Building Technology Enabled Design and Construction Capability

In 2018, Watercare commenced the agile development of digital capability across the business as part of its Strategic Transformation Programme (STP). A principle feature of the STP includes the development of the right tools, and the best processes to meet our business needs. 

Watercare has a challenging capital plan of NZ $5B over the next decade. This is happening in an environment where delivery capability is stretched, the city’s population is growing, and other infrastructure is undertaking similar transformational change. 

Watercare's ambitious 40:20:20 target will drive a reduction in build carbon by 40 per cent, a reduction in cost of 20 per cent and a reduction in injuries year on year by 20 percent, all by 2024. These challenges are being met in the first instance by using a variety of digital strategies that have been developed by end-users to meet specific business goals including returning our workers home safe each day, driving a lower carbon footprint, employing sustainable principles, reducing cost, operating efficiently, and delivering greater certainty and financial control in forward planning. Three specific examples of this include: 

• “Watercare’s BIM Strategy” will be applied to the organisation and the supply chain. The governing standards, protocols and procedures are being developed to ensure data format and procedural consistency across engineering disciplines and asset stages. The BIM strategy provides the platform for the standardised solutions library where repeatable work becomes ‘business as usual’. 

• “Improved Designs” creates accepted products and standardised design solutions within an accessible catalogue, available through a portal to external users. The solutions library enables designers to utilise existing asset components in full or in part to inform new infrastructure. This process is constantly supplemented with further designs and enhancements from our community, where innovative and continual improvement behaviour is encouraged. 

• “Digital Rehearsal” is a 4D technology which integrates programme and design models in a collaborative space. This allows a cross discipline team to work together on a single version of the project plan, consider scenarios, and develop optimum delivery solutions. In this environment we challenge methodologies and mobilise only when ready. This is not limited to just construction and can be used to optimise other activities such as commissioning.