How LiDAR is Being Used to Help With Natural Disaster Mapping and Management

Michael Shillenn, vice president and program manager with Quantum Spatial outlines three projects where LiDAR data from the USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) has been used to assist in planning, disaster response and recovery, and emergency preparedness.

This month the United States Geological Survey (USGS) kicks off the fourth year of its grant process that supports collection high-resolution topographic data using LiDAR under its 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The 3DEP program stemmed from the growing national need for standards-based 3D representations of natural and constructed above-ground features, and provides valuable data and insights to federal and state agencies, as well as municipalities and other organizations across the U.S. and its territories.

With geospatial data collected through 3DEP, these agencies and organizations can mitigate flood risk, manage infrastructure and construction projects, conserve national resources, mitigate hazards and ensure they are prepared for natural and manmade disasters.

Here’s a look at three projects undertaken by Quantum Spatial Inc. on behalf of various government agencies, explaining how the LiDAR data collected has been used to support hurricane recovery and rebuilding efforts, provide risk assessments for potential flooding and address potential volcanic hazards.

Hurricane Sandy Disaster Response and Recovery

Hurricane Sandy was one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, impacting 24 states, including the entire Eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 enabled the USGS and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support response, recovery and mitigation of damages caused by Hurricane Sandy.

As a result, USGS and NOAA coordinated the collection of high-resolution topographic and bathymetric elevation data using LiDAR technology along the eastern seaboard from South Carolina to Rhode Island covering coastal and inland areas impacted by the storm. This integrated data is supporting scientific studies related to:

Hurricane recovery and rebuilding activities;
Vulnerability assessments of shorelines to coastal change hazards, such as severe storms, sea-level rise, and shoreline erosion and retreat;
Validation of storm-surge inundation predictions over urban areas;
Watershed planning and resource management; and
Ecological assessments.

The elevation data collected during this project has been included in the 3DEP repository, as well as NOAA’s Digital Coast — a centralized, user-friendly and cost-effective information repository developed by the NOAA Office for Coastal Management for the coastal managers, planners, decision-makers, and technical users who are charged to manage the nation’s coastal and ocean resources to sustain vibrant coastal communities and economies.

In this image, you’ll see a 3D LiDAR surface model colored by elevation centered on the inlet between Bear and Browns Island, part of North Carolina’s barrier islands south of Emerald Isle in Onslow Bay. The Back Bay marshlands and Intercostal Waterway also are clearly defined in this data.

3D LiDAR surface model colored by elevation centered on the inlet between Bear and Browns Island, part of North Carolina’s barrier islands south of Emerald Isle in Onslow Bay.

Flood Mapping and Border Security along the Rio Grande River

Not only is flooding one of the most common and costly disasters, flood risk also can change over time as a result of development, weather patterns and other factors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) works with federal, state, tribal and local partners across the nation to identify and reduce flood risk through the Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP) program. Risk MAP leverages 3DEP elevation data to create high-quality flood maps and models. The program also provides information and tools that help authorities better assess potential risk from flooding and supports planning and outreach to communities in order to help them take action to reduce (or mitigate) flood risk.

This image depicts a 3D LiDAR surface model, colored by elevation, for a portion of the City of El Paso, Texas. U.S. and Mexico territory, separated by the Rio Grande River, is shown. Centered in the picture is the Cordova Point of Entry Bridge crossing the Rio Grande. The US Customs and Border Protection, El Paso Port of Entry Station is prominently shown on the north side of the bridge. Not only does this data show the neighborhoods and businesses that could be impacted by flooding, but also it provides up-to-date geospatial data that may be valuable to border security initiatives.

3D LiDAR surface model, colored by elevation, for a portion of the City of El Paso, Texas. U.S. and Mexico territory, separated by the Rio Grande River

Disaster Preparedness Around the Glacier Peak Volcano

The USGS has a Volcano Hazards Program designed to advance the scientific understanding of volcanic processes and lessen the harmful impacts of volcanic activity. This program monitors active and potentially active volcanoes, assesses their hazards, responds to volcanic crises and conducts research on how volcanoes work.

Through 3DEP, USGS acquired LiDAR of Glacier Peak, the most remote, and one of the most active volcanoes, in the state of Washington. The terrain information provided by LiDAR enables scientists to get accurate view of the land, even in remote, heavily forested areas. This data helps researchers examine past eruptions, prepare for future volcanic activity and determine the best locations for installing real-time monitoring systems. The LiDAR data also is used in the design of a real-time monitoring network at Glacier Peak in preparation for installation in subsequent years, at which time the USGS will be able to better monitor activity and forecast eruptions.

This image offers a view looking southeast at Glacier and Kennedy Peaks and was created from the gridded LiDAR surface, colored by elevation.

3D LiDAR surface model of a view looking southeast at Glacier and Kennedy Peaks.

Source : www.gislounge.com

The Tallest Skyscrapers Under Construction

FROM humble beginnings in Chicago and New York in the late 19th Century, skyscraper construction has proliferated.

Now appearing in almost every major city on our planet, these remarkable vertical structures enable us to live and work in densely developed urban areas, maximising value from their sites.

But with engineering techniques and technology advancing, the next generation of skyscrapers take things to a different level.

To celebrate these structures and demonstrate their impact across the world, we have travelled from east to west and looked at the tallest skyscraper currently under construction on each of the six inhabited continents.

It’s important to recognise that the status of development projects can change quite regularly prior to construction work commencing – and, as you will you see in several instances in this video, even thereafter.

To select projects, we have stipulated that each scheme must have at least broken ground at the time of publication.

OCEANIA – AUSTRALIA 108

We begin our journey down under with Melbourne’s supertall Australia 108 tower.

Originally intended to stand 388 metres high, the scheme was scaled back to meet aviation requirements and is now set to be 317 metres tall when completed in 2020.

Above: Australia 108 will be the first building in the Southern hemisphere to contain 100 floors (image courtesy of Fender Katsalidis Architects).

Built in the historically swampy area of the city’s Southbank, Australia 108 required more than 150, 2.1 metre diameter piles to be drilled to depths of up to 45 metres.

Passing the 200-metre mark in October 2018, the building is now two thirds complete. Remarkably, the first residents began to move into the lower levels of the tower in June 2018 with more than 50 storeys still to be constructed above them.

Above: The first residents began to move into the tower in 2018 while the upper levels were still under construction (image courtesy of Redden).

Once fully completed, Australia 108 is set become the country’s second tallest building – after the 322 metre Q1 on the Gold Coast – and the first building in the Southern hemisphere to have 100 storeys.

ASIA – JEDDAH TOWER

Quite literally topping the list – not just in Asia, but worldwide – the Jeddah Tower is currently under construction in Saudi Arabia.

While its official height is being kept under wraps, the structure is expected to stand over a kilometre tall, surpassing Dubai’s Burj Khalifa to become the world’s tallest building when it competes in 2021.

Above: At more than a kilometre tall the Jeddah Tower will become the tallest man-made structure in the world upon completion (image courtesy of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture).

Designed by the same architect, the design of the Jeddah Tower features a number of similarities to the Burj Khalifa; including a three-point base, tapered profile and an impressive spire.

The project has proven controversial since inception. Despite construction work commencing in 2013, progress has been very slow and the tower remains unfinished.

Like other schemes on our journey, the Jeddah Tower’s completion has been plagued with doubt and the scheme was recently placed on-hold due to a number of factors, including two of its backers being caught-up in Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption purge and financial difficulties resulting from a 70% drop in the value of the tower’s main developer, the Kingdom Group, since 2014.

Above: Despite construction commencing in 2013, the tower has only managed to rise to around 300 metres (image courtesy of the Jeddah Economic Company)

Currently standing around 300 metres high, the official word from developers is that the project is still progressing. But with little movement seen over recent months – aside from the construction of some ground-level amenities – the tower’s 2021 completion date could be delayed.

AFRICA – THE PINNACLE

Giving Africa its first supertall skyscraper, the Pinnacle is set to rise 320 metres above Nairobi in Kenya, surpassing the 222 metre Carlton Centre in Johannesburg and becoming the continent’s tallest building.

With the wider development, in fact, consisting of two towers, the 67 storey structure will provide office space, luxury residential apartments and amenities including a helipad for residents and commercial tenants.

Above: The Pinnacle is set to become the first supertall skyscraper in Africa upon its completion (image courtesy of White Lotus Group and Hass Petroleum)

With initial pilling and foundation work commencing in 2017, the project was halted early in 2018 due to disputes over land ownership.

Though not officially on-hold, the project is currently postponed until at least February 2019 when the case is set to go before the courts.

Should the project be cancelled, the 250 metre Bank of Africa Tower in Morocco, which commenced construction in November 2018, would take the title of Africa’s tallest building.

EUROPE – AKHMAT TOWER

With the topping-out of the Lakhta Center in St Petersburg, the 435-metre Akhmat Tower in Chechnya officially became the tallest building under construction in Europe according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).

Though officially under construction and enjoying strong support from the Chechen government, the project remains postponed, with only the foundation works completed to date.

Above: The Akhmat Tower is set to rise 435 metres over the Chechen city of Grozny (image courtesy of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture).

The project is facing a range of challenges from questions over the disclosure of its investors and the need for a building of this scale in a city of only 270,000 people, to rumours of costs soaring from USD $500M to more than USD $1BN and the completion date slipping back from 2020 to 2024.

With the project looking uncertain, Warsaw’s Varso Tower could be considered the tallest skyscraper currently under construction in Europe with its final height set to reach 310 metres.

SOUTH AMERICA – YACHT HOUSE RESIDENCE CLUB

Heading to South America, the twin towers of the Yacht House Residences Club in Brazil are expected to complete in 2019.

Though not reaching supertall status these 271 metre, 81 storey towers will become the tallest buildings in Brazil and second tallest on the continent once completed.

Above: Brazil’s twin-tower Yacht House Residence Club will are due for completion in 2019 (image courtesy of Pininfarina).

With a comparatively small population of just under 400,000, the beachside resort of Balneario Camboriu is soon to be home to 6 of the 10 tallest buildings in Brazil and will have the same number of skyscrapers – that is, buildings exceeding 150 metres in height – as Rio and Sao Paulo combined.

NORTH AMERICA – CENTRAL PARK TOWER

Finally, in North America, New York’s Central Park Tower is set to become the second tallest building in the United States after One World Trade Center and world’s tallest residential building when it completes in 2020.

First breaking ground in 2014, the tower will feature 95 habitable floors.

Above: The Central Park Tower cantilevers over a neighbouring building to increase the size of its floor plate (image courtesy of Andrew Nelson).

Retailer Nordstrom is set to occupy the first seven levels, while the summit will feature a three-storey penthouse priced at USD $95M.

As the tower clears surrounding buildings, it increases its floor area by cantilevering over the Art Students League of New York building; a move made possible after developers purchased air rights from the neighbouring property.

Above: Upon completion, Central Park Tower will become the tallest residential building in the world (image courtesy of Extell).

Having surpassed the halfway mark, Central Park Tower is the now the latest is a series of super-slender residential towers to appear on the Manhattan skyline, as developers seek to drive value from small parcels of land in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.

Footage and images courtesy of the United States Library of Congress, Rand McNally, Google Earth, Fender Katsalidis Architects, Redden, World Class Land, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, J. Eduardo Segundo Hernandez, Jeddah Economic Company, Earthcam, White Lotus, Hass Petroleum, Ron Gaigu, Rafael de La-Hoz Arquitectos, Maxidron, Smart Building Group, Foster + Partners, JC Drones, Pininfarina, Extell, Andrew McKeon, Nordstrom, Andrew Nelson, Christopher Estevez, AKF Group LLC and EB-5.

Source: www.theb1m.com

What is LANDLOCK And How It Works?

LANDLOCK Advantages For Roads

Road designs vary greatly from country to country, but are generally calculated based on the performance metrics that need to be achieved. A super-highway will have a much larger profile of design than a rural road. However, all road profiles generally have three basic layers: a drainage layer, base and wear-course.

Just like a chain, every road is only as strong as its weakest link. Herein lies the problem. When a wear-course like asphalt begins to fail, evident by cracking and potholes, generally it is due to failures at the base or sub-base. Why then during construction would these critical layers only be compacted with water and therefore left “unstabilized,” and susceptible to water and vibratory erosion?

When integrating LANDLOCK into one (or all) of these three layers/sections of the road, it allows builders to gain several critical advantages that significantly reduce the traditional waste associated with modern road construction.

Advantages for Primary/Urban Roads & Highways

Profile Reduction

Based on extensive lab and field testing, a LANDLOCK^® treated base will be 2-20 times stronger than an unstabilized base. This means that engineers can significantly reduce the profile of design of the road and still achieve the required performance metrics. A smaller profile of design means less material. At the same time, builders will see a reduction in material spreading and transportation costs, while simultaneously increasing production rates. The entire construction process is more efficient and less wasteful – Smarter Infrastructure.

Extended Life Cycle

As mentioned above, traditional wear-courses like asphalt are only as good as their base. It is only logical then that a wear-course laid on a rock-hard, erosion free LANDLOCK^® treated base will last much longer than when laid on an unstabilized base. A longer life means less money being wasted on costly maintenance work, leaving more money to spend in other areas.

Advantages for Feeder/Farm-to-Market Roads

Paving/Stabilizing Dirt and Gravel Roads

Across the world, even in developed countries, there are millions of miles of unpaved roads that are a constant source of fugitive dust and waste given their need for constant maintenance. Because unpaved roads have no protection from rainfall, water erosion will turn a newly graded, rural road into a muddy mess, that once dried out, is then covered with potholes and washboarding. It is a vicious cycle that, previously, was impossible to win.

Source: http://www.landlocknaturalpaving.com

3D LiDAR technology brought to mass-market with Livox sensor

US: Livox is shifting the marketplace for LiDAR sensors by introducing a reliable, compact, ready-to-use solution for innovators, professionals and engineers, around the world working closely with 3D sensing technology. After years of intense R&D and exhaustive testing, Livox has released three high-performance LiDAR sensors: The Mid-40/Mid-100, Horizon, and Tele-15. All sensors are developed with a wide range of different industry applications in mind, offering customers a best-in-class combination of precision, range, price and size.

As the first available Livox sensor, the Mid-40/Mid-100 sensor can accurately sense three-dimensional spatial information under various environmental conditions, and plays an indispensable role in fields such as autonomous driving, robotics, mapping, logistics, security, search and rescue, to name a few.

Low Cost and Mass Production

Traditionally, high-performance mechanical LiDAR products usually demand highly-skilled personnel and are therefore prohibitively expensive and in short supply. To encourage the adoption of LiDAR technology in a number of different industries ranging from 3D mapping and surveying to robotics and engineering, Livox Mid-40/Mid-100 is developed with cost-efficiency in mind while still maintaining superior performance.

Instead of using expensive laser emitters or immature MEMS scanners, Mid-40/Mid-100 adopts lower cost semiconductor components for light generation and detection. The entire optical system, including the scanning units, uses proven and readily available optical components such as those employed in the optical lens industry. This sensor also introduces a uniquely-designed low cost signal acquisition method to achieve superior performance. All these factors contribute to an accessible price point – $599 for a single unit of Mid-40.

Livox Mid-40/Mid-100 adopts a large aperture refractive scanning method that utilizes a coaxial design. This approach uses far fewer laser detector pairs, yet maintains the high point density and detection distances. This design dramatically reduces the difficulty of optical alignment during production and enable significant production yield increase.

Powerful and Compact

The Mid-40 sensor covers a circular FOV of 38.4 degrees with a detection range of up to 260 meters (for objects with reflectivity at 80%). Meanwhile, the Mid-100 combines three Mid-40 units internally to form an expansive horizontal FOV of 98.4 degrees (Horizontal) x 38.4 degrees (Vertical). The point rate for Mid-40 is 100,000 points/s while for Mid-100 is 300,000 points/s. The range precision (1σ @ 25 m) of each sensor is 2 cm and the angular accuracy is < 0.1 degrees.

Livox sensor’s advanced non-repetitive scanning patterns deliver highly-accurate details. These scanning patterns even provide high point density in a short period of time and can even build up a higher density as the duration increases. The Mid series can achieve the same or greater point density as conventional 32-line LiDAR sensors.

With this level of 3D sensing capability, Livox has optimized the hardware and mechanical design, so that a compact body of Mid sensors enables users to easily embed units into existing designs.

Reliable and Safe

All Livox LiDAR sensors are individually and thoroughly tested and are proved to work in a variety of environments. Every single unit has a false detection rate of less than one ten-thousandth, even in the 100 klx sunlight condition^[3]. Each sensor’s laser power meets the requirements for a Class 1 laser product to IEC 60825-1(2014) and is safe for human eyes^[4]. The Mid-40/Mid-100 operate in temperatures between -4 degrees F and 149 degrees F (-20 degrees C to 65 degrees C) and always reliably output point cloud data for objects with different reflectivity. Livox LiDAR does not use any moving electronic components, thus avoiding challenges such as slip ring failures, a common problem in conventional, rotating LiDAR units. Livox has also optimized the optoelectronic system, including software, firmware, and algorithms, enhancing environmental adaption in a wide variety of conditions including rain, smoke, and fog.

Livox Horizon and Tele-15

Beside Mid-40/Mid-100 sensors, Livox is currently working on extending its product portfolio with two additional LiDAR sensors, the Horizon and Tele-15.

The Livox Horizon is a high-performance LiDAR which offers a broader FOV with much higher coverage ratio while retaining all the key advantages of the Mid-40, such as long detection range, high precision, and a compact size. Compared with the Mid-40, the Horizon has a similar measuring range, but features a more-rectangular-shaped FOV that is 81.7 degrees horizontal and 25.1 degrees vertical, highly suitable for autonomous driving applications. The Horizon also delivers real-time point cloud data that is three times denser than the Mid series LiDAR sensors.

Made for advanced long-distance detection, the Livox Tele-15 offers the compact size, high-precision, and durability of the Mid-40 while vastly extending the real-time mapping range. This allows users to detect and avoid obstacles well in advance when moving at higher speeds.

As for the Tele-15, it features an ultra-long measuring range of 500 meters when reflectivity is at 80%. Even with 20% reflectivity, the measuring range is still up to 250 meters. In addition, the Tele-15 has a circular FOV of 15 degrees and delivers a point cloud that is 17 times denser than the Mid-40. These key features enable the Tele-15 to see objects far ahead with great details.

Livox Hub

The Livox Hub is a streamlined way to integrate and manage Livox LiDAR sensors and their data outputs. When using Livox Hub with our LiDAR SDK, you will have unified access to software and hardware, making the development process simplified and efficient. The Livox Hub can access up to 9 LiDAR sensors simultaneously and supports an input range of 10-23V.

Livox SDK

To release the unlimited potential of LiDAR, Livox SDK offers a wide range of essential tools that help users develop unique applications and algorithms. The Livox SDK supports various development platforms, such as C and C++ in Linux/Windows/ROS and applies to all existing products such as Livox Mid-40, Mid-100, Horizon, Tele-15, Hub.

Bentley Systems introduces Mixed Reality app for infrastructure construction projects

Bentley Systems presented SYNCHRO XR, its app for immersively visualizing 4D construction digital twins with the new Microsoft HoloLens 2, which Microsoft announced during a press conference at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Selected as a Microsoft mixed reality partner representing the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, Bentley demonstrated how with SYNCHRO XR for HoloLens 2, users can interact collaboratively with digital construction models using intuitive gestures to plan, visualize, and experience construction sequencing.

Project digital twin data is visualized with the HoloLens 2 via Bentley’s connected data environment, powered by Microsoft Azure. With the mixed reality solution, construction managers, project schedulers, owner-operators, and other project stakeholders can gain insights through immersive visualization into planned work, construction progress, potential site risks, and safety requirements. Additionally, users can interact with the model together and collaboratively experience 4D objects in space and time, as opposed to traditional interaction with a 2D screen depicting 3D objects.

Noah Eckhouse, senior vice president, project delivery for Bentley Systems, said, “Our SYNCHRO XR app for HoloLens 2 provides a totally new way to interact with digital twins for infrastructure projects. Users benefit from a new perspective on the design and a deeper, more immediate understanding of the work and project schedule. Instead of using a 2D screen with a mouse and keyboard, the user can now walk around the model with their body and reach out and grab digital objects that appear to co-occupy physical reality. This is a powerful way to review work that is completed and to prepare for upcoming work at the jobsite.”

Menno de Jonge, director of digital construction for the Royal BAM Group, said, “We are currently using SYNCHRO and HoloLens 2 mixed reality solution for the construction site for a large museum project in the city of Rotterdam. The real need for a digital transformation in our industry is about avoiding rework at our construction site. Using this technology, we can easily visualize the construction schedule. Then, we can see if we are behind in schedule, we can flag any potential problems or issues, look into the problems, and get back on track.”

Source: www.geospatialworld.net

Trimble announces Mixed Reality device with Microsoft HoloLens 2

Trimble has announced a new wearable hard hat compatible device that enables workers in safety-controlled environments to access holographic information on the worksite—the Trimble® XR10 with HoloLens 2.

In addition, an expanded set of Trimble software and services will be available to provide field-oriented workflows that leverage constructible 3D models and mixed reality to solve daily work tasks.

The announcement was made with Microsoft at MWC Barcelona (formerly Mobile World Congress), the largest mobile event in the world, bringing together the latest innovations and leading-edge technology.

The Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2 is the first device created with the Microsoft HoloLens Customization Program and integrates the latest spatial computing technology into a certified solution for use with a hard hat for worker safety. With a wider field-of-view, improved usability and a unique, flip-up viewscreen, the Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2 combines state-of-the-art mixed reality and safe operation in restricted access work areas.

The full solution provides even greater accessibility to 3D models by front-line workers. Field-oriented workflows enable broad adoption of mixed-reality for jobsite activities to improve efficiency, productivity and quality of work. Continued development of the cloud-based collaboration platform, Trimble Connect™ for HoloLens, is enabling workers in the field to get more value from constructible 3D models and transform daily work such as assembly and inspections.

“Microsoft has provided both the vision and execution needed to stay at the forefront of the mixed-reality evolution,” said Aviad Almagor, director of Trimble’s Mixed-Reality Program. “We’re excited to extend our collaboration with Microsoft in producing a safety-first mixed-reality solution that can be used in production environments such as construction, where workers are building, monitoring and inspecting products and services that deliver tangible value every day.”

“The ability to access and interact with holographic content has inspired new visualization, collaboration, and production workflows in enterprise markets,” said Alex Kipman, technical fellow, AI and Mixed Reality at Microsoft. “For people that spend their days on the work site, the Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2 and Trimble’s portfolio of software unlocks the power of mixed-reality to help them get more work done.”

Source: www.geospatialworld.net

First imprinted concrete, and now knitted concrete

A knitted structure capable of supporting five tonnes of concrete? This is the insane project of the inventors behind Knitted Concrete technology.

As part of their research into digital fabrication, Mariana Popescu and Lex Reiter, both researchers at the ETH Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, have produced a 3D textile structure using a computerised rectilinear knitting machine.

This new technology is being used on an architectural scale for the first time in a prototype being shown at an exhibition in Mexico. A five-tonne concrete structure, which has been poured onto knitted textile formwork, supported by a steel cable net. This prototype, known as KnitCandela, pays homage to Spanish-Mexican architect Félix Candela (1910-1997).

KnitCandela, a prototype of a five-tonne concrete structure, which has been poured onto knitted textile formwork.

The formwork was created from a digitally generated pattern, then knitted on a rectilinear machine. In 36 hours, the machine knits a fully shaped 3D textile consisting of four long strips.

The textile is also double layered. The first internal layer is an aesthetic surface with a colourful pattern, forming the visible ceiling within the structure. The second outer layer contains sleeves for the cables of the formwork system and pockets for balloons which, after the entire structure is coated in concrete, become hollow spaces.

There are multiple advantages to using this technology, such as saving on time, cost and materials, reduced waste, etc. The Knitted Concrete process has great potential for use in creating geometrically complex structures of this kind.

Philippe Block, Professor of Architecture and Structure at ETH Zurich, who also worked on the project, explains that the method could be a new form of 3D printing, “only it doesn’t require a completely new kind of machine. A conventional knitting machine will do just fine!”

Source: blog.bouygues-construction.com

5 proposed designs for O’Hare airport’s huge expansion

Some of the biggest architecture firms in the world are competing for the contract, which will transform one of North America’s air traffic hubs.

Chicago’s O’Hare airport is one of the busiest airport in the U.S., and it’s only growing. The city recently approved a $8.5 billion expansion, which will balloon the airport’s indoor footprint from 5.5 million to 8.9 million square feet and require over 60,000 full-time workers to complete by 2026.

Now, as part of a public review process, the city has shared the five new terminal concepts for the first time, developed by the architecture firms Fentress-EXP-Brook-Garza, Foster Epstein Moreno, Studio ORD, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and Santiago Calatrava.

The public proposals share many similarities: They are all buildings with sprawling footprints to connect across O’Hare’s terminals, with white bones, undulating ceilings, and windows covering every available surface. Their differences appear to be formal rather than functional, with few quibbles over the optimal flow of 200,000 human bodies trudging through body scanners daily.

But the designs are still fascinating to compare, and a few big differences definitely stand out.

The architects at Foster Epstein Moreno JV imagine the terminal as three straight tubes that lead to a single grand view of the runways, creating “a theater of aviation.” The giant, arched panorama would certainly be a sight to behold, but I suspect the inevitable influx of vendors could ruin sight lines to this scene throughout most of the terminal. I’m curious, could you ever actually take in that view all in at once?

Studio ORD, led by Chicago architect Jeanne Gang, shared a three-pronged design that Curbed points out is likely a nod to the city’s river system. It features the surprising use of wood beams across the entire ceiling–a material you don’t often find in airports or in buildings that range in the millions of square feet. Coupled with organically curved, branching interior columns, the effect seems to be that of standing beneath a calming canopy of trees rather than inside a stifling airport.

Meanwhile, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP–the same firm that brought Chicago the Willis Tower and the Hancock Building–proposed a glass-encased orchard at the center of the building, seeming to tease onlookers who would really prefer to be outside, vaping in nature. The green space is actually intended to be public, but one frame does feature a single traveler, enclosed in a glass box, with their feet up in a single hammock–as hundreds of grumps walk by in what I can only assume is seething, jealous rage.

Santiago Calatrava, LLC–perhaps most famous for the Oculus in New York City–imagines a future hotel and shopping complex complete with an expansive network of outdoor walkways (ahem, Chicago has a lot of winter, architects), but for the core indoor terminal area, it leverages Calatrava’s very recognizable architectural signature: an arrowhead footprint and fishbone ceiling.

Fentress-EXP-Brook-Garza didn’t see Calatrava’s proposal in advance, of course, but its proposal almost seems to answer back to it: “I can do exactly what you did, but without all the symmetry.” This proposal creates a space that twists more like a river, with roof supports that fly overhead like contrails rather than fishbones.

At this point, knowing what we do about these ideas–which is to say, very little–all we can really do is critique their look and feel. And they look and feel largely the same.

The public was able to vote on its favorite designs, but it’s unclear how, if at all, their votes will affect the final winner (the runner-up will also create a few new buildings at O’Hare, too). In fact, as the Chicago Tribune points out, the Mayor’s office has been entirely unclear on who is making a final call on these designs, at all. In any case, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is supposed to announce a winner before he leaves office this May. And whatever is chosen, it’s probably a huge upgrade from the O’Hare we have today.

Source: www.fastcompany.com

Top 10 civil engineering innovations

New materials and energy, design approaches, as well as advances in digital technology and big data, are creating a wave of innovation within the construction industry. Here are ten of the most exciting developments

1. Self-healing concrete

Cracks in concrete are a common phenomenon due to the relatively low tensile strength. Durability of concrete is impaired by these cracks since they provide an easy path for the transportation of liquids and gasses that potentially contain harmful substances. If micro-cracks grow and reach the reinforcement, not only the concrete itself may be attacked, but also the reinforcement will be corroded. Therefore, it is important to control the crack width and to heal the cracks as soon as possible. Since the costs involved for maintenance and repair of concrete structures are usually high, this research focuses on the development of self-healing concrete. Self-healing of cracks in concrete would contribute to a longer service life of concrete structures and would make the material not only more durable but also more sustainable.

2. Thermal bridging

Efficient insulation material is becoming increasingly important throughout the construction industry. Heat transmission through walls tends to be passed directly through the building envelope, be it masonry, block or stud frame, to the internal fascia such as drywall. This process is known as “thermal bridging”. Aerogel, a technology developed by Nasa for cryogenic insulation, is considered one of the most effective thermal insulation materials and US spin-off Thermablok has adapted it using a proprietary aerogel in a fibreglass matrix. This can be used to insulate studs, which can reportedly increase overall wall R-value (an industry measure of thermal resistance) by more than 40 per cent.

3. Photovoltaic glaze

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) glazing can help , by turning the whole building envelope into a solar panel. Companies such as Polysolar provide transparent photovoltaic glass as a structural building material, forming windows, façades and roofs. Polysolar’s technology is efficient at producing energy even on north-facing, vertical walls and its high performance at raised temperatures means it can be double glazed or insulated directly. As well as saving on energy bills and earning feed-in tariff revenues, its cost is only marginal over traditional glass, since construction and framework costs remain, while cladding and shading system costs are replaced.

4. Kinetic Footfall

Human body generates a lot of energy while doing the most-common activity walking. Every foot fall causes pressure when the foot hits the floor, which goes untapped. With the ground surface engineered to harvest the energy, power can be generated from the human footfalls, stored and used as a power
source or even fed to the power grid. For instance, a person dancing on an energy harvesting floor can generate 5–10 watts; in a packed dance club, the production can meet up to 60% of the total energy required for the club.

With this method energy harvesting proving its feasibility, developers of energy harvesting floors concentrating their efforts find the most-efficient way of harvesting energy from footfalls. As a result, several inventions are in the prototype stage. However, some industry players, with the aim to popularize
and establish this technology among varied consumer segment, have already initiated marketing of their products, which has been well received by environmental activists.

5. Kinetic Roads

Cars are a huge source of air pollution, but in the future they could also become a source of clean energy.

That is thanks to a technology called LYBRA, a special, tyre-like rubber paving that converts the kinetic energy produced by moving vehicles into electric energy.

The idea and the project are the brainchild of an Italian start-up called Underground Power.

6 – Predictive Software

The structural integrity of any building is only as good as its individual parts. The way those parts fit together, along with the choice of materials and its specific site, all contribute to how the building will perform under normal, or extreme, conditions. Civil engineers need to integrate a vast number of pieces into building designs, while complying with increasingly demanding safety and government regulations. An example of this was work on the structural integrity of the arch rotation brackets at Wembley Stadium, undertaken by Bennett Associates, using ANSYS software, which simulated the stresses on the brackets that hold and move the distinctive arches above the stadium.

7. 3D Modelling

Planning innovation has been driven by the growth of smart cities. CyberCity3D (CC3D) is a geospatial-modelling innovator specialising in the production of smart 3D building models. It creates smart digital 3D buildings to help the architectural, engineering and construction sector visualise and communicate design and data with CC3D proprietary software. The models integrate with 3D geographic information system platforms, such as Autodesk and ESRI, and can stream 3D urban building data to Cesium’s open architecture virtual 3D globe. It provides data for urban, energy, sustainability and design planning, and works in conjunction with many smart city SaaS platforms such as Cityzenith.

8 – Modular Construction

Modular construction is a process in which a building is constructed off-site, under controlled plant conditions, using the same materials and designing to the same codes and standards as conventionally built facilities – but in about half the time. Buildings are produced in “modules” that when put together on site, reflect the identical design intent and specifications of the most sophisticated site-built facility – without compromise.

9. Cloud Collaboration

Basestone is a system allowing the remote sharing of data on a construction site in real time. It is predominantly a review tool for engineers and architects which digitises the drawing review process on construction projects, and allows for better collaboration. The cloud-based collaboration tool is focused on the installation of everything from steel beams to light fittings. The system is used to add “snags”, issues that happen during construction, on to pdfs, then users can mark or add notes through basestone. Trials have revealed possible cost-savings of around 60 per cent compared with traditional paper-based review methods.

10. Asset mapping

Asset mapping focuses on operational equipment, including heating and air conditioning, lighting and security systems, collecting data from serial numbers, firmware, engineering notes of when it was installed and by whom, and combines the data in one place. The system can show engineers in real time on a map where the equipment needs to be installed and, once the assets are connected to the real-time system using the internet of things, these can be monitored via the web, app, and other remote devices and systems. It helps customers build databases of asset performance, which can assist in proactive building maintenance, and also reduce building procurement and insurance costs.

Concrete: 4 Innovations You’ve Never Heard Of

Concrete — a material that can trace its interactions with humans back to the Roman era more than 2,000 years ago — is the most popular material used today. When tonnage is compared, the use of concrete outweighs plastic, wood, aluminum and steel combined. What’s equally amazing about concrete is the material’s ability to continuously be the center of innovation. Here are some of the more exciting concrete innovations that are expected to change the industry.

1. Self-Healing Concrete

It’s the bane of every engineer and construction professional’s existence: concrete cracks. Once a concrete project cracks — which all will at some point — leakage can occur, disrupting the integrity of the material. Scientists at the Netherlands’ Delft University of Technology have invented bioconcrete. This is concrete that is mixed using the same techniques as traditional concrete except that it also contains specific bacteria. These bacteria generate crystals that enclose their cells. When mixed with other secretions, such as proteins and sugar, a glue-like substance is generated. When the concrete cracks, these bacteria are activated and form either limestone or calcite, a process that seals the gaps.

2. 3D Printed Concrete

3D printing is a concept that has been getting a great deal of attention within the past few years with advancements being made. Not only can it be used to print items such as plastics ad auto parts, it can now also print concrete objects. In another project originating from the Netherlands — this time from a technology-focused university called TU Eindhoven — 3D printers can now be used to make items made of concrete. Using a huge printer manufactured by a Dutch company, Rohaco, this concrete printer looks like an overhead crane that has a swivel head that pushes the concrete out in a more focused and customizable way. While implementation within the industry is still in its infancy stages, 3D printed concrete has created pavilions and recyclable concrete products.

3. Eco or Green Concrete

With its continued focus on the environment, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the construction industry is developing materials that are more ecologically friendly. Concrete typically generates a great deal of carbon. In fact, it produces so much carbon that the typical carbon footprint of concrete is nearly as large as the weight of the material itself. When mixed with fly ash — a waste material that is generated by power stations that burn coal — and other materials such as concrete and Portland cement, many benefits become evident. Not only does using fly ash reduce the carbon footprint of the concrete by as much as 25 percent, it also requires less water. This eco-friendly concrete is creamier and easier to place within projects. Finally, using the fly ash helps keeps this waste product from being dumped in landfills.

4. Pervious Concrete

Another environmentally-friendly concrete solution that is poised to gain a great deal more traction within the construction industry is pervious concrete. Traditionally, concrete has been impervious — meaning water runs off of it, allowing architects to direct its flow in more focused ways. At least, that was the original intent. This strategy, though, led to numerous incidents of urban flooding, erosion, pollution and other problems. As a result of these serious ecological issues, a solution — pervious concrete — was developed. Sometimes called a porous pavement, pervious concrete is made of larger particles than traditional concrete. This creates voids within the concrete that allow for the gradual infiltration of rainwater into the ground below.

The above-noted innovations are just a few that are being tested within the concrete industry. As a material, concrete has been evolving for more than 2,000 years. All the evidence points to a continuation of exciting changes in the future as well.