BIM benefits
Bybanen Utbygging made it a contractual requirement that all design work was carried out in 3D from the ground up. The greatest benefit is that the approach has enabled us to recruit the most appropriate experts to work on the project, no matter where they're based. The team comprises staff from our offices in Dublin, Cork, Manchester, Croydon, Prague, Budapest, Johannesburg and subconsultant offices in Dublin and Oslo. Design disciplines include tunnelling, structures, environment, noise and vibration, geotechnics, roads, utilities, drainage, power and buildings. All staff have access to the same design information, ensuring consistency and openness between different parts of the project.
Although BIM makes data sharing possible, it brings its own challenges. Chief of these was ensuring that the diversity of software used by the various disciplines would not pose a barrier to accessing the model. The project is primarily using Bentley’s MicroStation for BIM design and the project is delivered in Autodesk format. We are using Norwegian software for some tasks – for example, water and drainage elements have been designed using a local supplier’s digital product catalogue.
Early co-operation was required to establish data-sharing protocols and prevent confusion resulting from ad hoc decisions. Bentley’s ProjectWise is being used to manage the project data and facilitate sharing between the parties. Access to the central data model is tailored to each user, to prevent unauthorised changes.
