Wednesday, October 16, 2013

720 Feet Underground . . .


Faster, safer, and more accurate results leveraging Scan to BIM technology 


3D laser scanning proved to be an invaluable solution for documenting the existing interior conditions of the Hydraulic Turbine Generators at the Edward Hyatt Powerplant located in the bedrock beneath Oroville Dam in Oroville, California.

The Oroville-Thermalito Complex was designed as an efficient water and power system.  It stores about 3.5 million acre-feet and generates power from releases made through Edward Hyatt Powerplant and two other Thermalito generating plants.

At 770 ft. Oroville Dam is the tallest dam in the nation

Edward Hyatt Powerplant

Project Challenge:​

  • ​Design an aluminum steel catwalk within the walls of the 40 ft. diameter Turbine
  • Catwalk pre-manufactured off-site and installed on-site​
  • Catwalk pieces not to exceed 40 lbs. each
  • Catwalk must be removable
  • Catwalk elements must be designed to avoid existing piping around Turbine walls


Scan to BIM Results:
  • Total scan time per Turbine = 1hr., 15 mins.​
  • 26 million points recorded
  • Model creation from scan data = 1 wk. (7days)
  • Accuracy within 1/8"
                       



The resulting 3D model will be used for the generation of shop drawings, manufacturer templates, and a visual aid for on-site installation.

"This process would have taken up to 3 weeks to document the as-built conditions using traditional methods with safety being compromised.  The level of precision and resulting accuracy of the model/drawings would have been impossible to achieve", as stated by the designing project engineer.