownfield Engineering Sdn. Bhd. was tasked with designing and constructing the packing plant secondary equipment for a PMU 132/33/11-kilovolt substation to generate clean, sustainable energy and combat global climate change.

The team implemented Promis.e to standardize and automate its design of the secondary unit substation. The system automatically generated reports and checked engineering designs, which were exported as various files and shared via email. By using Bentley applications, cross references occurred automatically instead of five days later, and bills of material were produced in five minutes instead of one day. Brownfield Engineering realized a 60 percent time savings by automating drawing and reports. Reducing the cost of staff, paper printings, design checking, and materials waste saved an estimated MYR 20,000 on the project.

The Brunei Department of Electricity Services (DES) contracted Toshiba Transmission and Distribution Systems Asia to implement a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system in the national power grid to improve reliability of the nation’s power supply. Toshiba provided equipment, engineering, and technical services for the SCADA’s supply, installation, testing, and commissioning. The estimated USD 23 million project was conducted in two phases over approximately four years. This system controls industrial processes locally and at remote locations; monitors, gathers, and processes real-time data; directly interacts with devices through human-machine interface software; and records events into a log file.

The project team reduced design time by almost 50 percent and saved more than USD 12,000 on the resource-hour rate using Promis.e. The team completed remote terminal unit panel drawings in half the time. By implementing the SCADA, Toshiba’s client saw the system’s average interruption duration index reduced from 167 times a year to only 80 times a year over a two-year period. Power restoration time after a blackout also significantly decreased because it can occur through the SCADA system instead of requiring a team to manually restore it.

Located in the remote Pilbara region of northwestern Australia, SINO iron ore project is the largest monomer mining project in Australia to be invested by China. Design, construction, and communication were difficult on this project because construction standards and management concepts between China and Australia differ and construction resources were insufficient. The highly precise installation requirements further contributed to design, transport, and installation challenges. Northern Engineering & Technology Corporation, MCC formed a BIM team to implement a combined design and construction concept that focused on modular construction.

The team used AECOsim Building Designer, MicroStation, and OpenPlant Modeler to design a variety of 3D models and imported them into RAM for finite element analysis. Navigator was used to perform collision detection. Bentley’s integrated modeling applications simulated a module assembly and construction environment, which enabled potential problems to be identified and resolved in advance, improving construction efficiency and shortening the construction period. The BIM solution facilitated accurate drawing extractions in compliance with general international standards, reducing design changes by 80 percent.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore retained CADDS Group to conduct a site-guarding audit for its mine and port facilities in Western Australia, complete site verification for high-risk assets, and replace or update those assets. CADDS needed to ensure accurate and efficient design, construction, and installation because the plant is outdated and there is a large volume of unique areas within the plant that require upgrades. Additionally, CADDS Group was commissioned to complete this task within the plant’s 12-week shut cycle. The organization used Bentley’s BIM and reality modeling technology to implement a data-centric approach to deliver the AUD 1 million project.

The team used 3D laser scanning to capture the site and imported the point clouds into MicroStation and Descartes to create millimeter-accurate representations of existing onsite structures. AECOsim Building Designer facilitated intelligent 3D design modeling. The integrated design solution enabled the installation of more than 12 separate guarding units without issue or postponement to the next shut cycles, saving 12 weeks normally associated with installation modifications. Incorporating 3D laser scanning and point clouds into the model environment helped save 24 days in site investigation time and more than AUD 100,000. Integrating ContextCapture into the workflow further reduced site inspection costs.

With abundant wind energy resources, the Jiangsu coast is one of the 10 million-kilowatt wind power bases in China, with a current total capacity of grid connected power at just under 1,751 megawatts at the end of 2017, expected to increase to 3,500 megawatts by 2020. Three concentrated bases of offshore wind power are being planned in Nantong City, Yancheng City, and Lianyungang City. POWERCHINA Huadong is responsible for designing the wind farm structures amid complex geological land and water constraints.

The project team used SACS offshore structure design and analysis software for design and finite element analysis and simulation. By developing a design and calculation system integrating wind turbine load and foundation calculations, the team expanded SACS capabilities, accelerating the iterative design process to shorten the overall design cycle. Based on the powerful features of SACS, POWERCHINA quickly achieved optimal structural design, improving engineering and reducing construction costs of the entire wind farm, offering significant economic, social, and environmental benefits within the Jiangsu province.

The Foz Tua hydroelectric plant is situated on the Tua River in a deep valley with dense vegetation in a hard-to-reach region of Portugal. Energies de Portugal (EDP) contracted Sacyr Somague to install platforms and equipment to manufacture the large amount of concrete it needed to build the plant on-site. The EUR 260 million project features a double-curved arch dam with a maximum height of 108 meters with a crest of 275 meters in length. The hydraulic system consists of two underground tunnels with an approximate length of 700 meters and a variable diameter that ranges from 5.5 meters to 7.5 meters. The length of the bypass tunnel is approximately 335 meters. Accessing the remote site and coordinating the work of the 5,500-member project team were the main project challenges.

Given the project’s breadth and complexity, Sacyr Somague implemented a BIM methodology to manage the project and share information among the multi-discipline team. Coordinating the project using a 3D model mitigated risks and improved productivity. The project team used the model to prefabricate the auxiliary structures to decrease waste. Sacyr Somague defined an accurate geometric model of the site using MicroStation and OpenRoads and coordinated the dam drawing in MicroStation. Bentley’s precision technology enabled Sacyr Somague to prefabricate some of the elements, including formwork to build a tunnel. The model served to plan the number, size, and weight of the parts that were dismantled and transported to the site on narrow, temporary roads. Bentley software detected problems early in the process, which were communicated to the client. Project collaboration improved productivity, lowering costs and keeping the project on schedule.

This EUR 6.5 billion nuclear power plant will be built on the Hanhikivi Peninsula, with 23 buildings constructed on the nuclear island and 25 buildings erected on the turbine island. The project also includes 131 auxiliary buildings and structures. The challenge for JSC ATOMPROEKT is developing a complex engineering design within a densely-packed layout. Over the course of the project, the design team will model more than 33,000 units of equipment, 350 kilometers of pipeline, and more than 77 kilometers of air ducts. JSC ATOMPROEKT used a BIM methodology to manage the scope of work and successfully complete the project.

To meet the client’s requirements to access and manage the information in a shared data environment, JSC ATOMPROEKT implemented BIM Level 3 that integrated processes and data, web services, and an IFC data format. ProjectWise provided the single design environment for construction management and the project team used Bentley iModel Composition Service to upload the most recent design into the model. AECOsim Building Designer was used to design the architectural portions of the project including 100 buildings and structures. The application also performed calculations to limit the environmental impact on the island’s aquatic life. Using Bentley software improved design quality by 70 percent and accelerated the implementation of architectural and construction works by 20 percent, which reduced 14,000 resource hours.

The Ningdong-Zhejiang ±800-kilovolt power transmission project will guarantee supply to the western and northern regions of China. Northwest Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. of China Power Engineering Consulting Group was contracted to build the Huaneng Ningxia Dam Power Plant Stage IV Project. The power plant features two 660-megawatt coal firing intercooling units and flue gas sulfurization and denitrification facilities to support the main transmission project. Scheduled for completion and operation in 2018, the plant will act as the main power support point for Qingtongxia City. The power the plant generates is sent to the Zhejiang Load Center and consumed by the Ningdong-Zhejiang extra-high voltage transmission project.

To successfully complete the project, Northwest Electric Power Design Institute and Bentley cooperated on an eight-year research and development project to complete a collaborative design and data management solution. OpenPlant and Bentley Substation greatly improved collaboration among the design team and played a critical role in transferring data throughout the project. The process greatly increased design accuracy and efficiency of the electrical design and prepared data for the digital engineering of the overall lifecycle. The applications helped reduce design modifications by 70 percent and resource hours by 40 percent.

Starting in the fall of 2017, AECOM began working closely with Bentley Systems to develop a new way of visualizing project performance by unlocking more value from the data-rich ProjectWise Connected Data Environment. The digital project delivery team realized that, by leveraging available ProjectWise metadata, it would be possible to improve project performance and automation, and reduce cost and carbon emissions, following construction industry trends.

Working closely with Bentley Systems, AECOM provided feedback from project usage that guided the strategic direction for development of ProjectWise Project Insights. This application mines the rich seams of data inherent in every ProjectWise project and automates the delivery of dynamic visualizations into project performance. ProjectWise Project Insights enables project teams to identify trends, seek refinements to information management processes, and enable major efficiencies in project delivery. This digital advancement solution delivers new perspectives and a deeper understanding of project performance by unlocking new value from the ProjectWise Connected Data Environment, presenting clear, up-to-date and actionable visualizations of project performance.

For over 10 years, Arup has used ProjectWise to accommodate its many software platforms and 3,200 staff members, 2,000 internal and 1,200 external. In that last two years, Arup Australasia has seen a 40 percent increase in ProjectWise projects. The system now holds over 900 projects and more than 10 million documents. Arup needed to administer and customize its vast and complex system, forming the Australasian Project Systems team. This team would help provide an integrated connected data environment to support the entire project team, ensuring that best practices are adopted and maintained to reduce potential errors and ensure data reuse.

Arup’s Australasian Project System uses a large selection of Bentley applications to assist with engineering challenges. ProjectWise helped tailor environments, views, folder structures, renditions, workflows, and access control for client or specific project standards. ProjectWise’s system allows the team to digitally review documents and models within the connected data environment. The application also automates the sharing and publishing of models and exchange outputs, saving 15 hours per week across multiple projects. The system also reduced the time needed to publish and enter metadata for 100 drawings from five hours to 20 minutes.

To increase capacity at peak transportation hours, the London Underground initiated the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade project. Bank Station, located in the heart of London, is one of the most complex subterranean railway stations in the United Kingdom and is used by more than 52 million passengers annually. Dragados SA and Transport for London was tasked with adding a new passenger entrance with lift and escalator connections, passenger concourse, train and platform tunnel, and passenger connections with triple escalators. These upgrades are expected to be completed in May 2022 and will increase capacity by 45 percent at peak hours.

Dragados SA and Transport for London used AECOsim Building Designer to produce 2D and 3D models and drawings of the project design, including tunnels that required creating complex shapes to define their geometries. Using ProjectWise as the connected data environment, 425 users from more than 30 different companies could easily access documents, with about 120 concurrent users in the application during peak design times. The system hosts approximately 1,800 3D models and almost 4,800 drawings that were produced during the design and construction phases. ProjectWise consumed five times less staff resources while managing the same number of files. The application also helped design submissions obtain first-time client approval in 95 percent of packages, with only three out of the 57 packages rejected.

The High Speed 2 (HS2) is a new, high-speed rail network being delivered in three phases, with the first phase spanning 200 kilometers between Birmingham and London. Skanska Costain Strabag Joint Venture (SCS) was awarded two of the main civil works contracts to formulate and deliver a design scheme to be approved by the client and stakeholders. The estimated GBP 1.5 billion project required the geographically dispersed, multi-discipline design team to implement Level 2 BIM standards to achieve an approved conceptual design for 26 kilometers of high speed railway within 14 months.

Utilizing ProjectWise as the connected data environment facilitated early contractor involvement, streamlined workflows, and increased productivity and design assurance, identifying and resolving potentially costly errors to save an estimated GBP 1 million. Bentley’s interoperable design applications enabled SCS to generate integrated 3D models and perform accurate quantity takeoffs in 50 percent less time, compared to traditional methods, while using 75 percent fewer resources. Bentley’s iModel technology reduced design review time by 20 percent and automated otherwise manual data manipulation tasks. The team leveraged asset data directly from the design models for operations and maintenance management using AssetWise.

In preparing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high speed railway is being constructed to reduce travel time between the two cities from three hours to 50 minutes. The full length of the main line is approximately 170 kilometers, consisting of 71 subgrade sections, 64 bridges, 10 tunnels, and 10 stations, including China’s largest underground excavation station. China Railway Engineering Consulting Group Co., Ltd. is responsible for preliminary and detailed design and construction drawings. With 23 disciplines working on the CNY 53.5 billion project amid complex environmental conditions, the company implemented a collaborative BIM strategy to create its deliverables. Upon completion, the railway will become the world’s first high-speed train with a design speed of 350 kilometers per hour.

The project team used MicroStation, PowerCivil, and AECOsim Building Designer for collaborative design, model review, collision detection, and construction simulation, with ProjectWise providing the connected data environment for accessing and sharing information. China Railway used MicroStation and AECOsim Building Designer to establish a full component library and to perform parametric modeling, which accelerated the design process. The image rendering capabilities of LumenRT facilitated railway landscape design and enhanced client communication. ProjectWise and Bentley’s integrated BIM applications streamlined workflows, reduced rework, and improved efficiencies to save three months in design time and CNY 3 million in labor costs.

To help improve connections in southern Italy along the high-speed Naples-Bari railway route, Italferr, S.p.A. initiated the Hirpinia-Orsara railway project. The new EUR 1.5 billion, 28-kilometer railway line runs almost entirely in a twin-tube tunnel, extending 27 kilometers in length in a landslide-prone area. The railway requires electric traction technology to be positioned along various segments of the track. To integrate the multiple engineering disciplines and ensure correct positioning of the technological systems in compliance with reference standards, the team implemented a collaborative 3D BIM methodology for design, construction, and lifecycle management.

A connected data environment was established in ProjectWise to exchange information and streamline workflows. The team developed parametric object libraries with MicroStation, enabling over 100 technological components to be modeled in accordance with company specifications, and imported them into Power Rail Track for automatic positioning along the railway line. Bentley’s integrated modeling applications optimized design modifications and allowed numerous design options to be quickly explored, reducing model production time, minimizing potential errors, and saving costs. The comprehensive 3D models will be used during operations for asset and facility management.

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Victoria, Australia initiated a building envelope inspection project to incorporate drone imagery and analysis into its 40-year, ISO-certified asset lifecycle program. The project was piloted at its Brunswick campus covering 6.5 hectares in an urban environment. Skand provided its own web-based application as the platform for the data and reality mesh to be accessed by asset owners and managers for more informed decision making on building maintenance activities.

The Skand team captured aerial and ground images of the campus and transformed them into meaningful data sets mapped to a 3D reality mesh generated with ContextCapture in two days, four times faster than other photogrammetry engines. The interoperability of ContextCapture facilitated consistent analysis and reporting in a web-based environment. The team delivered an inspection report with a 3D campus model in the web platform within seven days, saving AUD 70,000 in costs.

The Smart Campus initiative will facilitate management of the Hong Kong Science Park, including property development, facilities, leasing, transportation, and waste and energy. The project required many smart devices to survey and collect the necessary data. The Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation & Chain Technology Co. Limited was retained to provide hybrid modeling solutions to visualize, simulate, analyze, and manage all collected information. The organization also had to capture an accurate, geo-referenced 3D map for the foundation of the Smart Campus Management Platform.

This project required the integration of sophisticated 3D models, reality meshes, and a wide range of data. The organization optimized reality modeling of the developing campus with ContextCapture. Bentley Map provided the foundation of the customized cloud-based Smart Campus Management Platform, adding location intelligence to all the models and data. Bentley’s integrated BIM and reality modeling solutions have increased efficiency in project planning, design and implementation, reduced remedial works and enhanced decision making by a collaborative data ecosystem with Big Data Management and Artificial Intelligence.

As part of the Deep Tube Upgrade Programme to improve railway infrastructure, reliability, and accessibility along the London Underground, an engineering team was assigned to design, analyze, and deliver drawings to support the platform train interface strategy along the Piccadilly Line. The circa GBP 5 billion project requires the team to model the unique platform sections and perform analysis and simulation during migration stages to identify potential issues and avoid costly rework after final delivery. The newly renovated Piccadilly Line will provide increased capacity and transform customer experience.

The project team initiated a collaborative BIM and reality modeling approach using Descartes, MicroStation, and ProjectWise. Using Bentley’s integrated modeling and project management applications allowed the team to coordinate more than 11,600 documents and produce highly detailed, 3D models and animated renderings from over 1.1 terabytes of point cloud data. The software created a foundation for asset management and eliminated rework to save up to 75 percent in design time, lessening costs. ProjectWise provided a connected data environment for collaborative management of the digital engineering data among the team and stakeholders, advancing workflow efficiencies.

CSX Transportation operates more than 20,000 miles of track, receiving more than 5,000 requests annually to replace worn rail in the curve sections of the track. The capital planning team reviews each request and approves those that show evidence of poor condition. The team used eight independent data sources to evaluate the condition for each request and stand-alone data silos requiring technology support to extract information, making this manual process arduous and error-prone.

CSX combined data sources into one platform using AssetWise Operational Analytics, providing an interactive visualization of the data that can be manipulated to access embedded asset information for more accurate and efficient decision making. Bentley’s interoperable software enabled seamless integration with the CSX patch rail request system saving significant time and costs. With real-time information access and ability to approve patch rail requests, the team reduced time performing hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of annual capital planning reviews, shortening annual patch rail planning by more than one month.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is increasing the maximum load limit for auto-issued permits under its Automated Permits System (ITAP) from 250,000 to 300,000 pounds, enhancing the routing capabilities and incorporating additional map layers for improved accuracy and truck parking, such as pinpointing rest areas for trucks to eliminate driving while fatigued. The new requirements and features will expand functionality to increase the number of auto-issued permits, modernize user accessibility to accommodate newer browsers and mobile devices, and improve safety with current road division contact information.

By continuing to use SUPERLOAD bridge analysis web service with the ITAP application, bridge engineers gained confidence in the software to enable an increase in maximum load, reducing 1.5 engineers who manually analyze structures for permit requests each year. The new load weight approval raised automated permit issuance from 98 percent to 99 percent, for a total of 54,600 additional permits annually since 2015. The web-based system reduced the average monthly time for manual permit analysis, saving USD 11,400 per month. Bentley software allowed IDOT to analyze a monthly average of 248,100 state structures and 1,744 Illinois tollway structures, supporting state routes to proactively schedule maintenance; this system increased safety and diminished emergency repairs.

Nagpur Metro is a USD 1.3 billion urban mass transit project to bring sustainable, efficient, environmentally-friendly transportation infrastructure to Nagpur, India. Upon completion, the railway will be 41.7 kilometers in length and include 40 stations and two depots. As part of its 5D BIM digital project management platform, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha-Metro) developed an Asset Information Management System to combine engineering and maintenance information and 3D models from disparate systems into a synchronized environment for an asset-centric approach that covers the entire lifecycle of the railway.

The team used AssetWise as the system’s foundation and configured the software to tag and register assets, establish a common naming convention, and extend permissions to authorized users upon full operation of the railway. The interoperability of AssetWise enabled seamless data exchange with Nagpur’s CMMS for effective workflow management. Using iModels offered longevity and open access to the 3D models without any data loss. Using the Asset Information System will extend asset life, increase productivity, improve decision making, and optimize operational performance, saving an estimated USD 222 million over 25 years.

Located in the Malaysian state of Sarawak on the Island of Borneo, the Pan Borneo Highway is planned as a four-lane dual carriageway that will span a total length of 1,060 kilometers, connecting one end of Sarawak to the other. The MYR 22.5 billion roadway will replace the current two-lane single trunk road that connects communities across the state. Lebuhraya Borneo Utara is responsible for design and construction, and they implemented a collaborative 3D BIM strategy to meet key performance indicators. Upon completion of the project, the carriageway will be a benchmark for Malaysian government initiatives, pioneering BIM Level 2 standards for delivery.

The team developed a project management information system using ProjectWise as the common data platform to streamline workflows and exchange information in different file formats, optimizing efficiency to save 2,600 resource hours per month. Using Bentley’s integrated design applications, including OpenBridge Modeler and OpenRoads for 3D modeling and analysis, enabled early detection of over 100 clashes, eliminating rework and saving time and costs. ProjectWise Construction Management was used to provide controls over the construction process, while AssetWise facilitated lifecycle asset maintenance and management.

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) initiated the reconstruction of the I-59/I-20 interchange in the Birmingham Business District. The USD 750 million project required bridge construction works for 36 bridges, as well as roadway improvements. ALDOT’s Design Bureau Visualization Group was tasked with coordinating information exchange among multiple offices and utilities, as well as communicating with the public and stakeholders to quickly deliver an accurate 3D model that could be used to complete construction within 14 months. The renovated infrastructure will meet vehicular demands, improve aesthetics, and enhance accessibility along the state’s busiest corridor.

The team initiated a 3D BIM strategy using ProjectWise as the collaborative design platform to seamlessly share and exchange models and information, creating the models on schedule and saving tens of thousands of dollars. Using MicroStation’s clash detection feature enabled 1,000 interferences to be identified and resolved prior to construction, resulting in more than USD 10 million in savings. MicroStation and LumenRT allowed the stakeholders and public to view animated renderings rather than 2D drawings for better understanding of the project and improved decision making.

The Yaoshan-Luanchuan section of the Zengzhou-Xixia Expressway spans 78.8 kilometers in the mountainous region of Henan, China. It consists of 88 bridges, four interchanges, two interoperability hubs, and two long tunnels. Henan Provincial Communications Planning & Design Institute is responsible for delivering preliminary designs and construction drawings using BIM technology for design optimization, model creation, construction management, and operations and maintenance. Upon completion, the CNY 10.5 billion project will reach numerous scenic areas, making it a crucial tourism route for the city.

The project team used Bentley’s BIM and reality modeling technology—including MicroStation, OpenRoads, Open Bridge Modeler, and PowerCivil—for parametric 3D design and visualization deliverables for the civil infrastructure. Bentley applications enhanced drawing quality, minimized design changes, and improved modeling efficiency by 50 percent. They also reduced construction drawing errors by 1,350 items and resource costs by CNY 200,000. Implementing 3D BIM processes for digital construction management limited construction modifications and boosted efficiencies by 10 percent.

The Alambagh Bus Terminal land parcel in the heart of Lucknow City in Uttar Pradesh, India was selected to be redeveloped to increase capacity of the bus stand and add commercial facilities. Shilp Consulting Engineers was retained as the structural consultants on this INR 2.56 billion project. The local government wanted to develop bus stands owned by the State Road Transport in a public-private partnership model, choosing the Alambagh Bus Terminal to pilot the project. Shilp Consulting Engineers was asked to expand the existing bus stand facility from 25 bus platforms to 60 platforms, as well as offer parking spaces for another 40 buses and add on a mixed-use building that includes retail stores, a multiplex, and a hotel. The design provided challenges because all levels of the facility required different design schemes in more than 60 percent of the areas.

The project team used RCDC for design and analysis of all reinforced concrete structures, enabling accurate material takeoffs, and the team used STAAD for all steel structural elements. Using Bentley’s structural design and analysis applications saved significant time during design checks and enabled the generation of more than 350 error-free construction drawings, which were expected to increase to nearly 500 by the end of the project. Overall, more than 5,000 resource hours were saved, allowing the team to stay ahead of the delivery schedule.

Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB) provided structural design services on the QAR 950 million Alfardan Office Tower, located in the Marina District of Lusail City in Doha, Qatar. The mixed-use, high-rise tower occupies 12,541 square meters and comprises offices, restaurants, parking facilities, and storage space. The building features three basements, a ground floor, mezzanine, 27 upper levels, a penthouse, and a main roof level. The structural design consists of curved geometry, organic shapes, and a glazed façade.

The project team used STAAD.Pro to design all the steel structural elements. Bentley’s interoperable structural design and analysis technology enabled AEB to incorporate structural grids, converting wire mesh to 3D models for analysis and presentation. Then, AEB imported the models into CAD format. The software’s automated features and user-friendly platform allowed for effortless modeling in accordance with U.S. and European codes, saving 20 to 30 percent in design resource hours to lower project costs.

An iconic addition to the Vadodara skyline in Gujarat, India, K10 Grand is an INR 1.2 billion commercial building project with a cutting-edge design inspired by Dubai’s Burj Al Arab. VYOM Consultants’ project team needed comprehensive structural design and analysis software to accommodate the complicated geometry associated with designing three connected, 12-story, and curvilinear tower sections that featured column-free space. Upon completion, the new building will become a coveted business hub and provide infrastructure that encourages a well-balanced working environment.

The team performed numerous design iterations and analyses with STAAD to determine optimal solutions for column arrangements while maintaining maximal column-free space, meeting IS Code requirements, and ensuring structural integrity. Bentley software enabled the designers to complete the building design and deliver drawings to the architect and developer within one month.

Oman Gas Company S.A.O.C. transmits and distributes gas to 4.4 million people and most of the area’s key economic industry facilities. To ensure consistent availability of its product, the company developed a reliability and integrity program based on a digitized, automated framework, reducing human intervention to avoid human fault analysis and improve resource effectiveness. The company needed a single common platform as a database for reliability and maintenance because the gas company’s assets are widely spread across Oman.

The organization digitized, automated, and compiled all reliability and integrity data and management tasks into one platform with AssetWise. The software calculates reliability and availability for each asset and generates automated weekly reminders to ensure timely corrective action of root cause analysis recommendations. Integrating handheld devices for operators to upload readings and receive alerts ensures all anomalies are identified quickly and overseen by the appropriate personnel. This digitized system has reduced failures and improved reliability performance by 9 percent.

Summary to be released in the 2018 Infrastructure Yearbook.

The offshore drilling platform at the Vladimir Filanovsky Oil and Gas Field is currently under construction. Volgogradnefteproekt, LLC developed a system to model the structure and associated assets to provide technical support during the construction process and serve as the basis for lifecycle asset management. Having previously developed working documentation for the construction information model, the company could modify the model to function as a digital asset. Volgogradnefteproekt used the model for conducting analytics related to procurement and construction, as well as for tracking and analyzing the impact of changes for asset lifecycle operations management.

The organization used Bentley’s 3D modeling technology to develop the structural model of the offshore platform to visualize the entire structure, as well as its separate parts. Integrating AssetWise, the team tracked the lifecycles and analyzed changes incorporated as part of the future digital asset. The interoperability of Bentley technology enabled the team to derive information from the already developed working documentation, resulting in a 20 percent reduction in labor costs related to technical support. Using a lifecycle modeling approach during construction improved efficiency and decision making and resulted in the creation of the structure’s digital asset without additional labor.

To improve power supply within the district of Banting in Selangor, Malaysia, Tenaga Nasional Berhad is expanding the Olak Lempit Substation from a 275/132-kilovolt facility to a 500-kilovolt substation. Pestech International Berhad was awarded the MYR 79.5 million power system installation project to supply, erect, and commission the main intake substation. Pestech used Bentley’s integrated 3D BIM applications to handle project challenges, including site access constraints, connecting the substation with an existing transmission facility, coordinating with another main contractor, and working within a tight deadline and budget.

Bentley Substation served as the main design application, incorporating cable routes from Bentley Raceway and Cable Management, electrical schematics from Promis.e, and equipment models from MicroStation. The team used Navigator to perform clash detection and ProjectWise for design collaboration and content management. Working in a coordinated design environment using Bentley’s automated and interoperable software minimized rework, reduced design time by 50 percent, and saved an estimated MYR 200,000. The innovative technology solution improves the entire substation lifecycle from design to construction and asset performance management.

The new Xianjiang 750-kilovolt substation will contribute to the strong grid support and high-voltage, large-capacity outbound transmission channels required to meet the demands of new energy initiatives in the Bortala Mongol Autonomous Region. The CNY 500 million project is a collaborative 3D BIM design pilot for the State Grid Corporation of China that is being designed by Northeast Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. of China Power Engineering Consulting Group. Upon completion, the Xianjiang substation will improve the power supply capacity of the grid and increase the safety and reliability of power in the region.

The numerous engineering disciplines that worked on the project resolved conflicts in the early design stages by using Bentley’s integrated BIM applications. The interoperability of AECOsim Building Designer, ProStructures, and LumenRT helped the team complete the project three days ahead of schedule. Bentley Substation shortened design time by 15 hours, saving CNY 200,000 in design costs. Publishing the BIM designs as iModels facilitated construction and the reapplication of the 3D models for construction schedule simulation and operations enabled the team to realize a full lifecycle 3D BIM strategy.

The Cha’anling-Xiaojiazhou 220-kilovolt transmission line will connect the Cha’anling substation with the newly built Xiaojiazhou substation, providing power for the new substation. The line corridor is in an urban area amid complex terrain and a densely populated environment, limiting the line route. POWERCHINA Hubei Electric Engineering Corporation Limited implemented a 3D collaborative, digital design approach to deliver the CNY 33.2 million project. Upon completion, the transmission line will improve the structure of the power grid in Xianning District, enhancing reliable power supply and the quality of electricity.

The project team used AECOsim Building Designer and MicroStation for 3D modeling of the towers, electric power fittings, and insulator strings, and imported the models into STAAD for stress analysis under extreme weather conditions to ensure optimal conductivity. Using aerial drones and ContextCapture to generate reality meshes of the four areas routing the transmission line saved two days of on-site reviews and prevented the demolition of six houses. Bentley’s integrated 3D BIM and reality modeling solution enabled the team to reduce the line length by 0.5 kilometers and save CNY 6.2 million.

The Jinqiang Shouan Water Plant in the Wenjiang District of Chengdu, China is a CNY 350 million engineering, procurement, and construction project that was initiated to help resolve the water shortage in the area. MCC Capital Engineering & Research Incorporation Limited was the general contractor responsible for design, construction, and operations. MCC implemented a collaborative 3D digital design strategy using Bentley’s BIM applications to provide a solution for the complex piping system and pool structure, numerous design materials and interfaces, and multiple design disciplines.

The team used ProjectWise as the connected data environment to streamline workflows. Bentley’s interoperable modeling applications facilitated integration with coding and factory prefabrication technology to produce accurate bills of material, shorten project duration, and improve quality of deliverables. Navigator helped identify and resolve more than 200 potential clashes to achieve zero collisions during construction; eliminating rework saved 8 percent of construction time and 2 percent of project costs. Bentley software optimized modeling and collaboration to boost design efficiency by 20 percent, shortening the design cycle by one month.

Covering 532,000 square meters in Wuhan, Hubei, China and serving nearly 2.5 million people, the Beihu Sewage Treatment Plant is the largest sewage treatment plant being built in China. The CNY 88 million project involves complicated building and pipeline construction for 31 single buildings and 11 major categories of electromechanical pipelines. Shanghai Civil Engineering Co., Ltd. of CREC was responsible for constructing the main structure of each unit and pipeline installation, and the team used Bentley’s BIM and reality modeling applications for 3D modeling and construction management.

Using unmanned aerial vehicles and ContextCapture enabled efficient and accurate earthworks calculations, saving seven-to-ten days’ time per square kilometer, compared to traditional global positioning system measurements. The 3D information model of the sewage treatment plant generated in AECOsim Building Designer resolved complex construction issues and optimized the construction scheme, which is estimated to save about CNY 2.3 million in construction management costs. Modeling steel rebar structures with ProStructures improved extraction efficiency and accuracy expected to save approximately CNY 1.7 million in material costs. Creating 3D animated visual renderings with LumenRT effectively guided the construction team to shorten the construction period by approximately 121 days, saving about CNY 1.3 million.

The USD 6 million 1-gigawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturing project requires continuous and reliable production of ultra-pure water (UPW) 24/7, 365 days a year. As the world’s largest supplier of UPW systems, Suez Water Technologies & Solutions (SWTS) was retained to provide design, engineering, and commissioning services for the plant in Gujarat, India. Faced with a complex piping and cable system requiring multiple disciplines to work simultaneously within a tight timeline, SWTS relied on Bentley’s integrated 3D modeling and analysis applications.

The team used OpenPlant to model the entire 130-kilometer piping layout for the plant, and STAAD.Pro and AutoPIPE for finite element and piping stress analyses. Navigator facilitated clash detection and collaboration among the numerous disciplines and with the construction team on site to quickly resolve potential issues prior to construction. Using Bentley’s technology solutions increased modeling productivity by 10 percent and shortened the project schedule by 60 days. The software enabled accurate bills of material extraction, reduced engineering resources, and avoided rework, optimizing design efficiency and accuracy to achieve a high-quality deliverable that saved USD 70,000.

The Bankura Multi-Village Water Supply project was initiated to improve the existing water supply of four areas in the Bankura District of West Bengal, India. The existing antiquated pipeline had to be discarded and a new water supply scheme needed to be designed amid sloping topography on this INR 12.4 million project. DTK Hydronet Solutions was responsible for the conceptual design and modeling of the more than 4,000-kilometer network pipeline to provide reliable, equitable, and potable drinking water to approximately 1 million villagers.

DTK Hydronet Solutions used WaterGEMS to evaluate more than 50 design scenarios and generate a single hydraulic model of the pumping mains and distribution network in five days. The team identified and resolved collisions in the initial model in one day using Navigator. Bentley software improved productivity and enabled the team to achieve optimal design and operational strategies for the water supply scheme in 25 days, compared to the allotted four months. The interoperability of WaterGEMS allowed for seamless integration with GIS applications used by the client and detailed analysis of numerous operational situations, facilitating effective decision-making to enhance overall network reliability.

The Hexi Branch project is part of the Beijing South-to-North Water Diversion initiative to optimize the allocation of water resources in northern China. With three pumping stations, water transmission lines totaling 18.8 kilometers in length, and five water outlets, the project required large-scale terrain modeling and analysis, and simulation of pumping station operations. Beijing Institute of Water was responsible for construction drawing designs and initiated a collaborative 3D design strategy using Bentley’s integrated BIM applications to optimize engineering among eight disciplines and 30 engineers. The organization also incorporated lifecycle design and management into the project.

The team used ProjectWise as the collaborative platform for file sharing and coordinated design, streamlining workflows and improving efficiency. Surface digital elevation and building models were created from collected point cloud data using Descartes to accelerate design planning through accurate visual displays. MicroStation was used for 3D parametric modeling to help optimize pipeline design, saving 80 percent in design time compared to traditional 2D methods. AECOsim Building Designer and STAAD facilitated structural design and analysis, and the hydraulic modeling and calculations performed with HAMMER provided technical support for the subsequent digital operation and maintenance of the project.

Responsible for providing statewide water supply services in Uttar Pradesh, India, U.P. Jal Nigam government corporation initiated an improvement project to meet the increasing potable water demands of Agra city. The existing distribution pipe network is old and provided intermittent supply, requiring evaluation to identify loopholes and determine solutions to enable 24/7 delivery of adequate treated water to the growing city populace.

Using WaterGEMS, NJS Engineers India P Limited’s project team modeled the current distribution system and analyzed it under four different scenarios, providing the foundation for the hydraulic improvement and rehabilitation scheme. Integrating Bentley modeling and engineering applications with WaterGEMS, the team developed an existing water asset database, performed design reviews, and conducted structural analysis in a collaborative environment, streamlining workflows and processes throughout the project lifecycle. Bentley’s interoperable software shortened design review time, reduced drawing production by 35 percent, and saved INR 300 million on the project.