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Smooth Coordination on Flemingsberg Tunnel Project with Trimble Solutions

Published Date

On complex civil construction projects, BIM coordinators lay the foundation for collaboration. Their digital models and control over data and documentation in the early stages make it easier to do things right, creating benefits throughout the project's lifecycle.

Oskar Holmqvist Platell, BIM and Data Coordinator on the Flemingsberg Tunnel project, discusses how Trimble Novapoint, Quadri, Tekla Structures, and Trimble Connect were used for modeling, coordination, and communication on the Flemingsberg Tunnel project.

For the past four years, engineering and professional services company WSP has been working on the design of the Flemingsberg Tunnel, a part of the Södertörn Connection. The tunnel is nearly four kilometers long and, together with a completely new road, will relieve car traffic from Stockholm to the south of Sweden.

A large number of actors collaborate on an infrastructure project of this scale. Within WSP alone, designers, architects, data coordinators, landscape architects, teams in construction, rock, HVAC, measurement, geotechnics, water and wastewater, fire protection, environment, risk assessment, roads, and electricity all must collaborate as well as with the client, the Swedish Transport Administration.

Oskar Holmqvist Platell works as a BIM and Data Coordinator at WSP. He believes that one of the keys to successful design lies in the BIM coordinators setting up a clear and understandable structure from the beginning.

"Our task is to look at the entire process and ensure that the work is organized in a way that makes it easy for all involved parties. If the structure is set up correctly, it can solve many problems in the future and facilitate collaboration," he explains.


3D sketch directly from Trimble Connect showing the Flemingsberg Tunnel from the south side.

In Quadri, information is combined with geometry and visualization. Everything you see in the model is fully constructible, with objects linked to information—a true BIM model.

Cyclic Working Method

One of Oskar Holmqvist Platell's most important tasks is to manage all BIM, 2D, and 3D models and create a single coordination model, ensuring that all documents are correct and up-to-date before they are delivered to the Swedish Transport Administration. He describes how the work process occurs in a cycle, where models and documents are continuously sent to the Swedish Transport Administration and then to the project management before being reviewed again by the BIM coordination.

Four Software Solutions from Trimble

On the Flemingsberg Tunnel project, four of Trimble's software solutions for the civil engineering sector are used. All are BIM-based, focus on open standards, and have model-based workflows that help the user collect, organize, and make information accessible. These four are:

  • Tekla Structures for BIM modeling of the tunnel and buildings connected to it.

  • Novapoint for the design in the areas terrain, roads, and wastewater infrastructure.

  • Quadri for BIM modeling of infrastructure and as a platform for initial collaboration in the project.

  • Trimble Connect, a model-based collaboration platform for review and communication between the parties collaborating on the project.

Oskar explains that the information flow can be likened to a three-stage rocket: from modeling in Tekla Structures and Novapoint through Quadri to Trimble Connect. This means that designers do not need to export models manually, as Quadri, Novapoint, and Tekla Structures are interconnected. This working method has made handling easier, even for those who do not have in-depth knowledge of all the software.

"The integration between the model, tools, and platforms means that everyone always has access to the latest information. It differs from previous, more traditional construction projects, where different roles work more isolated. Here, everything is centered around facilitating close collaboration, where everyone contributes to the whole in real-time," says Oskar Holmqvist Platell.

Tekla Structures Modeling and Parametric Design

The tunnel and other parts classified as building works on the project were modeled in Tekla Structures in combination with Rhino/Grasshopper. Other, more infrastructural parts such as roads and bridges were modeled in Quadri.

Rhino/Grasshopper enables parametric design, which means that one can create and manipulate complex shapes and geometries by adjusting parameters. By connecting this with Tekla Structures, parametric models can be transferred to a constructible 3D model in Tekla Structures.

"In multidisciplinary projects like this, where there is a mix of infrastructure and construction/buildings, there are great benefits to coordinating Tekla Structures with Quadri. Quadri can then serve as a common base for underlying data in the form of terrain models, etc., and one avoids the problems that usually arise around units and coordinate systems," explains Oskar.

Advantages of Detailed Models

Arkadiusz Zalewski is a BIM coordinator at WSP in Poland and has been involved in the project, focusing on the modeling of the 3D model. He sees the high level of detail in Tekla Structures as very positive.

"The constructible 3D model helped early on to visualize the entire tunnel structure and all adjacent constructions. During the project's progress, as the model grew and filled with more information, we could easily identify problematic parts and deficiencies that we would not be able to see on 2D drawings," explains Arkadiusz.

"Furthermore, in Tekla Structures you can turn layers on and off. This makes it easy to identify both hard clashes between parts and softer ones, such as insufficient space between objects, which was a great advantage. The other advantage of a detailed Tekla Structures model is the quick access to all quantities we needed – concrete volume, coverage area, the amount of reinforcement, or the number of prefabricated walls. It is much easier and more accurate to get such information directly from the model than to calculate it manually from 2D drawings," says Arkadiusz.

Coordination Platform Facilitates Work

Initially, Quadri was used as the coordination model in the Flemingsberg Tunnel project. The Swedish Transport Administration required an open system at the top of the information structure to enable coordination between different software solutions, which Quadri fully supports.

"The Flemingsberg Tunnel is the largest project we have managed with Quadri so far, which we see as a coordination tool with great advantages. We initially used it as a central platform for the project to create a clear structure for the placement and handling of models. Additionally, Quadri has unique features for setting drawing rules and displaying the 3D model in a customized way, which is greatly appreciated," explains Oskar.

Software Solutions Collaborate

During the work, it was discovered that Trimble Connect could further improve and simplify coordination. The combination of Tekla Structures, Quadri, and Trimble Connect proved to be optimal for progress and information sharing on the project. In meetings, someone could quickly point out exact locations and points where there were issues, measure things smoothly, and be sure they had the latest models from each branch.

"Trimble Connect has become very popular on the project because it is simple and easy to use, even for those who are not so used to working with BIM models. It acts as a common space where all stakeholders could access and review the models in real-time, which helps avoid conflicts and collisions," explains Oskar, and continues:

"Quadri has many extra tools and is more detailed and technical. The tools are 'mirrored' so you can do the same thing in them. We continued to use Quadri to convert models and manage transitions

between different file formats. Additionally, it was used to visually set drawing rules and create quantity and material lists," says Oskar.

Arkadiusz agrees: "One advantage of Quadri is transparency—you can, just like with Tekla Structures, see through the model and click on an object to get a clearer picture. This also works in Trimble Connect, where two simple button presses allow you to manage transparency. This facilitates the work for designers who can easily review tunnels and other details.

"Another advantage was that, as a BIM/Tekla modeler, I could link only the necessary external models to my Tekla Structures model and make the entire model lighter and easier to work with. This was because I could control the entire situation in Trimble Connect and see which models I really needed to use as a reference for my tasks," concludes Arkadiusz Zalewski.