Parkdale Level Crossing Removal Project - Southern Program Alliance

Future Ready^TM digital engineering techniques reduced this project’s delivery time and carbon footprint significantly - resulting in global accolades.

The removal of Parkdale Level Crossing and new Parkdale Station is part of Victoria’s Level Crossing Removal Project, an initiative to improve community safety, reduce traffic congestion, and support sustainable transport by removing 110 level crossings across Melbourne by 2030. The project is being carried out by the Southern Program Alliance consisting of WSP, Lendlease, Acciona/Coleman Rail, and Metro Trains Melbourne. At Parkdale, the level crossing will be removed and replaced with a new rail bridge and station delivering improved pedestrian crossings, car parks, public parks, and community space.

Using Modern Methods of Construction, and an integrated digital approach, the team were able to save time and reduce the carbon footprint of the structures on the project.

Modelling time reduced by up to

60% 60%

Carbon footprint reduced to

30% 30%

Estimated resource hours saved

15% 15%

Location

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Digital twins for improved collaboration and community engagement

As the lead design consultant, WSP led the alliance in establishing a digital twin to manage data and streamline workflows. The use of the digital twin helped the team to navigate clashes with existing rail infrastructure, maintain vertical clearances above roads and avoid impacts to heritage-listed areas and nature reserves. In addition, the team could assess how the planned works integrate with the current site. This meant that everyone working on the project had a centralised source of truth, allowing the wider project team to handle vast amounts of project data and to collaborate effectively.

We were able to realistically visualise the project within its real-world context, reducing the need for physical site visits and facilitating informed decision-making.

Jaimin Patel Senior Structural Technologist, WSP

This approach reduced modelling time of the structures by up to 60% and saved and estimated 15% in resource hours during the design delivery process. Material usage for the bridge was able to be reduced by up to 7%, resulting in a 30% lower carbon footprint.

The digital model also enabled improved community engagement on the project according to Jaimin Patel, Senior Structural Technologist.

“The biggest help was setting up these digital models and engaging with the community to show it what it would look like, and then convince them that there wouldn’t be any major shadowing effect on their houses or their shops,” he says.

Some of the digital elements enabling these outcomes included:

A web-based federation platform for collaborative project management
Clash detection using an updated federated model on a weekly basis
Tracked material quantities at project milestones leveraging data-rich federated models
Version control through Projectwise in compliance with ISO 19650 standards
In-house computational design workflows for retaining walls
Incorporating extensive metadata fields within 3D elements, accessible through federation platforms like iTwins for visualization, quality checks, and quantity estimations
Dynamic updates to models and drawings of retaining walls, ensuring real-time accuracy
Parametric links of retaining walls to civil/rail alignment for enhanced design flexibility
Template-based modelling for bridges with specialised software. Manipulating these using a combination of variable and point constraints for tailored designs
Bridge-specific metadata, including span, support, and beam-related information, and a streamlined validation process through software-generated reports
Dynamic links between bridges and civil/rail alignment, facilitating real-time updates to bridge models
Accelerated bridge model development to provide a comprehensive 3D model at the project's outset, enabling informed decision-making.

Sustainable outcomes were further enhanced by the inclusion of a 20kW renewable energy system and 10kL rainwater tank in the station design, as well as preserving vegetation in the area.

An award winning solution

WSP’s innovative approach was acknowledged on the global stage at the Bentley Going Digital Awards in Singapore. Announced in October 2023, the prestigious international awards recognised people and projects for their innovative use of Bentley Software Systems. Projects are judged by a panel of independent industry experts to determine the finalists. Finalists then present their projects to an audience of jurors, press and attendees at the awards event. A judging panel selects the winners. The judging panel selected the Parkdale project on the night, and it was awarded the Bentley Going Digital Award in the Bridges and Tunnels Category.

Jaimin, who presented the project to the judges, describes the win as an incredible journey. “This recognition on a global stage is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our extraordinary team. This is a proud moment for all of us, and I couldn't be prouder to be a part of such a talented and dedicated team. Here's to many more milestones and successes on our journey to excellence!"

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