Mott MacDonald And Arup Flying Through

Mott MacDonald and ArupProject:Midfield Development Design ConsultancyServicesLocation:Hong Kong International AirportFlying Throughan Airport BuildingType:InfrastructureScheduled Time of Completion:Q3, 2015“ Using BIM was aboutthe only way we couldhave done this job.”David Mepham,Divisional Director,Hong Kong, Mott MacDonaldImage courtesy of Mott MacDonald and ArupBIM Partners Involved:A joint venture between Mott MacDonald andArup is providing full design consultancy andconstruction support services for a MidfieldConcourse to be built at Hong Kong InternationalAirport. With an area of 100,000 square metres,this will provide an additional 20 aircraft parkingstands, together with passenger facilitiesincluding an extension of an automatic peoplemove system, and a baggage handling area. Thisis the first Hong Kong Airport Authority project todeploy BIM. Airport Authority Hong Kong Aedas Limited OTC Limited Atkins China Limited Bo Steiber Lighting DesignAutodesk Hong Kong BIM Awards 201327

Deciding to use BIM “full-on”“During our bid for the project, we thoughtlong and hard about using BIM,” says theproject manager Mr David Mepham, DivisionalDirector – Hong Kong, Mott MacDonald. “Itwas not specifically called for in the terms ofreference, though the Airport Authority hadasked for a computerised 3D model for clashresolution. We made a conscious decision touse BIM full-on.”This was the first time BIM would be deployedon a Hong Kong Airport Authority project,and Mr Mepham explains that it would provebeneficial as in the project cycle, it savesmoney, through helping with more quicklyunderstanding designs. “You can iron out issuesbefore you get to site,” he adds. “During theconstruction phase is the wrong time for this.With BIM, you work on problems when you aremost able to solve them.”Image courtesy of Mott MacDonald and ArupThe project team used a variety of 3D designsoftware, including Revit when it was the besttool for the job, such as for reinforced concrete,and mechanical, engineering and plumbing.Autodesk Navisworks was then used as acommon platform for showing and assessinginformation in 3D, pulling together all thepieces from the designers.Image courtesy of Mott MacDonald and Arup28 Autodesk Hong Kong BIM Awards 2013

Limiting detail ensures workablemodelOnce they had agreed to use BIM, Mr Mephamsays, “We sat down as a team, and made abig decision: to limit the amount of detail inthe model.” Team members from both MottMacDonald and Arup could make this decisionbased on past experience with using BIM.“There is still a focus on 2D contractdocumentation, but people are seeing howadding 3D data makes things easier,” says Ir IanTaylor, Director of Infrastructure, Arup. “Thereare some things, such as baggage systems, wenow design from the beginning in 3D as theyinvolve three-dimensional problems concerningmoving through buildings.”In addition to a baggage system, the MidfieldConcourse design includes a curvaceous roofwith complex 3D geometry. The architecturalroof model was the basis for the roof steelworkmodel, and Navisworks helped with advancingthe design, as well as identifying clashes. “Weused the BIM model and analysis tool hand inhand,” says Ir Taylor.Resolve densely packed services“We solve the design in BIM, which provedquite powerful,” says Mr Mepham.The designers faced many constraints, with thevery tight site. For instance, floors could not betoo high, as passengers must be able to accessaircraft. Although floor to floor heights werevery constrained, plans called for spaciousness.Plus, the overall site would be as tight andcompact as possible.“There are a lot of services, such as fail safesystems and communication systems, that areImage courtesy of Mott MacDonald and ArupAutodesk Hong Kong BIM Awards 201329

unlike the traditional practice in which bigdrawings are spread across a large table.Flying through the virtual concourseIn addition, design team members could lookfor potential problems by examining the BIMmodel on screen. “It’s as if you can fly throughthe building, using a mouse,” says Mr Mepham.This helped find, for instance, some issues withsprinklers that were poorly positioned.Image courtesy of Mott MacDonald and Arupnot in regular buildings,” says Mr Mepham. “Sowe were trying to cram in a massive amountservices. Using BIM was about the only way wecould have done this job. In 2D, we could neverhave understood the issues.”A BIM simulation likewise assisted endusers with identifying potential operationalconstraints, and establishing accessrequirements.“In virtual reality, nothing is physically fixed,”adds Mr Mepham. “This is a much morepragmatic and sensible way of resolving thedesign.”The BIM model includes attributes ofinformation on a range of passenger aircraft.These help with checking sight lines for an airtraffic controller, such as to see whether planestaxiing by the new concourse can be seen: insome cases, the model showed that part only ofthe aircraft, such as its tail will be visible.During weekly review sessions, team membersviewed a combined 3D model on screen – quiteFor each aircraft parking stand, there will bea moving bridge for passengers to access theImage courtesy of Mott MacDonald and Arup30 Autodesk Hong Kong BIM Awards 2013

Image courtesy of Mott MacDonald and Arupplane. “The bridge has a restricted reach, andgetting it to meet with the fixed part of thebuilding and taking account of the geometry ofthe various types of aircraft is quite complex – itneeds to tilt and turn to meet the aircraft,” saysMr Mepham. “In the 3D BIM model, we can setup the bridge with the various parameters andtest this dynamically.”Saving time and resources“Using BIM encourages contractors to engagewith a project, so it is more likely to besuccessful,” says Ir Taylor. With it, the teamcan transfer their design intent and knowledgeto the contractor. In turn, the contractor hasinvested in developing the model further.“I think that at the time you are creating thedesign, using BIM is a bit of a hassle,” reflectsIr Taylor. “But given the benefit of getting thedesign right first time, you are glad to be usingBIM. I look back at some projects, and thinkthat if we had used BIM in the design, it wouldhave saved us a lot of time and resources lateron.”Image courtesy of Mott MacDonald and ArupAutodesk Hong Kong BIM Awards 201331

About Mott MacDonaldAbout ARUPThe Mott MacDonald Group is a diversemanagement, engineering and developmentconsultancy delivering solutions for public andprivate clients world-wide.Founded in 1946 with an initial focus onstructural engineering, Arup first came to theworld’s attention with the structural design ofthe Sydney Opera House, followed by its workon the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Arup has sincegrown into a truly multidisciplinary organisation.Most recently, its work for the 2008 Olympicsin Beijing has reaffirmed its reputation fordelivering innovative and sustainable designsthat reinvent the built environment.Mott MacDonald’s uniquely diverse 1 billionglobal consultancy works across 12 corebusiness areas. As of the world’s largestemployee-owned companies with over 14,000staff, they have principal offices in nearly 50countries and projects in 140.Their breadth of skills, services and global reachacross all markets makes them uniquely placesto bring their customers: Holistic, innovative thinking Global experience with local insight World-expert practitioners Multi-sector perspective32 Autodesk Hong Kong BIM Awards 2013Arup brings together broad-minded individualsfrom a wide range of disciplines and encouragesthem to look beyond the constraints of theirown specialisms.This unconventional approach to design springsin part from Arup’s ownership structure. Thefirm is owned in trust on behalf of its staff.The result is an independence of spirit that isreflected in the firm’s work, and in its dedicatedpursuit of technical excellence.

with complex 3D geometry. The architectural roof model was the basis for the roof steelwork model, and Navisworks helped with advancing the design, as well as identifying clashes. “We used the BIM model and analysis tool hand in hand,” says Ir Taylor. Resolve densely packed services “We solve the design in BIM, which proved