N E W S
3D modelling: key role in design of Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway
Design Joint Venture (DJV), a collaboration
www.engineeringnews.co.nz 15
between engineering consultants,
Beca and Tonkin + Taylor has
highlighted the power of Seequent’s
Leapfrog Works 3D geological modelling
software in the design of a motorway
extension from New Zealand’s
Pūhoi to Warkworth.
With an estimated cost of more than
$700m (including maintenance over 25
years), the 18km Pūhoi to Warkworth
motorway extension includes a road
corridor that cuts through steep hills
and valleys, and the creation of seven
bridges including three viaducts. Combine
this with the cutting of 7 million cubic
metres of earth (and the filling of 5
million), and the challenge of soft alluvial
sediments – and it’s easy to see why
a project wide ground model is essential
as a basis for geotechnical design,
and to mitigate project risk.
As the population of Auckland reaches
over 1.5 million, and the demand on the
Northland area increases, the region of
Warkworth is classed as a growth centre.
The number of cars travelling the
route daily is set to rise from 19,700 in
2012 to 31,300 in 2026 – the extension
will provide a better connection with all
of the associated safety and traffic flow
benefits.
The design work was subcontracted to
Design Joint Venture (DJV) a collaboration
between engineering consultants,
Beca and Tonkin + Taylor. Seequent’s
Leapfrog Works, which is specifically
designed for the Civil Engineering and
Environmental industries, was used as
the 3D geological modelling software
to more accurately define the geology.
Chris Monk, engineering geologist,
Tonkin & Taylor, says, “There were three
areas of focus. North, which showed
low-lying topography; Central, which
has significant cut and fill embankments
and; South, which contained two
viaduct structures. It was important we
could use a modelling tool that worked
flexibly around the different geology
and surface types to give accurate
outputs. We modelled 210 cone penetration
tests (CPT) and brought in data
from 420 boreholes, 355 hand augers
and 220 test pits.”
Detailed design started in October
2016 and is ongoing. The team started
collecting ground investigation data
and used this to input into their 3D
geological Leapfrog model. Leapfrog
Works’ dynamic and continuous modelling
transformed the way that the Geotechnical
team worked.
Using Leapfrog Works meant geological
surfaces could be mapped by a
geologist, rather than engaging a CAD
technician to work alongside a geologist,
resulting in a smoother workflow,
and faster turn-around times. As project
engineers needed sections, they
were able to go straight to a single point
of contact to quickly create the desired
NZ economy -
onshore trumps
offshore
New Zealand remains a relatively
robust economy on a 3% growth
trajectory, according to the
BusinessNZ Planning Forecast for
the December 2018 quarter.
This is in contrast to a global
economy beset by inflationary
pressures, protectionist trade
policies and risk of financial
market correction.
BusinessNZ chief executive
Kirk Hope says there are many
positives in New Zealand’s
economic environment.
"The PMI and PSI show New
Zealand’s manufacturing and
services industries are both
expanding, business confidence
is improving and employment
rates are at a record high.
"Inflation is under firm control,
and despite lower commodity
prices generally, prices for dairy
remain at healthy levels.
"Risk factors for the economy
include difficulties finding skilled
labour and housing prices that are
stabilising, but in many cases at
very high levels," Kirk Hope said.
"The main risks to New Zealand
economy continue to come from
offshore."
The BusinessNZ Economic
Conditions Index sits at 6 for the
December 2018 quarter, up 10 on
the previous quarter and up 1 on
a year ago.
The Index tracks 33 economic
indicators including GDP, export
volumes, commodity prices,
inflation, debt, and business and
consumer confidence.
The BusinessNZ Planning
Forecast for the December 2018
quarter is on www.businessnz.
org.nz.
section – saving time and reducing the
effort in having to re-produce work.
Stuart Cartwright, senior engineering
geologist, Tonkin + Taylor, says, “Leapfrog
really helped us on what has been
a significant and challenging project.
The length of the proposed motorway
and its alignment through such steep
topography made the ground model
development challenging.”
The Geotechnical team were able to
leverage the visualisation of Leapfrog
Works to bring together and better
communicate across such a wide
range of project stakeholders including
the Construction Joint Venture (CJV)
team, quantity surveyors, surveyors
and geotechnical engineers and bridge
designers.
“By being able to show the model in
3D and cut sections at any desired location
instantaneously enabled others
to visually understand the geological
conditions of the site with much better
clarity. We collaborated much more as
a whole project team as we were able
to hold informal review sessions/workshops
to show progress. In the past we
would have gone with paper sections,
but the 3D model outputs and graphical
interface changed the way we communicated
and collaborated,” says Cartwright.
The motorway is expected to take five
years to build and will be open to traffic
in late 2021.
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Seequent’s Leapfrog 3D helps shape Kiwi infrastructure
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