Case Study – Gouthwaite Reservoir Spillway Improvement Works
The Gouthwaite Reservoir, built in the 1900s, is the largest dammed catchment in Yorkshire with area of 115km2, it has the greatest spillway flows in the region, an outflow of around 920m3/s – enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool every 2.7 seconds! In response to floods in 2015, there was a need to re-build the water retaining spillway structure and install siphon pipework prior to the onset of winter floods in subsequent years. The construction works was challenging due the site size limitations and location, being situated in Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a designated site of special scientific interest. The Project was set up to PAS1192:2 standards with a BIM Execution Plan. Due to the project’s complex geometry, various software systems were used to create a federated model. With the use of Computational Fluid modelling and the early adoption of digital construction helped achieve savings of over £300,000 on the scheme. There was also a 6-month reduction in the original construction programme. The resulting outcome was to create a very efficient channel to reduce visual impact, cost, programme and size of the structure. The site team were able to use the model for H&S briefings on site which assisted, with over 46,000 hours worked over two years, to only two minor injuries during this period.
