Kirjalansalmi and Hessundinsalmi Bridge Project
Groundbreaking Real-time Measurements During Construction in the Kirjalansalmi and Hessundinsalmi Bridge Project
24.8.2024
In this extensive infrastructure construction project, the largest individual construction sites are two technically challenging bridges that cross different straits along the Archipelago Road. The Kirjalansalmi and Hessundinsalmi bridge project showcases groundbreaking real-time measurement technologies and digital solutions that are revolutionizing bridge construction.
The Kirjalansalmi and Hessundinsalmi bridge project is being carried out using the alliance model, which works well for technically challenging projects. The alliance model generally facilitates process development and the testing of new technologies during the project more easily than traditional contract models.
Kreate‘s Design Manager, Aki Kopra, and Development Manager, Rasmus Sainmaa, both advocate for virtual design and construction. They have utilized building information modeling (BIM) and a variety of digital processes in bridge construction for years in their roles and have shared their knowledge with their colleagues.
Alliance model in construction
The core idea in the alliance model in construction is shared responsibility for the project’s goals, costs, and risks.
Rasmus Sainmaa is responsible for the digital environment of the alliance project and its development. He has worked alongside Finland’s top experts in bridge design and has gained knowledge through experience along the way.
Also involved in the project are two Finnish high-tech companies: Koherent provides the world’s most accurate measurement solution, and Vektor.io, which offers the world’s most efficient tool for visualizing information models.
Vektor.io’s solution integrates data from diverse sources and formats into a unified, easily shareable model, facilitating seamless collaboration across all project stakeholders. The solution provides seamless data flow between the different software used in the project through APIs.
“Vektor.io’s and Koherent’s collaboration enables us to perform real-time measurements with sub-millimeter accuracy and visualize these measurements against the target situation,” explains Rasmus Sainmaa.
Traditionally, when steel structures are moved into place, multiple measurements are taken with measuring devices during jacking, or no measurements are taken during the move at all. Then, the measurement points are transferred as files to separate software where the actual situation is compared to the plan.
With the new method, there is no need for a surveyor to be present during the bridge move at all, as Koherent’s sensors and positioning network, together with Vektor.io’s software, enable real-time, BIM-based comparison between the plan and the actual situation.
Testing and Development at the Alliance Construction Site
The alliance contract model allows for the testing and development of new technologies, as all parties involved in the project share a common interest.
“We are in an exciting situation where we can implement completely new methods on the construction site and develop our processes, technology, and expertise,” says Rasmus Sainmaa.
The Kirjalansalmi and Hessundinsalmi bridges are being built using an overlapping implementation. In the overlapping model, the design and construction phases are carried out simultaneously, unlike traditionally, where construction begins only after the plans are completed. Overlapping implementation ensures a faster commissioning process.
The risks of the new model are well recognized and are effectively managed within the collaborative alliance project. In BIM-based design, real-time information flow is essential for minimizing risks.
The solution offered by Vektor.io emphasizes data interoperability, allowing all users to work with various software platforms and tools while maintaining compatibility and consistency throughout the project lifecycle. Vektor.io supports a wide range of formats, and all data can be accessed from a single source.
“In general, I would recommend not locking yourself into the systems of a single major software provider. The industry is developing rapidly, and it’s important to understand the possibilities of APIs. A single software provider cannot solve all the challenges of a construction project. This collaboration with Koherent and the Alliance is a great example of how we can agilely solve customer challenges,” says Teemu Nivell from Vektor.io.
- The MT180 Kirjalansalmi and Hessundinsalmi bridge renewal project, conducted under the alliance model, is progressing well in Parainen. Check out Kreate’s stunning images of the project’s progress: the first launch of the steel structure has been completed.
- Learn more from Koherent’s insightful article: Pushing Steel Structures with Precision at the Kirjalansalmi Bridge.
