Bridge project seeks digital solution

The design of a new roadway bridge under tight site conditions and a compressed schedule might seem challenging enough on its own. Combine that with concurrently implementing new design software and a digital project delivery system, and the mission might seem daunting.

However, for Hatch Ltd., the firm designing the Lathams Road bridge in suburban Melbourne, Australia, the approach was a triumph, as new software tools helped the team deal with various project challenges and prepare for future projects.

Overcoming project challenges with digital solutions

The AU$150 million Lathams Road project widened an existing road from two to four lanes and added a new bridge over an existing freeway. When the project’s lead designer discovered the existing bridge abutment location differed from as-built records by approximately 300 millimetres, the Hatch team had to adjust road and bridge alignments accordingly after design was already in progress.

Using Bentley Systems’ OpenRoads Designer and OpenBridge Modeler to develop 3D models, the team was able to amend the road and bridge geometry and make the necessary adjustments in a week, a fraction of the time if using traditional 2D methods. The ability to seamlessly exchange information between bridge and road models greatly simplified the process. “If we did not have the 3D modelling approach, this wouldn’t have been possible,” said Tanmay Vegad, Senior Bridge Engineer for Hatch. He estimated the changes would have taken four to five weeks using traditional methods.

Designing innovative bridges for future resilience

The 3D approach also helped the team design modifications to the existing bridge. Due to updated Australian standards, the railings on the existing bridge did not meet current standards for collision resistance, requiring upgrades in conjunction with the new bridge. The team was able to model the system and replace the railings with a stronger design that met standards without requiring modifications to the existing bridge structure.

The bridge design team also developed custom objects in OpenBridge to accurately model bridge components. While OpenBridge includes a library of templates for common bridge components, such as abutments, piers and barriers, the Lathams Road bridge called for unique shapes not included in the library. Working with Bentley staff, the Hatch team expanded the library with custom objects reflecting the project design.

“3D visualisations promote a greater level of understanding amongst the project team, which has helped to foster a highly collaborative working model between project partners and delivered a fully resolved design. Changes are inevitable, and when they did occur, time and cost impacts were substantially reduced,” said Steve White, Design Manager for contractor Winslow Infrastructure.

Digital project delivery

Along with the numerous project challenges, the team was learning OpenBridge Modeler and had to ramp up quickly, obtaining training from Bentley and integrating OpenBridge with the company’s digital project delivery (DPD) initiative. The company is implementing DPD to increase information value and drive quality and efficiency, extending the life of information into operations, according to Michael Gilham, Hatch’s Global Solution Lead for civil work. The firm is committed to following ISO 19650, an international standard for building information modelling (BIM), on every project.

Hatch’s two-pronged approach to meet company objectives and a tight project schedule presented a unique combination of challenges, but was well worth the effort, Gilham said. “This project helped us move the DPD project forward at the same time. The team did an amazing job to finish on time and on budget. Final deliverables were actually delivered four weeks ahead of schedule,” he said.

Digitalisation sets a benchmark for AEC industry

The use of 3D modelling and digital project delivery through Bentley established dramatic benefits for designers and other stakeholders on the Lathams Road upgrade, a key infrastructure improvement in the Melbourne suburb of Carrum Downs.

With the Lathams Road project under its belt, Hatch is actively applying its expanded 3D experience on other projects. The company recently completed the design of the Hall Road upgrade, another project for Major Road Projects Victoria. On that project, Hatch used a similar suite of software to model the project, which featured 24 culverts of various sizes and shapes.

As technological experience grows in the architecture, engineering and construction industry, similar approaches are likely to be adopted by other firms and agencies worldwide.

Top image caption: The Lathams Road bridge project. Image: Supplied