Experience of Hatch Mott MacDonald of risk management at design of railway signaling and the central blocking

The global engineering consulting firm Hatch Mott MacDonald used a traditional system on the CAD platform for design of the systems of railway signaling and the central blocking at service of the state and private clients worldwide. However in the industry where information modeling of a construction object (BIM) and the defining processes and standards are decisive factor success, this approach had serious restrictions. Traditional methods mean design without the enclosed additional data and instant access to the relevant documents, including bills of materials (specifications). Designers have no opportunity to simulate the work in 3D or to interact at design that unfairly slows down project implementation and does accomplishment of required standards by very difficult task. Within more extensive initiative of BIM the company management of Hatch Mott MacDonald decided to invest in the new system based on Bentley software which enriches with necessary information design process of railway signaling and blocking, significantly reduces time and design costs, increases accuracy, provides interaction and allows to observe standards.

Exit for a framework of traditional design processes

Usually designers of signaling and central blocking from Hatch Mott MacDonald company used internal workflow of design. It were repeatedly checked and reliable procedures. However they were executed mainly manually and took a lot of time. Besides there were no means of automatic check of relevance of the used CAD elements. Besides, verification of the project was executed manually and was quite labor-consuming. It was possible to check only consistently what practically excluded joint work.

To remain the leader and to execute applicable standards of Institute of electrical and electronic engineers and electronics (IEEE) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Hatch Mott MacDonald worked over creation of the single database on projects and directories of suppliers. Henderson added that "Promis.e has the extensive database and the directory of clients on electric disciplines, but our database of the systems of railway signaling should be picked individually up for each case of the railway CAD standards and design".

Mastering technologies

The Hatch Mott MacDonald company uses a combination of solutions of Bentley and works with the intellectual three-dimensional models which are directly connected with the electric circuits necessary for design, value assessments and constructions of STsB. A new system includes function of automatic creation of workflows of projects with the help of templates which describe basic processes of check too.

Using joint opportunities of Promis.e, Bentley Navigator and ProjectWise, the Hatch Mott MacDonald company involves an intelligent system of design of railway STsB as follows:

• Creation of an information material – using Promis.e for the database of railway STsB, groups of designers can create the schematic characters connected directly with databases of projects and 3D - configuration.
• Creation of the project – using open application programming (API) the configured templates enter certain standards of clients, equipment selection, marking, create schemes and charts. As a result designers just enter the main customer information and arrangement and receive quite exact preliminary design of construction completed approximately for 75 percent. The solution also allows to transfer and to correctly apply the individual data of suppliers created at the first stage on each of blueprint stages.
• Solutions of engineering design – Promis.e contains means of automatic check which the designer can turn on. A system executes a number of verifications of electric circuits, analyzing whether suppliers reassigned electric contacts in the equipment, whether and also all marking is put. Solutions of engineering design of Promis.e are integrated with the existing Hatch Mott MacDonald standards on environment protection and the security regulation (QES).
• Integration of SQL Server and ProjectWise and submission of the project - the Important element of a system is its integration with ProjectWise for ensuring exchange of drawings on the project. Different users can get access to the database of projects Promis.e, at the same time "uniform reliable data source" is on the SQL server in the headquarters of Hatch Mott MacDonald corporation.

Acceptance of new workflow

Promis.e from Bentley company allocates design process of Hatch Mott MacDonald with intelligence, using two-dimensional circuits and three-dimensional models and providing compliance of construction to the changing standards of the client.

A system allows designers to use information mobility for development of all documentation of the client. As a result the Hatch Mott MacDonald projects contain the large volume of information earlier not available at design of railway signallings. As data on each component are entered in the drawing, the material specification is created automatically together with the connected project evaluations and the updated budgets. The solution significantly reduces design time, increases accuracy and provides interaction and standardization of projects.

BIM increases efficiency of the subsequent processes

The technique of BIM also represents the potential for information created on planning stages and developments for giving and combination with optional data about the projects and assets received during construction and increases efficiency of the subsequent processes. The space and context information which contains the used design codes and the current legislation can be used during building for exact determination and record of what was constructed on the platform and that will demand service in the future.

For owners of objects access to such information type, containing any data – beginning from the size and arrangement, finishing with data on the producer, energy consumption of elements of the equipment and also about performance, – is crucial. Henderson added that "eventually, the equipment needs to be updated or replaced. New components should conform to all original requirements and the current legislation. Without having continuous access to reliable information, to manage very difficult effectively and economically assets".

Awareness of advantages

Hatch Mott MacDonald already began to get an additional profit on implementation of BIM in terms of quality of the performed works, universality and design on a joint of several disciplines.

As expected, Hatch Mott MacDonald will be able to reduce by 50 percent development time on the first project stage. It should lead to reduction of cost of modular construction for 20 percent. About 80 percent of drawings in each project usually are the share of modular constructions. For each platform of the automation equipment, using CAD templates, select necessary information and the equipment, eliminating thus the errors caused by "a human factor" at accomplishment of routine work.

Integrated approach promoted implementation and other innovations. So Hatch Mott MacDonald tested Bentley Navigator, Navigator Mobile and ProjectWise Worksite for viewing, the analysis and transfer of projects with the help of i-models in group. The i-models technology gives to all project participants an opportunity safely and reliably to communicate in group. Applications from Bentley allowed Hatch Mott MacDonald not only better to be guided in design data, but also to show projects to the potential and existing clients, using iPad. It is especially convenient when you are on a building site or to show model or animation.

Summary of the project

• Organization: Hatch Mott MacDonald
• Solution: Railway transport and transportations
• Arrangement: Mississaga, Ontario, Canada

Project Objectives:

• use of intellectual approach to traditional design process of STsB of the railroads;
• ensuring interaction of designers;
• creation of uniform base of the design data available to each user at any time;
• use of automated design for increase in efficiency, accuracy and reduction of cost.

The products used in the project progress: Promis.e, Bentley Navigator, ProjectWise, Navigator Mobile, Field Supervisor

Basic facts

• Promis.e of Bentley company will be applied to implementation of intellectual joint design of railway signals using 2D - the schemes and 3D models connected with the single database.
• When users of Promis.e represent a wire, they automatically fill up databases with information which will be used on the next stages of design.
• The material specification is created and updated automatically directly from projects thanks to what forecasts of cost and terms remain relevant.

INVESTMENT PROFITABILITY (ROI)

• 50 percent reduction of design time at the first stage will lead to reduction of project cost for 20 percent.
• Taking into account reduction of costs and time for verification of the project due to automation of STsB it is expected that the general savings from use of Promis.e will make 35 percent from the cost of design of each section of railway signaling.
• Software is used for more effective management of project risks.