RTHK English
The transport department has said a new three-dimensional route-planning platform is helping to make the transport of large modular construction components safer and more efficient. The "3D Swept Path Analysis Platform" funded under the government's HK$1 billion Smart Traffic Fund, is designed to support innovation projects related to vehicles and smart mobility, and it has already been put to use in the construction of the Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section) that will be commissioned on May 3. The department's chief engineer George Fong said the project involved transporting prefabricated components for a large elevated cycle track and footbridge made of ultra-high strength steel from Tuen Mun to Fanling. Fong said the route was especially challenging because of the size of the components and the complicated road network involved. Civil Enginnering and Development Department engineer Keith Cheng said the original route proposed – through Wong Chu Road – would have caused a clearance problem with a noise barrier. He said the route was later changed to Tsing Wun Road after the platform's simulation showed the obstruction. Cheng added that the platform saved about three months of construction time, while the entire transport operation for the components was completed in over 12 nights. The analysis platform uses 3D computer technology to simulate how oversized loads move through complex junctions, significantly reducing the time needed for site inspections and route assessments. "Unlike traditional two-dimensional analysis for road transport, which can miss many details, the 3D environment allows us to see nearby traffic lights and obstacles and the exact clearance around them," Fong explained. "This allows us to deal with the actual situation at complex junctions, roundabouts and narrow road sections, and greatly reducing the safety risks involved in transporting the components," he added. Compared with traditional flat analysis, Fong said it can also identify more potential hidden hazards. The Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section) is the first major transport infrastructure project completed under the development of the Northern Metropolis. Edited by Aaron Tam
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