Network Rail — BIM Dashboard
Network Rail embarked on a programme to implement Business Information Modelling (BIM), a set of standards and processes informing workers how they should manage information within construction projects at every stage.
Problem
Network Rail was able to save time and costs with OnTrac’s bespoke BIM dashboard, supporting the roll out of BIM and a single way of working.
As the owner and infrastructure manager of most of Britain’s railway network, Network Rail is responsible for maintaining track spanning 20,000 miles across the UK. The logistics involved in implementing procedures across the entire workforce is complex and multifaceted.
The sheer size and disparate nature of Network Rail teams led to discrepancies in how infrastructure works were carried out. Processes and procedure varied between teams, which is a significant issue when it comes to quality and data control.
It also meant Network Rail were spending far more than was necessary. In fact, the UK government reported construction and rail businesses were spending up to 20% more than if they were to use a standard set of protocols to deliver their infrastructure works. As there was no centralised place for storing relevant information, the workers would have to take time out of their day simply to search for the documentation they needed, affecting overall productivity on a project.
In an ideal world, Network Rail wanted a single digital space that could be accessed at any time, to ensure no resource was wasted searching for the information needed to carry out a project safely and efficiently.
Solution
Network Rail embarked on a programme to implement Business Information Modelling (BIM), a set of standards and processes informing workers how they should manage information within construction projects at every stage.
The government mandated BIM for any public sector construction project across the supply chain, and so Network Rail needed to enforce this across their organisation also. This was hugely beneficial in theory for quality control and time saving, the only issue was: where could all this information be quickly and easily accessed?
Enter OnTrac; the number 1 rail technology provider in the UK.
OnTrac understood that this business change required a system that was straightforward and intuitive to use, with user-friendly navigation so information was easy to find. The BIM portal was designed with the Network Rail and supply chain users in mind, and the polished final look was achieved through OnTrac’s collaboration with Tayburn, an Edinburgh-based digital design agency.
OnTrac created a BIM dashboard, essentially a one-stop shop for all the processes, forms, standards and spreadsheets a worker could need. Further to this, the portal contained some key tools:
Tailoring – information can be personalised dependent on job role. This works by highlighting the main areas that individual would need to focus on.
Project Information Requirements Tool (PIRT) – An easy-to-use online questionnaire that seeks key data for a new project, assesses the requirements that should be implemented for that project, and the key products the project must manage and deliver.
Result
The BIM dashboard has made it simple and quick for Network Rail and supply chain employees to find any information they need towards ensuring all projects are carried out in adherence to the BIM standards in Network Rail.
They’ve been able to boost efficiency and save significant time on planning and procedures by having all the relevant information instantly available for their specific job role, helped by the tailoring and PIRT tools.
The BIM portal plays an integral role in keeping projects cost-efficient, ultimately saving millions of pounds of work delivered within time and to budget.
Confidence has been boosted throughout teams through the assurance they are working to a set standard or process.
The system is continually improved based on feedback from users and is firmly established as a business-critical system within Network Rail, being used on a daily basis.
