BE Magazine - Volume 4, Issue 3 - (Page 56)

PLANT accommodate new sewage-processing equipment required extensive excavation, including 150 linear meters of new tunnels. Throughout construction, the plant had to retain a minimum 60 percent capacity to avoid disruption of service. Site measurements of the magnitude and complexity required for the project would have been cost prohibitive, if not infeasible. Sinclair Knight Merz found an innovative solution in laser-scanning technology and 3D modeling. It surveyed existing tunnels and chambers with 3D laser scans, then used the 3D point-cloud data to create accurate as-builts and deﬁne the physical constraints of the site. As the project advanced, the team used PlantSpace software to visualize multiple concepts and optimize the design and construction staging. “The integrated MicroStation and Bentley CloudWorx suite was the only cost-effective solution to the challenges faced on this project,” said Trevor Black, Sinclair Knight Merz group CAD manager. “It was crucial that the 3D laser data be part of the design and, hence, be part of the 3D visualization process for design and operational reviews. No other software was considered able to provide this totally integrated solution.” Data clouds aid visualization improvements used 3D laser-scan data of underground facilities to produce 3D models for visualizing design concepts. Overlooking Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach in Sydney, New South Wales, the Bondi STP was commissioned in the 1950s to serve the city of Sydney and surrounding municipalities. The original design provided for cliff-face discharge of primary treated efﬂuent. In response to public concern about the impact on water quality at the local beaches, owner/operator Sydney Water commissioned a deep water ocean outfall in 1991 to disperse efﬂuent v A major challenge that the design team faced was that a majority of the construction program was carried out 40 to 50 meters below ground through a 2.2-kilometer tunnel out to sea. Cut from hard sandstone, the excavations included chambers and tunnels for settlement tanks, pumps, and discharge pipes. Bondi STP now serves more than 500,000 customers. The plant processes a maximum wet-weather raw sewage inﬂow of 680 megaliters per day, with dry weather ﬂow averaging about 130 megaliters per day. Though progressively upgraded and expanded over the years, the aging facility required major improvements to ensure continued, reliable plant performance. In 2003, Sydney Water engaged joint venture partners CH2M HILL and Sinclair Knight Merz to undertake conceptual design for a Reliability Improvement and Modernization Program (RIAMP). The Bondi STP RIAMP addressed wastewater distribution and ﬂow control; collection, handling, and disposal of screenings and grit; solids digestion and dewatering; sludge management and transfer; efﬂuent discharge; and plant ventilation. Introducing an advanced supervisory control and data acquisition system, the program fully automated the plant to reduce occupational health and safety risks and improve working conditions. As part of a coastal wastewater management strategy, it also minimized the risk of plant failure or a bypass of the treatment system during maintenance to protect the ocean and beach environments. A major challenge the design team faced was the fact that a majority of the AU$95 million construction program was carried out 40 to 50 meters below ground. Expanding the facilities to The laser-scan data clouds gave the design team clear visual images of the underground environment. The team used 3D models to design a new plant installation alongside the existing plant to allow a phased changeover without compromising capacity or interrupting service. An integrated model of old and new facilities provided a total plant overview. During design review meetings, team members used the 3D model to spot plant configuration challenges and potential construction problems. Operational reviews checked for health and safety issues such as space constraints for maintenance access, valve and actuator/hand wheel access, and locations that required PROJECT OVERVIEW Sydney Water Bondi Sewage Treatment Plant Reliability Improvement and Modernization Program Organization Sinclair Knight Merz BE Awards Category Plant New Technology Adoption Project Objective Modernize sewage treatment plant to ensure continued reliable plant performance and increase automation to reduce occupational health and safety risks additional ladders or platforms—all of high importance to the operations and maintenance team. Once ﬁnal designs were approved, piping isometrics were produced using the Isogen interface. Any subsequent design changes were easily incorporated into the model, and new isometrics were 56 BE MAGAZINE | Volume 4, Issue 3

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of BE Magazine - Volume 4, Issue 3

Contents Rising to the Challenge News BE Newsletter Highlights More ITS Sightings Racing Concrete Canoes Lights, Camera, Action! Making the Cut People’s Choice Awards 2007 Executive Keynotes Building Clear Vision of a Dream Concrete Results Reaching New Heights Building News From Bentley Golden KIWI Awards 2007 Civil A Coordination of National Highway Proportions Training Troops Beautifying Highways, One Sign at a Time Civil News From Bentley Geospatial Facility Facelift Planning for Uncertainty Geospatial News From Bentley MicroStation at the Heart of LiDAR Surveying Solutions Plant Making the Grade Data Deja Vu Data Clouds Provide Clear Visual of Underground Saving Precious-Metal Mining Time Plant News From Bentley Advertisers Index Special/Academic The Art of Visualization Training Is Key To Delivering State-of-the-Art Solutions Bridging the Information/Infrastructure Gap

BE Magazine - Volume 4, Issue 3

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.