The development work continues, on the 5D-BRIDGE3 project and the InfraFINBIM collaboration under the PRE programme of RYM Oy, as well as on other projects. This article discusses the key results produced by the 5D-BRIDGE2 project and their significance.
The overall objective of the 5D-BRIDGE project was to develop the construction process and life cycle management of bridges through BIM technology and construction automation. One of the goals was to develop the operating chain in order to export the initial information 3D models and 3D road geometry first to bridge design and then to construction implementation. One of the goals was to study and develop the client's procurement operation to allow for increasingly more efficient application and utilisation of the potential provided by the new technology and, thus, to enhance and speed up the bridge industry's modernisation and overall progress.
R&D carried out under the 5D-BRIDGE2 consortium
The content of the major sub-projects was:
- The Bridge Finland sub-project created and issued the common BIM guidelines applicable to the bridge industry (BIM Guidelines Applicable to Bridges), the testing and deployment of which started at the beginning of 2011.
- The PPP5D project modelled, for the construction purposes of the Kokkola – Ylivieska double-track, the utilisation methods and opportunities of the 3D information modelling and 3D measurements on a general level.
- The Custom Components project produced ready-to-use auxiliary tools for bridge designers.
- The 3D-GPR project studied and developed further the 3D radar and laser scanning process applied to bridges.
- The asymmetrical cable-stayed Crusell Bridge in Helsinki, implemented and engineered by the City of Helsinki, Skanska Infra Oy and WSP Finland, is thus far the most significant individual site where 3D modelling techniques and an enhanced contractor operating model were deployed.
- The 5D-Vt8 project studied and tested integration and interoperability of road planning and bridge design.
Development work was also performed in various development projects implemented by the companies themselves, from which we could mention here the development work by Tekla Oyj to enhance the Tekla Structures functionality, a study by Ponvia Oy to develop the Revit Structure BIM tool, and Destia Oy's important 5D-ST development project for enhancing contractor operating models.
Outcomes of software development
For efficient product modelling of bridges, the BIM software requires a dedicated operating environment and pre-defined basic settings. In collaboration with the other engineering companies of the consortium, Tekla Oyj developed a dedicated bridge environment for the Tekla Structures software, comprising preferred numbering and naming routines, construction component-specific features settings, view and selection filtering settings, and report and drawing templates. An application was also developed to supplement the Tekla Structures software, through which the bridge designer has seamless access to the substantial road planning data maintained in the Tekla Civil software. The terrain shapes are imported in IFC format to a model created in the Tekla Structures. The survey lines allow for the creation of measurement points to the model or for modelling further structures, such as bridge decks or barrier balusters. The surfaces of the construction components created by the building model can be exported back to the Tekla Civil software, where the compatibility of the bridge structures and road plans can be validated. The Tekla Civil software can communicate with other road construction software using the common LandXML data transfer format. Where necessary, the LandXML can be read directly into a Tekla Structures-based model.
As a pilot for the 5D-Vt8 project, WSP Finland and Vianova Finland tested, using Novapoint Bridge software, modelling a bridge based on a road product model created in the Novapoint Road software. The bridge product model created was then exported in LandXML format to Tekla Structures software for structural engineering. The final structural design-level product model was created using Tekla Structures software. Compatibility of the road and bridge designs was validated reading the models into a Novapoint Virtual Maps coordination model.
Ponvia Oy tested the Revit Structure 2011 software for general plan-level bridge product modelling. The software is well suited for general-plan level BIM modelling of concrete bridges and for rendering various conceptual visualisations. The software is capable of creating the bridge geometry, parametering the structural dimensions, and drafting schematics. The software can also be used to create variable cross-sections and double-curved deck structures. The greatest deficiencies detected were related to the modelling of the laid reinforcement and creation of reinforcement drawings. The software is only capable of modelling the laid reinforcement of bridge structures having a relatively modest geometry.
From the product model design onto the work site
The BIM model (=product model) created during the design phase of the Crusell Bridge in Helsinki was used as a tool in mould design, measurement operations, construction-time structural modelling, purchasing of reinforcement materials, take-off calculations, and planning the site purchasing operations. The most challenging issue discovered in the use of the model related to, on some occasions, the insufficient readability of the technical drawings on reinforced concrete structures. In addition to the native data format of the software, other widely used data transfer formats were used, such as ASCII, DWG, and IFC. The procedures were tested in the manufacture of laid reinforcements, for example. The bending data of the reinforcements was imported directly from the model to the machine tool in ASCII format. Effective outcomes were validated using laser scanning, which enabled the exportation of the verified spatial data back to the model for comparison purposes. On the site, the BIM model was considered to be an excellent working method because of its capability of producing visual renderings. The BIM model was also used to review, based on collision analysis, any compatibility problems.
In the sub-project implemented by Destia Oy, it was discovered that the information contained in the BIM model can be utilised in bridge-related measurements, material management, scheduling, and schedule management. For the tested parts, the utilisation was discovered to be simple and easy to adopt. On the sites, the threshold for deploying the model can be lowered by providing the site personnel with user training on the BIM and the required software. During the introduction phase, reasonably high-quality user support must be provided on the sites.
BIM Guidelines Applicable to Bridges
The Finnish Transport Agency has issued the BIM Guidelines Applicable to Bridges as a separate publication. The BIM Guidelines contain instructions on how to create harmonised BIM procedures for design, construction and maintenance operations. Harmonised procedures promote the deployment of the new technology in the collaboration of designers, contractors, and public bodies. The Guidelines also include a form template, which is designed to facilitate sorting out modelling matters and any agreements thereupon in connection with the placing of an order. The forms are available on the Finnish Transport Agency website.
In conclusion
In the bridge industry, much remains to be done in the development and utilisation of 3D information modelling and automation. The design software, applications and tools are not yet finalised and contain evident defects and deficiencies. A more extensive utilisation of product modelling in design will be promoted by the demands and requirement specifications imposed by the clients. The BIM Guidelines Applicable to Bridges is a significant step in this direction. Data transfer and collaboration between road planning and bridge design should also be as fluent and straightforward as possible.
In Finland, bridge-industry development work is also carried out within the InfraFINBIM research entity under RYM Oy’s PRE programme, which includes the Bridge Automation project of the University of Oulu. The international operating environment and collaboration opportunities for more advanced research and development work are constantly improving. According to certain estimates, Finland may even assume the role of technological innovator and vanguard in the field of development of operating processes, technologies and associated environments relating to bridge construction.
