The Thames Tideway Tunnel Benefits from a Digital Strategy and Saves 32% on Design(Bentley Systems)
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The Thames Tideway Tunnel Benefits from a Digital Strategy and Saves 32% on Design(Bentley Systems)

Exton, PA, November 27, 2017 - Bentley Systems announces –Mott MacDonald provided innovative leadership on the UK’s largest-ever water industry infrastructure project by enabling a going-digital strategy for the CVB JV project team (a joint venture of Costain, Vinci Construction Grands Projets, and Bachy Soletanche). The Thames Tideway Tunnel project sets the standard for construction projects around the world, as it connects diverse teams and improves collaboration.


The Thames Tideway Tunnel Benefits from a Digital Strategy and Saves 32% on Project Delivery (1)
Immersive 3D technology provided compelling visualization.


The project’s primary objective was to reduce sewerage overflows into the River Thames, improve water quality, and create new infrastructure that lasts at least 120 years while meeting strict European environmental standards. An additional objective was meeting the government’s goal of adding 182,000 new engineers by 2022.

By adopting Bentley’s BIM methodology, Mott MacDonald ensured 3D digital engineering models would provide the immersive environment to support the planning and design phases. Project participants also took advantage of a connected data environment, leveraging an Azure cloud platform for improved collaboration and providing access to the right data at all times.

Mott MacDonald was the lead designer for the CVB JV responsible for the East contract from Chambers Wharf to Abbey Mills, as well as a connection tunnel from Greenwich to central London. Its responsibility included 10 kilometers of tunnel works located 70 meters below the city of London, with six publicly visible shaft sites. Faced with coordinating 12 design disciplines and numerous participating firms spread across Europe, Mott MacDonald had to ensure coordination and collaboration of all stakeholders. Some of the challenges included reducing the number of deliverables on the project (over 50,000), controlling the vast amount of data, standardizing processes, reducing rework, and streamlining the review process.

For this GBP 4 billion project, Mott MacDonald and the CVB JV venture leveraged Bentley applications for design and construction. The adoption of Bentley’s BIM methodology, which included 3D collaborative software, enabled better communication among the project disciplines to make informed decisions. Using ProjectWise, team members could access all deliverable information 80 percent faster than on similar projects. This advantage reduced the total number of deliverables on the project. Using Bentley Navigator, project participants could review models, secure approvals, identify issues, and reduce rework. This helped complete design time six months ahead of schedule.

Among the BIM processes adopted was COBie standards compliance for handover of project data to the owner-operator. BIM models were exchanged using iModels saving 22.5 hours per week. With all data stored in a cloud-enabled connected data environment, and all project participants adhering to the BS 1192 compliance workflow, the team saved 80 percent in project information delivery time and ensured everyone had access to the right data at the right time. Moreover, the 3D models leveraged an automated visualization method to identify potential hazards, ensuring data given to the field was fully compliant to desired safety standards.

Mott MacDonald drove significant change in process and culture, which was key to achieving these project results. By adopting BIM processes and a going-digital strategy, the project team improved collaboration and cooperation with the supply chain and stakeholders. 3D digital engineering models enabled immersive simulation for review and approvals, and provided engineering-ready data required for handover. Mott MacDonald and the CVB JV utilized Bentley applications to ensure a 32-percent savings on developed design.

“The project common data environment, hosted on ProjectWise, allows us to easily access the latest information and has improved and simplified design approvals. Bentley ProjectWise provided the tool to coordinate over 80,000 documents totalling 685 gigabytes of data to give 300 users across 12 design disciplines the latest controlled information on which to base design and construction decisions.”

Michael Gaunt, BIM Manager, Mott MacDonald

About Bentley Systems

Bentley Systems is a global leader in providing engineers, architects, geospatial professionals, constructors, and owner-operators with comprehensive software solutions for advancingthe design, construction, and operations of infrastructure. Founded in 1984, Bentley has more than 3,000 colleagues in over 50 countries, more than $600 million in annual revenues, and since 2011 has invested more than $1 billion in research, development, and acquisitions. For more information, please visit www.bentley.com.

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