InfraTech to improve project management on a border connectivity project in China

Image courtesy AIIB

Commercial approach(es.) used to catalyse investment: Adoption of an innovative partnership / risk sharing model. 

Technology approach(es) used to catalyse investment: Implementation of a data platform or digital twin for greater transparency over performance; a change in data standards/architecture; implementation of cybersecurity or improved privacy measures

Finance approach(es) used to catalyse investment:  Partnership with AIIB

To improve economic and cultural connections between China and Vietnam, Chongzuo Urban Construction Investment and Development Co is enhancing the development of areas along the road that connects them. To support the project, they sought a fit-for-purpose management solution to deliver improved efficiency, quality, and safety, with a BIM model lightweight engine and the deployment of smart site technologies.  

The Digital Management and Control Platform, implemented by master technology partner PowerChina ZhongNan, is providing a solution that will deliver interoperability of all technologies selected throughout the project. The platform is designed to offer a convenient service for all parties involved in the engineering project and enable the management and control to be more transparent, efficient, and independent.

Image courtesy AIIB

The digital platform is to fully improve the engineering project management and control capability of the engineering owner by standardising and visualising the management procedure to improve efficiency in office communication and collaboration, and to enhance the control of engineering quality, project cost, and construction progress. The InfraTech solution will offer smart site solutions with Building Information Modelling (BIM), Geospatial Information System (GIS), Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) analysis to optimise construction management onsite, including resource allocation, construction safety, environment mitigation, and energy saving.

Replicability

Commercially, the People’s Republic of China has applied for financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).  This will be the first partnership with AIIB in the transportation field, and the successful cooperation mode may go on to be used as a benchmark and further replicated on infrastructure projects throughout China. Importantly, the platform can be replicated and extended to other similar projects to bring benefits into play, and therefore significantly reduce the cost for future engineering projects.

Technologically, the combination of engineering management experience and digital techniques produces an innovative solution for modern engineering management and has been emerging and replicated in many civil engineering projects in infrastructure facilities, energy and electric power, water resource and environment.

Challenges experienced/overcome in implementation

The construction site of a highway is generally open and long making it difficult to monitor workers and construction vehicle status. This is exacerbated by the challenge of acquiring electrical power and a stable network in long-distance mountainous areas.

Other challenges include:

• Design of functional architecture and business procedure that meets the needs and values for all stakeholders
• Integration of a variety of digital technologies
• Smart site implementation for a highway
• A lack of standardisation of engineering management experiences.

Image courtesy AIIB

To address these challenges, leading engineering company, PowerChina ZhongNan was selected as the technology partner because they bring years of engineering and technology-enabling implementation experience. They are providing a sophisticated and standardised management solution and embedding the scheme into the digital platform with user-friendly functions.

Other approaches that enabled investment

The use of a Master Technology Partner created a standardised approach for technology implementation.

Note: This case study and all information within was submitted by Chongzuo Urban Construction Investment and Development Co, Ltd in response to our global call for InfraTech case studies.