MANITOBA HYDRO-ELECTRIC

NCN and Manitoba Hydro became official business partners offering the opportunity to own up to 33% of the Wuskwatim Generating Station. This cooperative approach to planning the project includes combining traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge toward the environmental assessment studies.

Although current projections show that Manitoba's domestic demand for new power is not required, advancing the in-service date of Wuskwatin to 2012 from 2020 would mean that additional export revenues and profits are possible.

Manitoba Hydro
Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba Hydro is a Crown Corporation and the province's major energy utility and:

- Exports electricity to more than 30 electric utilities in four wholesale markets in Canada and the USA's Midwest.
- Maintains a position as the lowest cost provider of domestic electricity rates in Canada.
- Serves more than a half-million electric customers and a quarter-million natural gas customers in Manitoba.
- Generates nearly all its electricity from self-renewing water power from 14 hydroelectric generating stations primarily on the Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and Nelson Rivers.
- With capital assets-in-service at original cost exceeding $11 billion is one of Canada's largest, energy utilities and is governed by the Manitoba Hydroelectric Board.

Synchro Applications
Manitoba Hydro first discovered Synchro at the 2007 Annual Primavera User Conference in Orlando and was intrigued by the alternatives offered in a demo there.

The utility then put Synchro to work initially in its bidding process in a repeatedly, concrete-driven schedule and to show the process both to management and the construction team.

"Synchro really paid dividends during the analysis of our General Civil Works contracts," said John Cassano, Schedule and Cost Control Engineer. "Using Synchro, we were able to analyse various schedule alternatives proposed by different bidders."

In order to develop the 4D model, Manitoba Hydro used 2D concrete pour drawings to create a 3D rendition of the entire generating station. This model was then linked to the master construction schedule (created in Primavera) and from this a 4D model was born. Synchro was used to show the sequence of how the generating station was being built and compare the different schedules proposed by each contractor.

Synchro also became a communications tool for sharing a common view of the construction sequence with management and key team members.

"We needed to present these alternatives to a large group of people who are responsible for selecting the best value option," John Cassano said. "With Synchro we were able clearly to show the differences in the bids and everyone in the room was 'on the same page'. For now, we are primaraly interested in the concrete sequencing but have plans to incorporate the turbines, generators and cranes into our 4D model."

Specification
In addition to bidding and communications Manitoba Hydro has used Synchro to test their own construction approach.

In one of the main structures attached to the power house, for example, Synchro helped identify problems with the master contruction schedule that may have, otherwise, gone unnoticed until it were too late.

The utility envisions that Synchro could possibly save time on the construction schedule, which in their business becomes an especially valuable commodity. Further, Manitoba Hydro values Synchro's capability to help them envision "what if" scenarios, when other options need to be explored.

Manitoba Hydro uses Synchro because:

• It helps management more clearly assess alternative schedules proposed by various bidders.
• It finds value in envisioning the construction approach as well as testing the validity of their master construction schedule.
• It specifically preferred to see this project from multiple views through the functionality provided specifically by Synchro.
• It wants the capability to discover potential problems early, run 'what if' scenarios and quickly re-synchronize the plan, as necessary.

What Synchro Ltd Provided
Demonstrations to project management

• 4D simulation software
• Tutorials for training
• One-on-one technical advice from service-minded experts
• Ongoing technical support, advice and upgrades for the software.

Outcomes
Synchro has helped Manitoba Hydro add clarity to the bid review and evaluation process.

Synchro has helped the utility company address problems in their master construction schedule.

It has helped communicate the project's construction to stakeholders and management.

It will help them share a common view with their contractors and supply chain.

It helps them identify new options and manage solutions to save time and money.

"Everything we have asked Synchro to do, it has done," said John Cassano. "It was very easy for me to pick up. We've got some pretty big plans for interfacing 3D drawings with Synchro."

How can Synchro help your company?