underestimated: “This is a ‘Big Data’ project, rich with information that is being recorded, analysed and processed, to give us an excellent BIM style data driven model for future civil projects.
“On this project, everyone has worked together to keep challenging the way data is collected, used and acted upon and ultimately this will ensure the construction of a better quality road, for a smoother end-user journey. It will also mean we will have a model that can be used to support the ongoing maintenance of the road into the future.
“The experience gained on this project is already being shared across Highways England and our partners and it is clear that an integrated approach using different technologies like 3D machine control, has a role to play in the future.”
For A1M2 construction manager Ashley White, there were a number of key decisions to make when it came to the practical delivery of the project and the teams’ vision for the integration of new technologies. “The challenges with any major infrastructure project like this are how to maximise safety and minimise downtime, whilst delivering a high quality outcome in the designated programme time.
“So it is clear that if you can find ways of reducing hazards onsite, increasing productivity and doing each job right first time, you will be well on the way to meeting these goals.
“For my team, managing a scheme of this complexity requires the co-ordination of resource and suppliers across the project and that is why we have brought in numerous innovations to support these goals. They include different types of technology, from an advanced camera solution for traffic management, to specialist equipment warning systems and of course 3D machine control, on both plant and asphalt pavers.
“From a practical delivery perspective the collation and processing of data has been essential to the success of the project. By modelling earthworks in a BIM style model before work began, we could identify where to excavate and place material across the site. This eliminated the need to remove large amounts of material offsite for costly processing.
As the project has moved forward, we have continued to develop the BIM model and its capabilities, giving all members of the project access to the model online, so they can navigate through what is an ever-changing site. Keeping control of this process has been incredibly important to our overall ‘Lean Strategy’ and collaborative project planning process, as we receive large amounts of data every day, especially from the 3D machines and surveying teams.
Ultimately our ‘Lean Strategy’ is about combining data and knowledge of exactly how we are performing on a particular task, so keeping good up to date records for all operations is essential. 3D technology and ‘Big Data’ is definitely here to stay, but I think it is how you use it that really matters.
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