A few months after laying the foundation stone of the Chennai metro rail’s second phase, CMRL (Chennai Metro Rail Limited), the special purpose vehicle tasked with the project execution, has announced that it would use Building Information Modeling (BIM) to develop 3D models of the project before starting the construction work. The metro operator has given the BIM contract to Rudrabhishek Enterprises Ltd.
“The contractor will build a 3D model of all stations, tunnels and viaducts. This will help us avoid any design issue. From the location of a cable to signage inside the stations, these images will display everything. This is the first time we are using three-dimensional modelling and want to prevent all issues that came up in the phase I and phase I extension project,” a CMRL official was quoted as saying.
Learning from experience
The first phase of the metro rail project in the southern Indian city of Chennai faced several problems, such as poor signages and leaks during the monsoon. “There are stations of various levels and first creating a model virtually will show if it is feasible to build it on ground. If not, we see what changes can be made. This greatly helps in reducing delays owing to design issues at the time of construction,” Mayapada Kapri, Senior Manager with Rudrabhishek Enterprises Ltd, told an Indian daily.
This will be the first time when BIM and 3D modeling will be used in this project, whose second phase is estimated to cost INR 61,843 crore ($8.83 billion), and will stretch across 118.9 km. “We want to prevent all issues that came up in the phase I and phase II extension project,” the CMRL official told the English daily, adding that the contractor will build a 3D model of all stations, tunnels and viaducts which will help in avoiding any design issue. “From the location of a cable to signage inside the station, these images will display everything.”
Earlier, BIM and 3D modeling were used for a similar project in the central Indian city of Nagpur to build a cost-efficient infrastructure. The project used architectural modeling and structural modeling, 4D/5D simulations to visualize essential design and construction elements.
Also Read: BIM and Common Data Environment on the LA Regional Connector Transit Corridor Project
Technology boost for infrastructure
Proponents of BIM usage for transport infrastructure argue that the technology can address the increasing need to replace deficient infrastructure and can also fortify the existing one. Through the use of BIM, detailed construction costs can be measured and construction errors can be minimized. The technology centers around an intelligent model shared among different stakeholders, acting as a collaborative tool throughout the entire lifecycle of an asset.
Today, countries around the world use BIM to determine work schedules, manage supply chains, estimate costs and analyze holistically, which helps reduce project delays and wastage. Experts believe that the model can start at asset conception through detailed and automated data capture technologies, and gain intelligence as it gets passed among different stakeholders.
Also Read: Can GEOBIM be a game changer in development of Multifunctional Transport Infrastructure?
