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AECWeekly is a news magazine featuring important industry news profiles, a summary of recently published AEC product and company news, customer wins, and coming events. Brought to you by AECCafe.
AECWeekly examines select top news each week, picks out worthwhile reading from around the web, and special interest items you might not find elsewhere. This issue will feature Industry News, Top News of the Week, Acquisitions/Agreements/Alliances, Announcements, Financials, People, New Products, and Upcoming Events.
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Industry News
Field BIM at the Meadowlands Stadium Project
By Susan Smith
Vela Systems has made a business out of leveraging the unique capabilities of tablet PCs for field deployment. According to Josh Kanner, vice president of marketing, the market has opened up for them. “Tablets have gotten to the point where they are powerful enough, have a long enough battery life and have a screen you can view outdoors, to make them useful for construction.”
Vela, a developer of mobile field software for the AECO (architecture, engineering, contractor and owner) industry, is all about field automation, making all field process in construction more efficient.
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By combining BIM with mobile field software and the RFID technology, AECO industry leaders can coordinate the scheduling and quality of building materials across a distributed environment, from manufacturing to delivery and installation. The solution can also extend to facilities and warranty management, beyond the design-build-construction phase.
For the Meadowlands stadium project, a $1.3 billion project with 83,000 seats, Vela has collaborated with Tekla, BIM software providers and Skanska, constructor in design-build. The end result is “field BIM” – the ability to take information from the construction job site, gathered where it’s created so you can think of the information as being gathered as it’s being generated in the field with no lag time,” explained Kanner. “Field BIM about putting real information into your BIM, to make it useful not just for design but for construction and ultimately operations. Value is created from your BIM as a result.”
Field BIM came about as do many concepts that derive from the cutting edge of technology – as a partnership where each party brings ideas to the forefront to try to solve a business problem. “In this case Skanska had a very clear business problem around wanting to track and automate the process of materials tracking,” Kanner said. “Skanska approached Vela and Tekla to develop this joint solution. Because there is quite an aggressive schedule for delivering the Meadowlands stadium, with an opening date of 2010 already promoted to the public, Vela and Tekla are charged with meeting deadlines on time and on budget."
Andy Dicky, product line manager for Tekla, said the collaboration is saving them 10 days, which translates to “over $1 million worth of savings.”
One of the oldest construction software companies, Tekla, opened its doors in 1966. The company has a very powerful database. The software allows you to focus not just on design but all the way through the fabrication process into construction. They specialize in structural elements, in particular structural steel and precast and other forms of concrete. A large amount of their work is with major steel and concrete producers.
Unlike most BIM software which focuses on the design aspect in the building information model, Tekla Structures BIM software streamlines the delivery process of design, detailing, manufacturing and construction companies. The software integrates with architectural models in various formats, and is well suited to the nature of the construction phases of project delivery. Tekla Structures can process extensive data which supports the creation of detailed 3D models to be used in every stage of design and construction.
Not surprisingly, Tekla is used to model nearly every stadium in the world, according to Kanner. “You can start with an architectural model in Tekla and go through the process all the way because of the strength of the underlying database and its ability to capture and deliver very fine resolution down to where the throughholds should be for bolts.”
Tekla users can create the architectural model or use models created in other software. In the case of Meadowlands, Thomas Eddy did some of the modeling. Some of the models were designed in Archicad, but all the structural elements reside in Tekla.
Using RFID to Track Materials
Critical to the design-build of Meadowlands is using RFID to track materials as they are coming in.
Dave Campbell, vice president of Innovation and Technology at Skanska, gave a slide presentation in which he outlined the scope of this project, which is focused on the precast concrete, all in Tekla.
"There are 2,300 pieces of precast concrete that need to come in,” explained Kanner. “The stadium is basically made of concrete built on structural steel, and they needed to coordinate the production schedule across the supply chain to make sure that they could bring the pieces of precast onsite that they needed for that particular day’s weeks erecting schedule. They didn’t really have very much storage on site there. They wanted to pick it up from the truck and set it right in the structure, but they had no room with the tight schedule. When you’re building a stadium, if you’re missing a piece while going from bottom to top, it halts constructing because you can’t slide in a piece later.”
Vela Systems materials tracking module was used for this project, which has RFID built into it. The solution includes an updated Vela Integration Adaptor for bidirectional integration of information with Tekla Structures BIM. Using a simple user interface into a Vela database directly on the screen of a tablet PC with a special pen, field personnel can enter their information. With RFID enabling the solution, a reader attached to the tablet scans information from the RFID tag and logs the information. This data is synchronized and integrated directly with the Tekla Structures BIM database.
According to the press release, the new field BIM has a vivid multi-color visual representation that allows AECO and project leaders to more easily and effectively:
- Assure accurate communications between field and off-site personnel;
- Assess construction development and compare progress to initial forecasts;
- Schedule building activities and use of work crews;
- Track materials and control inventory;
- Ensure work quality and safety standards are met;
- Generate a work history/model for future management and troubleshooting of a building;
- Create an auditable trail that can reduce legal exposure; and
- Analyze possible improvements to project delivery.
Disconnected from the Internet
Kanner pointed out that the software works disconnected from the Internet. “Almost all construction sites have cell phone, wireless dead zones, and any software that is to be used in the field in construction has to be available even if you’re underground and you have no connection to anything. That’s how we’ve built our software.”
Vela Systems Software Synchronization capability is a store process that allows you to work without being connected to the Internet. Vela tracks who is doing what as they’re working on their local tablet PC. When you come back into the connecting zone later, plug your tablet in in the trailer or use a wireless card. At that time, Vela synchronizes everyone’s information together. “It’s a ‘store then think’ architecture. If you want to share with others, just synchronize wherever you get Internet connectivity. You can plug in the wall, to the Internet, to a regular network, wireless, but you don’t need wireless or internet to continue working,” Kanner pointed out. The whole point of Vela is productivity from an occasionally connected environment.
What does this unique capability look like under the hood? The Vela Systems software runs locally on a computer, with a full copy of the database as well as documents needed. When you get back to the job trailer, you synchronize up to the server. “There’s a central Vela Systems server in Boston,” said Kanner. “All customers use the central server, and that really helps them keep their deployment costs down. You don’t have to buy your own server to use Vela, you just install it on your computer and then you synchronize it up. Vela manages things like materials tracking, but it also manages documents. The synchronization delivers the plans and documents up to the server. It gives everyone the same set, the virtual roll of documents, which allows them to work in the field completely disconnected from the Internet.”
To avoid any problems with duplication of files, the document set that people are working on simultaneously in the field, is never changed. “So you can have 10 people all marking up that same set of documents, yet the underlying plan set is not changed, it’s in Vela,” Kanner noted. “Each of those changes is tracked to us as users and then presented as a list. We actually call this feature Vela Sketch.”
Vela Sketch and Vela Viewer let users make all the comments they want and add things to drawings like pushpins, but each user’s comments don’t edit the underlying file. “If you’re both working on the same mechanical detail , you move something, I move something, instead of creating two separate PDF files for that same detail, in Vela Viewer, it keeps that one underlying file and shows what each of us has done as a layer.” Kanner explained, adding: “There is still one document and through Vela you can look at all comments others have made on top of that document.”
Top News of the Week
Bentley Systems, Incorporated announced a special new annual subscription program for GenerativeComponents (GC), Bentley’s exciting new generative design software for architects and engineers. The innovative GenerativeComponents Discovery Subscription program includes a one-year subscription to GC, plus online learning and support resources to help users accelerate their discovery of the power of this new technology. GC enables architects and engineers to pursue designs and achieve results that were virtually unthinkable before. Empowered by computational methods, designers can direct their creativity to deliver inspired, sustainable buildings that are freer in form and use innovative materials. The GC Discovery Subscription is available to new users for $250 in the United States. For pricing outside of the U.S., contact Bentley.
Acquisitions/Agreements/Alliances
Aftercad Software is pleased to announce that it has been selected by Adobe Systems Inc. to be part of its Adobe Solution Partner Program. Adobe's Partner Program delivers tools and resources that will allow Aftercad to create new markets and promote its solutions to Adobe customers on a global basis. "The partnership adds a lot more value to our online offering" says Chris Boothroyd, CEO of Aftercad Software who goes on to say that "building strong partnerships is a cornerstone of our long-term strategy. We are pleased to have Adobe on our side".
Announcements
Vela Systems announced that Manhattan Construction, a more than 100-year-old international construction company based in Tulsa, OK, will be using Vela Systems installed on Tablet PCs to help build the largest enclosed football stadium in the United States. Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the stadium's construction marks the continuation of Vela's rapidly growing popularity amongst AECO leaders who are enlisting the solution for its proven abilities to accelerate project delivery, save money and improve work quality.
Graphisoft, the global leader in Virtual Building solutions, has announced that it is strengthening its position in Denmark in order better support the upcoming move to model based design mandated by the Danish Digital Building (Det Digitale Byggeri) initiative.
Graphisoft has appointed a 2nd distributor in Denmark, with its office at the IT University in Copenhagen. This is to strengthen sales and support capability for the dynamic and growing business in the Nordic region. “We have seen fantastic growth in the last 5 years in Sweden, Norway and Finland. Now it is Denmark’s turn to adopt Building Information Modeling”, said Stefan Larsson, Director of International Sales at Graphisoft. “I am convinced that Graphisoft Denmark will be successful as we see the strong demand for BIM and IFC compatible software in the Danish marketplace.”
CADsoft Consulting, Inc. announced that it has become authorized to sell and deliver Autodesk Academic Solutions to higher education and K-12 institutions throughout Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada.
CADsoft is committed to supporting Autodesk’s initiative of preparing the next generation of design professionals with the Autodesk software used by engineers, architects and designers worldwide. From building information modeling (BIM), to Digital Prototyping and animation, Autodesk digital design software, curricula and learning resources support the advancement of design education at higher education institutions, and its integration into the classrooms of K-12 schools
daratechPLANT, the nation’s leading plant asset lifecycle management event, announced that its 2009 conference will be held February 23 – 25, and that the event will be moving to a larger venue to facilitate expansion, the Hilton Americas in Houston.
daratechPLANT also announced that it has launched an industry-based Advisory Board, and has named Joseph Morray, Jr., President of Trinity Technologies, to chair the new Board. Mr. Morray is a recognized leader in the plant industries and has frequently spoken at daratechPLANT conferences.
The Hewlett-Packard Company Foundation announced that it has committed $500,000 to the American Red Cross International Relief Fund in partnership with the Red Cross Society of China for aid in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated the country’s Sichuan Province.
Numerous HP employees have already provided financial aid, and HP supports and encourages continued giving. HP employees in China have collectively given at least $285,000 – approximately $100,000 of which was donated within the first hour alone of China’s appeal for donations. The Hewlett-Packard Company Foundation also has instituted a gift-matching program for HP employee contributions for up to $350,000.
Bentley’s BE Careers Network and The CAD Academy have teamed to provide students easy, affordable access to Bentley PowerCivil, comprehensive 2D/3D drafting and design software for land development and site modeling professionals. The CAD Academy is a collaboration of professionals, industry leaders, and educators dedicated to creating comprehensive pre-engineering and pre-architecture programs for the education community. The organization bundles CAD software with class curricula to help K-12 and community college students explore technology-related career paths through real-world projects. Through a new joint program with Bentley, The CAD Academy will be able to provide secondary schools and community colleges with the ability to train students in Bentley integrated software applications used by civil engineers and designers for site modeling, survey, drainage, water and sewer, road, earthworks, and subdivisions.
The Swedish inspection authority AF-Kontroll has approved the latest versions of Bentley AutoPIPE – the leading software for calculating piping code stresses, loads, and deflections under static and dynamic loading conditions – in accordance with European EN 13480. The approval enables users who design European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) certified projects to benefit from the latest Bentley AutoPIPE product enhancements. Other approvals and compliances Bentley AutoPIPE has received include ISO 9001; Nuclear NQA-1; 10CFR21; ASME N45.2; GOST approval for oil, gas and power projects in Russia; and Stoomwezen certification by Lloyd’s Register Nederland B.V.
Financials
Autodesk, Inc. reported revenue of $599 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2009, an increase of 18 percent over the first quarter of fiscal 2008. First quarter net income was $95 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, on a GAAP basis and $117 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, on a non-GAAP basis. Net income in the first quarter of the prior year was $83 million, or $0.34 per diluted share on a GAAP basis, and $107 million, or $0.44 per diluted share on a non-GAAP basis. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP results is provided at the end of this press release. See press release
Avatech Solutions, Inc. announced financial results for its fiscal third quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2008. See press release
People
Sepialine, a leading provider of cost recovery solutions for service professionals, announced the appointment of Steve Sogan as General Manager for the United States Mountain Region. Mr. Sogan joins Sepialine from Indox Services, a prominent reprographic and service provider, where he was an Account Executive serving architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) customers. In his role at Sepialine, Mr. Sogan will work with AEC and reprographic customers to assess and deliver cost recovery solutions.
New Products
At the American Institute of Architects' 2008 National Convention and Design Exposition, Z Corporation made the first public demonstration of the STL Exporter for the Revit platform for building information modeling (BIM). Developed by Autodesk with support from Z Corporation, this new software utility lets architects, engineers and designers easily and affordably "3D print" physical models of buildings and projects created in the Revit platform for BIM.
Adapx announced the availability of Capturx for Autodesk Design Review. Capturx is the only solution that enables building design teams to print designs on ordinary paper, which can be marked up with a digital pen that digitizes notes and sketches and integrates them directly into Autodesk Design Review files. With Capturx, architects, contractors and engineers can quickly get accurate data from the field, collaborate better, and make faster, more well-informed design decisions.
Trelligence Inc. announced the availability of release 5.5 of Trelligence Affinity software for architectural programming and schematic design at the 2008 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition. This new release includes support for Revit Architecture 2009 from Autodesk, and delivers important new functionality that continues to extend the benefits of building information modeling (BIM) to the earliest phases of complex building projects.
ThermoRender—developed by A&A Co., LTD., NNA’s distributor in Japan—is a VectorWorks-based application that is a unique simulation and analysis tool for the thermal environment. In recent years, it has become necessary to consider the thermal environment when developing urban areas, and the measures for mitigating heat-island effect and global warming have been actively introduced into architecture and urban development. ThermoRender plays a key role in this development, as it can visualize surface temperatures, calculate Heat Island Potential (HIP), Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT), energy consumption, CO2 emission, and much more. A&A and ThermoRender have received great recognition as the recipients of the 2007 Good Design Award and the 2007 Architectural Institute of Japan prize.
Autodesk, Inc. highlighted its portfolio of software solutions for the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries and demonstrating new technologies for design innovation in practice at the 2008 AIA National Convention and Design Expo, which is made entirely from sustainable materials.
DRCAUTO Software announced the release of Toolkit Max 2009 developed on AutoCAD(r) 2009 and supported on AutoCAD LT(r) 2009 platforms. Toolkit Max 2009 provides the ability to load and run Fast-Load AutoLISP files (.fas), Visual LISP Executable files (.vlx), AutoLISP files (.lsp), ObjectARX files (.arx), ObjectDBX files (.dbx) plus a host of additional productivity commands. In conjunction with the included NEW !SlingShot Max 2009 technology - Toolkit Max 2009 also delivers an X-REF Manager, True Type Color, VPCLIP, XCLIP, all of the Image Commands (IMAGEATTACH, IMAGEADJUST, IMAGECLIP, IMAGEFRAME, IMAGEQUALITY, TRANSPARENCY), Layer Tools, and much more.
Revit Structure users can now leverage the full power of Building Information Modeling by synchronizing their Revit Structure models with RISA-3D and/or RISA Floor. As an Autodesk Authorized Developer, RISA Technologies has created a full-fledged bi-directional exchange link with Revit Structure.
Events:
| Field to Finish Workshop | |
| Date: | May 27, 2008 |
| Place: | County College of Morris
143 Headquarters Plaza 3 Speedwell Avenue Mall Level- Room 110, Morristown, NJ 07960 USA |
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Whether it's a simple plat survey or a 1,000-lot subdivision, AutoCAD® Civil 3D® offers a single solution for importing, analyzing, and managing survey data. From the field to the office and back to the field again, you can import fieldbooks, perform traverse analysis, edit survey observations, create contours, and lay out parcels and alignments - all from one application. Join Synergis and Autodesk Technical Experts Jerry Bartels and David Blanchette, for an informative workshop that takes you from "Field to Finish" and demonstrates the new survey functionality in AutoCAD® Civil 3D®. Time:
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| Re-tooling Technology for Construction | |
| Date: | May 28, 2008 |
| Place: | The Woodfin Suite Hotel
Emeryville 5800 Shellmound, Emeryville, CA 94608 USA |
Attend this seminar to learn how your company can use today’s technology to:
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| BIM / Virtual Design Technology Seminar (May 28, 2008 11:30AM - 2 PM ) | |
| Date: | May 28, 2008 |
| Place: | Miami Airport Annex Building
NW 31st St. / LeJuene Rd. go west on 31st St to Bldg 5A, Miami, FL USA |
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Hosted by 3DCADCO Attend this session to learn about how changing industry trends are affecting the AEC industry, and how the trend toward BIM, Building Information Modeling (Virtual Building) technology is changing the business of architecture and construction:
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| BIM / Virtual Design Technology Seminar (May 29, 2008 6PM - 8 PM ) | |
| Date: | May 29, 2008 |
| Place: | Tampa Bay AIA Office
200 N. Tampa Street, Suite 100, Tampa, FL USA |
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Hosted by 3DCADCO Attend this session to learn about how changing industry trends are affecting the AEC industry, and how the trend toward BIM, Building Information Modeling (Virtual Building) technology is changing the business of architecture and construction:
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| Intergraph 2008 | |
| Date: | June 2 - 5, 2008 |
| Place: | Caesars Palace
Las Vegas, NV USA |
| Get ready for another energizing experience… Another networking extravaganza… Another event with unlimited possibilities. And that’s just for starters! We invite you to experience firsthand the excitement, natural beauty, and difference between ordinary and spectacular.
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| CONSTRUCT 2008 | |
| Date: | June 4 - 6, 2008 |
| Place: | Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV USA |
| Re-tooling Technology for Construction | |
| Date: | June 4, 2008 |
| Place: | The Sheraton Newton Hotel
320 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458 USA |
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| BIM / Virtual Design Technology Seminar (June 13, 2008 11:30AM - 2 PM ) | |
| Date: | June 13, 2008 |
| Place: | Central Florida Builder's Exchange
340 North Wymore, Winter Park, FL 32789 USA |
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Hosted by 3DCADCO Attend this session to learn about how changing industry trends are affecting the AEC industry, and how the trend toward BIM, Building Information Modeling (Virtual Building) technology is changing the business of architecture and construction:
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| CAD'08 | |
| Date: | June 23 - 27, 2008 |
| Place: | Caribe Royale Resort and Conventon Center
Orlando, FL USA |
| Welcome to CAD'08, the 2008 International CAD Conference and Exhibition.The conference is aimed at CAD researchers, educators, developers, vendors, and the business community dealing with CAD technology and its financial issues. The exhibition is open to all CAD businesses including software houses, hardware manufacturers, vendors, e-businesses, educators, publishers and sectors from various government agencies. CAD'08 has tutorial presentations, parallel paper sessions, product demonstrations, and several forms of exhibits.
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