HydroBIM and AECOM’s cooperation on flood protection projects in southern Poland is discussed with Director Monika Irlik-Piwowar and Deputy Director Barbara Chammas, who head the Water Resources, Environment and Energy Department at AECOM Polska Sp. z o.o.
The occasion for the conversation is the completion of major flood protection projects in Sandomierz and Tarnów, where HydroBIM cooperated with AECOM Polska in project supervision.
How did it happen that a global giant decided to use HydroBIM’s services?
We came across HydroBIM on a recommendation. We urgently needed design support on an investment we were supervising as part of the Sandomierz flood protection project. Unfortunately, the author of the design documentation died in June 2020. We were therefore looking for a replacement for the author’s supervision. At RZGW Rzeszów, we were recommended to contact Tomasz Rajpold, who was praised as the designer of the modernization of the Rzeszów and Młynówka reservoirs. In Rzeszów, they were impressed by the quality of the designs, which took advantage of the possibilities of modern digital technology.
So we made contact with Tomasz. We confirmed what we had heard at RZGW Rzeszów, but above all from our AECOM Team, which as Engineer Consultant the construction works for which Tomasz Rajpold was the author’s supervisor.
The designers of InfraBIM, as this was the name of the company with which we partnered at the time, quickly adapted to the requirements of AECOM and seamlessly integrated themselves into the author’s supervision work on the investments we supervised.
But why HydroBIM? After all, AECOM has its own BIM team.
Yes, this is true. However, our BIM team is based in the UK. That’s why we decided to work with a local company that better understands the national realities, knows the terrain in the area, but above all, we needed supervision immediately.
The project in Sandomierz was demanding. It is a total of five tasks, several kilometers of flood barriers, the construction and modernization of infrastructure facilities and the flagship, a modern flood gate to protect the port. The technologies used by HydroBIM made it possible to optimize project supervision.
Visualisation of the flood gate. Source: YT channel of RZGW Kraków
The modernized floodgates are in the immediate vicinity of a housing estate and a glass works. Protests were to be expected and, indeed, there were some. The modifications to the original design made by HydroBIM and the visualization of the proposed solutions helped win the approval of both the local community and the Investor, improving the functionality of the solutions.
Is the Sandomierz flood protection project the only joint venture?
No. It so happened that, in parallel, AECOM took over the author’s supervision in the Tarnów flood protection project. The project was co-financed by the World Bank, which has very high requirements, also in terms of the schedule.
Source: HydroBIM archive
For various reasons that do not need to be mentioned now, the investment was at risk and the Investor was exposed to serious delays and contractual penalties. Analyses by AECOM Polska, carried out in cooperation with HydroBIM, made it possible to detect collisions in time and eliminate them before construction work began, so that the problems were resolved.
The use of BIM in the project has brought absolutely tangible benefits to the Investor here.
Without it, the additional costs would have been enormous.
We have also collaborated on several projects in Kraków. We benefited from HydroBIM’s BIM competence to transpose 2D designs into 3D, detect clashes and integrate data in, among other projects, the Kujawy and Płaszów harbour gates and the reconstruction of the Malinówka 3 and Serafa 2 reservoirs.
We are also using HydroBIM services for the design documentation of approximately 17 kilometers of the San River flood protection embankment, in the Stalowa Wola area.
How would you rate your cooperation with HydroBIM?
This is how AECOM Polska’s cooperation with HydroBIM can be assessed as very effective in the shortest summary. Above all, we appreciate your flexibility – you are able to adapt to dynamic situations. And there is no fight for every single zloty, just the will to solve problems. A rational approach to business is the key to effective cooperation.
The excellent communication between HydroBIM and the AECOM team is not insignificant, confirming that our teams have converging goals – successful project delivery.
What are AECOM’s plans in Poland for the coming years?
From the point of view of the Water Resources, Environment and Energy Department, which we manage, we are currently in the final stages of implementing projects under the Flood Protection Project in the upper Vistula and Oder river basins, but this does not mean that the problem of flood protection on these rivers is solved. There are new projects on the horizon in which we hope to be actively involved. The issue of water retention in Poland is still to be resolved. We are also seeing the development of investment plans in the environment and energy sectors. Here, too, we have competence and experience, so we will be active in these areas and also see a wide field for further cooperation with HydroBim.
Thank you for the interview and I wish you success!
Monika Irlik-Piwowar and Barbara Chammas interviewed by Jacek Sobkowski
About AECOM Polska
AECOM Polska Sp. z o.o. is part of the global engineering consultancy AECOM, specialising in design, construction, financing and operational management services in sectors such as transport, infrastructure, environment, energy and water.
In Poland, AECOM focuses on the design and implementation of infrastructure projects, including road, rail and airport projects, as well as environmental and water management investments. The company uses innovative technologies and sustainable design practices to create safe, efficient and integrated transport and infrastructure systems that support economic development and improve quality of life.
AECOM in Poland is known for its commitment to sustainable infrastructure development, working with public and private clients to deliver projects that are environmentally friendly, economically viable and socially responsible. The company takes an innovative approach to project management, using the capabilities of BIM (Building Information Modelling) technology and digital tools to optimise design and construction processes.