Shanghai Investigation, Design & Research Institute implemented a study to use digital twins for lifecycle asset management of hydropower projects. They wanted to generate 3D digital models for two giant power stations and standardize asset coding, data collection, and archiving. However, they had to integrate various contractors’ disconnected systems, as well as overcome the volume of assets and short project timeline. Recognizing that traditional modeling strategies were ineffective, they sought an integrated modeling solution.

They selected Bentley’s open modeling applications, including MicroStation and OpenBuildings Designer, as well as ProjectWise, to improve multidiscipline model coordination, saving 200 resource days in modeling time. The models helped to avoid rework, reducing the construction period by 5%. They used ContextCapture and the Bentley iTwin platform for reality modeling and generated a digital twin of the two stations, integrating and linking engineering and asset data in different formats.