Harsha Madiraju,
[email protected]
Alook into application of geospatial technologies in the implementation of some of the most amazing projects in the modern construction history
BOSTON’S BIG DIG
Reaching to a precision of 3/8 of an inch The largest urban construction project in modern history, the “Big Dig” has taken nearly 30 years and cost some $14.6 billion, it is the most expensive public-works project in US history. It is the replacement of downtown Boston’s elevated central artery (I-93) with 8-to-10 lane underground highway and a bridge and improving its connection with the airport. A part of this project is the Fort Point Channel Crossing tunnel is the first rectangular concrete vehicular Immersed Tunnel Tube (ITT) project in the U.S. and the most complex of its kind in the world. It spans 1,100 feet and carry 10 lanes of traffic between the Mass Turnpike (I-90) extension and the Ted Williams Tunnel. An immersed tube is a kind of underwater tunnel constructed using
Trimble Marine Construction Pages
| Building Hong Kong’s Airport |
Making it happen with Geospatial technologies On July 6, 1998 Hong Kong opened its new international airport 16 miles out at sea. But, first engineers had to build not only the largest passenger terminal on earth, but a whole new island to hold the airport, and miles of tunnels, bridges and roadways to connect it to the mainland. Beyond this marvel was a team of around 70 surveyors lead by the chief surveyor Ian J. Ayson. The initial Geological surveys were conducted in this region by Hong Kong Geological survey in 1967-69 which was updated in 1989 and the topographical data by the Hong Kong Survey and Mapping office in 1979-80 both the works with Leica equipment. Survey control was provided by a network of fixed reference points began in 1982 with Leica TC1010 total stations. The Combination of Photogrammetry with orthophoto techniques, DTMs, and land-information system proved itself as the best overall survey. Once every four weeks from the time of construction, the Hong Kong Government Survey & Mapping Office, on behalf of the Airport Authority flew its aircraft equipped with Wild RC10A aerial camera system, which were used to prepare topographical data and to calculate volumes through 3D models. Applying such technologies helped the team to complete the operations with in team and with the allocated cost budgets. Professional Surveyor |
TUNNELLING UNDER THE ALPS
Laying foundation for Europe’s future transport
The Brenner Pass has served as a vital alpine link between Austria and Italy since early Roman times by supporting trade and transportation from northern to southern Europe. Recognizing the critical need to improve its transportation networks, the European Union (EU) initiated a series of studies and proposals that resulted in the Trans-European Transportation Networks (TEN-T) project, which was adopted by the EU in 1996.
TEN-T is a series of coordinated improvements to roadways, airports, railways, and water transportation networks designed to stimulate economic growth, competitiveness, and employment throughout Europe.
Axis no. 1 (TEN 1) of the TEN-T project is a revitalization of the rail network from Berlin, Germany to Palermo, Italy. It is divided into eight distinct projects, and the projected completion date for the entire railway corridor is 2040. The Brenner Base Tunnel section of TEN 1 is 56 kilometres in length and will be completed by 2020.
The tunnel is expected to take much of the existing truck and automobile traffic out of the Brenner Pass, transporting primarily freight (80%) but also passengers (20%) through the region by railway. To manage the comprehensive geographical database of this project, BBT SE decided to adopt a modular and scalable GIS based on the latest Web technologies, which will enable everyone involved in the implementation of the project to access relevant geospatial information quickly and efficiently. The system architecture includes modules for geology, planning, water monitoring, topography, land parcels and owners and public in which data and functionalities are provided based on type of user. The internal GIS application is used by BBT SE engineers for project planning and development. The external application is for use by the general public so that they can easily follow the progress of the project. This system is not only playing a key role as a data archive for various stages of the project, but also helping in the design, support of various stages of the project life cycle through various analysis tools in its modules.
Geo: International Magazine
| IMPOSSIBLE ISLANDS |
 Satellite images/magazines/2008/apr helping in realising the fantasy of “city of the future “ In the Dubai, the world’s largest artificial islands have been constructed in the shape of massive palm trees. This ambitious engineering feat is part of a plan to transform Dubai into one of the world’s premiere tourist destinations. The Palm Jumeirah is one of the world’s largest man-made islands, covering 560 hectares of land and more than 600 football pitches could sit comfortably on the Palm. Located off the coast of Jumeirah, Dubai’s most prestigious district, The Palm Jumeirah is a landmark in engineering and is one of the world’s largest man-made islands (with The Palm Jebel Ali and The Palm Deira the only bigger ones) and home to a residential, tourism, and leisure destination created by Nakheel, a key company in Dubai’s transformation from a sleepy fishing village into one of the fastest growing cities in the world. UAE Ministry of Labour is using high-resolution satellite technology to monitor construction sites and projects. And the ministry has made a compulsory mandate for companies to pay fees for the satellite inspection services. Satellite images/magazines/2008/apr of the Palm islands construction project helped engineering companies organize, plan and monitor Dubai’s number one tourist destination. Nakheel has also been marketing this project by releasing a unique set of images/magazines/2008/apr showing the remarkable transformation of Dubai’s landscape and coastline The photographs of Dubai’s past, present and future with the aid of satellite imagery shows Dubai in 1973, 1990, 2000 and 2007 and an image which shows what Dubai is predicted to look like once all of Nakheel’s currently announced developments are completed. “You only have to look at these images/magazines/2008/apr to see how Dubai has developed incredibly over the last few decades. We are proud to be part of such an extraordinary story” – Chris O’Donnell, Nakheel CEO. Post-card GIS and reconnaissance technologies turn into spectacle and telegenic fantasy addressing mass tourism. Nakheel |
WIDENING THE PANAMA CANAL
Tackling the problem of navigating “Post Panamax” vessels
The Panama Canal’s man-made passage way between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans changed the world commerce. But nearly a century later, many cargo ships are too large to traverse the canal. This lead to the Panama Canal Widening project, that is to be completed by 2014.
DHV is responsible for all maritime and lock constructions within the program management connected to the canals expansion; this includes the deepening and widening of the channels, reservoirs and the new and larger locks on both sides. Preliminary designs are currently being carried out by other parties.
The canal has to be modified to allow the so-called Post Panamax ships through. These mega-tankers cannot make it through the current canal because they are wider and deeper than the waterway. The construction work has to be completed in 2014 and involves and investment of US$5.25 billion. The expansion project involves building a new set of massive locks on both the Atlantic and Pacific ends of the existing canal and will include substantial excavation and dredging. The project schedule calls for the first “Post Panamax” vessel to transit through the expanded canal in 2014, the 100th anniversary of the completion of the original canal.
A Post Panamax vessel is the term for ships that are larger than a Panamax and do not fit in the original canal. After expansion, the Panama Canal is expected to be able to handle vessels up to 12000 TEU in size. “The expansion of the Panama Canal is considered one the most visible and important infrastructure projects in the world, and will affect global commerce significantly over the next century,” said Garry Higdem, CH2M HILL’s lead executive for the Panama Canal program.
