Transport Infrastructure is of critical importance to a country’s economic growth and with a rise in the movement of people and goods each passing day, there is a need to create a sustainable and resilient transport network.
In today’s context, the burgeoning population has a direct impact on a country’s infrastructure. An increase in population requires more habitable area along with a better transport facility for commute. This has coined the need for using an asset for varied applications, keeping in view the sustainability factor which can be achieved via adoption of green standards. Let’s see how the role of integrated geospatial and BIM (GEOBIM) technologies in development of multifunctional transport infrastructure is going to be a game changer!
What is Multifunctional Transport Infrastructure?
An infrastructure asset is built keeping in view its prime objective of serving the society at large. With the world getting more congested, there is a larger need for a sustainable approach to building an efficient Infrastructure surrounding us. These needs have given rise to a nebulous concept of multifunctional transport infrastructure, wherein an asset serves multiple functions apart from its prime objective of traffic flow/transport. The multiple functions can range from water conservation to energy generation (using solar or wind power) while also handling the storage, transfer, and supply of resources (water or electricity). With the simple concept of combine and connect, this interdependent approach Is proving to build sustainable and green infrastructure.
The Socio-Economic Aspect of Multifunctional Transport Infrastructure
The concept of multifunctionality is a key attraction to a plethora of infrastructure facilities in the transport sector. The multiple benefits offered by the infrastructure facility in a defined spatial/built area, defines an asset’s resilience, sustainability, and green characteristics. The benefits of multi-functional transport infrastructure can cater to different aspects like social, by providing rainwater harvesting, integrating utility network (solar powered electric streetlights); environmental, by adapting to climate change (decreasing the heat effect on pavements caused by friction of tire) or using recycled materials and construction waste in pavements or bridge construction; and economic, by raising property prices or creating jobs. Combining numerous socio-economic functions further helps in exploiting the economies of synergy in the provided area.
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Sustainability in Multifunctional Transport Infrastructure
The looming challenge which the transport industry is facing revolves around the sustainability and resiliency of the built asset, while simultaneously delivering a range of benefits. For instance, let’s say, a highway project has the sole purpose of transporting goods and services from point A to point B. What if, there also can exist a possibility such that that the asset helps to traverse storm water strategically for harvesting activities, integrates utility network, uses recycled material (say reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) or plastic), and/or even generates energy on roads through vehicular vibration (piezoelectric pumping).
Below are some examples depicting the multifunctional and sustainable approaches used in transport infrastructure across the globe:
- Multifunctional Bridge: Kahju Bridge or Pole Khaju in Isfahan (Iran), built in 1650 is a fine example of Persian architecture, which is used as a weir and a bridge, a place of public meetings and a building.
- Piezoelectric Roads: Another successful implementation of using an infrastructure asset for other purposes is of the road project in Israel (by Innowattech[1]) and a railway terminal station floor in Tokyo (by East Japan Railway Company) where, the surface of these assets were embedded with piezoelectric devices as an alternative energy harvesting source. By converting the pressure and vibration generated from vehicles (on road) or human (on station floor) to electrical energy, a significant amount of electricity was produced. According to Innowattech CEO, considering 500 trucks crossing the highway of 1-kilometer (km) at say 72km/hour can produce 200 kWh an hour, which in comparison is enough average energy to serve 200-300 households.
- Another town in Normandy (France) has a solar-panel road developed by Colas[2], a French construction company. With 2,800 square meters of solar panels laid on a stretch of 1km, the company claims that for a town with nearly 5,000 inhabitants, the panels can produce enough energy to power the street lighting.
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Geospatial Technologies for Sustainable Multifunctional Transport Infrastructure
The fore of digital technologies into the project lifecycle phases has revolutionized the construction industry at large. The considerable savings in both, time and cost has got the attention of various stakeholders involved in the value chain, thereby, leading to a better-quality project with higher productivity gains. BIM, GIS, Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning (AI/ML), remote sensing, cloud computing, robotics, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and drones are some of the technologies used widely in the industry.
Integrated BIM and geospatial technologies (GEOBIM) can prove to be useful in the development of a multifunctional transport infrastructure. GEOBIM solutions prove to be useful in 3D simulations projects and in creating an environment friendly and sustainable design. Using BIM, the designers are able to efficiently consider the structural aspects from feasibility analysis to maintenance stage.
For the development of multifunctional transport infrastructure, GIS and -BIM integration can help stakeholders model the different layers and also estimate the inbound vehicular traffic in normal and peak hours to arrive at energy generation modules. The energy efficiency of built asset can be estimated with the BIM tool integrated with GIS, thus creating heat maps based on the traffic intensity. This way, designers can plan effectively as to where the sensors can be deployed effectively to respond more efficiently. Reality modelling through drones and/or LiDAR point cloud surveys helps in capturing real-world physical data in analysing what is happening on the ground. With a constant inflow of data through surveys, the application of AI/ML helps in analysing the trends for predictive scheduling and usage of generated energy, thus enhancing productivity. Also, in case of thermal corridor projects, the use of AI/ML can help in analysing the creation of wind paths or breeze corridors to vent out excess heat.
A Step Ahead
An approach to multifunctionality delivers fundamental improvements in the transport infrastructure with efficient use of natural resources. The technology integration further paves way for better management of the infrastructure, creating more value to the built asset across the operation and maintenance phases. Digital tools/technologies, primarily LiDAR, remote sensing, AR/VR, GNSS enabled machine controls and GPR continue to significantly enhance productivity gains in development of transport infrastructure projects. Though, there is increasing awareness within the value-chain of the value-proposition of geospatial and 3D modelling data, but the widescale adoption among each bracket of the project players is yet to be seen. In this context, the true potential of GEOBIM is yet to gain wider acceptance and with a multitude of benefits of integrating BIM and geospatial technologies the spatial aspect or GEOBIM concept can benefit the ideation and development of multifunctional transport infrastructure.
[1] Innowattech: Harnessing the power on the highways
[2] Wattway by Colas is the world’s first photovoltaic road surfacing
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