Called the Randselva Bridge, the structure spans 2,080 feet and stands 180 feet above the ground at its highest point. It is located near the town of Hønefoss, about 50 km northwest of Oslo. When it opens to traffic next month, it will be the longest bridge ever built without 2D drawings. Instead of using traditional construction plans, engineering company Sweco opted to use a BIM model that would be used and adjusted at every stage of the bridge’s construction. The company used Tekla modeling software from technology company Trimble. Oystein Ulvestad, BIM developer for Sweco, led the design of the project.

As part of the BIM model, each section of the structure is built and digitized, allowing any changes to the project to be immediately reflected in the model. This makes it easier to make adjustments to the plan, saving time and money. Workers would follow updated plans using tablets and augmented reality. According fast business, Ulvesstad says this approach has resulted in cost savings of around 10% compared to conventional construction. This is due to the reduction in costly design changes during construction and the additional material orders they require. It also highlights the ability of BIM to facilitate collaboration as it is interpreted in a more universal way than drawings. Ulvesstad even goes so far as to say that the wider adoption of BIM models will lead to largely automated construction projects.