Making risks visible to all

Geospatial modelling enables an 80% reduction in project hazards.

Victoria Godbeford-Orton
Lead for Safe by Design, Mott MacDonald

We have developed a new module in our award-winning digital solution, Moata Geospatial, to improve the management of project health and safety, environmental and security risks. The innovation, Safe by Design, builds on our experience working with contractor Skanska to map hazards on major UK highways projects, combining geographic information systems and building information modelling – GIS and BIM.

Safe by Design visualises an entire project in 3D. Within the model, hazards can be geolocated, categorised, scored and filtered.

Risks are represented geospatially by hazard warning triangles. Each triangle has a unique code that describes the nature of the risk, who it could affect, and who needs to be informed about it. Data such as surveys, photographs, drawings and calculations can be added.

The solution provides a comprehensive single source of information.

The dashboard can be used to set and track key performance indicators and benchmark performance against similar projects.

Risk data is represented in layers that can be switched on or off, and different levels of detail can be selected. This enables the model to be used for focused conversations with different stakeholders, and aids collaboration.

Data is presented on a dashboard, showing how effective risk management measures are and laying down an audit trail for reference and compliance. The dashboard can be used to set and track key performance indicators and to benchmark performance against similar projects.

GeoBIM, the solution we developed with Skanska and from which Safe by Design is evolved, was first used on a 16km dual carriageway project with three grade separated junctions, 18 bridges and 20 culverts – in short, a nationally important project. It enabled more than 1700 hazards to be closed out and the risk level to be reduced for a further 950 hazards. That equated to elimination of approximately 80% of the project’s hazards.