Jewel Changi Airport is truly an architectural marvel that seamlessly merges nature with cutting-edge design. With its world-renowned indoor waterfall, verdant indoor garden, and stunning glass dome, this iconic landmark has reimagined what an airport can be. However, bringing this vision to life required more than just drawings on a blueprint and creativity—it demanded precise tools to visualize and manage every aspect of the project.
To achieve this, the architects turned to Building Information Modeling (BIM) software. BIM provides a comprehensive digital representation of a building’s physical and functional characteristics, transforming how architectural projects are conceived, designed, and constructed. This technology enhances communication, collaboration, and decision-making throughout the project’s lifecycle, ensuring that every detail aligns with the architect’s original vision.
To understand the capabilities of BIM in the construction process, it’s important to have an in-depth look at how this software was instrumental in planning and executing the construction of the airport.
Setting the Stage: Overview of Jewel Changi
Jewel Changi Airport, nestled at the heart of Changi Airport, is a multi-faceted complex that serves as a vibrant lifestyle destination and a stunning architectural marvel. It also provides a seamless connection between airport terminals, with unique features that include:
- The Shiseido Forest Valley: This sprawling, five-story indoor garden features over 2,000 trees and 100,000 shrubs, creating a serene oasis within the airport.
- The HSBC Rain Vortex: Considered the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, it features flowing water cascading 40 meters from the oculus of the glass dome, offering a mesmerizing spectacle.
- The Canopy Park: An expansive recreational space atop Jewel, this offers attractions like the Canopy Bridge, Manulife Sky Nets, and the Discovery Slides.
Jewel Changi’s significance extends beyond its architectural grandeur. It enhances Changi Airport’s status as a global aviation hub, attracting visitors and travelers with its captivating blend of nature, retail, and leisure experiences.
The Role of BIM in Jewel Changi Airport Construction
BIM served as a central digital model that brought together all the necessary information, acting as a comprehensive repository for architects, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders. With a centralized approach, this facilitated improved collaboration and coordination throughout the project, ensuring that the complex design and construction requirements of Jewel Changi Airport were met with precision.
1. BIM’s Role in Design and Visualization
In the construction of Jewel Changi Airport, BIM was a vital tool at every stage of the project. The complexity of the project, particularly the intricate design of the glass dome, made BIM indispensable from the start. With its advanced digital modeling capabilities, BIM allowed the project team to visualize, refine, and perfect the dome’s unique shape, ensuring it met both aesthetic and structural standards.
2. BIM for Construction Coordination
BIM’s utility extended far beyond the design phase. It was crucial for coordinating construction activities in the busy environment of Singapore’s Changi Airport, which remained fully operational throughout the project. Early on, a BIM Execution Plan (BEP) was developed to map out how BIM would be used during different phases of the project. This plan was essential in keeping the construction on schedule and minimizing disruptions to the airport’s daily operations.
3. BIM’s Impact on Infrastructure and Safety
One of the major challenges of the project was Jewel Changi’s physical connection to Terminal 1, which would be expanded in the future as part of the airport’s overall development. BIM allowed the project team to simulate and plan for the impact of construction on existing airport infrastructure, including traffic flow and the view from the control tower. For example, before installing cranes on-site, BIM was used to ensure they wouldn’t obstruct the control tower’s view of the runways, thus maintaining airport safety.
4. BIM in Long-Term Maintenance Planning
Additionally, BIM was key in planning the long-term maintenance of Jewel Changi. It helped outline a comprehensive maintenance program, ensuring that the structure would remain safe and functional for years to come. By integrating all these elements into a single model, BIM facilitated the smooth execution of a highly complex project within one of the world’s busiest airports, setting a new benchmark for future airport construction projects.
Benefits of BIM in the Construction of Jewel Changi Airport
The implementation of BIM in Jewel Changi’s construction yielded numerous benefits:
- Improved Project Visualization and Design Coordination: BIM’s 3D visualization capabilities enabled stakeholders to visualize the design in its entirety, fostering a deeper understanding of the project’s complexities and facilitating design coordination among various disciplines.
- Enhanced Collaboration among Architects, Engineers, and Contractors: BIM provided a centralized platform for information sharing and collaboration, streamlining communication and minimizing errors.
- Simulation of Construction Processes and Structural Integrity: BIM allowed for virtual simulation of construction processes, which allowed teams to identify and resolve potential issues before they arose on-site. Structural analysis using BIM ensured the integrity of the complex grid shell structure and glass dome.
Challenges That Were Managed with BIM
Jewel Changi Airport’s construction had its own unique set of challenges, particularly given its location within a busy, fully operational airport. These challenges required innovative solutions, and BIM proved to be an indispensable tool in addressing them effectively.
1. Managing Construction Within an Operational Airport
When Jewel Changi Airport was being built, one of the most significant challenges was carrying out construction work without disrupting the daily operations. The need to maintain a smooth flow of airport activities, including passenger movements and air traffic, meant that construction activities had to be meticulously planned and executed.
BIM’s advanced simulation capabilities were crucial in this regard. By creating a detailed digital model of the airport and its surroundings, BIM allowed the project team to plan construction activities with precision. The software enabled simulations of various scenarios, helping the team to identify potential disruptions before they occurred and to develop strategies to minimize their impact. For example, construction schedules could be optimized to avoid peak traffic times, and materials could be transported and stored in a way that did not interfere with airport operations. This level of foresight was vital in ensuring that the airport remained fully functional and safe for passengers throughout the construction period.
2. Ensuring Safety and Minimizing Disruptions During Construction
Safety was another critical concern during the construction of Jewel Changi. The proximity of the construction site to active airport runways and terminals meant that even small errors could have significant consequences. BIM played a key role in ensuring that safety was maintained at all times.
One of the ways BIM contributed to safety was through virtual safety inspections and hazard identification. By simulating the construction process digitally, the project team could identify potential safety hazards before they become real issues on-site. This proactive approach allowed for the implementation of safety measures and protocols that would protect both construction workers and airport passengers.
Another major safety concern was the placement and operation of cranes on-site. Cranes are essential for constructing large structures like the Jewel Changi Dome, but their presence in an airport environment poses risks, particularly in terms of visibility from the control tower. BIM was used to simulate crane placement and movement, ensuring that cranes did not obstruct the control tower’s view of the runways or interfere with air traffic. This simulation allowed the project team to optimize crane placement and operation schedules, balancing the need for construction progress with the imperative of maintaining airport safety.
3. Coordinating with Future Development Plans
In addition to the immediate construction challenges, the Jewel Changi project had to be planned with future airport development in mind. Jewel Changi is physically connected to Terminal 1, which is slated for further expansion as part of Changi Airport’s long-term growth plans.
BIM enabled the project team to integrate Jewel Changi’s construction with these future developments, ensuring that the new structure would not impede or complicate future construction efforts.
Environmental and Sustainability Impact
The construction of such a large and innovative structure also came with environmental considerations. BIM was used to minimize the environmental impact of the construction process. By simulating different construction methods and materials used for the development of the Jewel Changi Airport, the project team could reduce waste and energy consumption.
Additionally, BIM’s ability to optimize construction schedules helped to shorten the construction timeline, further reducing the project’s environmental footprint.
Discover the Wonders of BIM with BIMAGE
When it comes to helping businesses in Singapore leverage the latest technology for construction planning, design, and implementation, partnering with BIMAGE can be beneficial.
BIMAGE is a leading expert in helping businesses integrate the latest design and construction software into their operations, ensuring that companies stay at the forefront of technological advancements. By leveraging these tools, your organization can enhance your project planning, design accuracy, and overall construction efficiency. From BIM software tools like Fuzor 4D to all-in-one solutions, like Autodesk Construction Cloud, we provide the expertise and support needed to fully capitalize on these technologies.
In addition to software implementation, BIMAGE provides comprehensive training programs for a range of cutting-edge BIM software, including Fuzor 4D simulation and Revit. These training sessions are designed to help teams refine their skills and knowledge in using these tools to their advantage, driving innovation and efficiency in construction projects.
By partnering with BIMAGE, your business can adopt the latest technologies and ensure that your team is proficient in using them to their full potential, paving the way for successful project outcomes.
For more information on tools that can help streamline the design and construction process, check out our guide on the difference between VDC and BIM, as well as our insight into the benefits of BIM training.
