3D Scanning Engineering in Broken Hill

Broken Hill is unlike any other engineering environment in Australia. Shaped by one of the world’s most significant ore bodies, the city’s infrastructure has evolved over more than a century of continuous mining. Much of what exists today is layered, modified, and adapted over time, creating complex brownfield conditions where original drawings are often incomplete or no longer reflect reality.

Engineering in Broken Hill is therefore highly practical, conservative, and focused on working with what already exists. This is where accurate site data and engineer-led digital workflows become essential.

Hamilton By Design supports projects in Broken Hill by combining 3D LiDAR laser scanning, mechanical and structural engineering, 3D CAD modelling, FEA, and fabrication-ready drafting—helping asset owners and project teams design upgrades that fit first time.

Engineering challenges unique to Broken Hill

Broken Hill engineering is dominated by:

Very old and continuously modified infrastructure
Underground and surface assets built to historic standards
Extreme heat, dust, and isolation
Limited tolerance for rework due to logistics and access

In this environment, assumptions are risky. Accurate as-built information is critical before any design, fabrication, or installation begins.

3D Laser Scanning for Broken Hill sites

Hamilton By Design uses high-accuracy 3D Laser Scanning to capture the true as-built condition of mining and industrial assets in and around Broken Hill.

3D laser scanning is particularly valuable for:

Brownfield mining infrastructure
Historic plant and structural steel
Underground and surface interfaces
Assets where drawings are outdated or missing

Scanning is completed during controlled site visits, minimising disruption while capturing comprehensive data that can be relied on throughout the project lifecycle.

Turning scan data into practical engineering models

Once scanning is complete, data is transferred off site for processing and engineering. Hamilton By Design converts point cloud data into accurate 3D CAD Modelling that reflects what actually exists—not what drawings suggest should exist.

These models support:

Mechanical upgrades and equipment replacements
Structural strengthening and retrofits
Platforms, access ways, and support steel
Integration of new assets into constrained spaces

For Broken Hill projects, this scan-to-model approach significantly reduces uncertainty and design risk.

Mechanical and structural engineering built on reality

Engineering in Broken Hill often involves integrating modern systems into historic assets. Working from scan-derived models allows engineers to:

Understand existing load paths and constraints
Check clearances and access early
Coordinate mechanical and structural elements in one environment

This leads to designs that are practical, buildable, and aligned with site realities rather than idealised assumptions.

FEA to support safety and compliance

Where performance, safety, or compliance is critical, Hamilton By Design applies FEA Capabilities to verify designs.

Finite Element Analysis is commonly used to:

Check structural capacity of existing assets
Assess modifications to aged steel and supports
Review fatigue, vibration, and deflection
Support engineering approval and sign-off

Using FEA on scan-based geometry provides confidence that designs will perform as intended in real operating conditions.

Easy-to-build fabrication drawings with engineering approval

Clear documentation is essential for successful delivery in remote locations like Broken Hill. Hamilton By Design produces fabrication-ready Drafting directly from coordinated 3D models.

Typical deliverables include:

General arrangement and detail drawings
Fabrication and installation drawings
Engineering-reviewed and approval-ready documentation

This focus on clarity and constructability helps fabricators and site teams build accurately, safely, and efficiently—often with limited opportunity for rework.

Reducing site risk through digital engineering

By capturing site conditions once and completing the majority of engineering off site, projects benefit from:

Fewer site visits and lower travel costs
Reduced safety exposure
Better coordination before fabrication
Higher confidence during installation

For Broken Hill, where logistics and access matter, this approach delivers measurable value.

Engineering outcomes that respect history and reality

Broken Hill is a place where past and present engineering coexist. Hamilton By Design’s integrated scanning and engineering workflow helps bridge that gap—respecting historic infrastructure while delivering modern, compliant, and buildable solutions.

3D Scanning Engineering in Broken Hill is about using accurate data, sound engineering judgement, and practical documentation to deliver upgrades that work the first time.