Skip to main content

Modelling software aids highway widening

The Skanska Balfour Beatty Joint Venture has been selected by Autodesk to receive an Autodesk BIM Experience Award.
February 22, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
The M25 motorway around London is being widened with the help of software from Autodesk
The 2296 Skanska 1146 Balfour Beatty Joint Venture has been selected by  685 Autodesk to receive an Autodesk BIM Experience Award.

The companies are being honoured for using a Building Information Modelling (BIM) process to meet the demands of widening 64km of the
188km M25 motorway that
circles London, in preparation
for the 2012 Olympic Games.

The award from Autodesk, a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, recognises 3005 Atkins and the joint venture for “the
exemplary use of a BIM process” to inform decision-making for improved safety; foster better understanding of the design among project engineers; coordinate design disciplines and resolve interdisciplinary conflicts prior to construction, reducing potentially costly errors, and virtually plan production to meet a fast-track schedule while maintaining ongoing operations on a busy highway.

Since 2009, the design-build team has used Autodesk BIM solutions to collaborate on the project, helping to resolve construction issues virtually before they happen in the field. Autodesk software solutions used to support this BIM process include AutoCAD, Autodesk Navisworks Manage, Autodesk Navisworks Freedom, and AutoCAD Civil 3D software.

To help meet the aggressive design-build schedule, the project team relies on a coordinated, accurate design intent model. The Autodesk Navisworks integrated design model helps the team visualise the entire project, including all above and below ground components, as well as nonphysical aspects of the design, such as safety barrier working zones.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Securing safer transportation infrastructure through non-destructive technology
    June 16, 2014
    Kevin Vine reports on the use of non-destructive testing for structural analysis of bridges Seven years ago, the overpass collapse in Laval, Québec that led to the death of five people brought to light severe issues with the state of the country’s bridges and transportation infrastructure. More recently, a crack in the Champlain Bridge to Montreal that forced over 160,000 commuters to find alternate routes to work reaffirmed a need for greater emphasis on early detection before a crisis occurs.
  • Construction trends in North America, looking to the future
    June 10, 2019
    Exciting changes in construction will reward the aware contractor - *Jeff Winke comments Hop in a car and drive anywhere in the US and chances are the drive will be on roads and highways that need patching, resurfacing, or widening, and bridges often show signs of needed maintenance. Sadly, things are in bad shape. On the last two report cards from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the US infrastructure scored a D+. This year’s report urges the government and private sector to increase spending
  • Bentley Systems gives software awards for excellence in bridge and road construction
    November 1, 2013
    Software specialist Bentley Systems awarded key road and bridge construction projects for excellence in the use of its software. The awards were presented at the firm’s annual event, this year held at the Metropole Hotel in UK capital London.
  • Bridge of international accord from Russia-China
    May 29, 2018
    A new bridge project joining China and Russia is a sign of international accord between the two nations – Mike Woof writes A new bridge spanning what China calls the Heilongjiang River and which is known as the Amur River in Russia, is a clear sign of an important international accord between the two countries. Discussions over the bridge project were first started between China and Russia in the 1980s, with both nations seeing many changes in leadership since that time. But while the political discussion