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Hatch Mott MacDonald's Intelligent Rail Signal Design: A Case Study
Technology Category
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Database Management & Storage
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Databases
Applicable Industries
- Electronics
- Railway & Metro
Applicable Functions
- Maintenance
- Product Research & Development
Use Cases
- Time Sensitive Networking
- Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing
Services
- System Integration
- Testing & Certification
The Challenge
Global consulting engineering firm Hatch Mott MacDonald was using a conventional CAD-based system to design rail signal systems for its clients worldwide. However, this approach had significant limitations in an industry where building information modeling (BIM) and its processes and standards are becoming critical success factors. Traditional methods meant designs lacked intelligence or connections to related documents, including bills of material (BOM). Designers had no way to model their work in 3D or collaborate on designs, which slowed down projects and made adherence to required standards a challenge. The firm's in-house design workflow, while trusted and proven, was manual, time-consuming, and tedious, with no automated controls to ensure the latest versions of CAD elements were used. Design checking involved significant manual effort, everyone worked sequentially, and there was little collaboration.
About The Customer
Hatch Mott MacDonald is a global consulting engineering firm that provides services to public and private clients around the world. The firm was using a conventional CAD-based system to design rail signal systems for its clients. However, this approach had significant limitations in an industry where building information modeling (BIM) and its processes and standards are becoming critical success factors. The firm's in-house design workflow, while trusted and proven, was manual, time-consuming, and tedious, with no automated controls to ensure the latest versions of CAD elements were used. Design checking involved significant manual effort, everyone worked sequentially, and there was little collaboration.
The Solution
Hatch Mott MacDonald invested in a new system powered by Bentley software that introduced the required intelligence into the rail signal design process, significantly reducing design time and effort, improving accuracy, enabling collaboration, and driving standardization. The firm used a combination of solutions from Bentley to work with intelligent 3D models linked directly to the electrical schematics required for signal design, costing, and construction. The new system automated the creation of project workflows via templates that also streamlined basic checking processes. The firm operationalized its intelligent system for rail signal design using Promis.e, Bentley Navigator, and ProjectWise. The system allowed designers to leverage information mobility to develop all client deliverables, and as a result, Hatch Mott MacDonald designs held an abundance of information never before seen in rail signal design. With each component placed into a drawing, a bill of material was created automatically along with associated project estimates and updated budgets.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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