Results

In this case study, Farzam Farzadi of Beca discusses how Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been implemented on a number of projects for Watercare, a water utility company in Auckland. By embracing BIM as a culture and way of working, Watercare has been able to improve health and safety outcomes, reduce project risks, and enhance collaboration among project stakeholders.

John Jones Steel has been using 3D modelling technology for over 20 years, with a strong focus on improving health and safety in construction processes. By leveraging Building Information Modelling (BIM), the company has significantly enhanced its ability to design safer construction methods, increase prefabrication, and optimise on-site assembly processes. This approach has led to improved safety outcomes for both workshop and on-site workers, as well as better project deliverables for clients and other subcontractors involved in their projects.

On the ACC Ōtepoti project, the construction team is using the BIM model to support visualisation, planning and communication, and to improve health and safety processes during the façade installation. When challenges arise, team members can use the model to visualise the problem and share information with others, and test possible solutions. Communication and collaboration are facilitated, making it easier to plan safe construction methodologies to mitigate hazards, with clear benefits for improved health and safety management.

On the City Rail Link project in Auckland, New Zealand, the project team has utilised BIM in various ways to improve safety planning, design coordination, and worker training. Using 3D models, point cloud data, virtual reality, and on-site digital tools, the team has been able to identify and mitigate potential safety hazards, standardise tunnel signage, provide immersive training experiences for workers, and enhance driver awareness. The approaches used on this large-scale, complex project can be adapted and applied to projects of any size, demonstrating the versatility and value of BIM in promoting safety in construction.

Jen Dransfield, a Health and Safety Advisor at Naylor Love, shares her perspective on how BIM can be used to enhance safety outcomes for workers on construction sites. By using BIM to provide “environmental feedback” and enable collaboration between different parties, the project team has been able to identify and mitigate risks, particularly for challenging projects like the Christchurch Cathedral Reinstatement and the Tower 3 build. Jen’s experience demonstrates the potential of BIM as a powerful tool for improving health and safety on the ground in construction.

At Auckland Airport, the digital engineering team has utilised BIM and gaming software to improve underground utility mapping, visualisation, and construction site safety planning. By combining existing data with 3D scans, creating interactive models, and simulating various scenarios, the team has been able to reduce risks associated with underground services, enhance project team collaboration, and optimise site safety management.