Trimble launches field layout software suite

Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB) announced its new field layout software suite containing Trimble® Field Link for MEP and Trimble Field Link for Structures. This latest update will be highly beneficial for MEP trades and concrete contractors.

With the inclusion of ruggedized 7 inch touch-screen Trimble Tablet Rugged PC, task-based workflows, customizable views, new user-interface, a larger touch screen, additional processing power, increased storage, Internet connectivity options and a full version of Windows 7, the updated version can enhance the productivity of field personnel doing lay out.

The software also includes reporting routines to detail layout productivity including the capability to document existing site conditions for RFI's.

The building contractors utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) will be capable to view 3D DWG and DXF design models in the field to generate informed decisions.

Posted by
Rajib Dey
Business Development
BIM Modeling Service

An exclusive webinar on OpenBIM standards

Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc alongwith Nemetschek Scia and the buildingSMART alliance is going to arrange a webinar on “"openBIM - Real Interoperability, Practical Collaboration". The webinar is scheduled to be held on Thursday, January 20 at 2:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. GMT.
Now-a-days openBIM simplifies the BIM interoperability as openBIM contains the open standards which are familiar with all international countries to exchange building information. Besides open standards comprise of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) which are utilized to analyze and distribute building information models among multiple vendors, applications and end-users.
In this webinar renowned Project Architect, Jeffrey W. Ouellette will make discussion on openBIM and IFC and elucidate the advantages of applying openBIM workflows and IFC .
The webinar will also explain the importance of openBIM workflows for architectural, structural and HVAC design and modeling.
All Participants will get an advantage to receive one American Institute of Architects (AIA) learning unit hour.

For registration purpose, visit the following link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/257444827

Posted by
Rajib Dey
Business Development
3D modeling services

BIM – A Grim concern over the Lack of Awareness

The 2010 Middle East Building Information Modelling Market Survey, conducted by buildingSMART ME, underlines this point. There is a significant lack of professionally-trained BIM users in the region, with the majority of respondents stating they had been self-taught. What this translates into is a low level of BIM expertise and competency in the region. The survey indicates that only 25% of respondents used BIM, while the figure is 36% in Western Europe and 49% in the US. In the GCC, BIM usage is also confined to its most basic functions, meaning a lot of its benefits are not being tapped into.

Typically, regional users will employ BIM for visualization, 3D co-ordination and 2D drawing extraction. But there are myriad other advantages, such as scheduling, cost estimation, construction management and even facilities management. Contractors and consultants need a clear developmental path to embrace BIM in its totality.

While the regional market may be seen to be inexperienced – and to some extent, insecure – in its adoption of such new technology, the survey did point out that there is strong awareness of BIM in the region and its value to construction. About 79% of respondents indicated some awareness of and/or exposure to BIM, citing its major selling points as reduction in design errors and improved quality control and productivity.

The major stumbling blocks to large-scale BIM adoption are availability of skilled staff (51%), cost of software (48%), cost of implementation (34%) and availability of training. The issue of cost will only be overcome if contractors and consultants begin to understand the return on investment in both increased productivity and added value.

It was clear that such a new-fangled concept had no place in the nuts, bolts and drawing-board environment of traditional contracting. Such attitudes are changing slowly as the construction industry becomes increasingly savvy in terms of deploying new technologies.

This is not to suggest that the road to BIM does not have its fair share of obstacles. Obviously no software package can replace a building-services coordinator whose 20 years of experience allows him to detect clashes on 2D drawings with uncanny intuitiveness.

What is needed is for such highly-skilled people to impart their knowledge to others. If you consider that the towering achievements of Dubai, in particular, were largely the products of 2D design, the large-scale adoption of BIM in construction could mean endless possibilities for the future.

AECOM has taken in charge of modeling biodome project at U.K’s Chester Zoo with the help of BIM

AECOM Technology Corporation is the well known professional, technical and management support services for government and commercial client of all over the world. With the help of Building Information Modeling they will create the biodome project of Chester Zoo of UK. This wonderful tool will be utilized to design and analyze the project. This Chester biodome will be modeled on the Heart of Africa Biodome.

In the biodome project there will be 112 foot tall canopy created by a diagonal grid structure known as a ‘gridshell’ – a framework of hollow steel sections arranges in a triangular grid pattern. A series of light weight, largely transparent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) pillows will support the beams. According to the Anne Fuller, the director of building engineering at AECOM; “The arching effect of the gridshell is designed to convert the canopy’s vertical gravity loads and wind pressure into horizontal thrust at various support locations.”

Not only the modeling of the zoo but also the responsibilities of all engineering services like civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, lighting, fire, acoustics, thermal modeling, transportation studies, geotechnical and environmental studies are on AECOM. The sub contractor of this project is London based Proctor and Mathews Architects. And this vast event will not possible without the help of Building Information Modeling or BIM. The use of advance 3D technology within a BIM environment helps the professional of this project to successfully complete the project in a given time schedule. BIM helps in collaborating constantly with model sharing between the architect and the AECOM engineering team.

The biodome is the centerpiece of the expansion of the Chester Zoo, known as “Natural Vision,” designed to establish the zoo as Europe’s largest conservation attraction. The biodome will feature a managed ecosystem that re-creates the plants and wildlife found in a particular region of the Congo rain forest, including gorillas, chimpanzees, okapi, and hippos, among other animals. Visitors will view the plants and animals—which will not be in cages—from paths, treetop walkways and an interactive boat ride through the animal spaces.

BIM and Architectural Practice

BIM greatly affect the architectural practice. The advent of BIM reduce the drafting time for architect to a great extent. BIM replaced the two-dimensional age of drafting with three-dimensional building modeling.
BIM contains a huge amount of informations that are drawn to represent walls, roofs, windows and other components. BIM enhance the newest design ideas for architects along with the newest digital skills. BIM can be applied with sophisticated applications in the construction trades where the models are utilized for coordination and estimating alongwith manufacturing templates.
BIM automate fabrication processes by describing each bolt hole in each steel connection and each elbow in each piping. This leads to a diagrammatic design.

Posted by
Rajib Dey
Business Development
3D modeling service

The importance of 3D modeling of BIM

We live in a 3D world, not a 2D world. That’s why we always want a real time or 3D experience in floor planning. Engineering and Architectural Services is working to help the Physical Plant remain competitive with other construction entities by incorporating the world of 3-D, or building information modeling to get a better service.

Building information modeling allows engineers to incorporate all components of a building more accurately than the traditional 2-D modeling. Apart from that they can view the model in ‘as build’ situation, get the estimation of the required material and labor, understand the sequence of work.

With the new models, customers can now view the walls, ceilings and interior and exterior structure systems rather than just the floor plan of the building. One of the features of the 3-D modeling is it allows you to test the building capabilities before the building is actually constructed or renovated. Users of the program can enter in various scenarios that allow the engineers to see things like how much it would cost to cool the building. Engineers can then tweak different parts of the building, such as what type of windows are installed, and see how costs could be lowered.

Building Information Modeling or BIM allows us to model it in the virtual world before you build it in the real world. It gives you chance to test things before starting of the construction and make more cost and energy efficient construction. You can make a last minute change in your model in a less cost effective manner. In a nut shell we can say that BIM allows us to be cost effective in construction, renovations and energy efficiency.

Commissioning Services has already begun using the program to track its retro-commissioning efforts and help figure out where it can reduce energy costs in building. The program allows the industrial plant to keep up with the trend in the industry and continue to provide excellent service to its customers. Customers can now take a “virtual tour” of what their building will look like after construction.