Challenging the status quo – innovative digital design delivery for the Ordsall Chord

摘要

The Ordsall Chord is a new railway link which for the first time connects all five of Manchester’srncity centre railway stations. It involves extensive and varied structures supporting nearly 700m ofrntrack, many of which are highly complex geometrically to satisfy architectural requirements.rnThe design across all engineering disciplines has been undertaken using extensive BuildingrnInformation Modelling (BIM). Federated 3d models produced by all disciplines are integrated in arncommon data environment, compliant with UK government BIM Level 2 requirements.rnThe level of detail developed for the civil and structural engineering design is unprecedented for arntransport infrastructure project in the north of England, with modelling in many cases down to thernlevel of every single nut, bolt, and reinforcement bar.rnEarly involvement of both the main contractor and steel fabrication subcontractor has allowedrnconventional roles and processes to be challenged. The design models and drawings have beenrnproduced for the designer by the steelwork subcontractor, although the structural designer stillrnowns these deliverables. For one structure, design drawings were eliminated and this structurernbuilt directly from the 3d model, prepared in collaboration between fabricator and designer.rnAdoption of these methodologies has supported successful delivery of structures with challengingrngeometric interfaces between steelwork, concrete, and existing brickwork arches. This hasrnreduced programme and safety risks during fabrication and installation. The way of working hasrnbeen enabled by specific procurement and contractual arrangements, including appointment onrndemonstration of collaborative behaviours.rnWe seek to identify ways where the approaches adopted on Ordsall Chord could be used on otherrnprojects, including those with different procurement and contractual arrangements. What are thernnecessary preconditions to simplifying the content and transmission of digital design information?rnWhat is required with regard to construction supply chain capabilities, particularly consideringrntraining, automation and the associated investment?rnWhat factors continue to hold us to conventional design deliverables (drawings) of a typernfundamentally unchanged for over two centuries? If we depart the 2d documentation worldrnentirely, what does this really mean for the designer, the contractor, and the eventual assetrnmaintainer?