Agreement follows Jacob’s success on Queensland’s Emu Swamp Dam project using Seequent’s Leapfrog Works and collaboration tools for geological risk assessment and stakeholder communication
CHRISTCHURCH, NZ, 10 July, 2019 –Seequent, a world leader in the development of geoscience analysis, modelling and collaborative technologies, has announced Jacobs, one of the world’s leading providers in technical, professional and construction services, has signed a major agreement to use Leapfrog Works on its civil engineering and environmental projects. Jacobs staff in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong and Canada are covered under the agreement and will use Seequent’s solutions to to better understand and communicate geology and risk.
Jacob’s has successfully used Leapfrog Works on many significant projects including the Emu Swamp Dam – a proposed 12,100 megalitre urban and irrigation supply dam on the Severn River in Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia – to gain a clear understanding of the geology and mitigate the potential risks they faced. Jacobs used Leapfrog Works to create a subsurface model of the Emu Swamp Dam which identified potential geological challenges, such as areas in the proposed dam footprint that may require mitigation in the design phase, and successfully communicated these challenges to all stakeholders including engineers, farmers, and the community using Seequent’s highly visual 3D collaboration tools.
“Effectively assessing and communicating geological risk in the context of proposed infrastructure designs is critical for successful civil engineering,” says Daniel Wallace, Seequent’s General Manager of Civil and Environmental. “Fast and dynamic 3D subsurface modelling made possible with Leapfrog Works has an important role to play. We are pleased to support Jacobs, one of the top engineering consultancies in the world, with our highly visual solution specifically designed for civil engineering and environmental industries.”
Jacobs was contracted to complete a detailed business case for the Emu Swamp Dam project including a reference design — providing all engineering expertise, stakeholder communication, environmental works to offset harm, baseline economics and provisional water sales assessment. With an estimated capital cost of $84 million and potential to secure approximately 700 local jobs, the project aims to increase security and agricultural proficiency for Queensland, in an area known for drought. Queensland fruit farmers and viticulturists have previously had to truck in water from New South Wales to help increase production.
The project faced many challenges including determining an economic and safe design, securing significant water resources without affecting downstream flows, incorporating the project into State Water plans and liaising and communicating with a variety of stakeholders from local councils, chambers of commerce and government to private farmers, developers and the local community.
“Leapfrog Works had a very positive impact on our understanding and communication of the geology. Using 3D visualisation gave clarity and meaning and allowed us to effectively communicate to all stakeholders. This 3D visualisation was particularly beneficial for those with no technical background. Using an industry-specific tool like Leapfrog Works really helped with the successful delivery of the business case,” says Graeme Jardine, APAC ME Technical Director Engineering Geology, Jacobs Australia.
The Emu Swamp Dam Project project has been ongoing for many years, and the Federal Government has announced it is looking to co-fund, with private farmers and developers already pledged to provide 29% of the cost. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been extended to April 2020 and with funding approval from Federal and State Government, it will then go to tender.
Джардин говорит: «Мы использовали решения Seequent для информирования представителей сообщества и проведения нетехнических форумов, чтобы продемонстрировать, что мы обнаружили в рамках нашей программы бурения. Представление данных в трехмерном виде действительно помогло людям понять и визуализировать проект. Мы также воспользовались функцией клипов в Leapfrog Works для создания обзорных видеороликов, которые мы могли легко приостановить во время консультаций, чтобы разъяснить важнейшие аспекты. Эти впечатляющие визуализации действительно помогли воплотить проект в жизнь.»
Вероятно, решение о продолжении строительства плотины Эму-Суомп будет принято в 2019 году и может привести к бурению дополнительных скважин для полного понимания проницаемости грунта. Модель Leapfrog поможет предоставлять данные для этой работы, когда проект перейдет к этапу детального проектирования.
Пэт Макларин (Pat McLarin), директор по продуктам Seequent для гражданского строительства и охраны окружающей среды, говорит, что Leapfrog Works предназначен для поддержки рабочих процессов проектов гражданского строительства в интересах широкого круга групп и заинтересованных сторон, которые обычно участвуют в таких проектах. «Мы очень рады, что программное обеспечение Works помогло компании Jacobs представить экономическое обоснование того, что может стать знаковым проектом в Квинсленде».
См. полный пример успешного использования при строительстве плотины Эму-Суомп по этой ссылке.