+
BIM helps create a digital twin in historic city
SMART CITIES

BIM helps create a digital twin in historic city

POWERCHINA Huadong Engineering Corporation (HDEC) is using BIM to provide the foundation of a co-called Digital Twin that the company says will transform the ancient Chinese city of Shaoxing.

The company is responsible for the digital engineering of Shaoxing’s new Urban Rail Transit Line 1. Construction of the 34.1 km line in the eastern coastal Zhejiang province is planned to finish in June 2021, with railway operations scheduled to commence in 2022. Digital workflows will increase productivity, improve quality, mitigate risk, and lay the foundations of a digital twin of the railway for use in operations and maintenance. The construction of the line commenced in 2017.

The city of Shaoxing carries a history of more than 2,500 years. With the title of Oriental Venice, the 21 sq km city is rich in lakes, rivers, and rainfall. With the new Urban Rail Transit Line 1, the city will be linked with the cities of Hangzhou and it’s Metro Line 5 via the Hangzhou-Shaoxing Intercity Railway. The 34.1 km line is expected to be constructed by June 2021.

HDEC is employing real-time analysis and data from various sources that are processed in a connected data environment to enhance the accuracy and impact of the decisions for the project. Furthermore, the digital approach will directly improve the project's efficiency, quality, and productivity while reducing the risk.

The construction of the Urban Rail Transit Line 1 is the largest infrastructure project in the city. It is mostly underground with 24 stations, 25 sections, one depot, a parking lot, two main substations, and a control center.

HDEC required complex software to meet the requirements and provide a solution to all the problems that can occur during the construction. The issues include limited space, hydrogeological conditions, the safety of the foundation pits due to the thickness of the soft soil, water leakage during construction, and other technical interfaces.

To address the issue of having a limited workspace and testing environmental conditions, HDEC has developed a 3D geology software, GeoStation, based on Bentley’s iTwin technology. The technology is used to create a 3D reality mesh using aerial photographs of the city. The unique approach enabled HDEC to save more than 800 hours of field data collection time while reducing the project's cost by CNY 3 million. With BIM technology and an automated monitoring system, the real-time data of the surroundings can be analysed to tackle any abnormalities.

POWERCHINA Huadong Engineering Corporation (HDEC) is using BIM to provide the foundation of a co-called Digital Twin that the company says will transform the ancient Chinese city of Shaoxing. The company is responsible for the digital engineering of Shaoxing’s new Urban Rail Transit Line 1. Construction of the 34.1 km line in the eastern coastal Zhejiang province is planned to finish in June 2021, with railway operations scheduled to commence in 2022. Digital workflows will increase productivity, improve quality, mitigate risk, and lay the foundations of a digital twin of the railway for use in operations and maintenance. The construction of the line commenced in 2017. The city of Shaoxing carries a history of more than 2,500 years. With the title of Oriental Venice, the 21 sq km city is rich in lakes, rivers, and rainfall. With the new Urban Rail Transit Line 1, the city will be linked with the cities of Hangzhou and it’s Metro Line 5 via the Hangzhou-Shaoxing Intercity Railway. The 34.1 km line is expected to be constructed by June 2021. HDEC is employing real-time analysis and data from various sources that are processed in a connected data environment to enhance the accuracy and impact of the decisions for the project. Furthermore, the digital approach will directly improve the project's efficiency, quality, and productivity while reducing the risk. The construction of the Urban Rail Transit Line 1 is the largest infrastructure project in the city. It is mostly underground with 24 stations, 25 sections, one depot, a parking lot, two main substations, and a control center. HDEC required complex software to meet the requirements and provide a solution to all the problems that can occur during the construction. The issues include limited space, hydrogeological conditions, the safety of the foundation pits due to the thickness of the soft soil, water leakage during construction, and other technical interfaces. To address the issue of having a limited workspace and testing environmental conditions, HDEC has developed a 3D geology software, GeoStation, based on Bentley’s iTwin technology. The technology is used to create a 3D reality mesh using aerial photographs of the city. The unique approach enabled HDEC to save more than 800 hours of field data collection time while reducing the project's cost by CNY 3 million. With BIM technology and an automated monitoring system, the real-time data of the surroundings can be analysed to tackle any abnormalities.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India to Invest Rs 600 Billion to Upgrade 1,000 ITIs

As part of its drive to modernise vocational training, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with Gujarat’s Labour and Employment Department, held a State-Level Workshop at the NAMTECH Campus within IIT-Gandhinagar to discuss the National Scheme for ITI Upgradation.The consultation brought together key stakeholders from industry and the training ecosystem to align expectations and support implementation of the scheme, which aims to transform 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across India using a hub-and-spoke model. The total outlay stands ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India Unveils Rs 600 Billion Maritime Finance Push

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) hosted the Maritime Financing Summit 2025 in New Delhi, bringing together over 250 stakeholders including policymakers, industry leaders, global investors, and financial institutions. The summit, held under the ambit of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047, focused on transforming India into a leading maritime power with strengthened financial, infrastructural, and technological capabilities.Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised India's strategic progress, noting that average port turnaround times have dropped from four days to u..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Govt Allocates Rs 500 Million To Boost Community Radio

The Central Government, through its ‘Supporting Community Radio Movement in India’ scheme, has allocated Rs 500 million to strengthen the community radio ecosystem across the country. The initiative aims to assist both newly established and long-operational Community Radio Stations (CRSs), ensuring their relevance to local educational, social, cultural, and developmental needs.According to the policy published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, CRSs may be set up by not-for-profit organisations with at least three years of demonstrated community service. These stations are ex..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?