Mabey champions engineering innovation at Bridges Scotland 2018
Exhibiting at Stand B65, attendees can look forward to VR and AR demos alongside a live bridge configurator tool
Today marks the first day of Bridges Scotland 2018 in Edinburgh where leading bridge and engineering services specialist Mabey will showcase its innovative bridging and construction solutions to thousands of attendees.
Mabey has been involved in a wide range of projects in Scotland, including the installation of over 30 bridges to help connect communities across the country. At this year’s show, Mabey is celebrating this rich history, while championing recent engineering innovation. At Stand B65, attendees will not only be able to view the full range of Mabey’s bridge and engineering services, including its modular bridge portfolio, but experiment with different spans, loadings and accessories by developing an interactive 3D visual of a bridge through its configurator tool.
Experts will also be on hand to discuss how Mabey’s wide range of construction services, from propping and jacking through to bespoke specialist engineering services, are being used across the country to facilitate complex projects in Scotland and beyond, enabling greater collaboration across the supply chain.
At the event’s Innovation Zone (C57), Mabey will continue its digital focus through live Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Realty (AR) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) demos, highlighting how the latest technologies can be used to deliver projects more quickly, safely and efficiently. Here, attendees will see how the company is using robotics to streamline and improve the manufacturing capabilities of its Compact 200 (C200) modular bridge.
Finally, Mabey Bridge’s Head of Engineering, Nick Iannetta, will take centre stage on day one to discuss how modular bridging solutions can deliver real project efficiencies for rural bridging applications.
A snapshot of Mabey’s recent projects in Scotland include:
Ghuilbinn Bridge
As part of the sustainable energy plans for the Corrour Estate in Scotland, leading Hydropower specialist, Hydroplan was employed to undertake a feasibility study on the estate, resulting in four hydro-electric schemes, designed and project managed to completion by Hydroplan.
This includes over 60km of HV electrical cable to connect some of the remotest parts of the Highlands to the National Grid for the first time and providing renewable energy for Corrour over the next 50 Years. As the customer placed high importance on the aesthetics and the environment, Mabey installed a 55-metre two-span C200 footbridge along with SmartEdge panels to improve the bridge aesthetics.
During the design and specification process, Mabey’s Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) team took an image of the site location and transformed it into a VR experience, giving the customer the ability to move around the bridge virtually, take a walk onto it and see what it would look like onsite, prior to installation.
Glenfinnan – A830
A £10 million Transport Scotland investment package was put in place to replace seven bridges along the A830, one of Scotland’s most scenic routes providing vital infrastructure between Fort William and Mallaig. Mabey, contracted by BEAR Scotland, provided bridging for temporary diversion routes adjacent to the existing bridges during the replacement works.
The chosen solution for this project, the Mabey Compact 200 bridge, enabled minimal disruption to the area and ensured that long diversions were avoided throughout.
Glasgow building development
In August this year, Mabey announced the use of its unique Mass 50 propping system and BIM services to facilitate a complex new build development in the heart of Glasgow’s financial district. Working in collaboration with BAM Construct UK for its clients BAM Properties and TCP Developments Limited, a temporary propping system was needed to hold up the existing façade of a historic Grade I listed building, while the construction of a new development takes place around it. The result will be 284,000 square feet of Grade A office space, ready for use in 2020.
To aid the project, Mabey used its BIM solution to test how the propping system would work, monitoring for any potential clashes with the façade in advance, so measurements could be tweaked accordingly. Through this, its engineers and construction team in Garswood made virtual ‘site visits’ through VR systems, using the information to keep the customer updated on a day-to-day basis and showing them via digital images how the propping system works.
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
In September 2017, Mabey announced it was working on a vital project to build a 58km bypass in Aberdeen.
Mabey was brought on to the project to provide temporary support structures for the pre-cast concrete beams to enable the development of several of the 75 structures needed for the bypass. These beams form the bridge decks as they are craned into position and while the permanent concrete cross head beams are constructed. The scheme combines many of Mabey’s industry-leading propping and jacking systems to provide a cost-effective engineering solution.
Mabey Bridge’s Head of Engineering, Nick Iannetta, comments; “We’re delighted to be lead sponsors at this year’s Bridges Scotland event, not only demonstrating how modular solutions are speeding efficiencies in Scotland but celebrating how digital innovations like VR, AR and BIM are taking engineering and construction to new heights. It’s set to be a brilliant two days!”
For more information visit Mabey at Bridges Scotland 2018, Stand B65.
