The Year in Infrastructure 2007 - (Page 131) plant VisualiZatiOn and simulatiOn Projects that demonstrate innovative use of visualization technology to help sell project or design to a varied number of stakeholders as well as integration with other systems — such as construction simulation and design systems. winner Bolton Wastewater Treatment Works atkins Water The Bolton Wastewater Treatment Works project is a $78.5 million improvement scheme that includes significant refurbishment work on the existing plant. Construction work consists of two new conventional hopper-bottomed primary settlement tanks, a new ferric dosing plant, a new sludge treatment facility, and four new flat-bottomed secondary settlement tanks, which, at 46 meters in diameter, are the largest ever to be constructed for United Utilities. MicroStation has allowed modelers to bring 3D visualization to life by incorporating animation. The 3D visualization is a major aid in hAzOP and ALM reviews, providing reviewers and stakeholders with realistic flythroughs and still images to enhance their conceptions of the plant as existing, through the construction process, and on to completion. This is particularly important when construction of the new facilities is widespread on the operational site rather than just in one isolated area. Visualization helped Atkins optimize placement of access stairways and platforms needed to operate process decant valves on the new sludge storage tanks. Atkins prepared presentations that illustrated construction sequencing to show the client the impact on plant operation. Most work on the project had to be carried out without disrupting operations of the wastewater treatment plant. Animations were used to demonstrate to construction supervisors and safety representatives that certain lifting techniques could be employed close to existing structures. The four new settlement tanks were to be built on an adjacent greenfield site and so were subject to planning approval. The 3D images of the proposed settlement tanks helped gain planning approval on the first attempt. Atkins has also used its 3D modeling experience to build a database of best-practice designs that meet the U.K.’s AMP4 requirements for water treatment plants. It uses one of these as the base design, then tailors it to fit a specific site — thus accelerating the design process. BE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 131
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