In mining, there is no room for improvisation. Assembling and disassembling industrial structures requires absolute precision: any error in sequence, transport, or lifting can be costly in terms of deadlines, safety, and efficiency.
It was with this mindset that the TIME NOW Engineering sought support from Cadbim for a challenging project: to model and simulate, with rich data and full technical integration, the structures that feed the crushed ore stockpile at the Carajás Copper plant – VALE.
Next, you'll learn about the behind-the-scenes aspects of this delivery and how... BIM applied with method It became a key element in the project planning.
The complexity of an industrial assembly project.
The Carajás Copper Plant is one of Vale's most strategic operational structures in Brazil.
With a large construction site and multiple interfaces, the project required the modeling of:
- Metal structures;
- Belt conveyors;
- Mechanical equipment;
- Lifting and transport systems;
- Concrete structures;
- Topography and construction site.
More than just representing these elements in 3D, the model needed to provide support for executive planning., allowing reliable 4D simulations and interoperability with tools such as Synchro.
The challenge: technical detailing and integration.
The biggest challenge was meeting the high level of technical detail required for the models, especially in the metal structures and conveyors.
It was essential that each component be individualized and parameterized, allowing not only visualization, but also:
- Extracting specific technical information;
- The study of disassembly and reassembly in stages;
- Integrated simulation of transport and lifting.
Furthermore, the model needed to guarantee Seamless interoperability between Revit and Synchro, enabling a direct transition between the digital environment and the physical construction schedule.
The Cadbim solution: from model to technical decision.
Cadbim applied an approach centered on three pillars:
1. Detailed parametric modeling
All elements were modeled with a focus on geometric accuracy and technical organization, including:
- Metal structures;
- Belt systems;
- Equipment and support structures;
- Land, ore pile and temporary facilities.
2. Integration with 4D planning
The model was connected to Synchro, a tool for simulating and sequencing construction projects.
This integration enabled constructability analyses, generation of visual schedules, and assembly and disassembly tests directly based on the BIM model.
3. Classification and usability of the model
All elements were identified with technical attributes, making it easier to:
- Reading by the planning teams;
- Extracting quantitative data;
- Generating strategic reports;
- The use of the model as a construction tool.
Predictability, integration, and security
Thanks to the model developed by Cadbim, TIME NOW Engenharia achieved practical and strategic gains:
- More assertive planning, with faithful simulations of the assembly sequence;
- Reducing operational risks, through the anticipation of interferences;
- Better communication between teams, based on visual and technical data;
- Using the BIM model as a decision-making tool on the construction site.
The project has ceased to be merely a collection of technical files and has become a integrated platform for coordination and constructive intelligence.
BIM as a link between design and execution.
O Carajás Copper Case This proves the potential of BIM as a tool that goes beyond the design phase.
When applied correctly, it becomes part of the work, anticipating problems, organizing steps, and reducing uncertainties.
This is the focus of #JeitoCadbim: applying technology with method, technical clarity, and integration between model and planning.
Want to know how to bring this level of predictability to your project?
Talk to Cadbim. Let's structure the right BIM solution for your construction site.