Case Study: Utilities Hub 2.0

A common, and often costly, challenge on infrastructure projects is management of underground utilities. They are difficult to locate and hard to isolate, so they present a critical risk to many projects.93

As a result, utilities can account for approximately 4-8% of a project's budget. To overcome this challenge, the Victorian Government's Level Crossing Removal Project embarked on an important and innovative program, Utilities Hub 2.0, so the team could better understand the ground beneath the level crossings.

Utilities Hub 2.0 combines BIM, Computer Aided Design, Geographic Information System data and technologies with workflows from field technology such as ground-penetrating radar and electromagnetic locators.

The result is a spatially accurate 3D model with metadata that aligns with the relevant Australian Standard for subsurface utility information (AS 5488). The model is available to all project team members and contractors.

They now have access to the most accurate information for project designs and onsite excavations. This means there are fewer asset strikes, reduced costs and delays, and disruptive outages are avoided.

The program has long-term benefits, as the information can be captured, stored and reused for any further work in the area.