"That’s one of the real benefits – accessing those hard-to-reach areas."
Overseeing major Australian ports, including Port Botany and Port Kembla, NSW Ports first adopted Trendspek in 2023 to enhance visibility into the condition of wharves, jetties, and other key loading infrastructure.
We spoke with Ashley Rangott, Asset Manager, and Maruf Akhtar, Asset Systems Manager, about their new digital-led process.
Project overview
In recent years, the maritime industry has been turning to technology to inspect large port structures, such as the undersides of shipping wharves. NSW Ports, who manage some of Australia's key trade gateways, began exploring 3D modelling as a way to overcome accessibility challenges.
Their journey began with a specific need: obtaining detailed views of inaccessible or hazardous areas.
After evaluating various technologies, they selected Trendspek for its superior data quality, comprehensive asset visualisation, and efficiency in time and cost.
This marked a significant shift for NSW Ports, according to Maruf Akhtar, Asset Systems Manager at NSW Ports for two years, and Ashley Rangott, Asset Manager at NSW Ports for 13 years.
“We made the decision because the industry was heading towards a 3D view of assets. Many of our structures presented access challenges, so having a 3D model allowed us to inspect and assess these assets remotely, reducing time and effort."
"In the engineering team, we need to understand how it was constructed - how the bolts are joined, how it is supported. If we have a 3D model, it gives us the picture in front of us, showing how it was designed and how complex it is."
Outcomes
Before adopting Trendspek, NSW Ports traditionally relied on site investigations for condition assessments. As Ashley explains, with 2D plans and site visits: “You’re relying on what that person can see which can sometimes be limited with weather, sea and access conditions."
Coordinating site visits also posed logistical challenges: requiring alignment of team schedules, suitable weather conditions, and site permissions. When it came to inspecting hard-to-reach areas, such as sections of the jetty, this often involved boats or scaffolding.
"You would have to go there in a boat and plan it from a boat, and take notes on paper, which can be challenging and is labour intensive."
By contrast, Trendspek’s 3D models provide a verifiable, detailed record that multiple stakeholders can revisit online to understand asset conditions – accessible via web browser, from the office.
"That’s one of the real benefits of Trendspek – accessing those hard-to-reach areas. For example, our bulk liquid pipelines run under berths in tidal zones and formerly required boat access. Now, it’s all available in the model."
As Maruf notes, the 3D models also allow engineers to understand complex components, such as how different structural elements connect.
"In the engineering team, we need to understand how it was constructed—how the bolts are joined, how it is supported. If we have a 3D model, it gives us the picture in front of us, showing how it was designed and how complex it is."Overall, both Ashley and Maruf agree that the shift from 2D to 3D has been a "a step in the right direction."
"That’s one of the real benefits of Trendspek – accessing those hard-to-reach areas. For example, our bulk liquid pipelines run under berths in tidal zones and formerly required boat access. Now, it’s all available in the model."
Outcomes
With a growing portfolio of accessible 3D models, this also helped to streamline project work, particularly during the tendering phase.
“It’s handy in the tender phase, and for remediation and construction projects. It can take a lot of work to organise a site inspection – when all the right people are available, the weather is suitable, it’s not too hot, it’s not too windy or raining, and shipping and operations permit access. You need all the variables to line up," adds Ashley.
"Now, we can give them the 3D model and they can start looking at it and getting their head around the project earlier. This saves a lot of time in the site inspections."
"There’s significant efficiency in capturing data and conducting assessments. Much of the work can now be done in the office rather than on-site. This consistency also means we’re no longer relying solely on subjective observations—it’s all recorded in the model."
Collaboration has also improved, with contractors and executives, all able to remotely access models to plan maintenance with full context. “Sharing these models with contractors has been a game-changer. It provides a snapshot in time, allowing contractors to familiarise themselves with assets before arriving on-site, saving time during tendering and preparation,” says Maruf.
“The models are also useful for training contractors. Once they understand how to use the system, they can conduct much of the initial assessment remotely.By sharing these models wit, we’ve cut down on labour costs and increased efficiency," adds Ashley.
"With Trendspek, a full jetty inspection is now about a third of the cost. We even receive positive feedback like, ‘Wow, this is exactly what we needed!'"
"With Trendspek, a full jetty inspection is now about a third of the cost. We even receive positive feedback like, ‘Wow, this is exactly what we needed!'"
Outcomes
For hard-to-reach or restricted areas, such as underneath large wharves, Trendspek’s 3D models have proven invaluable.
“We can now use the models to identify areas needing attention, without the logistical challenges of physical access,” Maruf explains.
Some of the most impactful applications have included active monitoring post-remediation works, and layering before and after models for comparison.
“We recently used Trendspek to re-capture our Emergency Jetty post-remediation. Comparing captures side-by-side has given us clear insights into improvements and ensured the quality of repairs. It's also highly cost-effective."
"We also used it to plan a fire system upgrade. The contractor, based in Queensland, was able to review the site remotely, reducing on-site time significantly—a crucial advantage given the limited number of specialists in Australia."
Ashley explains that this solution has been particularly beneficial for a team that operates from the office, giving them a clear visualisation of what they were working with.
"Before, they may not have had a clear understanding of the physical space and its features. With Trendspek’s models, the team can easily evaluate factors like proximity to sensitive marine ecosystems, ease of construction, and other environmental considerations."
What comes next
Looking to the future, NSW Ports has ambitious plans to integrate Trendspek into broader workflows and projects.
“We’re looking into integrating Trendspek with other systems to streamline workflows and reduce the number of platforms we use. The goal is to consolidate everything into a cohesive, user-friendly system,” says Ashley.
“We’re also keen to expand into new areas, like integrating BIM models and exploring ways to merge above-water and underwater captures. The potential is huge,” says Maruf. “We weren’t doing this five years ago, but it has since changed things significantly. This technology is helping us work smarter, and it’s to the benefit of our company and the broader industry.”
NSW Ports aims to expand the use of Trendspek’s platform to:
“We weren’t doing this five years ago, but it has since changed things significantly. This technology is helping us work smarter, and it’s to the benefit of our company and the broader industry.”
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