How World's Longest Bridge Randselva Built Using BIM & Tekla?

Why the Randselva Bridge Changed Infrastructure BIM Forever?

The Randselva Bridge is widely recognized as the world's longest bridge built without drawings, a milestone that challenged decades of engineering practice. Instead of producing thousands of 2D sheets, the entire project relied on a federated digital model.

This shift altered how risk was managed. In traditional bridge delivery, drawings pass through multiple interpretations before reaching the site. Each interpretation introduces the possibility of dimensional inconsistencies, sequencing misunderstandings, or rework. By contrast, the model-based workflow ensured that every discipline worked from synchronized geometry and data.

Another defining change was the level of confidence stakeholders had in decision-making. Because the model contained precise information tied to fabrication and installation, teams could validate assumptions early rather than waiting for physical construction to expose problems.

The project team also demonstrated that digital modeling could support highly detailed reinforcement layouts, curved alignments, and staged construction logic simultaneously. These are conditions where drawing-heavy workflows often struggle to maintain clarity.

The project also demonstrated how BIM for construction can handle infrastructure-scale complexity, not just buildings. From reinforcement detailing to segment casting, every component was defined digitally before it reached the site.

Over time, this model-centric approach also supports asset management after completion. The same dataset can inform inspections, repairs, and future upgrades, allowing infrastructure owners to treat the model as a living reference rather than a static archive.

Role of BIM and Tekla Structures in the Project

To understand how this transformation worked in practice, it is helpful to look at the specific ways BIM and Tekla Structures supported engineering and construction workflows.

The project relied heavily on BIM structural design using Tekla, which enabled teams to connect structural detailing directly with fabrication and construction planning. The following roles highlight how the system functioned throughout the lifecycle:

• The Tekla model acted as the central coordination platform for designers, contractors, and fabricators.
• Reinforcement, geometry, and structural data were modeled to construction-level detail, reducing interpretation risks.
• Engineers validated structural performance using model-based simulations instead of drawing reviews.
• Fabrication teams extracted data directly from the model, ensuring dimensional accuracy.
• Construction sequencing was visualized digitally to plan installation and reduce clashes.
• Updates were shared in real time, allowing teams to adapt without revising large document sets.
• The model supported traceability, making quality control easier across multiple project phases.

Beyond coordination, this workflow enabled smoother collaboration between offices located in different regions. Digital environments allowed specialists to review the same elements simultaneously, shortening review cycles and strengthening interdisciplinary alignment.

This integrated workflow represents how BIM for infrastructure enables better collaboration compared to fragmented design approaches.

How Engineers and Site Teams Worked Directly from the Model?

One of the most significant innovations in the bridge built using BIM approach was how site teams interacted with the model itself.

Instead of relying on printed drawings, engineers accessed digital information through coordinated platforms. Field teams used model views to confirm geometry, reinforcement placement, and assembly sequences.

This changed how construction knowledge was communicated. Visual references reduced reliance on written interpretation and allowed teams to understand complex areas quickly. Workers could examine specific components, isolate views, and verify alignment conditions before installation began.

This allowed construction teams to:

• Visualize components before installation
• Detect issues earlier through model coordination
• Align fabrication and site tolerances precisely
• Reduce time spent interpreting documentation

Digital access also improved verification workflows. Inspectors could compare constructed elements against the model to ensure compliance, strengthening quality assurance processes.

The use of model-driven communication helped reduce delays that typically arise from clarifications or design queries. Instead of waiting for revised drawings, teams could resolve uncertainties through shared digital review.

Such workflows align with broader industry movement toward data-driven execution environments, where models function as operational tools rather than design references.

This method is increasingly recognized as a practical implementation of BIM for construction, where digital data drives execution instead of static drawings.

Key Lessons for Civil & Structural Engineers

The Randselva Bridge offers several important takeaways for professionals transitioning into digital infrastructure delivery. These lessons reflect how engineering roles, workflows, and required competencies are evolving alongside model-based project delivery.

Important lessons from the project include:

• Engineers must develop skills beyond analysis and design. Understanding how to structure information within coordinated models is becoming as important as calculating forces or designing members.
  
  
• Collaboration now depends on shared datasets rather than isolated deliverables. Engineers must communicate decisions through model intelligence, which requires familiarity with integrated platforms and data workflows.
  
  
• The project highlights the growing importance of BIM structural design using Tekla as a functional capability for infrastructure professionals working on bridges and transportation systems.
  
  
• Adaptability is essential. Engineers must be prepared to work in environments where updates occur continuously and coordination is dynamic rather than sequential. This requires a mindset that values integration, verification, and shared accountability across disciplines.

For professionals seeking to build these capabilities, structured learning pathways such as the BIM course for civil engineers by Novatr help to translate theory into applied digital delivery methods used on projects like Randselva.

The industry direction is clear. Engineers who understand model-based collaboration will be better positioned to participate in complex infrastructure programs driven by digital standards.