World's largest double-decker bridge to be designed using BIM

In a move to save time and money, the world’s longest double-deck bridge in Jakarta is to be designed using BIM processes. PT Wijaya Karya (WIKA) is the Indonesian-based firm behind the £271m design and build.

Early on in the process, the company realised that traditional 2D design methods would no longer be appropriate to deliver the large and complex 8.85-kilometre toll road development on time and on budget.

Fery Safaria, engineering manager at WIKA said “The total volume of the concrete used in this project is a quarter of that of the Giza pyramid” and that “the total scale of the project is about four times that of Vatican City.”

The aim of the project is to provide a more efficient way of travel between the cities of Ancol and Pluit, the existing route consists of a mix between toll roads, interchanges, flyovers, railroads and waterways that suffer severe congestion a lot of the time.

Due to the limited space available, WIKA determined the development must include a 3.95-kilometre double-decker bridge along the Ancol River, deemed to be the longest in the world. The Indonesian government has produced a mandate stating that the company must avoid putting piers in the water due to negative impacts on the ecosystem and existing river traffic. Another challenge facing the team is the need to avoid underground gas pipelines and fibre optic cables.

The FIFA 2021 Under 20 World Cup is also a factor regarding the development, it is being held at the nearby Jakarta International Stadium meaning WIKA face a strict deadline to complete the project. If completed on time, the new highway will be expected to ease traffic to and from the event.

Improving access to the airport and reclamation islands that are being developed by the government are also high on the agenda for the project, there is also the hope that it will improve economic activity and tourism in the area.

WIKA has transitioned from the traditional 2D design method and adopted 3D BIM methodology. The conversion began with image capture via unmanned aerial vehicles with the use of generalised predictive control to produce a reality mesh. The team photographed and processed 166 hectares of land in only 15 days, this is six times faster than traditional surveying methods.

It is estimated that the use of BIM methodologies reduces the time needed for communication and inspection by about 30%.