Bentley Systems

The Montrose Interchange sits on the only east-west route between Crocodile and Elands rivers and is set to boost the economies of not just South Africa but also neighboring Mozambique and Botswana. Construction on the Montrose interchange project was the first upgrade it received in over 30 years. Completed in August 2023, the work included building four new interchange ramps and the widening of the existing Crocodile Bridge from two to five lanes. These improvements provide safer and less congested roadways enabling people and goods to travel more efficiently contributing to more economically prosperous areas. Part of the project upgrade involved replacing an existing at-grade T-junction on the N4 highway. Trans Africa Concessions (TRAC) partnered with engineering firm SMEC to build a 3D model of the bridge in virtual reality through the use of UAV drone photography and Bentley software. This helped the team to create a reality mesh and present their designs, securing the design contract and facilitating the rapid delivery of a viable design. Bringing the entire project into a 3D environment and using VR, empowered all stakeholders to experience the project before construction began. Working in a collaborative digital environment saved approximately 2,500 hours of design time. #realitycapture #3dmodeling #drone #bridge #roads #engineering #infrastructure

Constructed more than 50 years ago to reduce flood risk and generate clean hydropower, California's New Bullards Bar Dam plays a crucial role in providing a reliable water supply to communities in the Northern Sacramento Valley. Yuba Water Agency, committed to dam safety and top-notch infrastructure operations, launched a project to replace a conventional legacy system and modernize its dam monitoring system. 📰 Check out the link in the comments to learn more about the dam's transformation into a digital sentinel. #infrastructure #engineering #geological #digitaltwin #iTwin #IoT #3D #realitymesh

For this American midwestern city, it all started with a need for accessibility. Perry, Iowa city officials wanted to create a more walkable and livable community for all residents. With the help of The Foth Companies, they created a citywide digital twin to help meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance for road improvements. Read how a seemingly simple street upgrade project became a testament to the transformative power of digital twin technology. https://bit.ly/3Wi6PAd #engineering #roads #digitaltwins #infrastructure #realitymesh #completestreets

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 can help us 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