To help provide basic data to achieve 3D digitalization of a mine, Meshdynamics was hired to implement oblique aerial photography and generate a 3D reality model. Previously, the mine owner used a 2D plan and traditional methods to manage the mining fields. The project team faced data acquisition challenges given weather and environmental conditions, compounded by data integration issues to realize full mine digitalization. They needed integrated technology applications and an open platform to meet the owner’s digital requirements.

They selected ContextCapture to generate a 3D reality model in an open platform, streamlining workflows and facilitating interoperability and collaboration. Bentley’s flexible and interoperable modeling and visualization technology allowed for accurate and timely data collection, network transmission, standard integration, and automated operations for intelligent information application related to the mining business. The solution provides the basis to integrate operational, production, and safety data to achieve smart, digital mine management. 

Project Playbook: ContextCapture, MicroStation

The ZTHC Hulusu coal preparation plant, one of the extra-large mines in Inner Mongolia comprised of more than 20 buildings, has a designed production capacity of 13 million tons per year. China Coal Tianjin Design Engineering had to implement a 3D collaborative BIM strategy and establish a standard coding system to achieve digital delivery, all within a 14-month timeline.

They selected ProjectWise and Bentley’s open modeling applications to establish a connected data environment and create 150 component models, creating the industry’s first standard digital coding system and meeting project requirements for unified data asset management. Bentley’s BIM solution identified and resolved over 300 clashes and helped automate material quantities calculations, saving more than CNY 3 million in total project costs. The coordinated platform improved modeling efficiency by 20%. The project serves as a benchmark, promoting lifecycle BIM and accelerating digitalization of China’s coal industry. 

Project Playbook: Bentley

A new, 3,000-ton-per-day gold concentration plant is being built on the Jinshan Gold Field, the largest gold mine in Jiangxi. The project presents a tight schedule, compounded by complex design and integration issues. Changchun Gold Design Institute is responsible for overall development and needed a BIM solution to coordinate design, prevent clashes not considered in their prior 2D methods, and improve construction efficiency.

They selected ProjectWise, OpenBuildings, OpenPlant, and OpenRoads, given their user simplicity and greater practicability than other BIM design products. With streamlined collaboration and design management, they saved costs, reduced the procurement cycle, and shortened construction. The dynamic visual 3D model improved client understanding and enabled clash detection, reducing design changes and rework on site. Compared to prior 2D design, the BIM solution decreased overall design time by 10%. The project establishes a benchmark for BIM in the future and a foundation for developing a digital twin and smart mine. 

Project Playbook: OpenBuildings, OpenPlant, OpenRoads Designer, ProjectWise, ProStructures

This project involves designing a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit in a maximum water depth of up to 2,200 meters for a very large crude carrier with a minimum storage capacity of 1.4 million barrels of crude oil. The project presents a tight timeline, which required shortening the engineering schedule and design cycle. Traditionally, Toyo Engineering Corporation would perform topside structural analysis using a load application method that required multiple input files and multiple runs. To avoid this time-consuming analysis, however, they had to deploy technology capable of automating structural analysis workflows.

After considering all their software options, Toyo Engineering Corporation selected SACS to implement a weight application and single file analysis method, reducing overall analysis and design time by 20%. Using the Bentley application, they delivered the project within the challenging timeline while optimizing the weight of the FPSO unit.

Project Playbook: SACS

The Fujian Huadian Fuqing Haitan Strait Offshore Wind Farm will spread over 35 square kilometers near China’s Fujian province. When complete, its 46 wind turbines will generate a combined 300 megawatts. The facility will be relatively close to shore, where water levels vary greatly between high and low tides. As a result, conventional pile-driving turbine installation vessels with deep drafts could not be used for construction. Designer Huadian Heavy Industries needed to know how to safely deploy a construction vessel, despite varying sea levels.

Huadian Heavy Industries decided that MOSES was the optimum application to build a hydrodynamic model of the vessel and then perform hydrodynamic simulations. Their simulations calculated wave forces on the vessel during high tide, as well as load forces on the vessel when installing turbines while on the sea floor during low tide. The analysis helped them determine the best method for safely installing turbines while the vessel is sitting on the sea floor, which also improved the efficiency of construction. 

Project Playbook: MOSES

A key construction project aligned with China’s construction, energy, and development strategy, this Guangdong petroleum wharf project includes a 300,000-ton, 440-meter-long crude oil berth that features a 1.3-kilometer-long landing approach bridge. CCCC Water Transportation Consultants was retained to provide technical support and digital deliverables for the complicated pipeline system and faced technical, engineering, and coordination challenges, compounded by a tight construction timeline. Having previously used outdated, traditional design technology and ineffective communication methods, they sought integrated BIM applications to meet project deliverables.

CCCC selected MicroStation and Bentley’s open modeling software, as well as ProjectWise to collaborate on the platform design. The digital solution improved overall design quality and facilitated simulation of design intent, optimizing construction processes. The connected data environment streamlined workflows to achieve a 35% improvement in communication, a 30% increase in design efficiency, and a 60% reduction in issues related to design quality. 

Project Playbook: MicroStation, OpenBuildings, OpenPlant, OpenRoads Designer, ProjectWise

The Mero field is an ultra-deep-water oilfield situated approximately 180 kilometers off the shore of Rio de Janeiro. The overall USD 2 billion Mero 3 project is a moored floating production storage and offloading unit with the capacity to produce 180,000 barrels of oil per day. Akers Solutions was awarded detailed engineering design but faced structural challenges designing column-free modules, as well as coordination issues working with multiple disciplines, vendors, and fabricators. To combat these obstacles, they realized that they needed an interoperable offshore structural analysis application to streamline workflows and optimize structural solutions.

They selected SACS, enabling loading from multiple disciplines, material takeoffs directly from the model, and seamless export of the analysis model to in-house and third-party software. Using Bentley’s interoperable application produced accurate structural quantities for fabrication, as well as reduced design time, errors, and resource hours. Subsequently, the model will be used to generate construction drawings for the fabrication yard. 

Project Playbook: SACS

To improve power distribution in Jieyang, China, State Power Investment Corporation began developing the Jieyang Shenquan Offshore Wind Farm. Its 66 turbines will have a total capacity of 406.5 megawatts, and the facility will include transmission lines and an offshore booster station. To reduce costs, the project owners tasked Huadian Heavy Industries with using a monopile foundation. However, traditional pile holding and positioning systems used for erecting monopile turbines would not work in the area’s ocean depth of 33 meters to 39 meters. As a result, they needed to design a new generation of pile sinking and positioning frames.

Huadian Heavy Industries found that they could select SACS to design complex frames that can help install the deep monopiles. They used the application to design the frames, as well as conduct various analyses, including in-place, seismic, nodal fatigue, towing, and lifting. Using this data to optimize the design, they constructed the frames and used them to install the wind farm’s deep monopiles. 

Project Playbook: SACS

Hatch is working on two new expansion projects for an existing iron plant in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. The first project required developing a configuration to increase ore hardness and milling capacity, while the second focused on delivering a tailings dewatering plant. Hatch faced challenges delivering both projects simultaneously, as required by the owner, and required an integrated, interoperable technology solution.

Using Bentley applications, Hatch developed a digital solution that allowed for integration with material, reporting, and data management systems. The user-friendliness, flexibility, and interoperability resulted in rapid training of new team members, a fully integrated multidiscipline 3D model, and a streamlined workflow. Using the models, they reduced rework and directly extracted material quantities and reports to achieve accurate bill of quantities and documentation. The final 3D model will be used with other technology as the foundation for 4D construction scheduling and 5D cost analysis. 

Project Playbook: Bentley Raceway and Cable Management, OpenBuildings, OpenPlant, ProjectWise