Knowledge

This report aims to promote more efficient and inclusive project delivery for the benefit of both local communities and national development goals.

Jonathan Hart of Pinsent Masons helps demystify modern methods of construction and industrialisation in this wide-ranging interview.

This project is one of the most complex and challenging railway initiatives the United Kingdom has ever undertaken. Tasked with saving the government £500 million in digital efficiencies, HS2 is committed to applying global best practice in design and construction, setting strict data and modelling requirements in accordance with Government BIM (Building Information Modelling) standards.

Driven by HS2 Ltd’s strong commitment to harness the power of BIM to design, construct and maintain assets digitally, the integrated team of designers and contractors within the SCS JV contract is trying to push the boundaries of innovation and achieve a very high degree of control over all produced information, to meet very demanding requirements, and putting BIM at the front and centre.

In this journey from the tender – the “Digital Rehearsal” used as an opportunity to test processes and methods – to the current construction stage, the SCS BIM Team integration and the collaborative engagement between designers and contractors during the early contractor involvement phase has been key, with all teams working under one team and goal.

A BIM strategy has been developed and executed that enhances the industry existing standards to be able to deliver this mega-project, across the entire suite of digital engineering ranging from 4D construction management, 5D cost and carbon estimation, business intelligence and system architecture, GIS and mobile technology.

In this paper SCS shares its experience in this project, on innovative methodologies in a complex digital environment, making project information accessible for all and overcoming the usual cultural challenges. All with the formidable goal of changing the face of the industry, by creating a legacy, a “Digital Blueprint” of what BIM in large infrastructure projects could look like.

Supply chain partners who are making the switch to low carbon, high efficiency “clean energy” plant and vehicles have been proactively sought out on the High Speed Two (HS2) Enabling Works Contract (EWC) for Area South. With a huge programme of earth moving and excavation being undertaken in Central London and a global drive towards reduced carbon and emissions, as well as HS2’s stringent Environmental Minimum Requirements (EMRs) and Non Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) requirements, the EWC team have worked to implement the trialling and uptake of low carbon technologies including electric, hydrogen and hybrid plant.

The first phase of activity was powered by a single Euro Stage IIIA generator engine which represents the most current emissions standard in constant speed engines. For upcoming Phase Two works, all generators have been replaced with permanent power being implemented across the site. While this generated 46.595tns C02e over the duration of the project, the electric plant it facilitated enabled a carbon saving of 139.765tns C02e (186tns C02e saved using electric plant minus 46.595tns C02e contributed through use of generator). This was bolstered through the early adoption of the 22-tonne hybrid excavator which reduced carbon emissions by 11.55tns C02e in comparison to a standard diesel 22-tonne tracked excavator.

By placing the values of safety and sustainability at the forefront of the project and work package design, measurable increases have been demonstrated in efficiency, safety, reduced occupational health and wellbeing issues as well as measurable reductions in carbon emissions when working within an enclosed area in Central London. Site trials focused on improving safety, sustainability and productivity on the largest archaeological excavation of human remains in Europe.