Transforming infrastructure 4D planning through iModel on Melbourne’s M80 Ring Road
Organization: ACCIONA
Project Name: M80 Ring Road: transforming infrastructure through 4D construction
Location: Victoria, Australia
Project Phase: Construction
Expected Completion Date: December 2028
Estimated Project Cost: AUD 3.8 billion
Bentley Software: SYNCHRO 4D Modeler, SYNCHRO 4D Pro, Bentley Infrastructure Cloud, ProjectWise, iTwin Capture, iTwin Platform, OpenRoads Designer
Project
ACCIONA is delivering the AUD 3.8 billion M80 Ring Road Completion project in Melbourne, a transformative infrastructure initiative aimed at reducing congestion and improving urban mobility. The upgrade connects a key section of the M80 Ring Road with the North East Link tunnels, removing 19,000 vehicles from local roads daily and adding 10 kilometers of new pedestrian and cycling paths.
To manage concurrent design and construction in live traffic, ACCIONA deployed a multitiered digital twin strategy. This integrated workflow enabled dynamic planning, real-time collaboration, and visual risk analysis across seven distinct 4D models.
The digital approach accelerated traffic management approvals, reduced planning time by 75%, and is projected to save over AUD 105 million through risk mitigation and reduced rework. The project also delivers strong sustainability outcomes, including tree planting, active transport infrastructure, and reduced environmental impact through digital rehearsals and carbon analysis.
Facts
- AUD 105.8 million in projected risk mitigation achieved through enhanced construction planning, proactive risk management, and reduced rework in critical zones.
- 75% faster 4D model creation and analysis using SYNCHRO and iTwin Capture, streamlining planning and accelerating approvals.
- 19,000 vehicles removed daily from local roads, delivering major community, safety, and environmental benefits when project completed.
“Bentley's SYNCHRO, ProjectWise, and iTwin technology provided the backbone for our 4D Planning digital approach on the M80 Ring Road Completion. Having a live 4D digital twin, automatically updated from CDE and accessible via Bentley Infrastructure Cloud, enabled dynamic planning and collaboration crucial for managing concurrent design and construction, ultimately helping us accelerate traffic management and critical lift approvals by months and with reduced risk.”
Solution
ACCIONA deployed a comprehensive suite of Bentley solutions to manage the complexity of the M80 Ring Road Completion project, integrating design, construction, and collaboration across disciplines. Central to this approach was a live federated iTwin model, automatically synchronized with design updates flowing from ProjectWise‘s connected data environment and hosted on Bentley Infrastructure Cloud. This robust, web-based platform enabled real-time collaboration and access to detailed BIM attributes, which was essential for managing constantly evolving information in a dynamic construction environment.
SYNCHRO 4D Modeler prepared the geometry for 4D planning, subdividing models into work zones aligned with the work breakdown structure (WBS) and preloading cost codes. SYNCHRO 4D Pro then linked the prepared models with the P6 schedule, enabling dynamic sequencing. Auto-matching tools and custom scripts streamlined task-to-resource assignments, while a multitiered strategy spanned seven SYNCHRO 4D projects—from macro-level oversight to detailed lift planning and optioneering.
Reality meshes and point clouds from iTwin Capture enhanced site tracking and environmental analysis. Bentley software also supported attribute validation, cost estimation, and carbon footprint visualization.
This integrated digital twin ecosystem accelerated traffic management approvals, improved safety planning, and enabled detailed rehearsals for complex operations like dual-lift bridge installations. The workflow reduced 4D planning time by 75%, identified critical risks, and is projected to save over AUD 105 million through risk mitigation, reduced rework, and avoided delays—demonstrating the transformative impact of Bentley’s solutions on large-scale infrastructure delivery.
Outcome
The M80 Ring Road Completion project is delivering major outcomes using Bentley’s digital solutions. ACCIONA cut 4D planning time by 75% and accelerated traffic approvals by months, as well as identified 176 potential risks across critical zones, contributing to projected savings of AUD 105.8 million in rework and delays. The project also removed 19,000 vehicles daily from local roads, improving safety and livability, and added 10 kilometers of new active transport paths. Bentley’s SYNCHRO and iTwin software enabled dynamic planning, enhanced cross-team collaboration, and supported sustainability goals through carbon analysis and detailed digital rehearsals.
Software
- SYNCHRO 4D Modeler prepared geometry for 4D planning, subdivided models into work zones, and aligned with WBS and cost codes.
- SYNCHRO 4D Pro linked 3D models with the P6 schedule for sequencing, clash detection, and visual risk analysis.
- Bentley Infrastructure Cloud was used to hosted the live federated model and enabled real-time collaboration, document management, and dashboard integration.
- ProjectWise helped manage design data and served as the common data environment for syncing updates to the iTwin model.
- iTwin Capture integrated point clouds for tracking site conditions and generated reality meshes, supporting environmental analysis.
- iTwin Platform created a live digital twin that integrated design and construction data for dynamic planning and analysis.
- OpenRoads Designer provided the source 3D road design models used in the federated iTwin.
Ready to streamline your next infrastructure project? Find out how SYNCHRO 4D can accelerate your construction planning and management.
Bentley Year in Infrastructure (YII) and the Going Digital Awards is an annual event where global industry leaders come together to showcase infrastructure delivery and performance excellence and exchange visionary ideas for the future. Find out more on the YII site.
