The new Crussell Bridge in Finnish capital Helsinki was a complete BIM project by WSP and was built by Skanska, while the structure improves connectivity to the western shore area of the city - image courtesy of WSP’s Nicola Evans.
New developments in the software sector will improve construction efficiency.
Standards organisationIn 2011 the UK Government announced that all suppliers that wish to bid for public sector construction contracts must use BIM tools and techniques from 2016, making its implementation commercially critical for companies that wish to apply for high value public projects in the future.
A survey of nearly 1,000 construction professionals, conducted by National Building Specification in 2011, showed that 31% of respondents were currently using BIM, rising sharply from 13% in 2010, typically in the form of 2D or 3D CAD modelling.
BIM is the process of bringing together and sharing information in a digital format amongst all those involved in a construction project, including architects, engineers and contractors. By making information more accessible and available to the client and end user to support through-life asset management, BIM should optimise productivity, risk management, margins and sustainability.
Members of the committee that are drafting the standard include
President of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Richard Coackley said, “Driving best value from new and existing infrastructure projects is crucial. BIM has the capacity to significantly improve the way we deliver and maintain infrastructure assets but to ensure it is used most effectively there needs to be accessible guidelines for best practice across the industry.”
Dr Scott Steedman, director (designate) of Standards said, “Accelerating the implementation of BIM throughout the construction sector will bring benefits to clients and their supply chains.”
Committee chair Peter Rebbeck said, “With BIM soon to become mandatory for public sector contracts many construction companies will be looking to implement it in the most effective way. The standards we are putting together will help companies achieve this, ensuring they can bid for public sector contracts and realise the huge commercial, organisational and environmental benefits of BIM. We are today calling on private practices to come forward, join our committee and contribute to the development of the standards.”
Roundabout route
Version 8 of the well-known ARCADY program for assessment of roundabout capacity is just released by UK transport research and software company,The ARCADY program, based on years of accumulated empirical date, is widely used world-wide as well as in the UK on all traffic impact assessments concerning the design or redesign of roundabouts.
The new PICADY capacities are added in a new Priority Intersection Module which is a completely re-written and streamlined version of PICADY in itself. It means PICADY users can now model alternative layouts to an intersection with multiple time periods simultaneously, previously a capacity only of ARCADY.
ARCDAY itself new adds individual entry lane simulation on roundabouts, a roundabout bypass lane facility and basic and advanced modes, with setup wizards to help users get up to speed as quickly as is possible.
Entry Lane Analysis model is an animated graphical tool that will make ARCADY more useful for the roundabout design process since it allows engineers to analyse the queues that are likely to happen in each individual entry lane for to help achieve efficient lane configuration.
ARCADY's use in design work has been increased since version 7.1 by a linking capacity to
The Savoy link-up was further extended last year with both programs tied to
The new version 8 also includes American HCM 2010 Roundabout Capacity Equation for roundabout analysis, which will give US and Canadian engineers more options.
