Digital twin of German bridge to help develop maintenance and operation

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) has utilised two Nemetschek Group solutions, Allplan and Solibri, to create a digital twin of the Köhlbrand Bridge in Hamburg, Germany.

Multiple BIM applications were utilised to create a BIM model of the bridge from scratch (Photo: Nemetschek Group)

The smartBRIDGE Hamburg project aimed to maintain and operate the bridge more effectively and implement predictive maintenance instead of reactive maintenance.

Allplan and Solibri were used to create a detailed model of the bridge that enabled continuous real-time monitoring to identify repairs and minimise disruption to traffic.

Multiple BIM applications were utilised to create a BIM model of the bridge from scratch, which required a BIM Execution Plan and agreement between all parties on the element taxonomy and Level of Detail requirements.

The use of OPEN BIM, a core functionality of Allplan, made managing and exchanging data between different parties and applications possible and efficient says Nemetschek Group. Solibri added value by ensuring that models complied with the requirements outlined in the BEP and other quality standards, giving the Hamburg Port Authority the assurance that the model was correct before being used as a digital twin.

The Hamburg Port Authority integrated IoT sensor data and traditionally collected bridge inspection and maintenance data with their bridge model.

Over 500 IoT sensors were connected to a digital sensor in the bridge model, providing real-time monitoring and automatically issuing alerts if problems are detected. Both sets of data were made available to the asset management system of the bridge, enabling predictive maintenance to be better planned and executed.

The digital twin also enables various simulations to be undertaken, allowing the Hamburg Port Authority to test different solutions and scenarios and assess the results prior to implementation.