Neara Digital Twin ASP3 Portal

Through Neara, the ASP/3 Designers have the opportunity to access Ausgrid’s:

• Auto model – Ausgrid's digital twin of LiDAR survey data, poles and wires network
• Dedicated Design Template
• Predefined asset libraries, helping to standardise and speed up the design process
• Automated validation reports to check designs prior to submission, streamlining the overall design approval process

Current Approvals

Neara is currently approved for use in distribution network modelling projects up to and including 22 kV, with span lengths of up to 250 m.

Subtransmission Capability Development

Ausgrid continues to evaluate and enhance Neara's capability to support subtransmission design requirements, including the validation of modelling functionality and the development of workforce competency. During this transition period, all projects containing subtransmission elements will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with final acceptance remaining at Ausgrid's discretion. This includes, but is not limited to, projects involving span lengths greater than 250 m, steel lattice tower structures, and multi-pole structures, which are not currently supported within the approved scope.

Use of Ausgrid's Design Template

For ASP/3 choosing to use Neara without adopting the Ausgrid template, it is important to understand that the certification and compliance assessment process will still be based on the requirements embedded within the template. The template effectively represents the validation framework against which design outputs will be assessed. As such, while alternative workflows may be used, aligning with the Ausgrid template remains the most practical and efficient approach to ensure compliance and avoid unnecessary rework during design certification.

These features assist ASP/3 designers to comply with NS220 standards and support overall overhead line design principles, reduce rework and support more streamlined design process.

The contestable design submission requires one additional artefact: .POWER file if using Neara.