AI enlisted to keep one of Australia’s biggest road projects on track

The North East Link Tunnel in Australia. Image: Clough

The North East Link will close a critical gap in Melbourne’s transport network through the construction of two six-and-a-half kilometre, three-lane twin tunnels.

Spark NEL, the consortium delivering the project, is a joint venture comprising Webuild, CPB Contractors, GS Engineering & Construction, and China Construction Oceania.

UK-based nPlan has a project delivery AI system that, according to the company, has been proven to predict risk and delay, and assure outcomes on major capital projects with reliable accuracy. Its deep learning system draws from a dataset of past project schedules of more than 750,000 projects – totalling over $2 trillion in capital expenditure – to underpin its predictions.

Spark NEL will deploy nPlan Insights Pro to enable the project controls team to quantify schedule uncertainty, highlight risky activities and sub-critical paths, and surface schedule complexity and quality challenges.

“It is in the later stages of delivery where risks can multiply quickly and delays can pile up suddenly,” said Rui Gaiao, project controls director at Spark NEL D&C.

“By partnering with nPlan, Spark NEL D&C is acting responsibly to ensure we have the best possible chance of completing the North East Link with confidence, supported by world-class data-driven assurance.”