Bentley Systems

The United Kingdom's 50-year-old Carstairs junction was remodeled to improve rail travel between England and Scotland. The updated system provides a capacity for high-speed services to Edinburgh and Glasgow while reducing carbon emissions by 20% to 30%. This project helps to contribute to the railway's owners, Network Rail, goal to reach net zero emissions by 2045 in Scotland. Engineering firm, Arcadis used Bentley software to create #digitaltwins and 3D models of Carstairs Junction. This approach helped to improve communication with several multidisciplinary design teams, detected and resolved clashes earlier reducing design time by 35%, and saved £50 million. New track sections, overhead lines, signaling, and telecoms were installed, with improvements to station platforms, embankments, and drainage across the junction. Arcadis designed the electrification system to increase junction speeds from 40 to 110 miles per hour. #3Dmodeling #transit #infrastructure #engineeering #Carstairs

#DYK: Determining the capacity of a pipe is tricky business. Bentley Water Expert Tom Walski explains how to choose the right design for pipes: full-flowing for #water distribution or partly full for storm sewers. 📰 https://bit.ly/3LFEs9n

Climate model projections for Europe predict more frequent droughts and have prompted leaders to focus on water resilience. To prepare for the future, many local leaders have turned to the latest digital technology to fix their infrastructure, prevent water leaks, and improve water management to help navigate this new normal. Here’s a look at a few examples. 🔵 Keeping Cozy In Helsinki: Not far from the Arctic Circle in Northern Europe, Finland is one of the world’s most northern and geographically remote countries and is subject to a severe climate. Finland maintains over 16K kilometers of district heating pipelines and about 3K kilometers of water and sewerage lines used to transmit heat from a central source through a network of insulated water pipes to individual buildings. Helsinki’s Environmental Services Authority, Silo AI, worked with Bentley to build a digital twin of the heating system to better manage the aging network. The predictive utility network maintenance system helped to reduce energy consumption in the city's district heating system. 🔵 Stopping Leaks In Greece: Leaks from public water systems plague municipalities around the world. Greece’s public water supply loses around 26% of its water to leaks every year. To improve water and wastewater regulation in the city of Kozani, in northern Greece, local officials worked with DEYAK Water Utility to build a water digital twin to map and analyze the water system, which supplies the city’s 60,000 residents. The digital twin enabled the team to quickly identify leaks and fast-track repairs. Improved leak management has cut down on water waste, translating to lower utility bills for residents. More about these and other noteworthy examples are linked in the comments. #climatechange #engineering #AI #watermanagement #infrastructure #digitaltwins

China aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Focused on improving production and operational efficiencies for its aluminum plant facilities, Chalco collaborated with Shenyang Aluminum & Magnesium Engineering & Research Institute (SAMI) to create a digital twin of its Zhongrun Aluminum Factory. The initiative was set in response to the country's call for green development and reducing energy consumption in China’s aluminum industry. Shenyang Aluminum worked with voluminous data and multiple disciplines spread across 52 subprojects. They used Bentley software to accurately link 300 gigabytes of design and construction data with 3D models, which can then be used for facility management. Working with digital technology allowed for optimized design reviews and inspections during construction. The team also integrated VR technology and digital twins which enabled them to provide training for emergency response and emergency evacuation. SAMI began the project’s 3D design journey in 2017 completing the final implementation of the digital twin plant operation and maintenance application in 2022. The successful demonstration project saved CNY 6 million annually in administrative costs and drove sustainable development. #digitaltwin #3Dmodeling #data #engineering #infrastructure

Engineers & researchers to help better understand earthquakes, manage roadways, and protect aging sewer systems from storm surges. Read more about exciting #infrastructure research and #innovation in our new column The 5 Coolest Things in Infrastructure This Week. Link in the comments.

New Zealand's famous Christchurch cathedral, which was badly damaged by an earthquake in 2011, is being rebuilt through a complex reconstruction process. This massive undertaking combines tradition and cutting-edge technology to preserve the iconic structure's historical and cultural significance. Since 2020, the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Project has turned the site into a busy, multifaceted work area, where engineers, architects, construction workers, masons, and restoration experts work together. This meticulous effort involves utilizing IoT sensors and digital twin technology to track the cathedral's stability and protect worker safety Continue reading to learn about this remarkable journey and work behind the restoration efforts of this historic landmark at 🔗 in the comments. [📷 courtesy of Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Limited] #engineering #infrastructure #structuralengineering

Mumbai's western coastline is transforming thanks to the ambitious Mumbai Coastal Road Project. Currently under construction, the 29.2-kilometer-long expressway will reduce travel time between South Mumbai and the Western Suburbs from 2 hours to 40 minutes. Mumbai is one of the most populous cities in the world. The rise in road traffic put pressure on the city’s infrastructure and led to poor air quality levels that were concerning. The highway is expected to serve 130,000 vehicles daily once it is finished. L&T Construction is developing the first 9.98-kilometer section that includes a curved superstructure. The sharp curvature of the interchanges and the different bridge span lengths, along with the marine conditions and the limited steel quantities requirements, posed geometry and structural challenges. This required detailed and precise structural modeling and analysis. Before construction started, the adaptation of monopile led to minimal environmental pollution by producing less construction waste which could deal with the sensitive environmental conditions of the Mumbai coast. Using Bentley software, L&T modeled and analyzed 150 spans in 30 days, cutting design calculation time by 50% and saving 200 days in design time. The accurate designs and visualization helped them to use materials efficiently which allowed them to reuse 12,500 megatons of structural steel and shorten the construction period by six months. In March 2024, a section of the road, officially named the Dharmveer Swarajya Rakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road, partially opened connecting Marine Drive and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. #engineering #roads #bridges #transportation #digitaltwins #3Dmodeling Larsen & Toubro

The Becakayu 2A Ujung Highway Project is a toll road that connects Jakarta and Bekasi, two important cities in Indonesia. The project includes a section called 2AU, which includes a steel box arch girder bridge that spans 60 meters. The bridge has two abutments with deck slabs and reinforced concrete beams. PT Waskita Karya used a coordination model to create a digital twin of the bridge, which helped them see how the design would fit the site and address potential building roadblocks. They also used Bentley software to create 4D construction models to show the building steps to the stakeholders. This way, they could make better decisions than using 2D drawings. The project team completed the section 2A West Bekasi in June 2022. The Becakayu Toll Road will make road travel safer and faster, cutting time to 20-30 minutes. #engineering #construction #infrastructure #digitaltwin #indonesia

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR), known for connecting London's redeveloped Docklands with financial hubs like Canary Wharf and the City, is getting an upgrade. The focus? Its key maintenance facility, Beckton Depot. Built in 1994 to service a smaller fleet, Beckton Depot will be improved to provide additional train stabling and operational efficiency of the DLR's network. This upgrade project includes a new maintenance building with four tracks and train-lifting roads, providing under-train access. A new test track facility will also be constructed for testing its signaling system. Arcadis used a suite of digital technologies to streamline the design, construction, and stakeholder communication. They used Building Information Modeling (BIM) to create 3D models of the project, which enabled the team to optimize the design, detect and resolve any clashes, and improve the quality and efficiency of the project delivery. BIM also supported the carbon assessment and reduction process by providing data on the materials and energy use of the project. The revamped Beckton Depot is expected to be operational by 2024, paving the way for a more efficient and reliable DLR experience by 2026, when the new DLR trains enter service. #infrastructure #engineering #3Dmodeling #construction #rail

Knowing that breathtaking views of the Ganges River in India await, would you take the plunge 107 meters down from this tower? Nestled amidst the sacred foothills of the Himalayas in Rishikesh, sits India's tallest bungee jumping tower. Tourists travel to this region to plunge from the 25-meter-long cantilever boom. Designing and building the tower was a challenge due to the site's rocky terrain, earthquake-prone location, and strong winds. Construction began in early 2022, and the pressure was on to have a stable foundation for the tower in place before monsoon season began in June, bringing with it the risk of landslides. Engineering firm, Skeleton Consultants used Bentley software to help with the 3D modeling and analysis of the tower design for wind resistance and weight reduction. Using 3D visualization software helped them to optimize the tower’s design, saving about 200 hours of work before beginning construction. #construction #engineering #3Dmodeling #StructuralAnalysis #BIM