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.”
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.”
An homage to the Chinese past, the new bridge makes history in its own right.
TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
Behold, the world’s largest 3D-printed bridge. The Chinese creation spans 26.3 meters (a little over 86 feet) and has a width of 2.6 meters (almost 12 feet). Its design is a tribute to Chinese architectural history, referencing the historic Zhaozhou Bridge built in A.D. 605, the country’s oldest standing bridge.
While the ancient Zhaozhou span required a decade to build, Professor Xu Weiguo’s team at Tsinghua University needed only 450 hours of printing to finish all of their new bridge’s concrete components. That translates to a little under 19 days. In a press statement, Professor Xu’s team also says that the bridge’s cost came in at just two thirds the tally of ordinary bridge, with savings coming from cutting down on materials and engineering.
The bridge’s print structure in an earlier stage.
Construction in a later phase, printing a bridge board.
The bridge consists of 44 individual 3D-printed concrete units, each of them approximately 3 by 3 by 5 feet. The sides, influenced by the Zhaozhou, were made with 68 individual concrete slabs moved into place by robot arms.
A low angle shot of the bridge. Its design is based on China’s storied bridge history.
Embedded with a real-time monitoring system, the bridge will be able to detect vibrating wire stress and strain with high precision. The Tsinghua press release (read through Google Translate) notes that “the demand for labor in construction projects will be increasingly in short supply” in the future. If China cannot find people to build bridges, “intelligent construction will be an important channel to solve this problem.”
The press release concedes that “there are still many bottlenecks that need to be solved in the construction of 3D concrete printing,” including that while many companies are invested in building the technology, it has not often been used in “actual engineering.”
Professor Xu’s two robotic arms aim to combine these two fields, integrating digital architectural design, print path generation, and concrete material. The first robot has stirring and squeeze push functions, and the second robot is concerned with print path generation and maintaining an operating system.
Before the bridge was built, a 1:4 model was created to test its strength. When that went off without a hitch, the team felt confident enough to proceed in its next goal.
There have been other 3D-printed architectural projects over the last few years, as the technology has become more widespread. A team at MIT built a sample house in a stunning 14 hours. Not that they’re known for comfort, but the Marines recently 3D-printed a barracksin 40 hours. If there are ever houses on Mars, NASA suspects they, too, will be built by robots using 3D printing.
Considering what a hot topic BIM has become, there have been very few new software firms willing to invest in creating new BIM authoring tools. This month we report on a new product, written on a ‘familiar’ package and backed by a huge company. Could BricsCAD BIM be the one to take on the might of Revit?
The BricsCAD BIM interface
It’s been 18 months since we last saw BricsCAD, from Ghent-based developer, Bricsys. The company started out developing an AutoCAD clone called BricsCAD and did a great job at creating a low-cost alternative to AutoCAD. Since then it has gone beyond AutoCAD and developed all sorts of original functionality to its base platform application. Although the company is dedicated to maintaining compatibility with DWG and AutoCAD, it wants to be perceived as a CAD developer in its own right and from what we saw at the firm’s recent London event, there is good reason.
Bricsys is not new to AEC or BIM. It developed TriForma which Bentley Systems sold as its core BIM application in the 1990s and then its own tool called Architecturals in the 2000s. The firm recently developed a SketchUp work-alike BricsCAD Shape. The company also develops tools for the manufacturing market with powerful parametric solid modelling (based on ACIS) and sheet metal applications.
AEC Magazine saw the company’s formative new BIM tools 18 months ago. The demonstration showed rectilinear ACIS solids being used to model a building and then the user applying IFC definitions post modelling. This turns products like Revit on their heads, as instead of using a palette of predefined and customisable objects to model with, like Lego, BricsCAD BIM was model first, then define. The benefit of this approach was that the conceptual phase didn’t require the architects to worry about object definitions, just define the forms.
This was all happening on top of BricsCAD, which is a DWG drawing and modelling tool which offers LISP, ARX and all the familiar AutoCAD functions you would expect. Bricsys thinks that those who have not yet made the move to Revit, may have more 2D processes and be happier doing their BIM modelling in a familiar environment, with the added advantage of it being cheaper. As things stood 18 months ago, however, the BIM functionality seemed all rather basic and there was evidently a long way to go.
A new owner
At last month’s Bricsys conference in London, the first big news was that the company had been acquired by Hexagon for an undisclosed sum. For those unfamiliar with Hexagon, it is a global giant of a firm, that operates in construction, engineering, mining, automotive and plant and has annual revenues in excess of £1.2 billion. It owns Leica, Intergraph, MSC Software, Z/I Imaging and many others.
While Bricsys had annual revenues of £13 million, now it is under the Hexagon umbrella it will have all the resources it could ever need, plus access to markets as a mature, trusted CAD platform. Hexagon also has a reputation of leaving the brands it buys alone to carry on developing semi-autonomously.
Hexagon previously ported its AutoCAD-based plant application, CADWorx Plant Design Suite, to Bricsys as an alternative for its customers to paying for Autodesk’s AutoCAD on subscription. Bricsys pricing is based on a perpetual licence and works on Windows, macOS and Linux. The entry-level BricsCAD is $825 forever; AutoCAD is $1,575 per year, LT is $390 per year. Bricsys also offers subscription at $312 per year, if that’s what you would prefer. Bricsys works out a lot cheaper than Autodesk Subscription for AutoCAD. Hexagon was perhaps the biggest thirdparty developer to realise that it could use the familiar APIs that AutoCAD has, to port its existing applications to BricsCAD and offer to save its customers money on their AutoCAD subscriptions.
BIM and development
What a difference 18 months makes. From seeing the initial BIM development work to what was presented on the stage in London was really quite a marked difference. While the concept is the same, the capability and ease of use really blew us away. At its core, you have a DWG compatible, and very capable, drawing platform. Bricsys has harnessed the ACIS solid modelling kernel to enable designers to create incredibly complex shapes, using booleans, workplanes, chamfers, surfaces, complex wireframe manipulation – the usual gamut of modelling tools.
Designers can create anything they can envision in geometry. So, now comes the real magic. Bricsys has utilised machine learning to start the process of turning these models into BIM. Using the ‘BIMify’ button, the software will analyse the model and turn the geometry it finds into rooms, floors, slabs, columns, walls, doors, windows – regular IFC components.
BricsCAD BIM includes poweful curtain wall tools
The user can then edit or add objects that the automation didn’t classify or omitted. This is seriously impressive and, unlike the first demo we had, it works well on some pretty crazy geometry. Zaha Hadid would have had some fun with this tool. This is a fantastic solution to the problem of linking conceptual modelling to the creation of BIM models, together with the added benefit of the backend processes such as drawing production being all in one package.
The curtain wall capability is also powerful; model your spline geometry, select face, create a grid and then dynamically manipulate to make traditional or freeform curtain walls. The software will generate all the frame elements, which of course can also be edited.
But as we all know, architecture is really only one component in the mix. Bricsys demonstrated some intelligent modelling of HVAC components within a BIM context. Automatic sizing and connections, together with some elementary auto complete capabilities gave a good indication of the way development was heading. Bricsys isn’t looking to deliver for the front end of the building process, but throughout all professions, including structural and site development (it even handles point clouds).
BricsCAD BIM is not just for architects — it covers all professions, including structural, MEP and site
Because BricsCAD BIM is built on a DWG platform, it’s at this point that you really see the benefit in workflow vs something like Revit. We have lost count of the number of firms we have visited who take their Revit drawings into AutoCAD to finish off the documentation. This breaks with the BIM process as, if there are any changes, then the additional hours of drawing in AutoCAD need to be repeated. BricsCAD BIM is already inside its DWG documentation world and this destructive phase of using other tools than Revit can be avoided.
Speed was also very impressive. During the day’s talks all product demonstrations were done live from laptops. The underlying BricsCAD platform is a modern CAD product, it is fast, uses multiple cores and benefits from fast GPU graphics card accelerators. While one would assume that modelling architectural elements in full on solids over lightweight geometry would lead to hefty and unwieldy models, that certainly does not seem to be the case.
Parametrics are also built-in systemwide and can be used in a very intuitive fashion when designing. The ability to quickly model floors and partitions was fabulous and at all times the mouse and drawing lines give real-time feedback on relative geometry. Floors can be replicated in just a few clicks. In 2011, Bricsys acquired the intellectual property rights from Russian developer Ledas, which developed very high-end 2D/3D constraints tools and set up a technology division in Russia under Dmitry Ushakov. This move also enabled considerable advances for BricsCAD Platinum for Mechanical Design, which is aimed at the DS SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventors of this world.
Bricsys demonstrated something it calls A.I propagate, which uses artificial intelligence to replicate component details throughout a model. Simply select a component, plus the elements you want it to propagate over, and the computer does the rest. It also supports the import of RVT components, live building grids and ceilings. This can drastically speed up modelling. The user interface also really gives a clear indication of where the propagation of objects will take place.
BricsCAD BIM includes a feature called A.I propagate, which uses artificial intelligence to replicate component details throughout a model
When at the documentation stage, BricsCAD has some fabulous capabilities for multi-view layout and for automating call-out details. Again, all in a DWG workflow and so common AutoCAD commands are used for drawing.
BricsCAD BIM is $2,275 a seat, for a perpetual licence with one year’s maintenance. Alternatively, it can be subscribed to for $910 a year. For comparison, Revit is currently $2,250 a year or $6,075 for a 3-year subscription.
2D CAD
BricsCAD started off life as an AutoCAD clone. The company then went on to develop functionality that you won’t find in AutoCAD. As Autodesk went off to develop or acquire other tools (Revit, Inventor, Fusion etc), the mentality that AutoCAD was the hammer that hit all nails disappeared. Bricsys is of the mentality that its DWG CAD platform can be extended to solve BIM, MCAD solid modelling and other verticals. In one respect at least, the persistence of drawings in our new 3D modelled world, would back this view up.
BricsCAD v19, the new version, will offer a range of powerful tools but we don’t have room to highlight them here. However, one feature that we did see is indicative of the kind of tools under development. We had seen BIMify; now there’s ‘Blockify’, huge models, 2D or 3D, measuring in the Gigabyte range, automatically turned into blocks, drastically reducing the file size. Again, machine learning at play; the software automatically detects equally shaped solids in a model and replaces them by block references and searches the drawing for an identical set of a 2D entities and replaces them by block references. Just look at AutoCAD 2019’s new feature set and wonder where the new features are, vs enhancements to existing ones.
24/7 collaboration
Not just content with developing products for every vertical market, Bricsys offers a cloud-based collaboration product called 24/7, which is free to customers on maintenance. It’s a global document management system for 2D drawings and 3D models, which supports multiple roles and access for defined users and has a graphical widget application development ability to automate repetitive tasks. The system has version control, activity logs and search capabilities. For BIM users it has a fast 3D data viewer, model annotation and DWG/ xref management.
24/7 is a cloud-based collaboration tool, which is free to those on maintenance
Management Q & A
Bricsys CEO, Erik de Keyser and Hexagon’s Rick Allen, PPM executive vice president answered questions on the surprise acquisition (this came as a shock to most Bricsys employers too). de Keyser explained that the driver for the acquisition was that being a great developer was not enough for success; marketing and sales required investment and as things stood, would have diverted R&D funds to enable that. Bricsys had been seeking investment and Hexagon had been interested since it ported its plant products to BricsCAD.
Allen explained that Hexagon was keen to offer customers a choice and with Autodesk’s pricing changes, subscription- only and potentially web-only products in the future, Bricsys would be there to offer an alternative. In the process of porting CADWorx to BricsCAD, Bricsys was incredibly responsive and over eight million lines of code were ported in nine months and the product is stable.
Allen, while predominantly dealing with the plant side of Hexagon’s business, sees the Bricsys acquisition as a play in all areas BIM, manufacturing, drafting, as well as plant. Allen identified that Revit, while popular in architecture, isn’t in other professions and they have picked up on a lot of end user dissatisfaction. While Hexagon will certainly focus on AutoCAD seats in its process plant customers, not just CADworx, Hexagon is looking at a much broader play.
De Keyser estimated that Revit had only hit 16% of BIM penetration of all the possible users and in certain geographies it was not the No.1 choice, with Vectorworks, Graphisoft and Allplan all occupying decent market share. de Keyser stated that with Hexagon behind them, Bricsys would aim for 20-25% of the market with the sales pitch being ‘you don’t need to leave DWG or translate to/from DWG. The workflow stays in one format as you move from application to application – at a fraction of the price. We will win one customer at a time.’
Looking forward, de Keyser stated that with IFC 4.0, it will become harder for firms, such as Autodesk, to trap customers in proprietary file formats, as substantially more of the data will be transferable.
While it’s the plant division of Hexagon that led the charge to acquire Bricsys, Allen made it clear that all divisions of Hexagon would have access to the technology and the buy-in was not simply cost justified on the benefit to the plant division. The company is taking aim at Autodesk and all players in BIM, mechanical, plant and drafting. With Autodesk dominating so many areas in the built space and with Autodesk Subscription increasing the cost of ownership, Hexagon is out to offer a lower cost alternative with enhanced functionality.
Conclusion
Many years ago, we watched Dominic Gallello, then Autodesk VP of Mechanical, launch Autodesk Inventor. This was a big deal for Autodesk as it was the first new code stream the company had delivered since AutoCAD decades before. At the time, Autodesk was trying to get into the 3D modelling market and had established players such as SolidWorks, Dassault Systèmes, Siemens, PTC etc. all with mature CAD products.
Gallello’s pitch was don’t judge us by the current feature set, judge us on the product’s ‘velocity’. Gallello was telling us the development team had new ideas to crack old problems and would be delivering on new functionality in a way the mature competition was not.
With BricsCAD BIM, we see that development velocity. In just 18 months the software has gone from being formative building modelling to offering something really different and innovative for BIM workflows. At the same time, it bashes you over the head as it’s all happening in an AutoCAD work-a-like, which is committed to supporting all the 2D processes millions of AutoCAD customers currently use.
We are in strange times. Autodesk’s move to Subscription without question increases costs to users in ownership over three years, compared to the traditional historic buy and upgrade cycles of around three years. Subscription does offer suites but that comes at a cost and not many utilise many of the products they get.
Autodesk’s channel is showing signs of rebellion, after years of deflating margins, with one or two now offering AutoCAD clones as alternatives to AutoCAD LT. This is a clear and present danger, as we estimate 40% of all Autodesk licences are AutoCAD LT. Revit’s development velocity has slowed and many are wondering when it will be re-written as the core is 20 years old. The conceptual side of BIM has never really been solved by anybody who can take that data on to be used throughout the design and documentation workflow.
Bricsys now has a giant backing it up. A giant that sees an opportunity in Autodesk’s base. Bricsys offers low-cost, AutoCAD functionality with perpetual licensing (or subscription), on multiple platforms, with unique BIM workflows, in a single environment, with machine learning cleverness, powerful MCAD part and assembly modelling, Autodesk APIs and even collaborative cloud-based management.
At the wrap up from the event, de Keyser took issue with the company being called a ‘clone developer’ by the press during that day’s tweets. He feels the development teams are now way beyond performing that work and are developing new functionality in all vertical areas. Even though the origins of the company are certainly defined by the work it has done on mimicking DWG functionality, it’s true that Bricsys is now defining a unique path. de Keyser quipped, “We are not a clone developer, we are a cyclone in the industry!”
For now, BricsCAD BIM is certainly something to watch. Revit has decades of development work put into it and I can’t see many switching like for like. However, with the velocity comes a trajectory and backed up with Hexagon, with a low price point, innovative machine learning development, this is a BIM product to watch. It’s the most promising modelling tool we have seen in BIM in the last ten years.
Next year will certainly be an interesting one in the BIM market. Hexagon has come to the table with Bricsys and a very impressive development team. We hear Dassault Systèmes has a construction BIM tool coming out. Siemens and Bentley continue to dance together and are working on many joint developments. Nemetscheck has a new Allplan and Vectorworks and Graphisoft are continuing to execute well. Things are hotting up and new and innovative solutions are still coming to the market. AEC Magazine will be here to keep you up to date.
Download a trial version of BricsCAD BIM at ■ bricsys.com/bim
New Tekla Bridge Creator extension covers the complete bridge design workflow
Trimble has launched Tekla Bridge Creator, a new extension for Tekla Structures that supports the complete bridge design workflow from design geometry to constructible modelling and detailing.
Trimble says the new software provides a solution to common problems: importing a road alignment directly from road design software; creating one or more key sections that define the bridge deck or even abutments; and then modelling and detailing the reinforcing bars.
By adding the Bridge Creator extension, Tekla Structures can create and utilise Bridge Information Models (BrIM) from early stages of design (0- Strategy, 1 – Brief, 2 – Concept) through fabrication-ready (Stage 4 – Detailed Design) to constructible models (Stage 5 – Build & Commission).
Hannu Suojanen, project engineer for Bridges, WSP Finland, who participated in testing the software, commented: “Bridge Creator is intelligent and certainly the most efficient tool for the whole bridge design workflow, which no other software provider has to offer. It automatically imports the road alignment and helps create bridge geometry easily. Even when facing complex deck geometries, the extension creates the deck with impressive accuracy.
“Tekla Structures is already a sound choice for bridge detailing. Adding the new Bridge Creator extension with the existing Concrete Bridge Reinforcement tool for complex geometries make Trimble’s Tekla solution the most advanced on the market. Trimble is creating value for the overall bridge design, construction and operations workflow, increasing the efficiency and quality in bridge design.”
The Bridge Creator extension version 1.0 can be downloaded from the Tekla Warehouse in March. The extension is available for Tekla Structures customers with a software maintenance agreement.
Exciting architecture projects to look forward to in 2019
2018 was an outstanding year for architecture, but 2019 is shaping up to be just as exciting too, and there are already several noteworthy projects on the horizon. From a supertall skyscraper to a massive airport terminal shaped like a starfish, here’s our pick of projects to look forward to this year.
Though issues arise and buildings sometimes get delayed at the last hurdle, we’ve focused on projects that are, as of writing, expected to be completed in 2019. Read on below to see our pick and you can also hit the gallery to see more of each project.
CopenHill – BIG
First unveiled all the way back in 2011, the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)-led CopenHill (aka Amager Bakke) is a power station in Copenhagen with a “smoke ring generator” that will expel a steam ring each time 250 kg (551 lb) of carbon dioxide is produced. It’s also topped by a ski slope for visitors and locals to enjoy.
This one’s a lot of fun and it’s hard to imagine a firm other than BIG coming up with the idea. The power station itself is already operational but the ski slope roof is currently being tested and is expected to be open in April.
Under – Snøhetta
The design for Europe’s first underwater restaurant was unveiled by Snøhetta back in 2017. The last time we checked in, the project was being built atop a barge and the engineers were preparing to submerge it and secure it onto the sea bed at Norway’s southernmost point.
Snøhetta likens Under to an oversized periscope and it will sport a large panoramic window offering diners a view of the seabed as they eat. The building will measure 600 sq m (6,458 sq ft) and sport 1 m (3.2 ft)-thick concrete walls to protect it from the crashing waves. Under is expected to be open for bookings in “Spring 2019” (northern hemisphere).
One Thousand Museum – Zaha Hadid Architects
The late Zaha Hadid’s One Thousand Museum sports an eye-catching glass-fiber reinforced white concrete exoskeleton that twists as it rises to a maximum height of 215 m (706 ft)-tall.
The residential project is aimed at the well-heeled and billed as a “Six Star” residence. It includes just 83 homes in all, with apartments measuring between 4,600 and 9,900 sq ft (427 – 919 sq m). Each will boast multiple balconies and the building overlooks Miami’s famous Biscayne Bay. One Thousand Museum is due to be completed sometime this year.
Vessel – Heatherwick Studio
Looking like a strange cross between a big pineapple and an M.C. Escher artwork, Vessel is the centerpiece of a massive development in Hudson Yards, New York City, the largest private real estate development in the history of the United States.
Costing US$150 million for what is essentially just a fancy viewing point, the structure will rise to a height of 150 ft (45 m) and comprise 54 interconnecting flights of stairs, 2,500 individual steps, and 80 landings – as well as an elevator for disabled access. It’s certainly something a little different and should be finished in the next few months.
Lakhta Center – Gorproject/RMJM
Rising 462 m (1,516 ft) over St. Petersburg, Russia, the bullet-shaped Lakhta Center is rated the 13th tallest building in the world and is Europe’s tallest tower.
Its construction has taken over six years and involved 20,000 people from 18 countries. The foundations required concrete to be poured continuously for 49 hours and its glazing measures 72,500 sq m (780,383 sq ft). It takes the form of a spire with five wings that twist a total of 90 degrees from top to bottom and has been pre-certified LEED Gold (a green building standard) for its energy-efficient design. The Lakhta Center is due to be officially completed soon.
Beijing Daxing International Airport terminal – Zaha Hadid Architects
Another project by ZHA, the Beijing Daxing International Airport terminal (aka Beijing New Airport) was promoted as the world’s largest airport terminal building when revealed and as far as we know this still stands. It’s expected to open for business in September, 2019.
The huge building was created in collaboration with ADP Ingeniérie and takes the form of a massive starfish, with a total floorspace of 700,000 sq m (over 7 million sq ft). It will eventually have a capacity of 100 million passengers annually and will apparently also boast sustainable technology, but we’ve still received very little information on it as of writing. No doubt we’ll learn more once it’s finished in late 2019.
Gardenhouse – MAD Architects
MAD Architects’ Gardenhouse was originally slated for completion in late 2018 but now expected sometime this year. It consists of a large podium envisioned as an artificial mountain, with 18 houses atop. The podium will be covered in native, drought-tolerant greenery and contain commercial spaces for rent on ground level.
There are some potential issues like noise and pollution, but it’ll be fascinating to see if the firm can meet its goal of bringing the feel of a mountain village to Beverly Hills, California.
Renzo piano reveals plans for genoa bridge reconstruction
Following the deadly collapse of genoa’s morandi bridge in august 2018, italian architect renzo piano had announced plans to donate a replacement design. on december 18, 2018, genoa mayor mario bucci announced that the project will take 12 months to complete once the site has been prepared. mayor bucci, the commissioner overseeing the reconstruction, also announced the selection of salini impregilo and fincantieri infrastructure, via a new company called PERGENOVA, for the construction of the bridge according to renzo piano’s design.
Piano comments on the spirit of the redesign: ‘the new bridge will have to be simple and parsimonious, but not trivial. it will look like a ship moored in the valley; a light and bright steel bridge. it will reflect the sunlight during the day and absorb solar energy to return it at night. it will be a sober bridge, respecting the character of the genoese.‘
The continuous steel deck will extend 1,100 meters across genoa’s polcevera river all images courtesy of renzo piano building workshop
Situated along italy’s northwestern coast, genoa is the sixth largest city in the country. the bridge serves as an essential element that will allow genoa to reclaim its role as a great port and trade city. the bridge is an important junction connecting the city with france, the port and, generally, with nearby areas. renzo piano building workshopdesigned the bridge with a continuous steel deck extending 1,100 meters (3,609 ft) with 20 spans. the 19 elliptical piers of reinforced concrete will be primarily positioned at 50 meter increments, although because of their location on the river and the railway, two of these piers will be 100 meters apart. construction will be led by collaborating companies, salini impregilo and fincantieri.
Salini impregilo and fincantieri will work together by creating a new company called PERGENOVAThe bridge over the polcevera is a key artery connecting the port and the wider coastal area to france
Public works are expected to kickstart the economy and begin to create jobs again
The bridge will reflect the sunlight during the day and absorb solar energy to return it at night
The project foresees completion 12 months from the moment work begins
World’s longest sea bridge opens between hong kong and china
The world’s longest sea-crossing bridge has been officially opened, connecting hong kong, macau and zhuhai. measuring 55-kilometer (34.2 mile) in length, the dual three-lane link, hong kong-zhuhai-macau bridge, is part of beijing’s plan for a greater bay area covering 56,500 square kilometers (21,800 square miles) across southern china, encompassing 11 cities in total. the city hopes to form a rival tech hub to san francisco bay out of the three coastal areas the structure directly connects.
The bridge, which is made up of a 9.4km viaduct and 1km tunnel, posed a number of challenges to the project team. a 41m vertical clearance above sea level was required for the viaduct section in order to not obstruct marine traffic, a consideration that also influenced the construction process itself. the bridge is comprised of over 5,700 precast pile caps weighing between 75 and 225 tonnes that were used to minimize the amount of building works on sea.
the bridge structure includes two artificial islands that serve as entry and exit points for a 4-mile underwater sea tunnel west of the hong kong section of the bridge on lantau island. it is designed to last 120 years, withstand typhoons, and resist the impact of a magnitude-8 earthquake and a 300,000 metric ton vessel, according to the official in charge of the project’s construction.originally due to open in 2016, repeated delays pushed forward its completion and nine years after construction first began, it was declared open in a ceremony in zhuhai on tuesday, attended by chinese president xi jinping and hong kong’s chief executive, carrie lam.
The $20billion bridge will be open to public traffic on wednesday cutting journey times between the cities from four hours to 45 minutes, which officials say will enable commuters and tourists to easily move around the region. although it aims to bring the autonomous regions closer to mainland china, the bridge will only be accessible to a few. people from hong kong will need special permits and there have been reports that long-term permits to cross from hong kong to zhuhai will be granted to people who meet strict criteria, such as paying significant taxes in china, those who make large donations to charities in the southern chinese province of guangdong, or those who are members of one of several political organisations. a private shuttle bus can be used by other people however there is no actual public transport on the bridge.
Mumbai to Fujairah in 2 hours! UAE plans underwater bullet train to boost connectivity with India
Imagine not having to undergo hours of air travel and underwhelming flight meals to reach the UAE from India. Imagine hopping on to a train and reaching the coasts of UAE in a matter of two hours. That is exactly what is being explored in a concept by UAE’s National Advisor Bureau Limited.
In this futuristic mode of transport, the bureau is looking at the possibility of connecting Mumbai to the city of Fujairah in the UAE through an underwater rail network. As mentioned in Khaleej Times, not only will this mode transport passengers, it could also be used to exchange goods and oil exports as mentioned by the bureau’s director and chief consultant Abdulla Alshehhi during the UAE-India Conclave in Abu Dhabi.
“This is a concept. We plan to connect Indian city of Mumbai with Fujairah through ultra-speed floating trains. The project aims to boost bilateral trade. There will be export of oil to India from Fujairah port and import of excess water from Narmada River, north of Mumbai. In addition, other GCC partners can also improve export and import,” Alshehhi told a gathering of businessmen and industry experts, as mentioned in the daily.
The total length of the rail network will be less than 2,000 km but the underwater part could pose unique challenges and a lot of aspects would need consideration. “We will do feasibility study of the project. This is concept but a cool project to look at,” he added.
The project that aims to boost bilateral trade will benefit UAE, India and others in the region, Alshehhi mentioned.
Meanwhile, India is already working on ambitious transport projects such as the bullet train and Hyperloop. Will this project see the light of day remains to be seen.
