Bridges

Digital Engineering (DE) / Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been identified as an important emerging technology, with the potential to streamline processes throughout the design, construction, and operation and maintenance life cycle. The Australian Productivity Commission has highlighted that more widespread adoption of BIM could enhance productivity across the industry and have a significant positive impact on the cost of infrastructure.

This paper provides a summary of the current status of DE/BIM for transport and bridge infrastructure projects in Australia. It provides an example of the performance requirements for a recent Australian road project where the design performance specification has prescribed DE/BIM as a project deliverable. The paper also provides a recent case study of the development of DE/BIM models by an Australian design team, based on the requirements for an international project, the project being part of the Qatar Expressway Program. For the case study example, geometrically accurate 3D bridge models were developed and used both for the establishment of the detailed design geometry, and also as part of theproject federated model for use for design co-ordination, clash avoidance and clash detection, and visualisation during the design process.

The paper focuses on the application of DE/BIM for a major transport infrastructure (road and bridge) project in an urban corridor, and provides a case study of the level of development required and work flow during the project, and how the individual model components were developed and incorporated into the federated model. The paper also covers the asset management considerations incorporated into the design models, and the format and layering required for incorporation of the models in a future asset management system.

The case study provides an overview of lessons learnt from the experience on this recent major project and summary of the benefits for similar application on future projects.