List of Free PMP Mock Exam

How Useful Are PMP® Mock Exams?

One of the most frequent question Aspirants will ask is: am I exam ready (i.e. can I write the exam now)? It is not only a waste of time and money if you take the actual exam when you are still not ready yet, think of the enormous pressure you have to endure sitting 4 hours before the screen and 15 seconds of the blank screen for the result to appear at the end of the exam. Aspirants would like to pass the exam in the first attempt without having to go through it again.

But, how to tell if you are PMP® exam ready (i.e. how to know if you can pass on the first attempt)? According to the experience of many exam takers, quality mock exams help a lot, especially if the mock exams are to be carried out in a simulated environment similar to the real exam with a timer.

List of Free Quality Mock PMP® Exam Questions

1 – [updated] Oliver Lehmann (Online)

2- [updated] Free PM Exam Simulator (Free 7-day Trial)

3- [udpated] Simplilearn Free PMP® Mock Exam

4- Oliver Lehmann (Downloadable PDF)

5- [updated] Edwel Mock Exam

6- [updated] PM Study Mock Exam

7- [updated] GreyCampus Mock Exam

Remark: please note that the Oliver Lehmann downloadable PDF mock exam is considered more difficult than the rest of the exams on the list. Don’t be discouraged if you cannot score over 75% on this one alone. Experiences from fellow Aspirants have proved that you can pass even with 75% or over in Oliver Lehmann downloadable PDF mock exam as it asks for additional knowledge from other project management books (the answer explanations often cite other reference titles of the exam than the PMBOK® Guide).

Bio-bricks made from human urine could be environmentally friendly future of architecture

University of Cape Town researcher Suzanne Lambert has created a zero-waste building material made with human urine, which hardens at room temperature, as an alternative to environmentally taxing kiln-fired bricks.

Lambert, a masters student in civil engineering, used recovered human waste and living bacteria to make the bricks, which can be fabricated in different sizes, shapes and strengths.

She believes the bio-bricks could be a real alternative to traditional bricks, which are heated at temperatures of more than 1,000 degree Celsius, producing huge carbon dioxide emissions.

“I see so much potential for the process’s application in the real world,” said Lambert. “I can’t wait for when the world is ready for it.”

The bio-bricks have been developed by a researcher at the University of Cape Town

The process utilised is called microbial carbonate precipitation, which Lambert’s supervisor at the University of Cape Town (UCT), Dyllon Randall, likens to “the way seashells are formed”.

Human urine, loose sand and a bacteria that produces the enzyme urease are combined in a brick-shaped mould. The urease triggers a chemical reaction, breaking down the urea in urine, while producing calcium carbonate — aka limestone, the main component of cement.

This solidifies the bricks, and the longer they’re left in their moulds, the stronger they get.

The bricks are created with human urine, loose sand and bacteria

“If a client wanted a brick stronger than a 40 per cent limestone brick, you would allow the bacteria to make the solid stronger by ‘growing’ it for longer,” said Randall.

“The longer you allow the little bacteria to make the cement, the stronger the product is going to be. We can optimise that process.”

Lambert builds on previous work, and particularly credits the foundational research by Jules Henze, a Swiss student who spent four months working with Randall on this concept in 2017. Testing was conducted with the help of UCT civil engineering honours student Vukheta Mukhari.

In contrast to previous efforts, Lambert’s product is the first of its kind to be brick shaped, and also the first to use human urine instead of a synthetic compound.

Designed as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional bricks, the bio-bricks harden at room temperature

This was important to the UCT team, who wanted the bricks to be part of a holistic waste recycling effort. The bio-brick process creates nitrogen and potassium — good for fertiliser — as by-products, and is ultimately zero-waste with 100 per cent of the urine converted into something useful.

“No-one’s looked at it in terms of that entire cycle and the potential to recover multiple valuable products,” said Randall. “The next question is how to do that in an optimised way so that profit can be created from urine.”

Urine is collected using a special fertiliser-producing urinal. Randall says there are hurdles to scaling up the idea — such as how to collect from people who don’t use urinals — but fortunately, another of his masters students is working on the transport logistics of urine collection and treatment.

Engineers around the world have turned their attention to bricks that are grown rather than manufactured in an attempt to lower the carbon footprint of construction.

A MoMA PS1 gallery pavilion by The Living in 2014 featured towers built from bricks that were grown from corn stalks and mushrooms.

Mushroom mycelium is a perhaps the most celebrated of these bio-materials, featuring in experimental structures like the MycoTree exhibited at the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism and the Shell Mycelium pavilion in India.

Source : https://www.dezeen.com

What is a public-private partnership? Definition and meaning

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What is a public-private partnership? Definition and meaning

A public-private partnership, also called a PPP, P3 or 3P, is a long-term cooperative agreement between a private company and the national or local government.

Public-private partnership arrangements have existed throughout history, but have become significantly more popular across the globe since the 1980s as governments attempt to obtain some benefits from the private sector without having to make the full privatization jump. In a PPP arrangement, private companies carry out aspects of government work.

According to the World Bank Group, public-private partnerships do not usually include turnkey construction or service contracts – these are classed as public procurement projects, or privatization of utilities where the public sector still has a limited ongoing role.

The PPP Knowledge Lab says the following regarding PPPs:

“A public-private partnership (PPP) is a long-term contract between a private party and a government entity, for providing a public asset or service, in which the private party bears significant risk and management responsibility, and remuneration is linked to performance.”

When the government is short of funds for a much-needed project, a public-private partnership, which benefits from an injection of money from the private sector, is a promising option.

The PPP Knowledge Lab adds that a private-public partnership encompasses several different types of contracts – there is not a standard, internationally-recognized definition of PPP. Different jurisdictions how their own unique terminologies to describe similar projects.

A growing number of nations are enshrining a definition of public-private partnerships in their laws.

Public-private partnership – the best ones

Governments have seen the greatest gains when the public-private partnership arrangements occurred as a result of competitive bidding.

When the private company’s main contribution has been to raise finance, governments have not fared so well. This is because governments can generally borrow money at cheaper rates than private entities can.

According to gov.uk, the United Kingdom was the first nation in the world to develop the concept of public-private partnership arrangements for public service projects. (Image: Adapted from gov.uk)

Critics say that governments only ask private companies to raise money when they do not want their public borrowing figures to rise.

In the majority of PPP cases, the private entity bears considerable risk and management responsibility, with remuneration (how much they are paid) linked to performance.

What isn’t a PPP?

In countries whose civil laws follow the tradition of the Code Napoleon, there is a difference between public contracts such as concessions and PPPs where the private company is delivering a service to the government in the form of bulk supply, such as a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) project for a water treatment plant, or the management of hospital facilities or other existing facilities for a fee.

In other jurisdictions, some specific sectors are excluded from the PPP definition, especially those sectors where there is an extensive private sector initiative or where extensive regulations exist.

In some nations, arrangements involving more limited risk transfer, including management contracts, are excluded from the PPP definition for institutional reasons. In such cases, the public authorities prefer to call them traditional procurement processes for goods and services. PPP Legislation and Laws has a summary of some sample laws.

Public-private partnership growth and decline

Europe:

From 1990 to 2009, almost 1,400 PPP arrangements were signed just in the European Union (EU), representing a capital value of about €260 billion.

Since 2008 – the onset of the global financial crisis – the EU estimates that PPP deals in the trading bloc have declined by over 40%.

According to a European Commission bulletin on PPPs, investments in public sector infrastructure are viewed as an important means of maintaining or boosting economic activity.

The European PPP Expertise Centre (EPEC) was set up to support public-sector capacity to implement public-private partnerships and share timely solutions to problems common across the EU in PPPs.

United States:

A 2007 survey found that two primary reasons for PPPs were expressed by US city managers:

Cost reduction, according to 86.7% of survey respondents.
External fiscal pressures, such as tax restrictions, according to 50.3%.

In a follow-up survey – Collaborative Service Delivery: What Every Local Government Manager Should Know -carried out in 2012, interest had shifted – the respondents believed that collaborative service delivery was ‘the right thing to do’ (86%) – other motivations in that survey included the need for leveraging resources (84%), better outcomes (81%), relationship building (77%), and better processes (69%).

Among the 2012-survey respondents, the provision of public services and utilities through contracts with private entities reached 18% – the peak – in 1977, and has since declined.

Twenty-two percent of local governments in the 2012 survey said they had brought back in-house one or more services that they had previously provided for their citizens through PPP arrangements.

Public-private partnership controversy

A frequently-mentioned problem with PPP arrangements was that private investors obtained a **rate of return that was greater than the government’s bond rate, even though all or most of the income risk related to the project was borne by the public sector partner.

** Rate of return is the ratio of an investment’s income over its initial cost.

In a PriceWaterHouse (PWC) report – Hanging in the Balance Sheet? – published in 2008, the authors argued that it was not fair to compare the private and public borrowing rates, because of the ‘constraints in public borrowing’, which could imply that public borrowing was excessively high, so PPP projects might be beneficial by keeping the government books free of additional debt.

Several Australian studies of early initiatives to promote PPPs in infrastructure concluded that, in the majority of cases, those proposed schemes were inferior to the standard public procurement model based on competitively tendering construction of publicly-owned assets.

A response to these negative conclusions was the development of formal procedures that focused on PPPs ‘value for money’, instead of reductions in debt.

Value for money, for example, was achieved by arranging an appropriate allocation of risk. From the late 1990s onward, private finance initiatives in Australia had these assessment procedures included in the contracts.

Another model under discussion and of particular interest to developing countries, is the PPCP (public-private community partnership), in which both players – the government and private sector entities – work together for social welfare, thus eliminating the main focus of the private sector partner on profit.

BIM Level of Detail (LOD) – Get ideas of each stage of a BIM modeling process

LOD stands for Level of Detailing in BIM. This specification determines the nature of the BIM Model based on the client requirement. It is not always important to detail the model in totality. We can work on need based BIM Models that can differentiate the stages based on the Level of Detailing. Typically a BIM model helps in denoting the amount of details or intricacies for a building.

LOD is the measuring criteria of the utilization of a model. These standards are determined by construction bodies appointed by the Government for effective implementation at different stages. Architects and Engineers work on BIM projects based on these standards. The standards of LOD for BIM are defined below

LOD 100 (Conceptual design/Schematics) – This is the first stage of the construction phase. LOD 100 denotes the design and schematic stage. The details produced with this LOD is just basic massing, lines and 3D geometry. This model will give you an idea of how a building structure will look like in a nutshell. This model will not even have door or window details. Architects and Engineers can use this model for energy modeling purposes too. Software like Revit can be used for basic 3D modeling and Ecotect can be used for energy modeling.

LOD 200 (Design Development) – With LOD 200, you can create a presentation model for the client. This presentation model gives an idea of the door window shapes, size, flooring, basic and generic furniture placements etc. The BIM Models exhibit a general design of a building structure. LOD 200 models are an integral part of the Architectural BIM Services which starts with design intent model and can be further upgraded based on different functions.

LOD 300 (Detailed Design and Documentation) – Other phases of BIM starts with the LOD 300. The 3D geometry created with LOD 300 indicates that this model is much more than mere presentation. When a client demands LOD 300 model, it means that he intends to use BIM for construction. Clash detection and BIM coordination, Architectural Construction Drawings, 3D Rendering Services etc. all these construction processes require ample level of detailing. In this model, we can use generic as well as parametric Revit families. These models can be used to extract coordinated shop drawings further used for construction.

LOD 400 (Construction & Fabrication) – These models basically are a level up than LOD 300. These models have shop details, detailed views of components that can be fabricated. The assemblies are with real time details, that help the Engineers and onsite construction labor to proceed ahead with the installation of specific components. In LOD 300 you come to know about the placements but with this the specific details and parts are developed and can be used to fabricate them through CNC machines. tconstruction or fabrication and also facilitates them

LOD 500 (As Built) – This is the last stage of the BIM Modeling phase. The as-built stage covers the updation of the BIM model with the onsite construction updation. This model is further retained for facility management and renovation of the building at a later stage. These models are leveraged to analyze building efficiency once it gets operational. Scan to BIM Services is another BIM discovery that eliminates manual surveying and drawing creation by scanning the building structure

BIM LOD specification has enabled segregation of the whole BIM modeling and design process in various levels. Is has helped in distributing the work load and ease the way for Engineers, Modelers and other authorize professionals.

Source: https://bimforum.org

Benefits of using BIM Modeling from a contractor stand point

BIM stands for Building Information Modeling, a virtual design process that delivers a complete 3D geometry loaded with building data like quantities, material information, Revit families etc. for further construction processes. These details can be utilized to present the aesthetics, functionality and building efficiency overall much before they are constructed. Contractors can take advantage of BIM owing to plenty of other advantages it has to offer. Construction technologies are reinventing themselves year on year with several cloud based software like BIM 360 gaining prominence. These services are providing great opportunity to the contractors to use BIM for the overall construction process. Let us see how virtual construction technology works with the contractors. Adoption of this process is enabling contractors to follow a structured project execution method and project delivery accurate and quicker.

BIM in pre-construction Phase

BIM Modelling is carried out by Architects, Engineers and Contractors to virtually construct the building to understand the overall building functionalities. By working with the Virtual Construction Modeling or “Virtual Design Construction”, contractors can ease their design process and detect design flaws prior to the beginning of the construction process. As we all understand Building Information Modelling works with a collaborative approach and enables every party involved in the design and development process to be in sync with each other. We can achieve

Reduced cost and quick delivery
Accurate results
Design changes
Single Model utilization for all phases

Architects and Contractors are adopting virtual construction modeling for the designing and construction process. This BIM Modelling process nowadays is widely used by contractors to handle complex infrastructure projects too. As we all know Virtual Construction Modelling is much more than just 3D Models and drawings. It gives a great value addition to the entire construction process and brings a simple 2D CAD drawing by adding visual 3d features, building data etc. Information found in the 3D Model generally comes in light only during actual construction. But with the help of BIM Coordination Modelling, lot of critical clashes or interferences that are usually detected during construction is identified during the clash detection process.

Building information modeling facilitates the Contractor by providing a single model with building data that brings all the parties together and reaches an amicable conclusion regarding any design change.

Any construction project is dependent on the ability to work seamlessly within each department. The ability to share, verify and process building data plays a very important role. This is where BIM Modelling comes into play. This process helps in creating a common data sharing tool that helps in the construction process and also after post-construction process. Contractors require complete building data that is usually provided for construction on site. Hence, the contractors would like to receive a 3d model which has got the flexibility to modify and add details as on site. Contractors are also concerned with the after construction stage too. The contractors can also provide any feedback arising during construction, raise change orders and contact the Architects, Engineers and BIM team to directly incorporate changes. Having a smart model helps a contractor in a lot of ways. The contractor can provide As-built modeling services, facility management etc. after the construction is over. The collaborative approach helps all the parties involved in the process with complete building data and project information for all stages.

Once the 3D Model is built with all data and all the processes, this model is handed over to the owner of the building which he can use for the operational management of the building. Any requirement in terms of replacement of components, renovation or retrofit, new design requirements etc. can be easily dealt with in case of an in place BIM Model.

The 3D geometry within the BIM Model, building data and the Revit families depict detailed information such as manufacturer detail, asset tags, locations etc. It gets easier to order the equipment’s in case of any repairs or issues within the building. Since it is a 3d virtual model depicting the building as it would be constructed, it becomes easier to understand the wall penetrations too or interior elements within the wall, ceiling etc.

Apart from contractors, even sub-contractors are an integral part of the entire virtual construction modeling process. Right from BIM Modeling and conducting coordination meetings, they work hand in hand with the contractors. BIM Model is the key information Centre for the entire construction and project team. We can extract Architectural construction drawings, MEP Installation drawings, Revit Families etc. from a single 3d geometrical model and perform constructability reviews, construction scheduling etc. With the help of BIM 360 tool, we can work with real-time changes and updates. Models will be all time updated with all the project progresses and finished items. All the parties are aware of what is going on with the project. Any design changes are communicated uniformly within all parties through BIM 360 tool.

Utilization of Building Information Modeling helps contractors maximize their profitability by working on a turnkey project such as complete installation and facility management services. Building Information Modeling is extremely beneficial to the contractors working turnkey. These services can be more productive with virtual construction modeling. Most of the issues can be resolved by referring to the completed 3D Model. Intricate information of types of equipment can be found within the Revit families. Owners can get a very fair idea of the maintenance cost during the construction and post-construction phase.

One of the key benefits that contractors avail by opting to work with BIM is the integration of the cost and timeline with the building data. Overall results have achieved great boost and results for all the parties involved in the project.

More and more contractors are now getting into turnkey projects and offering BIM Model as a part of their integrated service delivery model. Builders and stakeholders initially did not find it lucrative, however looking at the amount of assistance this provides post construction they have also begun to use this process.

Source: https://www.kiwibox.com

What Interoperability really means in a BIM context?

It has been an interesting week for interoperability in the BIM world. Three of the dominant players have made public statements on their strategy for BIM interoperability. Autodesk and Trimble issued a joint press release announcing anagreement to increase interoperability for customers to gain flexibility throughout the BIM project lifecycle. At the core of the press release was support of IFC and COBie.

Two days later BIM+ published an interview with Bentley Systems CEO Greg Bentley where BIM interoperability were also a key topic. Bentley were less supportive of IFC and COBie as we will see but still had a solution for interoperability in the AEC industry.

In this article we will look at what what interoperability really means in a BIM context. Then we will use select quotes from the press release and the interview to discuss the current state of interoperability in the world of BIM. We will see progress and good signs but we will also see issues, limitations and confusing and provocative statements. At the end we ask if these vendors holding the interoperability banner high are “sailing under false colors” or if they are just doing the best they can with the limitation of the current standards. Read on and see if you share our opinion.

What is interoperability

Before we dive in, let us have a quick refresher on what interoperability is. Lets look at the definition from the AFUL interoperability working group :

Interoperability is a characteristic of a product or system, whose interfaces are completely understood, to work with other products or systems, present or future, in either implementation or access, without any restrictions.

This definition is quite a mouthful. At least we can draw one main conclusion – you cannot have interoperability without open standards. Let us explore further

Interoperability in BIM software

Wikipedia have a separate sub-chapter on software interoperability that are a bit more specific.

With respect to software, the term interoperability is used to describe the capability of different programs to exchange data via a common set of exchange formats, to read and write the same file formats, and to use the same protocols.

One common use case for software interoperability is for the customers freedom to switch from one product to another while keeping the data intact after the transfer. This is especially important for use cases where the data will stay in one system for a long time (e.g. in Computer Aided Facility Management – CAFM systems) to prevent vendor lock-in.

For BIM interoperability there is another just as important driver. In the construction industry where one-off projects teams are assembled across different organisations, disciplines and phases you want the different discipline tools to share information with each other and you want data generated in one phase to be usable without re-entry for the next phase. This is the foundation for openBIM. You cannot have a true openBIM workflow without interoperable software. Interoperability is about freedom to work with the best in any discipline and for them to use the tools they are most comfortable and productive with.

Semantic interoperability and BIM

To communicate with each other systems need to use common data formats and communication protocols. Examples of formats are XML, JSON, SQL, ASCII and Unicode. Examples of protocols are HTTP, TCP, FTP and IMAP. When systems are able to communicate with each other using these standards they exhibit syntactic interoperability.

For BIM tools to work together we need more than just the ability to transfer information. We need the ability to transfer meaning. What is sent must be the same as what is understood. To achieve this both sides must refer to a common information exchange reference model. We need semantic interoperability.

What is not interoperability

The figure above is also taken from the interoperability working group. It is presented under the heading “degrees of interoperability”. However we would argue that the two first categories are not real interoperability. Again we use wikipedia to clarify when a vendor is forced to adapt its system to a dominant system that is not based on Open standards, it is not interoperability but only compatibility.

Plug-ins to BIM tools are common ways of providing such a compatibility solution.

The vendor behind that product can then choose to ignore any forthcoming standards and not co-operate in any standardisation process at all, using its near-monopoly to insist that its product sets the de facto standard by its very market dominance.

The design industry have a long history of dominating vendors trying to corner the market by controlling the de facto standard. We will later see if this is still relevant in the world of BIM

BIM maturity and interoperability

We have covered BIM maturity as described by the BIM levels before BIM level 1 is obviously not interoperability. Here BIM tools are used to automate the generation of design documents but no reusable data is passed on to the other parties in a standard format.

BIM level 2 is mainly about federated models and file based collaboration. The UK based BIM level 2 minimum requirements are requiring a combination of 3D native models and COBie data. As the native formats are not open standards the BIM level 2 mandate do not require real interoperability at this stage.

In our view it is first when you get to level 3 and move beyond just the file based collaboration you get truly integrated interoperable data. By the original definition level 3 would mean a centralised model that all parties are contributing to and benefiting from.

Now that we have some background on what requirements for real BIM interoperability are, let us have a look at the two case studies

Case study 1 : Autodesk and Trimble joint press release

For our first case study we will look at the joint press release from Autodesk and Trimble

To support open industry standards such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie)

This is good news for openBIM and following a trend we have seen lately.

Trimble already have announced this kind of partnership with Nemetschek last year (2015).

Autodesk has also moved towards more actively promoting openBIM interoperability. In example by promoting openBIM at BIM World Paris this year (2016).

So all in all this is good new for the openBIM – buildingSMART community. IFC and COBie are taking steps to becoming the unrivalled open standard for interoperability in the AEC industry.

work together seamlessly through optimized file compatibility across applications

File compatibility is important for level 2 BIM. We are hoping the ambition is also to move beyond this

And what´s that word – compatibility – that´s not interoperability. Let explore the press release further in the next section

Tighter product-to-product integration can enable design and construction professionals to share models, project files and other data between select Autodesk and Trimble solutions

Yep – that´s compatibility for you. This is about two vendors saying their joint customers will get an edge over other players due to a tighter point to point integrations. Or are we misinterpreting this?

Again – the blame for this should not go to the vendors alone. If they want to provide “lossless” data transfers with semantic interoperability the current state of openBIM will only take them so far

The solution for industry interoperability : openBIM needs to evolve along the needs of the industry and vendors should work with standards bodies and “donate” results of these efforts back to the community

accelerate interoperability by exchanging Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and developer tools to build and market interoperable products

Again it will be interesting to see if this is a compatibility play or interoperability play. This industry is in need of open API´s to support interoperability.

UPDATE : After publishing this article we have come over this article where Jim Lynch of Autodesk confirms these points.

with those types of exchange formats or industry standards, you’re somewhat limited in what you can actually do.

AndToday, those products [Revit and Tekla] do interoperate via IFC, but when you take it to the next level of APIs, you get much stronger and more direct interoperability,

This confirms our point that the press release was a bit misleading. END UPDATE

Case study 2 – Bentley interview

Let´s move on to the Bentley interview and focus on quotes related to interoperability.

Interoperability is now provided though collaborative services that work well with our competitors’ software. You should also give some credit to Autodesk. We have a long-standing interoperability agreement with them.

This just confirms what we have seen. Point to point compatibility integrations are taken for interoperability. And those integrations are not based on open APIs. Bentley are promoting the use of its own i-model format generated by design software plug-ins.

(On IFC and COBie) : they will never go far enough, or be current enough, or be extensive enough to quite achieve a standard of persisting intelligent data

Yes there are limitations in the current implementations. But can they never be fixed? If the industry come together to work to fix the limitations? Again Bentley only see their own format as a viable solution.

Instead of complaining about lack of interoperability there are very practical ways to overcome it, that the internet has led to a strategy for self description. If in the AEC world we say that a lack of standards is holding us back we are making excuses.

Interoperability implies open standards by definition. If you are inventing your own integration layer, hoping it will become a defacto standard you should not call it interoperability.

I can’t think of anything but problems with COBie. …. What would you actually use it for, it’s verbose, it’s limited in terms of virtuosity and as a data exchange mechanism it is almost entirely theoretical as every time the design changes, which is constantly, you would have to re-export the whole COBie

COBie is not about sharing design data each time the design changes. COBie defines data drops related to the transition between each main phase change in the project lifecycle, the main one being handover of as built and operations and maintenance data. Owners capable of utilising models for the operations phase would typically require a combination of native models and openBIM iFC files to transfer the virtuosities of the models.
For the use cases Bentley describes buildingSMART are working on alternative model-view definitions and representations. We totally agree that that work needs to speed up, but attacking COBie for that flaw is really missing the point

So what is Bentleys solution to the interoperability challenge of the industry. Bentley have their own format called I-model. I-models can be created using free plugins to tools both from Bentley (e.g. Microstation) and some other tools (e.g. Revit). The i-models can be viewed in free viewers from Bentley (if you are on the windows platform) or they can be viewed as 3d pdf files (if that is the format the models were published to). The data in the i-models can be accessed via an ODBC database driver that Bentley provides. That means that there are integration possibilities but we would not call it an open standard and therefore not an interoperability solution.

To give some balance to the discussion we trust that Bentley are right when they say that the I-model format have many advantages over the openBIM formats/ standards. The one thing that counts however in interoperability and standardization is market adoption. Have a look at the trend graph below. IFC is definitely on the rise. That is not the case for i-model

Summary

openBIM as defined by buildingSMART is well positioned to become the interoperability framework for the AEC world. To do so however requires buildingSMART and the community to work through some limitations and constantly improve both the standard and the implementations.

Bentley is now the only major BIM player not openly supporting interoperability based on openBIM. At the same time the market is screaming for interoperability between the building and infrastructure domains. buidlingSMART have it on their todo list. Bentley say they have a superior solution…

Then back to our question – are the industry sailing under false colors?
Sailing under false colors is probably a too harsh expression for this. But we do think however that the interoperability term is thrown around a bit too loosely in our industry. Especially in marketing messaging. It is being used to describe point-to point solutions and it is being used to describe integrations based on proprietary formats. We think the industry needs to understand and agree on what interoperability is to make educated decisions based on the messaging from the vendors.

We also strongly hope that our standards will evolve so that compliance with the standard and working in the community is the main message you are promoting, not integration with another vendor.

Source: blog.areo.io/bim-interoperability

7 Reasons Why Transitioning to BIM Makes Sense for Small Firms

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7 Reasons Why Transitioning to BIM Makes Sense for Small Firms

The benefits and capabilities of building information modeling in large-scale architectural practices are well known. But is BIM really necessary for smaller firms? Many small firms have been operating using traditional CAD methods for some time now, and switching technologies can seem a daunting task, especially for companies that operate on small budgets and without the specialized personnel of large international firms. But this is 2016 and the economic landscape has changed, with more and more expected from architects all the time. Time is more valuable now than ever. Where BIM software programs were once seen as simply nice to have, their large range of benefits have now made BIM an essential part of the design process. And as the following reasons show, BIM is just as important a tool for small offices as it is for larger ones.

Reason 1: Wow Factor

BIM is such an obvious solution for large projects, as it allows architects, consultants and contractors to work using the same information, that large-scale developers have begun to expect 3D models and multiple perspectives for every project. But many clients that small firms often work with are less familiar with BIM—or even the design process in general. Davey McEathron of Davey McEathron Architecture explains:

“The efficiencies that are built into a BIM program are one of the things we tout when we are in front of a client trying to win that business. When you show a client a 3D model and start spinning it around, it kind of blows their mind.”

Harnessing BIM technology when pitching to clients instills confidence in your work, while exciting them with an accurate visualization of how their project will look.

Reason 2: Shorten Feedback Loops, Save Time

CAD is a drafting program, not a responsive modeling program. This means that when changes need to be made to a drawing set, the architect must go through each drawing to make updates, taking valuable time and increasing the probability of user error. BIM software recognizes changes three-dimensionally, and will update all drawings at the same time, allowing architects to focus on more important duties.

Reason 3: Avoid Outsourcing

For competitions and important projects, computer renderings are an obligatory tool in attracting a client’s attention. Without BIM, creating these images is a headache that many small firms prefer to outsource rather than produce in-house. Yet outsourcing can be expensive, and any miscommunication could result in an imperfect product.

As Geoffrey Tears of Mohle Design explains, it can be difficult to compete when you “have to outsource to get things rendered, versus the bigger firms who are actually making these 3D models and producing information as they go.”

Reason 4: BIM is the Future

While it’s possible today to operate without BIM, widespread adoption and government BIM mandates have made BIM the global industry standard. New productivity updates for BIM programs continue to increase the software’s capabilities, further widening the gap between old and new ways of practicing. Meanwhile, architects will need to keep up with their clients, who will continue to demand more descriptive models and images, expect competency in modern technology, and will be less willing to pay for the hours needed to update drawing sets. Firms using only CAD software may find themselves at a disadvantage.

Reason 5: BIM Can Help Market Your Firm

Image is everything. Attracting new clients means having to tout your firm’s abilities and accomplishments. BIM can help create both the images and the documents needed. “It’s provided us a really fast tool for marketing,” said Tears, “in that we can set up all of our necessary drawings and renderings, or go through and set up a whole new document of purely marketing packages, so that we’ve done all our graphic design in Revit.”

Reason 6: Build Trust and Secure Repeat Clients

The most important thing for most clients is that a project is completed in a timely manner and for around the expected budget. If an architect is able to deliver those things, the client will be more likely to use their services again in future developments. BIM allows architects to more easily create precise, correct construction documents and thus more accurately predict costs.

For Vanessa Bizzell of Bluemouse LTD, making clients happy is about mitigating risk. “Because we’re building in 3D, I have the confidence that the work I put in Autodesk Revit LT will work when we build, and that any problems are sorted out before we get on site. I know my clients don’t always have that confidence; [working with other architects] they have to use contingency plans. But I couldn’t justify taking the risk for them.”

Reason 7: Compete with Larger Firms

Small firms often find themselves competing with much larger firms to win a project. To compete successfully in these situations, small firms need to start on a level playing field. Using BIM software allows fewer people to do a lot more in less time, while demonstrating to the client that despite your smaller size, you’re just as sophisticated as the larger practices they may be considering. Once your drawings sets are in equal standing with your competitors, the actual designs will shine through.

Tears explains how not having BIM can hurt smaller firms:

“One of the big issues for us in getting those bigger jobs — as well as just competing for those jobs — was that it was tougher for our firm to show up with just 2D drawings and space plans and elevations, compared to some of those bigger firms that were competing for the same jobs and would have renderings and walkthroughs. Any bit of information that they needed to take out, they had.”

In our fast-paced world, time is the most valuable asset for an architecture firm. BIM cuts out needless time-wasting work, allowing firms to get the most out of their projects—regardless of size.

Source: https://www.archdaily.com

Building Information Modeling is More than Software

It is 2018, and it should be clear to everyone in the AEC industry that BIM is the future of building, infrastructure design, construction, and maintenance. There are millions of marketing dollars spent by BIM software companies each year trying to convince you that Building Information Modeling can’t happen without their product. They will try to convince you that their product is the “real BIM.” Of course, we live in an open, capitalist society where this behavior is expected. However, if you and your firm are making the move to BIM, this background noise may be concerning… and if it’s not, it should be.

In the first paragraph of Wikipedia’s entry on Building Information Modeling, the statement is made that building information models are files that are “…often but not always in proprietary formats and containing proprietary data…” This is troubling to some, however, understandable, of course. If your BIM software solution becomes inaccessible for any reason, your work is captive. For many, this is unacceptable and prevents them from moving forward to the power of BIM.

The idea of proprietary formats and databases is rooted in the concept of traditional BIM.

This concept goes back to the beginning days of computer science. The concept is that these custom data structures can be optimized to store information formatted in a way that improves access speed, reducing the time needed to load the BIM’s data. While this can be true, it’s not a given – especially when you consider the incredible capabilities of today’s computers. And it is possible that proprietary file formats actually hinder productivity by limiting the way that proprietary BIM solutions work across systems and disciplines.

This lack of good software interoperability is a major obstacle to efficiency and technology adoption. This is more insidious than it might appear at first. As firms resist the move to BIM, they limit their ability to work with other disciplines in the larger AEC workflow. This can limit access to expertise, raise total project costs, and add workflow gaps that can lead to costly rework.

Is there a solution to this problem? Yes, and it’s not what some may believe to be the obvious answer. The first part of a modern, interoperable BIM workflow is based on industry standard, non-proprietary file formats. Then, you’ll want your BIM model data represented in accordance with open, international standards. And you’ll need the ability to transfer BIM data accurately between multiple BIM tools that support all disciplines in this modern BIM workflow.

Source: https://www.archdaily.com

A Brief History of BIM

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A Brief History of BIM

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a term that has become ubiquitous in the design and construction fields over the past 20 years, but where did it come from? The story is rich and complex with players from the United States, Western Europe and the Soviet Block competing to create the perfect architectural software solution to disrupt 2-Dimensional CAD workflows.

The benefits of an architectural design model tied to a relational database have proven to be incredibly valuable, with contractors becoming the primary drivers of BIM technology for the first time in 2012.

What exactly is BIM?

The question often arises, for the purposes of this article, BIM software must be capable of representing both the physical and intrinsic properties of a building as an object-oriented model tied to a database . In addition most BIM software now features rendering engines, an optimized feature specific taxonomy and a programming environment to create model components. The user can view and interact with the model in three-dimensional views as well as orthographic two-dimensional plan, sections and elevation views of the model. As the model is developed, all other drawings within the project will be correspondingly adjusted. A Building Information Model could be designed in a software that is not strictly speaking, ‘parametric’ and where all information and geometry is explicitly defined but this would be cumbersome.

A parametric building modeler will allow the user to create constraints such as the height of a horizontal level, which can be tied to the height of specified set of walls and adjusted parametrically, creating a dynamic database model which is tied to geometry. This development answered a need in the architectural industry to be able to change drawings at multiple scales and across fragmented drawing sheets. The amount of hours that are necessary for the production of drawings has decreased steadily over time with the general trend of non-farm labor in the United States since 1964. The improvement in productivity has risen in concert with computer technology which has automated tedious tasks in all disciplines. Although some of the earliest programs for architectural representation used a BIM metaphor, limitations in computer power and awkward user interfaces for BIM platforms contributed to a growth in two-dimensional line drawing programs such as AutoCAD and Bentley Microstation.

The Beginnings

The conceptual underpinnings of the BIM system go back to the earliest days of computing. As early as 1962, Douglas C. Englebart gives us an uncanny vision of the future architect in his paper Augmenting Human Intellect.

“the architect next begins to enter a series of specifications and data–a six-inch slab floor, twelve-inch concrete walls eight feet high within the excavation, and so on. When he has finished, the revised scene appears on the screen. A structure is taking shape. He examines it, adjusts it… These lists grow into an evermore-detailed, interlinked structure, which represents the maturing thought behind the actual design.”

Englebart suggests object based design, parametric manipulation and a relational database; dreams that would become reality several years later. There is a long list of design researchers whose influence is considerable including Herbert Simon, Nicholas Negroponte and Ian McHarg who was developing a parallel track with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The work of Christopher Alexander would certainly have had an impact as it influenced an early school of object oriented programming computer scientists with Notes on the Synthesis of Form. As thoughtful and robust as these systems were, the conceptual frameworks could not be realized without a graphical interface through which to interact with such a Building Model.

Visualizing the Model

From the roots of the SAGE graphical interface and Ivan Sutherland’s Sketchpad program in 1963, solid modeling programs began to appear building on developments in the computational representation of geometry. The two main methods of displaying and recording shape information that began to appear in the 1970s and 1980s were constructive solid geometry (CSG) and boundary representation(brep). The CSG system uses a series of primitive shapes that can be either solids or voids, so that the shapes can combine and intersect, subtract or combine to create the appearance of more complex shapes. This development is especially important in representing architecture as penetrations and subtractions are common procedures in design, (windows, doors).
The process of design requires a visceral connection to the medium that the designer is working in. This posed another challenge as architects required a way to tell the computer what to do that was less tedious than the punch cards that were used on early computers. The development of light pens, head-mounted displays and various contraptions in the early days of human-computer interaction (HCI) are well documented elsewhere. A rigorous history of HCI from an architectural perspective can be found in Nicholas DeMonchaux’s book, Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo. The text carves a narrative of the precursors to BIM and CAD technology as they were entwined in the Space Race and Cold War.

Database Building Design

Seeing buildings through the lens of the database contributed to the breakdown of architecture into its constituent components, necessitating a literal taxonomy of a buildings constituent parts. One of the first projects to successfully create a building database was the Building Description System (BDS) which was the first software to describe individual library elements which can be retrieved and added to a model. This program uses a graphical user interface, orthographic and perspective views and a sortable database that allows the user to retrieve information categorically by attributes including material type and supplier. The project was designed by Charles Eastman who was trained as an architect at Berkeley and went on to work in computer science at Carnegie Melon Uniersity. Eastman continues as expert in BIM technology and Professor at the Georgia Tech School of Architecture.

Eastman claims that drawings for construction are inefficient and cause redundancies of one object that is represented at several scales. He also criticizes hardcopy drawings for their tendency to decay over time and fail to represent the building as renovations occur and drawings are not updated. In a moment of prophecy, the notion of automated model review emerges to “check for design regularity” in a 1974 paper.

Eastman concluded that BDS would reduce the cost of design, through ‘drafting and analysis efficiencies’ by more than fifty percent. Eastman’s project was funded by DARPA, the Advanced Research Projects Agency and was written before the age of personal computers, on a PDP-10 computer. Very few architects were ever able to work on the BDS system and its unclear whether any projects were realized using the software. BDS was an experiment that would identify some of the most fundamental problems to be tackled in architectural design over the next fifty years. Eastman’s next project, GLIDE (Graphical Language for Interactive Design) created in 1977 at CMU, exhibited most of the characteristics of a modern BIM platform.

In the early 1980′s there were several systems developed in England that gained traction and were applied to constructed projects. These include GDS, EdCAAD, Cedar, RUCAPS, Sonata and Reflex. The RUCAPS software System developed by GMW Computers in 1986 was the first program to use the concept of temporal phasing of construction processes and was used to assist in the phased construction of Heathrow Airport’s Terminal three (Laiserin – History of BIM). The founding of the Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE) at Stanford in 1988 by Paul Teicholz marks another landmark in the development of BIM as this created a wellspring of PhD students and industry collaborations to further the development of ‘four-dimensional’ building models with time attributes for construction. This marks an important point where two trends in the development of BIM technology would split and develop over the next two decades. On one side, the development of specialized tools for multiple disciplines to serve the construction industry and improve efficiency in construction. On the other side is the treatment of the BIM model as a prototype that could be tested and simulated against performance criteria.

A later but prominent example of a simulation tool that gave feedback and ‘suggested’ solutions based on a model is the Building Design Advisor, developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab beginning in 1993. This software utilizes an object model of a building and its context to perform simulations. This program was one of the first to integrate graphical analysis and simulations to provide information about how the project might perform given alternative conditions regarding the projects orientation, geometry, material properties and building systems. The program also includes basic optimization assistants to make decisions based on a range of criteria which are stored in sets called ‘Solutions’.

“The input on the left generates the stairs on the right that can be adjusted parametrically. Charles Eastman’s GLIDE was one of the first programs to incorporate most of the major features present in BIM software today.” Image via Charles Eastman’s paper “GLIDE.”

Virtual Building

While the developments were happening rapidly in the United States, the Soviet Block had two programming geniuses who would end up defining the BIM market as it is known today. Leonid Raiz and Gábor Bojár would go on to be the respective co-founder and founder of Revit and ArchiCAD. ArchiCAD developed in 1982 in Budapest, Hungary by Gábor Bojár, a physicist who rebelled against the communist government and began a private company. Gábor wrote the initial lines of code by pawning his wife’s jewelry and smuggling Apple Computers through the Iron Curtain (Story). Using similar technology as the Building Description System, the software Radar CH was released in 1984 for the Apple Lisa Operating System. This later became ArchiCAD, which makes ArchiCAD the first BIMsoftware that was made available on a personal computer.

The software was slow to start as Bojár had to struggle with a unfriendly business climate and the limitations of personal computer software, so ArchiCAD was not used on large scale projects until much later. ArchiCAD has made substantial gains in user base from 2007-2011, mainly as a tool for developing residential and small commercial projects in Europe. Recent improvements have made ArchiCAD a major player in the market though fundamental issues such as a lack of a phasing component and a complicated (but flexible) programming environment for its family components using GDL (Geometric Description Language) To date, Graphisoft claims that more than 1,000,000 projects worldwide have been designed using ArchiCAD.

Not long after Graphisoft began to sell the first seats of Radar CH, Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC) was founded in 1985 and released the first version of Pro/ENGINEER in 1988. This is a mechanical CAD program that is utilizes a constraint based parametric modeling engine. Equipped with the knowledge of working on Pro/ENGINEER, Irwin Jungreis and Leonid Raiz split from PTC and started their own software company called Charles River Software in Cambridge, MA.

The two wanted to create an architectural version of the software that could handle more complex projects than ArchiCAD. They hired David Conant as their first employee, who is a trained architect and designed the initial interface which lasted for nine releases. By 2000 the company had developed a program called ‘Revit’, a made up word that is meant to imply revision and speed, which was written in C++ and utilized a parametric change engine, made possible through object oriented programming. In 2002, Autodesk purchased the company and began to heavily promote the software in competition with its own object-based software ‘Architectural Desktop’.

Revit revolutionized the world of Building Information Modeling by creating a platform that utilized a visual programming environment for creating parametric families and allowing for a time attribute to be added to a component to allow a ‘fourth-dimension’ of time to be associated with the building model. This enables contractors to generate construction schedules based on the BIM models and simulate the construction process. One of the earliest projects to use Revit for design and construction scheduling was the Freedom Tower project in Manhattan. This project was completed in a series of separated but linked BIM models which were tied to schedules to provide real-time cost estimation and material quantities. Though the construction schedule of the Freedom Tower has been racked with political issues, improvements in coordination and efficiency on the construction site catalyzed the development of integrated software that could be used to view and interact with architects, engineers and contractors models in overlay simultaneously.

“This screenshot from Radar CH (later ArchiCAD) shows how far BIM modeling capabilities had developed by 1984, the first major BIM release on a personal computer.” Image via Graphisoft

Towards a Collaborative Architecture

There has been a trend towards the compositing of architectural files with those of engineers who create the systems to support them which has become more prevalent within the past seven years as Autodesk has released versions of Revit specifically for Structural and Mechanical engineers. This increased collaboration has had impacts on the larger industry including a movement away from design-bid-build contracts towards integrated project delivery where many disciplines typically work on a mutually accessible set of BIM models that are updated in varying degrees of frequency. A central file takes an object and applies an attribute of ownership so that a user who is working on a given project can view all objects but can only change those that they have checked out of a ‘workset’. This feature released in Revit 6 in 2004, enables large teams of architects and engineers to work on one integrated model, a form of collaborative software. There are now several firms working towards visualization of BIM models in the field using augmented reality.

A broad variety of programs used by architects and engineers makes collaboration difficult. Varying file formats lose fidelity as they move across platforms, especially BIM models as the information is hierarchical and specific. To combat this inefficiency the International Foundation Class (IFC) file format was developed in 1995 and has continued to adapt to allow the exchange of data from one BIM program to another. This effort has been augmented by the development of viewing software such as Navisworks which is solely designed to coordinate across varying file formats. Navisworks allows for data collection, construction simulation and clash detection and is used by most major contractors in the US today.

Following in the footsteps of the Building Design Advisor, simulation programs such as Ecotect, Energy Plus, IES and Green Building Studio allow the BIM model to be imported directly and results to be gathered from simulations. In some cases there are simulations that are built directly into the base software, this method of visualization for design iteration has been introduced to Autodesk’s Vasari, a stand alone beta program similar to the Revit Conceptual Modeling Environment where solar studies and insolation levels can be calculated using weather data similar to the Ecotect package. Autodesk, through their growth and acquisition of a broad variety of software related to BIM have contributed to the expansion of what is possible from analysis of a model. In late November 2012, the development of formit, an application that allows the conceptual beginnings of a BIM model to be started on a mobile device is a leap for the company.

Contemporary Practice and Design Academics

Some have taken a negative stance on BIM and parametrics as they assume so much about the design process and limit any work produced to the user’s knowledge of the program. This can enable a novice designer who has learned how to perform basic commands to become an incredibly prolific producer while a highly educated and experienced architect can be crippled from inexperience with a programs interface or underlying concepts. This creates a potential for a generational break line that becomes more harsh as a new technology gains market parity.

Some BIM platforms that have a small market share but have made big impacts on the world of design include Generative Components (GC), developed by Bentley Systems in 2003. The GC system is focused on parametric flexibility and sculpting geometry and supports NURBS surfaces. The interface hinges on a node-based scripting environment that is similar to Grasshopper to generate forms. Digital Project is a similar program was developed by Gehry Technologies around 2006 based on CATIA, a design program (and one of the first CAD programs) that was developed as an in house project by Dessault systems, a French airplane manufacturer. These two platforms have spawned something of a revolution in design as the power to iterate and transform has resulted in especially complex and provocative architectural forms.

Patrick Schumacher has coined the movement of parametric building models in architecture, specifically those which allow for NURBS surfaces and scripting environments as ‘parametricism’ in his 2008 ‘Parametricist Manifesto’.

“The current stage of advancement within parametricism relates as much to the continuous advancement of the attendant computational design technologies as it is due to the designer’s realization of the unique formal and organizational opportunities that are afforded. Parametricism can only exist via sophisticated parametric techniques. Finally, computationally advanced design techniques like scripting (in Mel-script or Rhino-script) and parametric modeling (with tools like GC or DP) are becoming a pervasive reality. Today it is impossible to compete within the contemporary avant-garde scene without mastering these techniques.”

Since these techniques have become increasingly complex there has become a component of architectural schools which is specified to train in specific software. A student with knowledge of only one type of software platform may well be trained to design according to the biases of the programs that they are using to represent their ideas. Software performs useful tasks by breaking down a procedure into a set of actions that have been explicitly designed by a programmer. The programmer takes an idea of what is commonsense (Sack 14) and simulates a workflow using tools available to them to create an idealized goal. In the case of BIM tools, the building is represented as components including walls, roofs, floors, windows, columns, etc. These components have pre-defined rules or constraints which help them perform their respective tasks.

BIM platforms typically represent walls as objects with layers, these layers are defined in terms of the depth and height of a wall and are extruded along the length of a line. The program then has the ability to calculate the volume of material contained within the wall assembly and to create wall sections and details easily. This type of workflow is based on the existing building stock and common industry standards and therefore a project which is produced in a BIM platform which emphasizes these tools is likely to reinforce existing paradigms rather than develop new ones. Additionally, the programmers who worked on the early BIM platforms often did not have a background in architecture but employed hybrid architect/programmers who contributed to the development of the programs. One notable exception I have found to this is the work of Charles Eastman who received a Masters of Architecture from Berkeley before working on the Building Description System. The roots of the major BIM platforms that are in use today have been developed by programmers with the peripheral input of hybrid programmer/architects and a global user base who contributes to the development of the software via ‘wish lists’ or online forums where grievances can be aired about a product workflow. The grievances typically result in new features and build upon the existing interface.

Though the general concept and technology behind BIM is approaching its thirtieth anniversary, the industry has only begun to realize the potential benefits of Building Information Models. As we reach a point where a majority of buildings are being crafted digitally, an existing building marketplace where building materials and structural components can be bought and sold locally will emerge. Sustainable design practices reinforce an attitude of designing for disassembly and a marketplace of these parts is essential. Trends in Human Computer Interaction, Augmented Reality, Cloud Computing, Generative Design and Virtual Design and Construction continue to rapidly influence the development of BIM. Looking back at the past it is easier to realize that the present moment is an exciting time for designers and programmers in this evolving industry.

Top ten construction 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

Cement is one of the most widely used materials in construction, but also one of the largest contributors to harmful carbon emissions, said to be responsible for around 7 per cent of annual global emissions. Cracking is a major problem in construction, usually caused by exposure to water and chemicals. Researchers at Bath University are looking to develop a self-healing concrete, using a mix containing bacteria within microcapsules, which will germinate when water enters a crack in the concrete to produce limestone, plugging the crack before water and oxygen has a chance to corrode the steel reinforcement.

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 buildings generate their own electricity, 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

Kinetic energy is another technology under development. Pavegen provides a technology that enables flooring to harness the energy of footsteps. It can be used indoors or outdoors in high traffic areas, and generates electricity from pedestrian footfall using an electromagnetic induction process and flywheel energy storage. The technology is best suited to transport hubs where a large flow of people will pass over it. The largest deployment the company has done so far is in a football pitch in Rio de Janeiro to help power the floodlights around the pitch. It also currently has a temporary installation outside London’s Canary Wharf station powering street lights.

5. Kinetic Roads

Italian startup Underground Power is exploring the potential of kinetic energy in roadways. It has developed a technology called Lybra, a tyre-like rubber paving that converts the kinetic energy produced by moving vehicles into electrical energy. Developed in co-operation with the Polytechnic University of Milan, Lybra operates on the principle that a braking car dissipates kinetic energy. The cutting-edge technology is able to collect, convert this energy into electricity and pass it on to the electricity grid. In addition to improving road safety, the device upgrades and promotes sustainability of road traffic.

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 increasingly popular where a building is constructed off-site using the same materials and designed to the same standards as conventional on-site construction. It limits environmental disruption, delivering components as and when needed, and turning construction into a logistics exercise. It also has strong sustainability benefits, from fewer vehicle movements to less waste. With up to 70 per cent of a building produced as components, it allows a move towards “just in time” manufacturing and delivery. In use in the United States and UK, Chinese developer Broad Sustainable Building recently completed a 57-storey skyscraper in 19 working days using this method.

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.

Source : https://www.raconteur.net