Part of the world’s highest altitude power and transmission project, the Saga substation is a 220-kilovolt, large-scale outdoor station that will eliminate the power shortage in the Ngari region, enabling seven counties in Tibet to have access to the connected power grid. The project presented complex geographical conditions and a poor working environment, compounded by requirements that the plant design comply with the local Tibetan architecture style. To overcome these challenges and manage multiple engineering disciplines, the team needed collaborative BIM technology.

They selected Bentley’s open 3D modeling applications, including OpenUtilities Substation and OpenBuildings, to perform coordinated design, effectively reproducing the local architectural style and supporting digital construction of the power grid. Using LumenRT provided an interoperable visual platform for multidiscipline field reviews and an interactive virtual reality scene that enabled construction disclosure without additional conversion software. Bentley’s integrated digital solution saved nearly one month in the construction schedule and over CNY 2 million.