Projects
Name of Project:Frankley Water Treatment Site
Project Description:
In 2016 Bridgeway Consulting Ltd were commissioned by North Midland Construction to carry out a full laser scanned survey of a Severn Trent Water facility namely Frankley Water Treatment plant and create a Revit BIM model of the existing facility. North Midland Construction are carrying out various works on the site, so the model was to be used as a planning as logistics tool to help streamline the various construction works.
The Birmingham Resilience Project is designed to provide back up to the city’s current dependency on a 1906 aqueduct. For more than 100 years, most of Birmingham’s water has flowed down the Elan Valley Aqueduct from reservoirs in the Welsh hills. The aqueduct needs maintenance to keep it in service, which means draining it for extended periods. The Birmingham Resilience Project provides an alternative source of water during those maintenance periods and will be used for up to 50 days every other year. It will also provide a solution in the event of an emergency scenario such as an unplanned shutdown of the aqueduct. The water would be transferred via a new 25km pipeline from a new river intake at Lickhill, just north of Stourport, to the Frankley water treatment works in Birmingham, which is being upgraded to accommodate the new source of water. Preparation work to lay the pipeline started in October 2016 and will continue until 2018
Bridgeway used their survey and modelling expertise to capture the data, the site time was limited so we used a mobile laser scanning application to capture the data on site. Once back at the office the Laser Scanned point cloud was Classified which meant that the modelling workflows were streamlined as the ground surface could be modelled with greater accuracy. In addition to this the model had Uniclass classification to all the elements produced helping to structure the information further for asset management purposes. It is expected that the model will help with logistical organisation of the site for many years to come.
Name of Project:Guest & Chrimes
Project Description:
This is the historic Guest & Chrimes building which opened in 1857 and it is an important representation of Rotherham's industrial strength in the 19th century.
The building was a major place for the manufacturer of commodities made from brass and iron fittings for the use of steam and water industries. The company enjoyed rapid expansion following the invention by Edward Chrime of the 'High pressure loose valve screw-down cock' the fore runner of the modern domestic water tap.
G&C manhole covers, water hydrants and valves were at one point amongst Rotherham's most notable and numerous exports. As late as the turn of the century you could walk along any street in any major city in the UK, the States, the Middle East or Asia and see the famous 'Guest & Chrimes, Rotherham inscription.
Peter & Edwards Chrimes first established a Brass foundry in Rotherhams market place in 1843, initially specialising in high-pressure taps but quickly moving into fire hydrants, sluice valves and similar items. John Guest joined the firm in 1847, and the firm relocated to its present site in 1857. A large portion of the existing Building are still in existence since the foundry’s closure in 1999.
Now new plans are being evaluated to look at various options for the existing buildings that have not been demolished. In 2017 Bridgeway were commissioned to carry out a measured survey of the building and produce an existing 3D Revit model requested by the proposed Architects for the proposed scheme.
We used innovative mobile laser scanning techniques to capture the data, which resulted in site times being dramatically reduced in comparison to traditional static scanning. This data was then brought into Autodesk Revit modelling software to produce an existing asset information BIM model. The client received a fully workable survey model enabling the Architects to establish current volumetrics for the building as well as gross internal floor areas.
Name of Project:Marlbrook School
Project Description:
During the summer of 2016 Bridgeway were asked by Kier Construction to Laser scan and produce a 3D BIM model of Marlbrook Primary School. The purpose of the model was to establish accurate areas for redevelopment of the school and establishing extensions in order to allow for larger class sizes. The biggest issue Bridgeway encountered was that the time restrictions on site were very tight so a faster solution for the site survey activities needed to be established.
With this in mind Bridgeway decided to utilise a mobile laser scanning solution which proved its worth especially complex and enclosed spaces, without the need for GNSS.
This proved extremely quick in comparison to static terrestrial scanning. The outputted point cloud can be seen above in fig 1.
With an indoor range of 30 metres capturing more than 40,000 points a second it took less than 2 days to scan the entire school. With an accuracy level of 15mm Kier Construction and its Architects were happy to entertain this level of accuracy for indoor building surveys.
Survey control was established in order to geo locate the model. The cloud was registered using cloud to cloud registration.
Revit Modelling
Kier Construction requested that we liaise with the architects to establish requirements for the BIM model, we then set up automated room scheduling within the model to automatically produce room area, Door and window schedules for quantity take offs etc.
This is all automated so is a very fast process with less risk of human error within the production of the schedules. All entities and spaces within the model were assigned Uniclass 2015 classification. The Architects then took the model to commence with the design proposals having the existing 3D model to utilise enabled them to establish the correct eaves heights etc in order for the Structural Engineers to ascertain the most effective way to integrate the proposed extensions to the school, they commented that having a 3D surveyed model allowed them to make clearer decisions regarding the proposed designs.
In addition Kier requested the 2D information be automatically from the model these were extracted in Autocad .dwg format.
Name of Project:Woodseat Hall
Project Description:
Introduction
Woodseat Hall is situated to the south-west of Rocester, Staffordshire. Built in 1767 as a home for the High Sheriff of Derbyshire, it was constructed by Thomas Bainbrigge. Following his death the Hall had become a subject of contest of many wills, which lead to 40 years of instability for the asset and its subsequent decline. Further changes of ownership lead to its eventual ruinous state. In 1986 it was purchased by JCB.
In November 2016, Bridgeway Consulting was appointed by JCB to carry out survey works to aid design works in the planning application process. The planning application made by Bamford Property Ltd/JCB proposed a complex redevelopment of the area, including restoration of Woodseat Hall and its conversion into a Golf Club house.
Why was scanning selected?
The Client was interested in capturing all prominent architectural features as well as structural defects that impacted on the external elevations within a short timescale. Access to the site was relatively unrestricted enabling undisrupted scanning and maximising data capture. Scanning also enabled unstable areas to be measured and detailed without risk to personnel. Bridgeway 3D scanning methodology ensured high accuracy of collected data, its prompt processing and passing onto the modelling team within 1 working day.
What was the deliverable output?
Bridgeway Consulting Ltd. was contracted to supply:
- 3D laser scan in a format of .pts point cloud
- 3D BIM model in a .rvt format (software specified was Autodesk Revit 2015)
- External elevations in .dwg and .pdf format
The entire process beginning with data collection, followed by its processing to the subsequent 3D modelling and graphical presentation. As specified by the Client, all architectural and structural features captured by the scanner were modelled. In order to keep the size of the model file to a minimum, individual features were custom created as Revit families. On this occasion we did not use any deviation parameters which can be built in to the model if required to show geometric deviations within the existing structure. This approach also ensured that all components were correctly named and logically organised within the model structure and easy navigation provided.
The model also included the site topography.
External elevations and perspective views were created and presented within the Revit model and ,as requested by the client, also exported in .dwg and .pdf format.
For more information please refer to the recent publication by Historic England titled “BIM for Heritage”
Name of Project:Liverpool Street
Project Description:
Data capture and Business Information Modelling (BIM) services are nothing new to Bridgeway Consulting, but coupling this with an understanding of BIM standard protocols has enabled us to guide and build new relationships with our clients.
For one recent project, Bridgeway were recently commissioned by Network Rail to undertake a 3D digital model of Liverpool Street Station in London.
The model was to be based largely on 3D laser scan data collected in the field by our in house surveying teams, which would then be supplemented by and cross checked against existing asset records.
The logistics of producing such a model relied heavily on integrating with Network Rail in order to obtain some 29,000 legacy drawings from their archive in York, with some dating back to the original construction of the station in the late 1800’s.
Relying on these drawings alone would import a large element of risk when producing a current as built record, so to supplement the model Bridgeway were commissioned to undertake over 600 fully co-ordinated 3D HDS laser scans of the entire station to provide a dimensionally accurate model.
The Bridgeway Consulting surveying teams worked in non operational hours to minimise impact on the general public, firstly creating a fully coordinated survey grid and then carrying out laser scan and reflectorless survey activities, at times utilising up to 7 teams at a time.
Once all of the data was collected on site, it could then be brought back to Bridgeway’s HQ for processing.
One of 29,000 legacy drawings of the station dating back to the late 1800's.
Bridgeway Laser Scanning Surveyor undertaking 3D scanning at Liverpool Street Station, London
The post processing of the data sets produced from the laser scanners is in itself a sizable task due to the sheer volume of data collected.
It was agreed that splitting of the clouds was an essential element in order to reduce the files to a manageable size.
Each cloud then was converted into an Autodesk Revit 2015 native point cloud file format by utilising Autodesk Recap.
Once converted, each cloud could be linked into Revit in order to re-construct the station.
By linking the separate point clouds into Revit it made the process much more manageable to determine sections and plans through the cloud, once these were established the modelling process could begin.
As each scan has to be registered and cloud fitted to create a cohesive model, and when dealing with many millions of surveyed points powerful hardware is required to manage the data sets.
Whilst the point cloud gives a dimensionally accurate 3D representation, from a BIM perspective it is still very much dumb data with little embedded information.
In the spirit of BIM and using the point cloud and legacy data as a base we were able to create a Revit model containing data rich components, which have built in parameters to enable additional asset data to be introduced.
These components have parameters built in order to embed further data regarding the overall asset and its component parts.
This embedded data can then provide a wealth of information for renovation, construction, facilities management and indeed the asset lifecycle of the station itself.
Of course, laser scanners can only capture points which can be seen from the scan position and will not identify what lies beneath the surface.
Therefore additional GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) surveys were carried out to build a fuller picture of the station and its components.
Should Network Rail need capture more data in the future Bridgeway can mobilise their in house Ground Investigation, Site investigation, and Infrastructure Services teams to carry out intrusive investigations and condition inspections.
The additional data gathered from these works can then be linked, visualised and geo coordinated to the BIM model, working to the principles of true BIM.
Revit model, Broadgate Entrance under construction
At Bridgeway our service offering doesn’t just end with the handover of the model.
Helping clients achieve their goals in information management is one of the core values to Bridgeway’s BIM consultancy service, and with this in mind we are engaging with our clients to help them understand how they can implement a “single source of truth” from their common data environment through the use of BS1192 workflows.
And helping to standardise certain approaches regarding the flow of construction data within their projects moving forward.
Laser scan to model of platform areas
In order for the model to provide efficiencies to Network Rail collaboration was key a number of BIM workshops were set up in order to develop the model and maintain its manageable status, categorisation and zoning of spaces etc to aid the structure of information moving forward.
From the model the data can be delivered in numerous ways and various formats to ensure interoperability.
Liverpool Street Main Concourse
From initial data collection, through to data processing, modelling, management and consultancy, Bridgeway are building a platform from which to take major projects from first principles through to ongoing monitoring and utilisation of intelligent data to bring key benefits to public and private sector Clients.
Name of Project:Euston Modelling
Project Description:
With the advent of HS2 and a large focus being currently on phase 1 from London to Birmingham, work is currently being carried out on the Terminus which is to be Euston Station
Bridgeway Consulting Ltd are working with Network Rail to gain an understanding of their information requirements regarding the project to this end helping the Client to understand key BIM related protocols such as PAS1192-2.
It is prudent to spend time with the Client upfront to understand and establish information requirements in detail as opposed to rushing into design proposals.
Thoughts need to be given with regards to reverse engineering the lifecycle process of the assets in question, after all as handover approaches most design / project managers may have the task of gathering information necessary to facilitate the use of the asset.
PAS1192-2: 2013 simply sets out protocols for formulising and structuring digital data prior to occupation. It is not a hugely challenging document to understand when the reader takes away a lot of the acronyms etc.
Albeit it is quite lengthy and can introduce roles and administrative layers for information management which may appear to be unfamiliar with the Client, however determining the Clients interests are crucial for example does there interest lye within the actual post handover of information?
For the NHS estates department with a significant maintenance portfolio, efficient post handover information management is a given, whist a commercial developer may have little interest in the maintenance phase and may be intent on selling the asset as quickly as possible after completion.
Determining a Clients information requirements from the outset is not necessarily an impossible task and within infrastructure projects as with many construction projects it is about the collaboration of the people involved to discuss the requirements and identify / eradicate issues that arise from these discussions this will ultimately help the Client to form their Employers Informational requirements, which will inevitably help the supply chain to respond via there BIM execution plans.
After PAS1192-2 comes the associated PAS1192-3 as this is embraced as a “specification for information management for the operational phase of assets using Building Information Modelling “or in infrastructure’s case Digital Engineering or whatever the collaboration of digital construction information is being called these days.
Then the structured information previously produced on the project will aid the operational use of the assets in question, again identification and collaboration of the asset team receiving this information is crucial to understanding how the information is to be delivered and at what stages of the project.
Recently Bridgeway consulting where appointed to act as principal contractor for the enabling works being carried out at the Station.
This involves overseeing various works and decommissioning to take place utilising various surveys and identification of assets to this end a co-ordinated approach has been adopted and the investigation into the utilisation of BIM principles has been undertaken.
In order to help Structural assessments to take place, an as built BIM model is currently being produced, this is being produced from various survey formats but predominantly Laser Scans, modelling of all main structural elements has proved paramount as the optioneering is taking place to potentially widen the Station.
Ground investigation data can also be encompassed and simulated in the model from the use of the industry standard .AGS data format, giving the recipient a greater understanding of what lies beneath the asset as well as above it.
It is envisaged that various utility surveys are to be carried out and incorporated into the model giving a greater understanding of the asset and allowing designers to make accurate more informed decisions regarding future design proposals.
Euston Station Renders
