Abu Dhabi’s International Airport is in the process of increasing its capacity with
a new terminal built between two existing runways. Here are the stats:
The aptly named “Midfield Terminal” will accommodate 65 aircraft and be able to handle
8,500 passengers an hour, through 136 security screening lanes. 22KM of conveyor belts will
manage the flow of 19,000 bags an hour through the system.
In total, the USD $3BN building will provide 700,000 square meters of indoor space to house
passenger and cargo facilities, duty-free shops and a wide range of restaurants.
The project was designed Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates together with Arup, NACO and BNP
Associates. Its X-shaped form creates a six-storey central hub and four piers that access the
aircraft gates. This reduces travel distances for passengers and creates shared facilities
for check-in, security and baggage reclaim in the centre.
Once opened, the terminal will achieve the International Air Transport Association’s
(IATA) Level of Service ‘A’ recognising the highest levels of space allocation for
passenger processing areas.
The Midfield Terminal building is being delivered as a Joint Venture between TAV, Consolidated
Contractors Company and Arabtec, nicely shortened to TCA JV. They began to develop the project
in a BIM environment at tender stage, some eight months before contract award. This enabled
them to understand proposals fully and to demonstrate that understanding with a high
level of confidence to their client, Abu Dhabi Airport (ADAC).
Once the project team was assembled, the Terminal’s scale and complexity demanded that information
be exchanged collaboratively in a shared online space. That Common Data Environment (CDE)
gave parties access to well-structured information about the project.
This central source of approved data, proved a powerful platform for other project team
members to undertake their work from – such as material take-offs, programing and the
development of fabrication drawings. The project team estimate that BIM workflows saved them
119 days and USD $65,000 in creating fabrication drawings for just one zone of blockwork. They
also cite enhanced collaboration, reducing the cycle of critical RFIs from 28 days down
to two-seven days.
Working in a BIM environment enabled proposals to be tested virtually first before they were
constructed for real out on site. The design team saved over USD $1M and 51,000 working
hours just in resolving clashes between the façade and the various trades it interfaces with.
Construction of the Midfield Terminal is expected to last four years, with the new facility
becoming operational in 2017. By then, over 600,000 cubic meters of concrete will have
been poured, 69,000 tonnes of structural steel will have been erected and some 325,000 square
meters of stone flooring will have been laid.
The construction process has benefitted greatly from 4D planning, using data within the information
models developed by the project team. Accurate forecasts of the time needed to complete tasks
could be developed, leading to better co-ordination of contractors and their resources.
In one instance, TCA JV used 4D BIM techniques to test logistics proposals that suggested
they needed to hire an additional five tower cranes for a period of 12 months. They discovered
that only 20% of these cranes capacity would be used throughout the year and elected to
progress with mobile and existing cranes instead.
The time taken to review and approve construction programmes was also reduced, as teams could
simulate activities and share their feasibility in real-time in their meetings.
Once construction is complete, the building will enter its “Operational Readiness Assessment”
phase; a nine month period thoroughly testing all aspects of the Terminal to ensure operational
and efficiency readiness from the first day of operation. Data from the delivery phase
information model will be used to support facilities management (FM) throughout the
building’s life.
Operation and use have been a key focus from day one and the project employs a number of
sustainable design features to reduce its running costs and impact on the environment.
These have earned it a prestigious Estidama 3 Pearl Design Rating.
As the largest single building in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Midfield Terminal is a significant
BIM case study and one that many others can certainly learn from.
If you enjoyed this video don’t forget to share it with a friend, and if you’d like
to get more like this, why not subscribe to The B1M?