In noisy work environments, protecting one’s hearing is paramount, but it should never come at the cost of situational awareness and effective communication. The Savox NC-500 series is a frontrunner in delivering top-notch acoustic protection and reliable communication solutions in challenging conditions. With the launch of the Savox NC-520XP, this product family introduces ground breaking features that cater to a wide range of work settings, offering an ideal solution for professionals facing the most demanding tasks.

The Savox NC-520XP hearing protection headsets enhance Savox’s product offering by incorporating Savox Dual Bluetooth, a feature that sets them apart from other NC-500 series models. The ability to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, in most cases a radio and a mobile phone, enables hands-free communication and allows users to listen to radio transmissions and still be reachable. The noise-cancelling Push-to-Talk (PTT) boom microphone ensures crystal-clear speech even in the loudest of environments. The headsets also feature a user-friendly answer button and rotary switch for convenient control of ambient sound volume and incoming communication. With a rechargeable power unit designed for maximum durability, the Savox NC-520XP headsets represent a significant leap forward in on-site safety, providing reachability, usability, and reliability.

Key benefits of the Savox NC-520XP hearing protection headsets:Bluetooth: The NC-520 models offer Savox Dual Bluetooth, allowing users to connect two devices simultaneously.Ambient Sound: Stay aware of your surroundings while protecting your hearing.Ambient Audio Profiles: Available in the XP models for personalized audio settings.Easy Access Rotary Button: Conveniently control PTT and ambient sound volume.Built-in Rechargeable Battery: Ensure extended use and cost-effective operation.Unique Casting Technique: Protects electronics, ensuring maximum reliability.Voice-Prompted Menu: User-friendly interface for easy navigation.Professional Two-Way Radio PTT Compatibility: Seamlessly integrate with your existing communication systems.Noise-Canceling Boom Microphone: Exceptional speech clarity in noisy environments.Low Battery Warning and Automatic Switch-Off: Never miss an important communication.Made in Finland.The Savox NC-520XP hearing protection headsets redefine the standards for hearing protection and communication in challenging work environments. With Savox’s commitment to innovation and quality, these headsets empower professionals to work more safely and efficiently, while ensuring the utmost protection for their hearing.

For more information about the Savox NC-500 series hearing protection headsets and other Savox Communication solutions, please visit www.savox.com.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — The U.S. Geological Survey has tasked Woolpert with acquiring topographic Quality Level 1 lidar data and providing ground control survey across eastern Arkansas in support of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) and The National Map.

Led by the USGS National Geospatial Program, 3DEP offers the nation’s first baseline of seamless, high-resolution topographic elevation data, which is then incorporated into The National Map. These data are free and publicly available to local, state, and national agencies. They are used to inform decisions that impact the immediate safety of life, property, and the environment, and they are critical to effective, long-term infrastructure planning.

In Arkansas, lidar data has proved beneficial in supporting numerous business activities, including agriculture and precision farming, and has advanced flood-risk management, urban and regional planning, natural resources conservation, and critical mineral assessment.

Under this task order, Woolpert will collect 24,533 square miles of aerial lidar data, including parts of the Ozark-St. Francis and Ouachita National forests, using a Leica TerrainMapper. Woolpert Project Manager Megan Blaskovich said that the size and complexity of the area of interest required extensive planning. She expects the lidar data to be acquired by fall 2024 and delivered in summer 2025. QL1 data are collected at 8 points per square meter.

“This is one of the largest Quality Level 1 lidar acquisition projects our team has been tasked with. We will be flying 996 flight lines and collecting over 940 ground control survey points,” Blaskovich said. “We are excited to get started.”

Woolpert has supported 3DEP since its launch nearly a decade ago. The firm has collected data across multiple states, tested sensors for optimal acquisition, and provided training for state and local government officials. Most recently, Woolpert delivered 13,000 square miles of aerial lidar data collected across southwest Ohio and completed lidar data acquisition across Colorado and Oregon under additional task orders for the USGS.

“It has been an honor supporting the U.S. Geological Survey and its efforts updating and enhancing The National Map,” Woolpert Program Director John Gerhard said. “The importance of this work extends far beyond the project’s completion. From disaster preparedness and emergency response to long-term infrastructure planning, these data will help inform decisions to improve the lives of individuals for years to come.”

About Woolpert
Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG), and strategic consulting firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private, and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is a Global Top 100 Geospatial Company, a Top 100 ENR Global Design firm, has earned seven Great Place to Work certifications, and actively nurtures a culture of growth, inclusion, diversity, and respect. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been America’s fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. Woolpert has over 2,000 employees and more than 60 offices on five continents. For more, visit woolpert.com.

In addition, the Trimble Foundation Fund grant also enables HALO to support the Ukrainian national authorities to plan and coordinate landmine clearance activities by streamlining the mapping and data flow from the operational teams in the field to the national database.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in the contamination of massive swaths of the country with landmines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices. These explosive hazards block access to farmland, impede reconstruction efforts, prevent displaced persons from returning to their homes, and continue to hinder the safety of Ukrainian civilians. The Government of Ukraine estimates that 174,000 square kilometers of its land may be contaminated—this is roughly the size of Virginia, Maryland, and Connecticut combined.

HALO has been on the ground in Ukraine since 2016. More than one thousand HALO staff work daily to both clear explosives in critical priority areas and recruit and train hundreds of new staff to help keep communities safe from dangerous weapons left behind.

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology for surveying and mapping has played a significant role in the success of HALO’s operations around the world—including Ukraine. Over the last 6 years, Trimble® R1 and Trimble R2 GNSS receivers have been used by HALO in conjunction with Esri ArcGIS Survey123 software for the identification and clearance of landmines.

A new deployment of 255 high-precision Trimble DA2 GNSS receivers with Trimble Catalyst corrections service has been provided to HALO by Trimble’s Geospatial and Positioning Services businesses. The solution will enable HALO to modernize and transform its landmine clearance operations by providing improved accuracy for more detailed maps, streamlined data flows, and increased operational efficiency and safety. To date, the Trimble DA2 receivers are the largest hardware donation made to HALO in the organization’s history, and they are being used in Ukraine and soon worldwide.

“We are dedicated to saving lives by clearing landmines and other deadly explosives to make land safe. Only then can families rebuild their lives and walk without fear,” said Chris Whatley, executive director of The HALO Trust USA. “Thanks to Trimble’s cutting-edge technology, we have dramatically enhanced our ability to locate and rapidly clear these explosive devices. Partnering withTrimble and the Trimble Foundation Fund reflects the power of collaboration and innovation in tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges, and we look forward to seeing the impact it will have on our life-saving work in Ukraine and around the world.”

“One of Trimble’s core principles is to serve communities and societies in powerful, positive ways,” said Emily Saunoi-Sandgren, chair, Trimble Foundation Fund. “Saving lives through the removal of dangerous debris left from war is a courageous example of how humanitarian efforts can positively transform people’s lives and livelihoods. Supporting the HALO Trust’s important and impactful work helps the people of Ukraine and other countries worldwide recover and rebuild after conflict.”

About HALO Trust
Founded in 1988 in the wake of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, The HALO Trust (HALO) is the largest humanitarian landmine clearance organization in the world. Based in the UK and the US, HALO currently operates in 30 countries and territories across the world – often in war-torn areas that are difficult for government agencies, military forces, and other NGOs to access. Worldwide, HALO employs 11,500 deminers, of which roughly a third are women. HALO has helped over 6.5 million people stay safe in over 20 countries through its in-person community awareness sessions that teach people how to recognise and report explosive items. Over 20 million people have seen its safety messaging in Ukraine since February 2022. For information about HALO Trust’s work, visit:  www.halotrust.org.

About Trimble Foundation Fund
Trimble Foundation Fund is a donor-advised fund that focuses its charitable giving on the missions of supporting natural disaster and climate resilience, promoting female education and empowerment and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. The Trimble Foundation Fund is aligned to the company’s commitment towards building a more sustainable future. For more information on the Trimble Foundation Fund, visit:  foundation.trimble.com.

About Trimble 
Dedicated to the world’s tomorrow, Trimble is a technology company delivering solutions that enable our customers to work in new ways to measure, build, grow and move goods for a better quality of life. Core technologies in positioning, modeling, connectivity and data analytics connect the digital and physical worlds to improve productivity, quality, safety, transparency and sustainability. From purpose-built products and enterprise lifecycle solutions to industry cloud services, Trimble is transforming critical industries such as construction, geospatial, agriculture and transportation to power an interconnected world of work. For more information about Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB), visit:  www.trimble.com.

Logan, Utah, USA – Juniper Systems, Inc., is excited to announce its Geode GNS3M (multi-frequency) GNSS Receiver will now support RTK Fixed position capability. The Geode GNS3M allows users to easily collect real-time GNSS data with sub-meter, sub-foot, decimeter, and now centimeter accuracy options. With the addition of the Hemisphere® GNSS Athena RTK Engine, Geode users will have access to the full spectrum of professional-grade mapping accuracies once RTK is activated. This scalable platform allows users to purchase the level of accuracy they need now while having the option to increase accuracy in the future.

“RTK Fix capability expands the capability of the Geode to provide our users with complete accuracy flexibility,” said John Florio, Geode product manager at Juniper Systems. “The Geode is the ultimate in flexible and scalable GNSS accuracy, with sub-meter, sub-foot, decimeter, and now centimeter-level accuracies available to mappers at the level they need for the work to be done.”

The GNS3M allows for scalable accuracy. Its multi-frequency antenna includes support for all constellations on L1, L2, and L5 frequencies. Multi-frequency signal tracking, together with Atlas L-Band correction subscriptions, allow for up to decimeter accuracy. With an RTK activation, the Geode can deliver two-centimeter accuracy through the use of a Network RTK service provider. This allows Geode to be used in cases that require certain standards or accuracy requirements around the world, such as meeting the GNSS accuracy suggestions of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as listed in their publications 38-22 and 75-22.

“Today’s professional mapping workforce needs flexibility, and the capability to deliver data within varied tolerances depending on specific job requirements,” Florio said. “Adding Network RTK correction capability will help to achieve the accuracies required for critical infrastructure mapping projects now and into the future.”

The RTK license activation can be included at the time of purchase of a multi-frequency enabled Geode GNS3M; or added at any time in the future to an existing GNS3M receiver. Multi-frequency activation is required for RTK. Multi-frequency and RTK activations are a one-time fee. RTK correction data can be accessed through local, regional and national RTK network providers.

The Geode GNS3 continues to offer flexible connectivity and can be used with Microsoft® Windows, Android, and Apple® iPhone® and iPad® devices. Its all-in-one design makes the Geode GNS3 a compact device with a single button for easy use. A USB-C port allows for data transfer and fast charging, and an antenna port allows for the use of an external antenna if desired.

Geode GNS3M multi-frequency receivers and RTK activations are available now through Juniper Systems and our reseller partner network.

About Juniper Systems

Founded in 1993, Juniper Systems, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of ultra-rugged tablets, handheld computers, GNSS receivers, mapping software, and field computing solutions. Professionals utilize Juniper Systems’ innovative mobile computers in natural resources, utilities and public services, geospatial, agriculture, industrial, railway, mining and military markets. In addition, the company’s HarvestMaster brand makes solutions for agricultural applications.

Juniper Systems is based in Logan, UT, USA, and employs more than 190 people there, and at its EMEA office based near Birmingham, UK. It was twice recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Beehive State and honored with awards for best compensation, work-life balance, and employee happiness among small and mid-sized U.S. companies by business research firm Comparably.

Visit us online at https://junipersys.com.

“We are truly thrilled to receive this award that recognizes our fundamental approach of connecting people, data and technology to deliver the innovative solutions our clients depend on,” said Steve Morriss, President, Engineering Services, U.S., AtkinsRéalis. “By combining our digital expertise with decades of engineering excellence we are optimizing design and delivery of our planet’s most complex and challenging projects.”

The Floyd Hill project removes a bottleneck of the interstate and reduces travel times for commercial traffic, residents and tourists driving to nearby ski resorts and other destinations. It has been highlighted by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and CDOT for the economic benefits it provides to Colorado and the Nation. Safety enhancements along the corridor include improving the highway’s design speed and increasing stopping sight distance on horizontal curves. Additional upgrades include a westbound tolled Express Lane, an eastbound auxiliary lane, new bridges, improved interchange and frontage road access, wildlife passageways under the roadway, two air quality monitoring stations and a full reconstruction of a nearby trail. Construction is underway with project completion expected in 2028.

The use of technology and visualization software helped the team develop solutions to handle many site-specific challenges and constraints. Leveraging digital tools made it possible to mitigate impacts to the surrounding natural environment, built environment, residents and other stakeholders while also providing a more efficient and cost-effective design.

“Utilizing digital tools allowed our team to visualize dozens of alternative designs and fully evaluate construction impacts, quantities, costs and constructability leading to a preferred alternative that best met the project goals,” said Donna Huey, Chief Digital Officer, Engineering Services, U.S., AtkinsRéalis. “This award highlighted our ability to reduce hours worked by more than 50,000 and project costs by more than $7 million, showcasing AtkinsRéalis’ ability deliver exceptional value to our clients and taxpayers.”

AtkinsRéalis is revolutionizing the design, delivery and operation of infrastructure projects through its world-leading knowledge in design, engineering, project management, sustainability and digital-transformation. Our consultants, engineers, technologists and project managers have helped clients reshape the world, with new ways of designing and building that make the lived environment work better for everyone for more than eight decades.

The program was created to provide a viable method for contractors to develop and certify construction superintendents without requiring extensive time away from their projects. Recent labor trends show an increasing demand for field leaders and a shrinking pool of qualified candidates. With 81% of firms reporting difficulty hiring for these roles, it is crucial that companies have a practical method for developing field leadership skills within their current and future teams.

NCCER’s self-paced, online program features highly relevant insights from experienced superintendents and seasoned industry experts. It is designed to shorten the learning curve for aspiring superintendents and to equip more experienced professionals with new strategies for better results. By accelerating competency development in key field leadership roles, the program can help organizations reduce project risk and increase project profitability.

“Superintendents are the steward of every person and every factor on a project – from safety and profitability to the quality of the final project the owner receives,” says NCCER President and CEO Boyd Worsham. “Our Construction Superintendent Certification Program serves to develop and certify current and aspiring superintendents to effectively fulfill these critical responsibilities.”

Sixteen engaging courses provide practical and usable real-world lessons on key topics such as scheduling, contracts, risk management, legal regulations, site logistics, and many more. The program is flexible and can be conducted in-person, through hybrid delivery or completely online.

Superintendents with four or more years of experience can earn NCCER’s Construction Superintendent Certification by successfully passing the certification assessment. Aspiring or recently promoted superintendents who successfully complete the training and assessment components of the program can earn their full certification upon accomplishment and verification of the four-year experience requirement.

Find out more about NCCER’s Construction Superintendent Certification Program here.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently said Florida emergency officials made final preparations ahead of Hurricane Idalia, as cities and counties ordered more than 1.5 million people to leave their homes in preparation for the storm, which rolled onshore in late August as a strong category-3 hurricane.

From hurricanes in Florida and all throughout the southeast, to wildfires in the western part of the country, evacuations are a part of life each year and are becoming more irritating for traffic congestion in a time of great panic. 

Is it inevitable that every evacuation will result in frustrating, patience-eroding, bumper-to-bumper traffic? The answer is both no and yes. No, because traffic engineers and planners have long known how to create evacuation plans that maximize the system’s capacity to transport people to safety. Yes, because it is unlikely that the solutions for effective evacuations would be put into action—that authorities would enforce what they require, and that the general public would follow those instructions—just as we haven’t been able to completely eliminate daily congestion on the nation’s freeway arteries in major metropolitan areas.

Because we know this, it is time to implement and leverage sophisticated AI and data-driven technologies that can assist local and state officials when the need arises to adjust to rapidly changing traffic patterns.

Sure, interstates are a source of great frustration, testing the patience of millions of evacuees. But just getting out of the city can be challenging simply because outdated traffic light technology isn’t designed to reprogram itself in the blink of an eye when inter-city traffic patterns rapidly shift.

Today, there exists the technology to help these traffic lights and intersections do just that.

AI NextGen solutions are providing evacuation traffic relief

New, AI-powered traffic lights are using sophisticated algorithms to analyze real-time data and traffic patterns, unlike traditional traffic light technology that operates on predetermined timers. Today’s AI systems and data studies traffic movements and learns from them to effectively optimize traffic flow, even when traffic patterns shift suddenly.

The AI systems are designed to make an accurate assessment of the traffic situation by combining data from multiple sources, including traffic sensors and cameras. As a result, it orchestrates a number of traffic lights, enabling vehicles, transit buses, and emergency response vehicles to pass through intersections more fluidly even during times of high traffic.

Even better is the fact that the implementation of these systems can be budget friendly since it does not require new traffic intersections or vehicle hardware.

Advanced cloud-based open architecture transit signal priority systems now combine asset management and automation to produce a system capable of providing services to an entire region. Unlike hardware-based systems, these solutions use pre-existing equipment and leverage cloud technology to facilitate operations. This removes the need for vehicle detection hardware at the intersection because vehicle location is known through the CAD/AVL system. It also enables both priority calls from greater distances away from signals and priority calls coordinated among a group of signals. Furthermore, the system provides real-time insights on which buses are currently receiving priority along with daily reports of performance metrics.

How the cloud-based technologies work with city systems

Cloud-based web portals are then leveraged to show the real-time location and activity of emergency vehicles, and area buses, including current assigned route, speed, bearing, next stop, on-time performance, and traffic priority status. In addition to individual bus data, the solution integrates other real-time data for display, including traffic signal phase state for signals within each transit region. There is also an additional portal that reports the daily TSP performance for each bus approach of every pilot intersection.

These advanced cloud-based TSP systems take the global picture of a route into account and use machine learning to predict the optimal time to grant the green light to transit vehicles at just the right time. It minimizes the interference with crisscrossing routes and simultaneously maximizes the probability of a continuous drive. This takes place even as traffic patterns shift in real time.

To enable safe and secure connections with traffic signals, each city receives a single device, a computer, that resides at the “edge” and serves as the critical link between city traffic signals and the AI platform. It is designed to securely manage the information exchange between traffic lights and the system and is the only additional hardware necessary.

With this technology now at our fingertips, cities and municipalities have the technology they need to properly accelerate the buildout of intelligent transit networks to benefit everyone in the region. As more of these solutions are utilized across the country, we can have the trust to move people through cities and communities on time and safely, even when new traffic patterns emerge or face additional stress from events such as dangerous weather-related evacuations.

Tim Menard is the CEO and founder of LYT (urban traffic solutions) and he would like to set up an interview to discuss this scenario and to explain how AI and predictive data are now teaming together to help traffic signals make real-time adjustments to accommodate additional traffic so that congestion is minimized in local regions. 

No one can deny the complexity of construction. There are a million moving parts, a variety of stakeholders, and a number of vital details that need to be accurately tracked and managed–from material sourcing to labor availability to controlling costs–in order for projects and the business to be kept on track.

While many contractors have adopted various forms of technology to help manage and streamline project delivery, most of the software systems don’t automatically share data with one another. Instead, teams typically have to maintain manual steps in their workflow to import and export data across systems, or they simply use some systems for certain tasks and other systems for other functions, never integrating the data because it’s simply too much work.

This is particularly burdensome on large projects when one of the stakeholders insists on working within their software system of choice, leading to different systems that each tell a different story about where a project or the business stands in real time, leading to duplicative work, diminished productivity, and profit fade.

Interoperability gives contractors the ability to fix this by automating the flow of data between different systems without effort from the end user so that it’s consistent and all stakeholders can work off of the same information in real time regardless of how (or where) it’s entered. It also allows for project governance to be centralized and coordinated to the preference of the controlling stakeholder, often the general contractor or project owner.  

Data integration is an important means to achieve interoperability by programmatically connecting data together, at both the project level (between project stakeholders) and the company level (between internal systems).  

Contractor Hensel Phelps understands the challenges and opportunities inherent to interoperability, having tackled it both internally and externally in recent years, including working with Trimble. The company has learned a lot from their experience, which could be helpful to other contractors who are just starting their interoperability journeys and are interested in understanding the different paths that can be taken, along with their associated benefits. 

An Internal Push to Synchronize and Optimize Data

Hensel Phelps didn’t have a software development team until about five years ago. Before that, there were no in-house capabilities, which is pretty common as most general and trade contractors don’t have in-house software teams. Instead, they usually work with third-party consultants who integrate their data for them. 

This can be a difficult model to use because once you build a custom integration, you’re stuck maintaining it. Consultant staffers can easily come and go so the person who originally helped you may no longer work there, leaving you to undergo a new discovery journey, which can be expensive and time-consuming. 

At the time Hensel Phelps was first looking at the issue of interoperability, their primary ERP–Viewpoint Vista–was on-premise, and their project management system–ProjectSight–was in the cloud. They didn’t automatically connect, as the cloud was  still just a glimmer in people’s eyes and not actively used by most contractors.

Hensel Phelps was struggling with the fact that multiple stakeholders were having to enter details twice–once in Vista and once in ProjectSight–which was time consuming and prone to human error. They wanted to minimize the number of times that people had to interact with the same piece of data, while also enabling people to only have to use their system of choice. For field staff, this was ProjectSight. For office personnel, this was Vista. 

“An analogy that I’ve held onto for a very long time is that superintendents and foremans are always trying to minimize the number of times that a craft has to pick up a tool or material and move it to the spot where it needs to be installed,” said Jeremy Sibert, project manager at Hensel Phelps. “The more times you touch that tool or material, the less productive you are. You can view data in the same way. The more times our project and administrative staff have to touch a piece of data, the more productivity that’s lost.” 

Hensel Phelps embarked on integrating data for the original budget, contract invoicing, owner payment applications, and change orders since that data represented key financial transactions that both project staff and office staff had to actively input and manage to keep projects on track. 

“Vista was always accurate with respect to job costs to-date, money that’s gone out or money that’s received, but when subcontractor change orders were received, budgets weren’t always getting adjusted in ProjectSight, which was problematic,” said Sibert. “So it became important for us to integrate those areas to ensure the accuracy of our data and to help enhance employee efficiency and employee satisfaction.” 

Since the internal integration, project staff rarely have to access Vista and back office staff rarely have to use ProjectSight, which saves time and the headaches of trying to operate two systems at once. “It’s not about us trying to limit their access, but if they don’t need to use another tool to see the same data, that’s time and money saved for both groups,” said Sibert. 

Data integration also lessened the amount of training and adoption that had to take place because when employees use the same application everyday, it becomes part of their muscle memory. They can use it almost without having to think about it. 

“I don’t use Viewpoint Vista often enough so that when I do, I have to pull out the manual and walk through it step-by-step because I don’t have all the actions memorized,” said Sibert. “Whereas my accounting team never looks at the Vista manual because they use it everyday. This not only eliminates the double handling of data, but it also lessens having to keep up the knowledge of working in two different systems.”

Data integration is also helpful for subcontractors, owners and design teams who may only know how to work in one software system. This is particularly acute with RFIs, which are a big pain point for project teams. “Before, office staff or project engineers would spend their time copying and pasting from one system to the next,” said Sibert. “Now on integrated projects, data passes automatically between systems without double entry, enabling everyone to be on the same page from day one.” 

Another benefit of data integration is record retention. Each stakeholder has their own record system that they use to track project information and outcomes, which is important for historical context and for legal reasons. When project teams use other systems, there can be gaps in information collected or information may only go into one system and not another. 

“At the end of the day, somebody has to scrape all information back so that project records are complete, and we can close up the job,” said Sibert. “With data integration, each stakeholder can operate within its own system, with all project information automatically synchronized and records easily generated on demand.” 

Data Integration Goes Mainstream Thanks to Vendor Openness

Since Hensel Phelps first integrated its own data, perceptions across the construction landscape have dramatically changed, with many companies, including Trimble, understanding the customer and industry benefits that come with having an open API framework. 

Instead of making contractors manage integrations themselves, many software companies are connecting the data between their own solutions and other systems because they understand the value it provides to their customers. “The fact that there are vendors that are publishing industry standard open API frameworks is a huge help,” said Sibert. “It takes a lot of work off of our internal teams and makes the data synchronization process much easier and smoother.” 

In fact, the Vista to ProjectSight integration that Hensel Phelps did internally several years ago is now offered as an automatic integration by Trimble so that internal teams don’t have to manually configure it themselves. It follows on the heels of the Viewpoint Spectrum to ProjectSight integration, allowing contractors to easily connect their ERPs to their project management systems, which is one of the most common requests. 

In addition to developing individual integrations, some vendors are also creating a marketplace of integrations that can be used by the contractor’s software teams. “You can get an API key from the administration side of the product, and the software team can follow the instructions, copy and paste the key and be done,” said Sibert. “We can start a job today and have this stuff up and running immediately instead of having to wait six months for a consultant to build it out.” 

The speed-to-market element is essential as contractors are expected to be nimble and fast, and they often have no time to waste between a project being awarded and a project starting. And because each project differs from one another, the less contractors need to re-think how to connect their data, the better. 

“The key for integration marketplaces to work is for the vendors to be thoughtful and allow for the right amount of flexibility and configuration,” said Sibert. “Integrations shouldn’t require excessive consulting, and it should be done in days, not weeks or months because that’s weeks or months too late. At that point, we’re already creating data, we’re already moving on the project and the value proposition starts to drop quickly. Very, very quickly.”

Tom Stemm is Vice President and Category GM of Construction Integrations at Trimble, where he helps Trimble and the larger construction ecosystem build connections between commonly used applications and data sources.

Referred to as solar activity, ionospheric disturbances peak every 11 years. The next major disruption, Solar Cycle 25, is expected to peak between 2024 and 2026. Ionospheric activity can directly impact the quality of GNSS signals, leading to the degradation of position accuracy. While this type of disturbance has the greatest impact on high precision GNSS users operating around equatorial and high latitude regions, global disruptions are possible during the height of the solar cycle. 

Available as a downloadable firmware update on Trimble GNSS receivers utilizing the Trimble ProPoint^® GNSS positioning engine, IonoGuard leverages the latest developments in Trimble’s high-precision receiver hardware design and signal tracking to deliver improved positioning performance in challenging environments. This will minimize the probability of a complete loss of GNSS signals and improve the quality of the signals’ accuracy and integrity. 

“IonoGuard is Trimble’s newest innovation on the path to raise the bar on positioning integrity and performance worldwide,” said Stuart Riley, vice president of GNSS technology at Trimble. “It brings our customers closer to uninterrupted and robust positioning data on every project, around the clock. Whether it’s mitigating the impacts of Solar Cycle 25 or another ionospheric event, we’re building advancements into Trimble GNSS technology to deliver accurate and reliable positioning solutions today, tomorrow and beyond.”

Availability

For Trimble’s geospatial, civil construction and OEM GNSS receivers supporting the ProPoint GNSS positioning engine, IonoGuard is a free downloadable firmware update expected to be available in the 4th quarter of 2023 for receivers under warranty.

About Trimble

Dedicated to the world’s tomorrow, Trimble is a technology company delivering solutions that enable our customers to work in new ways to measure, build, grow and move goods for a better quality of life. Core technologies in positioning, modeling, connectivity and data analytics connect the digital and physical worlds to improve productivity, quality, safety, transparency and sustainability. From purpose-built products and enterprise lifecycle solutions to industry cloud services, Trimble is transforming critical industries such as construction, geospatial, agriculture and transportation to power an interconnected world of work. For more information about Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB), visit: www.trimble.com.

The BLK2GO PULSE is a new first-person laser scanner that combines cutting-edge LiDAR sensor technology with the original Leica BLK2GO form factor. It provides customers with a rapid, simple and intuitive first-person scanning method, controlled with their smartphone, that delivers full-colour 3D point clouds instantly in the field.

The BLK2GO PULSE was built in collaboration with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony), the global leader in image sensors. The BLK2GO PULSE fuses Sony’s advanced Time-of-Flight (ToF) image sensors with Leica Geosystems’ proven GrandSLAM technology, resulting in the world’s first dual ToF handheld scanner.

With its release planned in early 2024, the BLK2GO PULSE will add a new, unique and disruptive member to the BLK2GO product family. The BLK2GO PULSE is primarily used for indoor applications such as the creation of 3D digital twins and 2D floor plans. Additional features include:

• First-person scanning: See what you capture from a first-person scanning perspective. Colourised 3D data is streamed in real time to the smartphone screen.
• Instant data availability: Immediately view and share colourised 3D point clouds and images from the field, as easy as sharing a photo or video.
• Intuitive companion app: With a smartphone (iOS or Android) attached to the scanner, access a streamlined end-to-end reality capture workflow in the BLK Live app.
• Smart scanning guidance: In-app notifications provide real-time guidance to the user to ensure optimal scanning practices.
• Reality Cloud Studio, powered by HxDR, upload: Easily upload scans from the field to Reality Cloud Studio, Hexagon’s cloud application for reality capture data visualisation, collaboration, and storage.

“With a fast end-to-end workflow that combines scanner and smartphone app into one reality capture solution, users will benefit from an easy, intuitive user experience and the delivery of complete data instantly,” said Juergen Mayer, President Reality Capture at Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon. “The BLK2GO PULSE furthers our mission to democratise reality capture, and along with Hexagon’s most recent innovations such as Reality Cloud Studio, we continue to push the envelope of what is possible in digital reality with even more disruptive products.”

For more information about the BLK2GO PULSE, visit the website or stop by the Hexagon booth (Hall 25 | Booth B25.16) at INTERGEO 2023 in Berlin.

Leica Geosystems — when it has to be right
With more than 200 years of history, Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, is the trusted supplier of premium sensors, software and services. Delivering value every day to professionals in surveying, construction, infrastructure, mining, mapping and other geospatial content-dependent industries, Leica Geosystems leads the industry with innovative solutions to empower our autonomous future.

Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.2bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB

LocLab specialises in developing object-based and structured digital twin models that seamlessly integrate data from various systems and sources. Users can click on an object within the model to access relevant data sets stored elsewhere. Clients rely on these models for efficient asset management, process optimisation, simulations and more.

“Industry increasingly understands the benefits of data-enriched digital twins. But to fully realise their potential, users need an efficient platform that helps them securely store, manage and maintain these assets, ensuring real-time updates,” says Ilka May, CEO at LocLab. “LocLab Cloud is an innovative SaaS platform that enables clients to access and share data about their assets through a very intuitive spatial 3D environment.”

LocLab Cloud is accessible from any computer, tablet or mobile device via a web browser and the new Digital Twin Player. The cloud-native security system ensures that only authorised collaborators can upload, access share and collaborate on the digital content.

The platform empowers users, such as infrastructure providers, with comprehensive data, enabling predictive maintenance, scenario planning, sustainability analysis and overall improved decision-making. Users can seamlessly interact with the 3D model and receive live updates from on-site sensors. LocLab Cloud thus provides them with immediate, actionable insights.

At the heart of Hexagon’s cloud services is HxDR, a cloud-native platform for geospatial data at any scale. HxDR powers Hexagon’s digital reality applications with storage, visualisation, collaboration tools and automated microservices for data processing. HxDR also powers Reality Cloud Studio, HxGN GeoCloud and the HxGN Content Program.

Find out more at hxdr.com/loclab-cloud/ or visit the Hexagon booth at INTERGEO (Hall 25 | Booth B25.16). 

LocLab Consulting GmbH

LocLab, part of Hexagon, is a leader in 3D digital twin content creation. LocLab’s proprietary technology, enabled by a high degree of automation using proven workflows and artificial intelligence, allows the cost- and time-efficient creation of digital twins of machines, buildings, manufacturing facilities or large-scale areas such as transportation networks or entire cities.

In addition to four days of peer-led education sessions, Newforma workshops, and networking events, Newforma World hosted keynote speakers Giovanna Brasfield (“United in Diversity: The Transformative Impact of Inclusive Collaboration in the AECO Industry”) and David Sears (“Mission: Collaboration Excellence — The Importance of Equipping Your Teams for Success”).

Attendees also had exclusive access to the innovative Newforma Konekt platform, which combines information management, project management, and simple BIM coordination by those using BIM in their process. Newforma Konekt seamlessly integrates intricate design collaboration and issue management, essential during design and building phases, with overarching processes like document handling, RFIs, submittals, email coordination, and other project completion tasks.

Carl Veillette, Chief Product Officer, offered this summary of the new platform. “Newforma Konekt is an interconnected ecosystem – an environment, really — that encapsulates Newforma’s very essence, ideals, and commitment to the AECO industry. Time is always of the essence in construction, but Newforma Konekt gives users more than just hours; it gives them clarity, efficiency, and above all, peace of mind, by uniting every element of their project.”

With Newforma Konekt, all stakeholders on a project, including architects, engineers, contractors, and owners, are empowered to collaborate and make informed decisions while creating a comprehensive, intuitive, and easily searchable project record. Newforma Konekt synchronizes with existing software tools, eradicating communication gridlocks, isolated data, and tedious document tasks so firms gain valuable time that they can spend on delivering quality projects.

At Newforma World 2023, Newforma also announced the launch of its re-envisioned brand identity, underscoring the company’s commitment to product innovation and its mission to power CONNECTED project delivery for AECO project teams.

The transformation underscores Newforma’s belief in the omnipresence of connection points and collaboration opportunities across the industry’s stakeholders. The company advocates for a centralized hub as the paramount way to manage project information effectively, an ethos powerfully embodied in the new “contained web” logomark.

With this bold visual evolution, Newforma establishes itself as a leader in innovation, fostering collaboration in unprecedented ways. The industry, customers, partners, and stakeholders are invited to embark on this thrilling journey with Newforma as it continues to redefine the paradigms of connected project delivery.

For more information about Newforma Konekt and Newforma World, visit the all-new http://www.newforma.com.

About Newforma

Newforma provides Information Management and collaboration software for the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Owner/Operator (AECO) industry. We empower AECO firms by delivering technology solutions that drive better project outcomes at every stage of the construction project lifecycle, from design, to ribbon-cutting, and beyond. Over 500,000 users in more than 1,500 firms worldwide have streamlined their communication, simplified their administration, and enabled real-time collaboration, all thanks to Newforma’s platforms. Visit us at newforma.com.

To validate the approach, parties are working together with MnDOT, the lead state DOT on this effort, on a digital delivery proof of concept that should improve the digital collaboration across design and construction. By integrating and extending design and construction contract systems of record, Bentley, Infotech, and AASHTO will advance industry best practices for data federation, with data captured once and then seamlessly accessible across project delivery workflows. Bentley applications will be enabled to optimize for pay-item data during design and pre-construction processes, synchronizing digital twins for accurate and efficient construction deliverables. The integration of AASHTOWare Project and Infotech’s cloud technology with Bentley Infrastructure Cloud’s iTwin Platform to span OpenRoads, ProjectWise, and SYNCHRO will dramatically improve processes that to date have been manual, such as the entry of construction pay item summaries into plan sheets.  

Bentley, Infotech, and AASHTO will streamline digital delivery market offerings that demonstrate value and best practices for:

• on-demand pay item updates – to synchronize the official pay item list in AASHTOWare Project with design and construction artifacts, minimizing pay-item differences at plan turn-in for letting;
• automated quantities – to maximize pay item amounts extracted automatically from the design process, versus manually entered;
• predicted future costs – to minimize variations between official design-based estimates and actual construction costs; and
• automated funding categories – to maximize automatic extraction, for transfer to AASHTOWare Project, of financial responsibility allocations across agencies and partnering parties.

Dustin Parkman, Vice President, Transportation, at Bentley Systems, said, “This partnership with AASHTO and Infotech will help DOTs realize their project delivery digital transformation goals with automation between Bentley’s solutions and AASHTOWare Project. Data, which had been siloed, will be extensively and easily shared across the design and construction lifecycle.”

Chad Schafer, Infotech Chief Revenue Officer, said, “We understand the pain points that DOTs experience from disparate systems, and our work with Bentley is focused on the common goal of facilitating a connected environment that eliminates redundant data entry and reduces errors by bringing design and construction together. We look forward to partnering with Bentley to support agencies as they prioritize digital project delivery initiatives.”

Brian Korschgen, Product Director for AASHTOWare Project, AASHTO, said, “The collaboration between Bentley, Infotech, AASHTO, and MnDOT is a signal to state DOTs that data must flow from system to system efficiently without disruption. This is a great first step toward making that a reality for the industry.”

By providing near real-time version control, notifications, and automatic syncing to deliver the latest plans set directly to mobile devices at the jobsite, HCSS Plans eliminates rework and saves time. Old revisions are marked as void, and the latest plan set revision is automatically updated, with sheets marked to show exactly which have undergone revisions. The handy version compare feature lets foremen stack sheets and see changes marked in color for quick identification of which work has been altered.

HCSS Plans also increases collaboration between foremen and project managers by organizing markups by foreman, syncing in near real-time, and marking the exact location of geo-located photos taken in the field on the plans. The program provides markups showing measurements and calculations of work completed each day by the foreman, with annotations grouped by foreman in user layers.

Another major feature is a unique bundle of useful location services, which enable foremen to see what the planned construction looks like in the field, determine their precise location at all times, and mark locations with location flags. HCSS Plans users can find their precise location on the plan set and prepare an overlay of a map view with the actual plans documents. By speeding up the foreman’s ability to locate where work needs to happen and identifying any conflicts using location data, HCSS Plans saves time and money by lowering the survey crew usage that would have otherwise been needed. Foremen can use the handy location compare feature to coordinate among various work disciplines to identify any potential conflicts in depth requirements for utilities, for example concrete stormwater and electrical.

Foremen in the field can use HCSS Plans’ suite of built-in calculators to help eliminate mistakes, reduce material overages, and deliver consistent results by performing calculations of the most common materials needed during estimating, planning, or production. Providing accurate takeoffs of concrete, dirt, aggregates, and other materials, the material calculators eliminate using pen, paper, and calculator that can lead to incorrect results. Calculators narrow in on the correct amounts and take the guesswork out of the equation, with features that make it far easier to determine the length, area, and volume, as well as cut and fill quantities when necessary.

For more information about HCSS Plans time and money saving features, please visit: https://www.hcss.com/products/construction-plan-management/

The new Integrated Quality Management feature will help contractors close the gaps between quality requirements and daily work and mitigate risks that can de-rail successful project delivery. The feature will integrate Inspection Test Plans and checklists with construction work plans, field progress and project documentation, enabling contractors to secure rapid ongoing approval of project turnover requirements while avoiding quality issues or project delays. The feature will provide all stakeholders real-time oversight of project progress, improving accountability, streamlining project handover and supporting greater owner-contractor collaboration.

The upgraded Design Issue Management feature, part of the InEight Model solution, goes beyond clash detection and initiates an RFI, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration to monitor and manage design issues and prevent costly rework, safety issues or delays. The feature will include a user-friendly interface to help collaboratively spot and solve issues before they become costly later in the construction process, enabling adoption of collaborative delivery models such as design-build.

Brad Barth, Chief Product Officer at InEight, said: “As demand for construction continues to outpace delivery capacity, owners, designers, engineers and contractors are looking for ways to do more with less. InEight is fulfilling that industry need with an integrated, end-to-end process that enables a highly collaborative approach to issue management and quality requirements, from design through construction and turnover.”

Blue Marble Geographic’s flagship software, Global Mapper Pro, is an all-in-one GIS package for analyzing and processing vector, terrain, image, and point cloud data. A comprehensive and easy-to-use GIS application that provides an extensive collection of tools, Global Mapper Pro is suited for any GIS user, from novice to expert. The software provides the tools for complete workflows, such as handling point cloud data from collection and cleaning to 3D data generation and measurements. You can generate photogrammetric data in one workspace, classify the point cloud, create a digital elevation model, contour the data, and much more. 

Compatible with over 380 different file formats, Global Mapper can be seamlessly brought into your existing workflow. New updates to the software include the ability to calculate and model an optimal flattened site plan in the terrain, plot the least cost path across a landscape, and significantly improved processing speed in pixels to points tool. 

Creating an Optimal Flattened Site Plan 

Many construction plans begin with finding or building a relatively flat location to minimize the required earthworks for digging a foundation or setting a concrete pad. Modeling these sites ahead of time with Global Mapper’s expensive terrain analysis tools can help users save time, money, and effort by providing a way to begin planning without using limited resources on field visits and surveys. Of this toolset, Flattened Site Plan is a popular tool for preplanning the best location, elevation, and required earthworks for the creation of a flat surface. Requiring a polygon to designate the area where the flattened site is to be constructed and a terrain layer to represent current ground conditions, Global Mapper can create a 3D model representing the best elevation for the pad that limits the amount of soil moved. 

A new option in the tool, Create an Optimal Flattened Site Plan, can take advantage of any flexibility in the exact placement and orientation of the flattened site. Global Mapper assesses the terrain in a specified location to find the optimal placement and orientation for the site that requires the least amount of earthwork. Once the optimal site has been calculated, the tool will provide measurements of the soil volume to be added or removed to create a level surface and a break-even elevation. The flattened site plan and other volume tools optimize the cut-and-fill values and even out the landscape into a flat surface using only the soil on site, minimizing soil or fill transportation costs. 

Modeling the position of a flattened site can provide the opportunity to optimize the use of existing soil, creating a site that doesn’t require additional fill or removal. 

Conducting A Least Cost Path Analysis 

Forging a new path through terrain often requires navigation around existing structures and difficult areas. New in Global Mapper version 25, the Least Cost Path tool provides a terrain analysis method for finding the shortest and most efficient path between locations. By iterating through all possible options, it identifies the best route between specified point features across a terrain layer based on minimized terrain slope angle and avoiding unwanted areas. This simple tool can connect two locations, map multiple locations into a single path, or discover the most accessible location. Great for planning roads through a construction site, this tool is a quick and easy way to avoid the pitfalls of poor road planning. 

Generating A Photogrammetric Point Cloud 

Pixels to Points is a photogrammetric processing tool within Global Mapper Pro that creates photo-textured 3D models, orthoimages, and high-resolution point clouds via Structure from Motion (SFM) and Multi-View Stereovision. Using overlapping UAV-collected images, these generated data models can be used in Global Mapper to measure terrain volume, asses structures, create detailed base maps, and more. The new version 25 release improves the Pixels to Points tool, including significant speed advancements to decrease the processing time and revisions to the Input Wizard to streamline your workflow further than before. 

The Pixels to Points Input Wizard is designed to increase ease of use for existing users and make photogrammetric processing more approachable to new users by streamlining settings choices. Simply import your images and choose your most important output, including the option to run a quick output for quality assessment. Global Mapper adjusts the Pixel to Points settings to match your input, providing an optional follow-up option to tweak the settings if desired. Use the primary dialog to add control points and assess more advanced settings such as masking and color harmonization. With Global Mapper Pro’s powerful point cloud processing tools, Pixels to Points provides a powerful and streamlined option for creating and editing your spatial data. 

Point clouds of all types, from lidar to photogrammetric, can be processed in Global Mapper Pro. 

Classifying A Dynamic Point Cloud 

Global Mapper Pro’s point cloud classification and editing tools are used in the workflows of many industries, from surveying and construction to agriculture. These built-in and scripable tools allow you to classify, extract vector features, create terrain data, and more, all within the same workspace in which the point cloud was generated. Along with accurate automatic classification tools within Global Mapper for buildings, ground, noise, and more, the Segmentation tool allows you to create dynamic, custom lidar classifications. Many objects represented in point cloud data have a ‘fingerprint’ of shared characteristics between the points made up of attributes such as intensity values, return number, normal, curvature, etc. The Segmentation tool lets you classify by these parameters to extract desired features from the point cloud. Segment a cloud by color to extract paint lines from roads, intensity values to distinguish cars, or by curvature to separate areas based on changes in slope. After classification, vector feature extraction tools can create 3D point, line, and area features to display structures, trees, and powerlines present in the data. 

Whether working with lidar data, complex terrain surfaces, vector features, or looking to streamline workflows with Python, Global Mapper Pro can significantly improve your workflow. Download a free trial today to explore all the features available in Global Mapper Pro 25 at bluemarblegeo.com

By Amy Heffner, Director, Product Marketing, Bentley Systems

Reconstructing a Historic Bridge Over the Llobregat River

Located in the Bajes region of Barcelona, the Cabrianes Bridge is a century-old structure spanning the Llobregat River along the Carretera B-430 road. To improve safety, service, and traffic flow, as well as to accommodate pedestrian and cyclist mobility, the bridge and roadway access points are being renovated and modernized. The EUR 2.4 million project consists of widening the bridge from 6 meters to 12 meters to include two-way vehicle traffic lanes and a pavement for non-vehicular transport. It also includes constructing a new deck supported by a central arch. 

“The works will improve the level of service and favor safety and fluidity in driving, as well as the mobility of pedestrians and cyclists,” said Santiago Martinez Pardo, surveyor and BIM modeler of linear infrastructure at Comsa. With a commitment to continually improving in construction processes and implementing an innovative project management model, Comsa is delivering the refurbishment and reconstruction project using a BIM methodology.

Understanding Design and Construction Schemes

The bridge features existing piles, walls, and slabs that need refurbishing and were poorly maintained. Additionally, the newly built infrastructure needs to be integrated with the existing renovation works. “The remodeling of the bridge combines existing renovated elements with new ones,” said Pardo. Faced with this complex integration challenge, Comsa realized the need to create a digital 3D model to better convey and understand the design and construction scheme. During the initial project phase, the bridge had not been modeled, making it difficult for engineers and construction staff to visualize and fully grasp the design intent and construction plans. “Although the blueprints, cross-sections, and longitudinal plans are intuitive, especially for experienced construction staff, this was not enough to provide a complete view of the project in the initial phase,” said Pardo.

With a multidisciplinary team dedicated entirely to the development and implementation of BIM, Comsa set out to model the existing site and structure and, based on that model, generate an integrated project model for the bridge extension and accesses. They wanted to digitize project execution, coordinating layout and geometry of the structure, streamlining workflows, and monitoring construction progress. Although they used a third-party software during the bidding process, the software did not meet their subsequent modeling needs. To achieve their digital goals and implement lifecycle, collaborative BIM processes, Comsa needed integrated 3D modeling technology and an open connected data environment to make the model accessible to the entire team. 

Establishing a Collaborative 3D Modeling Environment 

Comsa selected MicroStation, OpenRoads, and OpenBuildings to establish a collaborative 3D modeling environment, enabling them to model the different geological and structural elements and link them in an integrated BIM model. “I used Bentley products because they include the most appropriate tools and workflows for a project of this size: topography, road layout, 3D modeling of the structure, metadata, and export to IFC. In addition, I have been familiar with Bentley technology for more than 20 years,” said Pardo. The different discipline-specific models are integrated into a unified 3D project model using OpenBuildings, and then shared in an open file format among the team for a holistic view and better understanding of the project works. Based on the BIM model, the team could accurately obtain earthworks and surface volumes, then identify and resolve differences between the theoretical design and the executed version. 

Additionally, the interoperability of Bentley software with other technology applications allowed the team to access and manipulate the federated model in an open BIM format, as well as digitally track monthly progress of on-site works. Working in a collaborative, dynamic modeling environment, Comsa was able to graphically check whether the different component works would be correctly executed and remotely monitor the construction process. The BIM model was key to visualizing the finished project before it even began, and the final model represents the project as it was actually executed. “The 3D model helped us understand how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together,” said Pardo.

BIM Sets New Standards

“Modeling the different objects and linking them in the overall model enabled us to check some geometrical errors that would have gone unnoticed until they were made on site,” said Pardo. Working with the 3D models using Bentley’s BIM technology, Comsa could digitally see any mistakes and identify potential costly errors prior to construction. Sharing the BIM model on a monthly basis made it easy for all participants to see the progress of the project. The integrated digital solution facilitated better understanding of the project and optimized construction. It also helped optimize time and resources, reduce pollution, and improve overall project execution. The 3D model will be used for continued asset maintenance and management. 

“MicroStation, OpenRoads Designer, and OpenBuildings Designer, combined with BIM methodology, have facilitated understanding of the project, the monitoring of the construction, and the maintenance of the asset,” said Pardo. This project has highlighted the pillars of BIM methodology for Comsa—including transparency, collaboration, and communication—to provide the best client service. Working in a collaborative BIM environment helps with the understanding, arrangement, and execution of complex engineering projects. As a company, BIM allowed Comsa to not only successfully execute this bridge renovation, but also to create digital libraries that will serve as the basis for other projects, setting new corporate digitization standards for project delivery.   

Project Summary

Organization: Comsa Corporación

Solution: Bridges and Tunnels

Location: Cabrianes, Barcelona, Spain

Project Objectives:

• To renovate and modernize a century-old bridge structure to accommodate additional vehicular traffic, pedestrians, and bicycles. 
• To use the 3D model to digitize workflows, construction monitoring, and asset management. 

Project Playbook: AutoPIPE, MicroStation, OpenBuildings, OpenRoads 

Fast Facts

• The project consists of widening the bridge from 6 meters to 12 meters to include two-way traffic lanes. 
• Initially, the project was not modeled, and paper plans failed to provide a holistic view of the project.
• Using Bentley applications, Comsa established a collaborative 3D BIM model for better understanding of design and construction plans.

ROI

• Using a digital, visual 3D model, Comsa identified potentially costly errors prior to on-site construction. 

Amy Heffner is a director of product marketing at Bentley Systems. She leads a team of global product marketers focused on Bentley’s civil design, bridge design and analysis, building design, and mobility simulation product lines. Joining Bentley in 2007, Amy has held various roles in product marketing, corporate marketing, and user-focused events and training. She has over 18 years of experience in marketing, event planning, communications, and project management. Prior to her time at Bentley, Amy worked as an associate producer at WPVI Philadelphia and as a marketing manager for DesignDesign, Inc., a Philadelphia area industrial and creative design firm.  She can be reached at amy.heffner@bentley.com.

A Mountain of Documents

Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) stands as one of the most document-intensive industries in the world. From early design sketches to finalized contracts, and comprehensive Operations and Maintenance (O&M) manuals, stakeholders are inundated with reams of paperwork and digital documents. (See image 1) This paperwork, albeit essential, often slows down processes. Imagine an engineer looking for a specific clause in a 200-page contract or an operator trying to understand a certain aspect from a complex O&M manual. Such hands-on searches not only consume time but also increase the potential for error.

The Rise of a Textual Savant

Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) has emerged as a game-changer in the field of artificial intelligence. Its foundational architecture has been heralded for its ability to comprehend, generate, and interact with human-like textual finesse. To truly understand GPT’s potential, imagine an assistant that has read virtually every book, article, and significant document up to a last training cut-off in 2021 (as in the case of GPT-4). It retains this vast sea of knowledge, ready to offer insights, generate texts, and answer a plethora of questions with a precision that is remarkably close to human intellect.

One of the standout features of GPT is its “zero-shot” or “few-shot” learning capabilities. For many tasks, GPT does not have to be extensively trained. Give it a set of instructions or a couple of examples, and it gets to work, generating relevant responses. This ability means it is versatile and can be adapted to numerous scenarios without heavy retraining.

While GPT can be likened to a superhuman textual brain, it is crucial to remember its knowledge is not inexhaustible. Information created after 2021 is a blind spot for it. This implies that while GPT can provide a vast general knowledge base and even industry-specific insights up to its last update. However, for real-time, contemporary data or post-2021 developments, a supplementary method becomes essential. 

In the context of AECO, while GPT could provide general knowledge on industry standards, protocols, and best practices available up to 2021, newer project documents, recently established protocols, or contractual changes past this date would be out of its purview. Thus, there is an inherent need to marry GPT’s prowess with another technological solution to ensure continuous knowledge updates and relevance–and that is where embedding comes to shine.

Embeddings and Vector Databases

Embeddings, in the realm of digital technology, work like magic. They take complex, lengthy, and often hard-to-understand texts and convert them into colorful vectors—numerical representations that are compact yet bursting with meaning. Each vector captures the essence, or soul, of its original text. In this fantastical library, vectors are those glowing colors, each hue and shade representing a theme, topic, or sentiment.

Now, when a question arises, it is not spoken or typed into a computer. Instead, thoughts are transformed into a radiant vector. The moment this happens, the library comes alive. The books (or documents) that resonate with the query light up, leading straight to the most relevant pieces of information. This real-time matching and guidance are orchestrated by what is known as a ‘vector database.’

The magic deepens when this is applied to the AECO world. Picture an architect standing in this library, wondering, “Which designs have been optimized for tropical climates?” As the question forms, related project blueprints and design documents shimmer in response, ensuring the architect does not waste hours but gets instantaneous resources. (See Image 2)

In digital, real-world applications, this means that the vastness of AECO documentation — from initial drafts to finalized O&M manuals — can be transformed into a responsive, intuitive database. Questions from, “Show contracts that involve sustainable materials,” to “Where are the protocols for earthquake-resistant infrastructures?” get swift, precise answers, eliminating the tediousness of manual searches and ushering in an era of streamlined information retrieval.

In essence, embeddings and vector databases weave the tapestry of the future, where information is not just sought but is intuitively and vividly presented, ensuring that the AECO industry remains not just on the cutting edge but also marvelously efficient.

(Sidebar 1) Unlocking Potentials

Implementing GPT combined with embeddings offers the AECO sector unprecedented advantages:

• Efficiency: Searching becomes instantaneous. A project manager could request, “Show all protocols for seismic safety in high-rise buildings,” and get immediate results.
• Precision: Instead of sifting through irrelevant data, stakeholders receive only pertinent documents, minimizing information overload.
• Learning: New employees can get up-to-speed quickly, asking questions about company protocols or past projects, and receiving precise answers.

(Sidebar 2) Use Cases:

• Design Phase: Architects can effortlessly retrieve design standards or past project references that match current project specifications.
• Construction: Contractors can instantly access material safety data sheets or machinery operation manuals without hands-on searches.
• Operations: Facility managers can query specific O&M procedures, ensuring optimal building operations and safety compliance.

Boundaries of the System

Harnessing the power of embeddings and vector databases has undeniably brought a huge change in how vast amounts of information are accessed and processed. Yet, like all pioneering technologies, this method comes with its unique set of challenges.

First, there is the question of text chunking and how to determine the ideal size of text to be fed into the system for vector conversion? If too small a slice is taken, the risk is losing context, making the resulting vector a poor representative of the actual content. Think of it as trying to understand the plot of a novel by reading a random paragraph–there is some information, but not the whole story. Conversely, if the text chunks are too large, not only is the system flooded with unnecessary data, but also risks exceeding the token limit, especially when further processing it with GPT.

While embeddings can determine thematic relevance, they are not inherently designed for precise data retrieval. They shine when answering queries like, “How can BIM benefit our agency?”, and pulling insights from presentations, roadmaps, and guiding documents. However, for more data-specific questions such as, “How many BIM projects were completed last year?”, the embedding method might falter. It is a matter of qualitative versus quantitative data retrieval–while embeddings excel at the former, they are less adept at the latter.

To navigate these challenges, it is essential to see embeddings and vector databases as evolving tools. As the AECO industry and its informational needs grow, so too will the sophistication and adaptability of these technologies. Balancing the size of text chunks, refining the vector database for more precise queries, and integrating other AI systems can further optimize and refine this promising avenue of information management.

A Bright Horizon 

Navigating the vastness of AECO documentation has been a historic challenge. But with the integration of GPT and embeddings, the brink of an information revolution is close. The potential to instantly access the right knowledge not only streamlines processes but also fosters a culture of informed decision making. While the system has its limitations, its introduction marks a significant step forward, setting the stage for a more informed, efficient, and agile AECO industry.

Dr. Jeff Chen, Ph.D., LEED AP is Director of Digital Transformation, Symetri. Dr. Chen leads digital technology integration services for all aspects of client businesses to drive efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and increase sustainability.

George Broadbent is Vice President of Asset Management, Symetri. Prior to his current role, George was Director of Asset Management. He has more than 25 years of diversified professional experience in Asset Management, Electronic Content Management, System Architecture and Vital Records Planning and Management.

Our world runs on data. The advent of BIM and the proliferation of IoT-sensing devices have driven a veritable deluge of data. We are drowning in it. But surprisingly, we are not using it. A report by FMI Corporation, a consultancy firm, stated that 96 percent of the data generated by infrastructure projects specifically is never reused. You could argue that a certain portion of that data should not be reused because it is project-specific, but certainly not 96 percent of it. 

One of the reasons we are unable to leverage data in the infrastructure sector is that every time we hand a deliverable off from one firm to another or from one phase of the asset lifecycle to another (e.g., the handoff from project design and delivery to construction or construction to commissioning), we lose data. Perhaps the tools or systems being used in each phase do not talk to one another, or the data being generated in one phase is incompatible with the structure of the data in the next phase. As a result, we lose a lot of the hard work performed in one phase and in many ways start over in the next phase–with less fidelity and detail.

The same FMI study reported that 90 percent of the total data its accounts produce during engineering and construction is unstructured. Unstructured data can be difficult, if not impossible, to translate and migrate from one tool to another; it is one of the main drivers for information getting lost along the way. The result is a lack of visibility into data, leading to challenges in communication and collaboration because stakeholders are not looking at or talking about the same data sets. It also means that decision makers are making decisions based on incomplete data, because some of it did not transfer over. And siloed data gets left behind, driving obsolescence.

For the infrastructure sector to take full advantage of tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning, stakeholders need robust data sets containing structured and unstructured data that can be mined for patterns and insights. AEC firms and asset operators need cohesive, complete data sets to foster communication and collaboration. Cohesive and complete data sets can also ensure that we are measuring the complete carbon footprint of an asset, from project delivery to construction to operations and potential decommissioning. This will help the sector drive sustainable outcomes. And robust and accurate data that can be leveraged by machine learning and artificial intelligence tools will also help ensure accuracy to design intent, greater efficiencies throughout the asset lifecycle, and provide insights not otherwise gleaned. 

How can the infrastructure sector achieve this? From a technology perspective, the creation and maintenance of rich data sets require open platforms that can work with multiple tools. Interoperability among those tools is also required, and the data must be able to be shared securely and appropriately throughout the entire supply chain. The data also needs to be captured and maintained. Data requirements must be standard across the entire lifecycle. We use P&IDs to tie things together, but let’s go deeper. If we move data definitions further up the lifecycle and define what is needed through each phase, we can ensure that the right data is captured as projects progress. 

By using digital twin capabilities, infrastructure stakeholders can combine and amalgamate data from various sources, making a series of data silos into one cohesive bank of geospatially referenced data points about an asset, whether that is a carbon footprint, emissions, as-designed data, as-built data, maintenance information, or asset performance information. However, even digital twins can become siloed and stagnant if not done right. To truly be valuable across the infrastructure lifecycle, digital twin technologies need to have an open foundation to build upon with infrastructure schemas that have standards for data translation from one application to another. Only then can a digital twin be leveraged as a dynamic, comprehensive living data set. Only then can we light up all the dark data we currently lose throughout the infrastructure and asset lifecycle to gain true insights. 

Is the work worth the effort? Absolutely. Rich datasets drive actionable insights to improve project decision-making and operational performance. These insights can shed light on previously undetected trends, allowing an organization to proactively course correct, leading to better outcomes for all stakeholders – design firms, EPCs, constructors, asset owners and operators, and the public at large. Stakeholders can then leverage machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other tools, which thrive on rich data to glean insights into their data for carbon calculations, predictive maintenance recommendations, and better, more sustainable outcomes. But it all comes back to the data.

Let us not settle for 4 percent data reuse. The opportunity for smarter infrastructure outcomes across the lifecycle is in the 96 percent. By using data as a foundation, we can collaborate, leverage, reuse, and become much more efficient and insightful. Given the increased demand for infrastructure projects, the growing backlogs, resource shortages, and the urgent need to reduce climate change, we must get the fundamentals right. We cannot afford not to.

Claire Rutkowski is a senior vice president and the CIO Champion at Bentley Systems. During her more than 20-year career in the engineering, architecture, and construction (AEC) industry, Claire has received numerous awards, most recently the Top 80 CIOs You Should Know in 2020 and the Top 10 Most Inspiring Women Leaders in 2022. Claire uses her experience to advocate for CxOs at engineering firms and serve as a bridge between Bentley and its engineering accounts. Claire is also passionate about leadership, colleague engagement, and teamwork.

There is growing buzz about digital twins, and it’s easy to see why. While architects, engineers, and construction professionals have almost always relied on models to plan and deliver projects, static visualizations have real limitations. That’s particularly true for large-scale infrastructure that must operate seamlessly in a complex and dynamic environment, particularly one that could look and feel very different from the world we live in today.  

In recent years, we’ve seen a move from the use of static data to smart systems that use active data inputs. That is a meaningful advancement, and I’ve seen many call that a digital twin. In reality, a true digital twin is far more complex and must pass two key litmus tests.  

First, a true digital twin provides a technological representation or digital counterpart of current and/or planned real-world objects, creating a model that aims to be effectively indistinguishable from the source. The creation of dynamic simulations of the way structures interact with their environments goes beyond isolated infrastructure to offer interactive models of complex systems, grounded in real-world and often real-time data. This involves breaking down information silos to develop an integrated visualization of data that is typically spread out across departments and agencies.  

Consider the strides being made in water management. From Canada to Sweden, utilities are making use of detailed digital twins of water networks, linked to real-time data and controls, enabling operators and engineers to consider the entire water supply system when they plan repairs, upgrades, or respond to unusual situations. It’s not an easy problem.  

Networks of pipes have “folds” due to topography, “cuts” due to rail or highway corridors, and “strings” that link distant parts via tunnels or transmission mains. Disturbing any point of this surface affects the entire system in ways that are hard to predict. A digital twin can pinpoint the area where water is exiting the system, tell operators the fastest safe speed or sequence to close water valves to isolate an impacted area so they might only have to shut off supply to three buildings instead of 300 – and even generate a list of the impacted customers.   

That brings us to the second essential criterion for calling something a digital twin: it must offer analytics that help predict outcomes under various scenarios. At their heart, digital twins are “systems thinkers,” enabling teams to stress test the ways that different parts of the world interact and predict probable outcomes before infrastructure investments are made. 

For example, a true digital twin can model various approaches to reducing carbon emissions and project the cost and health impacts of each over the project’s total lifecycle. Or, it can promote more equitable access to transportation by applying the results of site-specific economic, social, and environmental impact studies to a real-time view of a transportation system, using AI to identify barriers and model likely outcomes based on projected demographic changes to various neighborhoods. 

If a model doesn’t include simulations and analytics, it shouldn’t be called a digital twin. Anything less can create a cloud of confusion in an industry that should thrive on clarity. Just as engineers don’t take a loose approach to engineering calculations, our field should use greater precision in the language used to categorize these new tools or risk diminished credibility for how we handle the hype.  

That’s particularly important when engaging a broader range of stakeholders and proposing uses that go far beyond project design. Digital twins enable efficiencies in ongoing testing, monitoring and maintenance of vital infrastructure. In very simple terms, the data rich model shows what has happened, real-time remote sensing shows what is happening, and predictive modeling and simulation assesses what will happen. For example, to facilitate land use and planning, WSP and Giraffe developed LandiQ, a digital twin that spans all of New South Wales in Australia.  

That’s the critical point behind simulations and analytics: they should be used to address pain-points and drive strategic outcomes. Designers don’t need to add everything to a simulation simply because it’s technically possible. It’s more helpful to focus on data that helps solve problems, focusing on the use case and the three key dimensions of the size of the asset(s) to be twinned; the intent and life cycle stage of the asset, and maturity of systems and available data, whether static, dynamic, or predictive. 

Done well, digital twins can save time, cut costs, spur innovation, and enhance the quality of designs and decision-making. But only if we hold ourselves accountable to ensuring digital twins meet the twin features that define it. 

Chris Harman is the Director of Digital Delivery and Innovation at WSP, one of the world’s largest engineering and sustainability consultancies and the creator of a no-cost guide to digital twins. 

“Virtual Surveyor software is now two desktop apps in one subscription package that create a seamless end-to-end drone survey workflow to save time and money,” said Tom Op ‘t Eyndt, Virtual Surveyor CEO. “Terrain Creator removes complexity from the drone photogrammetry process, offering a visual and intuitive application to produce an orthomosaic and digital surface model (DSM) from drone photos.”

Virtual Surveyor software was originally developed to bridge the gap between drone photogrammetric processing applications and engineering design packages. Until this new release, users had to rely on third-party software to generate elevation models and an orthomosaic that could then be worked on with the Virtual Surveyor toolset to derive the 3D topographic information needed by engineers for construction, surface mining, and excavation projects.

“Drone surveyors no longer have to spend money on a third-party photogrammetry package to convert their drone photos into an orthomosaic and DSMs,” said Op ‘t Eyndt. “It just comes with our package, and the fully integrated workflow eliminates the time spent porting photogrammetry products from another package into Virtual Surveyor.”

Once the survey-grade terrains flow from the Terrain Creator into the Virtual Surveyor desktop app, users access the familiar interactive virtual environment and robust toolsets to generate CAD models, create cut-and-fill maps and calculations, or calculate volume reports – just as they always have in Virtual Surveyor.

Current subscribers to Virtual Surveyor Ridge and Peak editions will see their software updated automatically to Version 9.0 with Terrain Creator. A flexible licensing setup will allow two users within a subscribing organization to use the Terrain Creator and Virtual Surveyor applications simultaneously from different computers.

Virtual Surveyor will demonstrate the new software release with Terrain Creator at InterGEO 2023 (Hall 1.2, Stand D1.030) on October 10-12 in Berlin, Germany, and other trade fairs this fall.

To start a free 14-day trial of Virtual Surveyor and to view details of the Valley, Ridge, and Peak pricing plans, visit www.virtual-surveyor.com.

About Virtual Surveyor

Virtual Surveyor software enables professional surveyors to generate accurate topographic end products from drone photos five times faster than traditional field work in a seamless fully integrated workflow. Now used in 88 countries, Virtual Surveyor creates topographic information from drone data in very short timeframes. In a typical application, the suite generates an orthomosaic and digital surface model (DSM) from UAV imagery and then transfers the survey-grade terrain products to an interactive virtual environment onscreen where surveyors can select the survey points and breaklines that define topography. Standard topographic outputs from the Virtual Surveyor software are Surfaces or TINs (Triangular Irregular Network), Contours, Line Surveys, Stockpile Reports and Cut-and-Fill Maps for use in a variety of engineering design applications.

With a renewed vision and mission, Tunley Environmental aims to revolutionise the industry by offering comprehensive services and expertise in carbon reduction assessments and carbon training courses. These offerings are specifically designed to enable businesses to make a genuine and lasting sustainable impact, reducing and offsetting their carbon footprint.

Tunley Environmental’s team of dedicated scientists brings extensive knowledge and experience in the field of environmental sustainability. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovative methodologies, they provide high-quality carbon reduction assessments that identify potential areas for improvement within businesses. These assessments serve as a roadmap for organisations seeking to implement effective sustainability strategies.

In addition to carbon reduction assessments, Tunley Environmental offers specialised carbon training courses. These courses are designed to empower businesses and individuals with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the complexities of carbon footprint management successfully. By equipping professionals with the necessary tools, Tunley Environmental aims to create a global network of sustainability champions who can drive positive change within their organisations.

“We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter as Tunley Environmental,” said Dr William Beer, CEO at Tunley Environmental.” Our rebranding reflects our unwavering commitment to empower sustainable solutions and contribute to a greener future. Through our carbon reduction assessments and training courses, we aim to provide businesses with the necessary expertise to make tangible and meaningful changes towards sustainability.”

Tunley Environmental invites businesses, media outlets, and sustainability enthusiasts to join them in their mission to accelerate sustainability globally. By collaborating and sharing knowledge, Tunley Environmental believes that the collective effort will lead to a more sustainable world for generations to come.

About Tunley Environmental
Tunley Environmental is a leading provider of high-quality carbon reduction assessments and carbon training courses. With a team of dedicated scientists and a passion for sustainability, Tunley Environmental empowers businesses to reduce and offset their carbon footprint, creating a real and lasting sustainable difference. The company’s vision is to accelerate sustainability globally, and their mission is to provide the expertise and resources necessary to make it happen. For more information, please visit www.tunley-environmental.com.

Equipment360 was created to solve the industry’s most pressing equipment management and maintenance pain points while also enabling automated preventive maintenance. Equipment360 ensures all work orders, preventive maintenance requests, and time cards are tracked and submitted electronically with the correct associated cost codes, part requests, and checklists. This not only streamlines the maintenance and payroll process but provides fleet managers with an electronic ledger of truth and equips the field with a direct line of communication to the shop. Additionally, Equipment360 interfaces with HCSS Telematics— providing critical machine data and meter readings. This enables fleet managers to make informed decisions for fleet assets from a financial standpoint as well.

HCSS Telematics is a plug-and-play hardware and software solution with no need for professional installation. Telematics utilizes GPS devices integrated directly with the equipment offering a hardware-powered solution for fleet utilization and management. Telematics aggregates OEM equipment data and displays it on a single platform. This equips fleet and project managers with a comprehensive overhead view of real-time fleet data, enabling more informed business decisions and thereby improving safety, efficiency, and productivity. The aggregate data report includes data points such as equipment location status, individual equipment ROI, and more.

FuelerPlus is HCSS’ fuel-tracking software, helping fleet managers easily keep track of actual burn rates so businesses can set more accurate equipment rates. FuelerPlus helps track every drop of fuel that goes through a fleet to help eliminate shrinkage and make better decisions around recouping costs. All HCSS Fleet products offer full integration, down to fuel level readings. HCSS operates on a field-first model, ensuring pertinent reporting happens on the field, electronically. Anybody in the field can catalog an issue with a piece of equipment, and that information goes straight to the shop.

For more information about HCSS’ Fleet offerings, please visit: hcss.com/products/fleet-maintenance-software/#product-features

To that end, today, we’re announcing multiple solutions to support project teams in making everyday decisions earlier without the need for technical expertise or specialist applications. These new capabilities will provide holistic and tactical support to help teams prioritize tasks, assess tradeoffs, build on intuition, and validate assumptions so choices made are more informed.

Let’s take a look at how these new releases will strengthen the connection between design and make.

Gain access to relevant information with early and often communication

It’s critical for project teams to be able to trust that their documents are construction-ready, recent, and accurate, as irrelevant and hard-to-access information leads to confusion, disputes, and mistakes.

To help with this, we’re releasing Correspondence, which centralizes all project communication created or collected in a single source of truth. Correspondence provides project leaders with open-ended, searchable, and manageable communications stored within Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) to make it easier to communicate and uncover key decisions. Project teams can create and organize all correspondence from ACC and import threads directly from Outlook or Gmail. All communication is now easily retrievable to ensure project quality and minimize disputes.

“The Correspondence tool is incredibly positive,” said Chris Rossetto, VDC Manager at Hansen Yuncken. “It is potentially a massive game changer for us and the industry. We currently feel stuck in the way we manage correspondence and store project information on rudimentary platforms that are considered to be the industry standard for clients. I am excited for what’s coming up—this could eventually bring us a step closer to running a single-platform common data environment (CDE).”

Next, because design models can be overwhelming for field teams, we’re launching Model Quality Workflows, a collection of releases that supports the translation of design models into construction-ready models. This month’s release enables anyone on the project team, from the BIM manager to the project engineer, to curate custom views for teams onsite that are hyper-relevant and easy to digest. By providing teams with access to well-defined models early and often, onsite teams have what they need to improve installation productivity.

We’re also releasing the Sheets Collection, which helps teams more clearly organize sheets and quickly access relevant drawings. Those who oversee construction projects with multiple buildings will be able to store and manage drawings with identical names, streamlining the document management workflow, and centralizing important construction data in a single location. This feature removes the cumbersome need to create and own multiple projects or prefix sheet names to get the job done. Sheets are accessible to teams in the office and field for larger multi-building projects.

Reduce technology management and streamline systems of record

In the AEC industry, time is often wasted switching between different applications to perform specific actions. Many firms keep information siloed in disconnected systems, inadvertently causing delays and negatively impacting decision-making. With ACC, we aim to help our customers maintain workflows within a single application and a shared system of record.

That’s why we’ll also soon be releasing Bridge for Closed RFIs, allowing users to share closed RFIs across projects or accounts using Bridge, providing all stakeholders with the answers they need to make confident decisions. This capability broadens the types of information that can be shared across organizations and allows teams to retain critical information throughout the project lifecycle and after the job ends.

Another recent example of how we’re dedicated to giving construction professionals the tools they need to make smarter decisions is this summer’s release of the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) integration for ACC. The EC3 integration enables users to stay in their system of record to perform carbon emission calculations and empowers teams to make more sustainable choices when selecting materials for a project.

This reduced technology management across the board improves both productivity and the ability to make informed decisions quickly with access to the right information.

Support individual productivity and maintain project transparency

Manual systems and a disconnect between 2D and 3D workflows often lead to poor decision-making, which can impact schedule and budget. With today’s releases, a major focus is increasing project transparency and cutting through the noise to bring construction teams only the most relevant information they need for the task at hand. Expanding individual capacity by providing simplified and relevant information at every point of the project leads to greater productivity overall.

With ACC’s latest announcements, we’re striving to empower more informed decision-making, bringing accurate and up-to-date project data directly to construction teams’ fingertips when they need it and where they need it so our customers can continue to deliver high quality projects on-time and on-budget.

New with the seventh generation integration is additional support for AI-powered jobsite cameras to populate Daily Log sections in Procore with valuable imagery and metadata. EarthCam continuously extracts insights from live-camera streams to increase situational awareness on the jobsite, monitor construction waste, calculate manpower, manage timecards and control access. Alerts are generated based on predefined actions and notifications are sent about issues or events that require attention.

“EarthCam is continuing its mission to fuel Procore with high-quality, visual data from jobsite cameras, drones, and 360° reality capture,” said Brian Cury, Founder & CEO of EarthCam. “The innovative AI technologies we’re presenting at Groundbreak make this the most extensive integration to date, and will help our mutual customers significantly increase their return on investment in Procore.”

By presenting unique QR codes at entry points, door cameras can recognize individual data and automatically generate a permanent record of hours worked in Procore’s Timecards Log. Time between clock-in and clock-out events is automatically calculated and aggregated daily in the Manpower Log. New integrations with access-control APIs allow commonly used commercial keyless door entry systems to be locked or unlocked. Activity heatmaps are pushed directly into the Manpower Log to help managers resolve traffic and workflow issues before they cause expensive delays.

Also new for this integration, EarthCam’s breakthrough AI algorithms now detect when workers are operating at height with significant accuracy. By automatically pushing time-stamped images of workers on ladders, man-lifts or scaffolding into the Procore Daily Log, safety personnel can verify safe practices are being observed, fall protection is applied and PPE is correctly worn.

EarthCam offers a full line of security cameras and perimeter detection systems with up to one year of continuous video recording. Video clips of events can be trimmed and shared to Procore to maintain a record of security incidents. In addition, if a person or a vehicle enters a designated zone, alerts are sent to EarthCam’s Central Station Monitoring, where trained professionals review the incident, assess the risk and dispatch law enforcement as necessary.

EarthCam utilizes IoT sensors to document jobsite interior conditions, and generate Observations within Procore in categories such as Spills or Stormwater. Alerts are configurable and include flood, smoke and glass-breakage, plus more from an ever-growing list of IoT devices. EarthCam’s AI object identification is now used to help manage construction waste logistics – to highlight and record when dumpsters are full, partially full or empty. Project managers can verify removal, cancel unnecessary pickups and maintain an eco-friendly jobsite.

EarthCam’s comprehensive integration reaches more sections in Procore than any other construction camera provider. Jobsite photography is now embedded in Quantities, Dumpster, Delay, Plan Revisions, Productivity, RFIs, Change Events, Observations, Manpower, Notes, Equipment, Inspections, Safety Violations, Accidents, Waste and Photos.

EarthCam’s Control Center has long been the software of choice among industry leaders for smart project documentation, marketing, safety and security. EarthCam provides camera rentals, professional installation and reality capture services to make construction project management more efficient with powerful visual data. To learn about the seventh generation Procore integration and the benefits for construction industry professionals, visit EarthCam’s exhibit #43 at Procore Groundbreak or earthcam.net/procore. Virtual meetings with EarthCam during Groundbreak can be requested at earthcam.net/groundbreak/virtual.

The enhanced interoperability between the Leica MC1 3D machine control solution and Caterpillar’s NGH sensors offers various benefits for construction professionals and operators. Unlike traditional solutions that require sensor replacements, this technical solution allows the Leica MC1 software to work in harmony with the existing Cat Grade 2D Assist system without any additional hardware modifications. It results in a more seamless and simplified installation, minimising downtime.  

Cat Grade 2D Assist in combination with Leica MC1 3D

While the Cat Grade 2D Assist system excels in accurate grading and levelling in two dimensions (horizontal plane), the Leica MC1 3D machine control system extends this functionality into the vertical plane. With 3D machine control, operators can now create, cut, and verify designs not only horizontally but also at various depths and slopes.

This capability ensures precise and efficient earthmoving and construction tasks, transforming grading and excavation. Complex grading tasks, such as shaping surfaces with varying slopes or creating intricate contours, can now be completed with unparalleled accuracy, reducing the need for costly rework.

Marcel Schleiss, owner of Schleiss AG in Switzerland, who has already benefited from this offer, shared his experience using the technology on the company’s latest earthwork project: “We have eagerly anticipated this new compatibility offer for some time. We are delighted to collaborate with top-notch suppliers of construction technology, as well as with the exceptionally supportive teams at both Leica Geosystems and the Cat dealer, Avesco.”

“As an excavator operator, I’ve experienced first-hand how the combination of Cat Grade 2D Assist and Leica MC1 3D machine control empowers us to deliver superior results.” said Fabian Stadelmann, excavator operator at Schleiss AG. “It not only optimises our productivity but also minimises material waste, ultimately contributing to more cost-effective and successful construction projects.” Leica Geosystems remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and technology in the construction and earthmoving sector to increase interoperability, providing customers with cutting-edge solutions that enhance productivity, precision, and overall project success.

The Leica MC1 3D machine control system is available now through authorised Leica Geosystems dealers. Customers can inquire about minimum compatibility requirements for 3D machine control solutions for Caterpillar Next Gen 2D excavators at their local Cat dealer. 

Additional information on the Leica MC1 3D machine control solution and Cat NGH compatibility is available here.

“After contacting several possible vendor partners, we focused on a locking device that not only would be very difficult to access but something that was unique,” said Darren Thai, an associate engineer with the City of San Jose’s Department of Transportation for the last seven years. He is a member of the ITS group, which is responsible for connecting the city with the latest network communication traffic technology including surveillance cameras and video detection.

“ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions – Critical Infrastructure (AAGS-CI) offered more than we asked for in terms of flexibility, plus the whole validity process and permission sets in the management software. We are definitely happy and impressed with how things have progressed.”

Following a half-day training session with AAGS-CI’s system integration partner, Western Pacific Signal, installation of the 75481 series traffic enclosure lock has begun on 2,000 cabinets as part of the department’s implementation plan.

New technology begins with Silicon Valley

Known as the capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose is a progressive city and the largest in northern California. For three years in the mid 1800s, it functioned as the state’s capital. Now it is home to over 6,000 technology companies, and more cutting edge developments originate there than anywhere else in the world.

Located on the southern edge of San Francisco Bay, San Jose has quickly grown to become the 12^th largest city in the United States with almost one million residents. It is also the fourth largest city in California with a land size of 180 square miles, including approximately 400 miles of city streets.

San Jose is regarded as one of the safest cities in North America, due in part to the efforts by the Department of Transportation. The organization employs more than 450 people to plan, develop, operate and maintain transportation facilities, services and related systems, including the city’s traffic infrastructure.

The installation program with AAGS-CI has roots dating back to the fall of 2021, but Thai said the process originated two years earlier through a program with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“As part of their initiative, we participated in a 2019 network penetration test to assess the nation’s and state of California’s transportation system against cybersecurity threats. As a result, we improved the firewalls and field network infrastructure,” acknowledged Thai.

“The one thing that really stuck out in the report,” he continued, “was the physical security of our signal and ITS cabinets. We now have more control over who has access to the cabinets with the AAGS-CI solution.”

Charting a new course in secure transportation measures

Since ITS cabinets are located on roadsides and highways, they are readily accessible and damage to them usually results in heavy financial and recovery losses. Thai said when the department began researching possible vendors, they learned of AAGS-CI by reading an article in the ITE Journal, the monthly publication of the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

“We reached out to AAGS-CI and began a six month test program with a few units. We initially deployed it in a closed environment before installing it in the field,” he said. “We learned about the software and added permissions so only specific users could access it during certain timeframes. It’s important to validate keys in case a worker lost them since our cabinets are regularly accessed by contractors.”

Hybrid lock technology delivers cost savings

Thai mentioned another important feature to the AAGS-CI solution is having both mechanical and electromechanical lock cylinders deployed at different access points throughout the city. This is a cost savings benefit for traffic cabinet security upgrades because typically, fewer than half of ITS cabinets are situated at high priority sites that require more expensive digital locks. The affordable high security mechanical locks fulfill security requirements for most other access points, offering significant savings over an all-digital locking system.

The electromechanical option of the 75481 series supports electronic access control, key tracking, and audit trails with ABLOY’s CLIQ Web Manager software. Access rights can be updated and lost keys can be deleted electronically. Both locks also come with a built-in dust cover that protects the cylinder from grime and moisture, a key feature given the city’s high traffic volume and weather conditions.

“We determined the most important thing was to secure our traffic signal cabinets because the expensive technology inside those enclosures requires regular servicing,” said Thai. “We use the ABLOY mechanical locks because they are very secure. CLIQ is pretty straightforward since it is web-based software. We can get pretty creative with setting the permissions and validity periods, and we are eager to see how it turns out.”  

The team at Western Pacific Signal assisted with training and software set-up before placement of the locks began throughout the city. Don Shupp founded the San Leandro-based company 25 years ago, and he and his brother, Danny, distribute a wide variety of products as a systems integrator in the Advanced Transport Systems arena to customers along the entire Pacific coast. They have supplied network field devices to the City of San Jose since 2002.

“They are a well-educated and sophisticated customer when it comes to cybersecurity, and they have invested in a lot of expensive, leading edge accessories and peripherals that are inside the traffic signal cabinet. San Jose is probably one of the more cutting edge municipalities in the western United States,” said Don Shupp.

“The average customer may invest between $20,000-$25,000 worth of equipment, but some of San Jose’s cabinets have twice that value. They recognized the increased risks and the potential losses of a cabinet break-in. They also understand the attributes of having more control over contractors working on those cabinets, and not needing the added expense of having a crew remove their padlocks in advance of the contractors doing their work. So they are open minded and willing to explore new technology.”

Thai said WPS’s experience has been invaluable to the City of San Jose.

“We have worked with them on other projects such as our battery back-up system, and they procured our network switches. Don and Danny are always willing to listen to our needs, and they’ll go out and secure those products for us.”

Early reports on installation of the AAGS-CI system are impressive. Thai said by the time it is completed, the replacement project will involve about 1,000 intersections.

“The installations are easy to do. It is a drop-in replacement for what we currently use, which was partly a selling point for this solution. We did not have to modify the cabinets in any way, and it takes about 10 minutes to remove the old lock and install the new one, which makes it very convenient.

“We have since realized there are actually more users than we originally thought,” continued Thai. “Having the audit trail capability helps so we know exactly which cabinets users are accessing at a specific time, so if something unexpected happens we can trace it back.

“We are always eager to see what’s new on the market,” summed up Thai. “Our group is dedicated to knowing about these new solutions and figuring out if it is suitable to our needs. It’s also very exciting to share knowledge with other cities on great alternatives to what you currently have, and these new technologies that work.”

About ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions

The ASSA ABLOY Group is the global leader in access solutions. Every day, we help billions of people experience a more open world. ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions is dedicated to reimagining how people move through their world. Our expertise in customer journey mapping, innovation, and service design leads to the invention of new security solutions that create value for our clients and exceptional experiences for end users. For more information, please visit www.assaabloyglobalsolutions.com

“We are honored to be nominated in the Roads and Highways category as early adapters to digital planning, design, engineering and project delivery innovations in our industry,” said Steve Morriss, President, Engineering Services, U.S., Atkins. “Organizationally we are integrating digital expertise with our decades of engineering excellence to enhance project design, strengthen our approach and planning, and guide our creativity, so that we can deliver innovative solutions for our clients beyond their expectations.”

The Floyd Hill project has been highlighted by CDOT and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as improving the economies of Colorado and the Nation. Relieving an interstate bottleneck reduces travel times for commercial traffic, local residents and tourists driving to nearby ski resorts and other destinations. Safety throughout this corridor will be drastically improved by improving design speeds and increasing stopping sight distance on horizontal curves. The project adds a westbound tolled Express Lane, an eastbound auxiliary lane, new bridges, improved interchange and frontage road access, wildlife passageways under the roadway, two air quality monitoring stations and a full reconstruction of a nearby trail. Construction is underway with project completion expected in 2028.

The use of Bentley technology and visualization software helped the team develop solutions to handle many site-specific challenges and constraints. Leveraging digital tools made it possible to mitigate impacts to the surrounding natural environment, built environment, local residents and other stakeholders while also providing a more efficient and cost-effective design.

“Deploying Bentley’s digital tools enabled seamless communication and coordination with external subconsultants leading to a reduction of hours worked by more than 50,000 and project costs by more than $7 million, helping us deliver exceptional value to our client,” said Donna Huey, Chief Digital Officer, Engineering Services, U.S., Atkins. “We were also able to automate 3D engineered model creation, allowing our team to quickly publish visualizations and receive stakeholder input at a much earlier stage of the design process to ensure all concerns are accounted for and addressed in our design.”

Atkins is transforming the design, delivery and operation of infrastructure projects, thanks to the experts in our own business and across the SNC-Lavalin Group with its world-leading knowledge in design, engineering, project management, sustainability and digital-transformation. Our consultants, engineers, technologists and project managers have helped clients reshape the world, with new ways of designing and building that make the lived environment work better for everyone for more than eight decades.

About Atkins

Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management     consultancies, employing over 18,300 people across the UK, North America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe. We build long-term trusted partnerships to create a world where lives are enriched through the implementation of our ideas. You can view Atkins’ recent projects here.

About SNC-Lavalin

Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices around the world dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, technology and data to design, deliver and operate the most complex projects. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. – and delivered to clients in key strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear, Operations & Maintenance and Capital. News and information are available at www.snclavalin.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to transform various industries and sectors, offering innovative solutions to age-old problems. In the realm of asset management, an area riddled with complexities, AI’s potential is increasingly being realized. The intricacies of asset management often require careful strategizing, and keeping up with the pace of business advancements can be a daunting task. But, with the entry of AI, companies and government agencies are finding novel ways to overcome such challenges.

Among the many AI platforms available, OpenAI’s GPT has emerged as a front-runner in the Large Language Model space, impressing the tech world with its capabilities in natural language processing and code generation. The significance of this technology is underscored by its extensive coverage in technical news and the excitement around its transformative potential. It is important to note, however, that the value of such innovation lies in its real-world application and the tangible benefits it brings to stakeholders.

One example that demonstrates the real-world potential of OpenAI GPT is its application by a leading East Coast public agency in a metropolitan area. By optimizing a workflow with the help of OpenAI GPT, the agency was able to reduce its project delivery timeline from a staggering 18 months to a mere eight weeks. This is a testament to how AI can be harnessed to drive efficiency and productivity in asset management.

In the complex world of asset management, effective strategies are often predicated on structured frameworks for task management and risk mitigation. This structured framework typically involves the creation of Job Plans and Safety Plans. 

Job Plans standardize the steps involved in completing a maintenance task or repair. They ensure a uniform process that promotes efficiency, improves communication, comprehension, and compliance throughout an organization. Safety Plans, on the other hand, lay down the necessary measures to minimize risk to personnel involved in maintenance work and prevent any inadvertent damage to the physical assets.

Such a framework, while undeniably beneficial, also requires a significant initial investment in creating standards and ensuring their quality. One such project undertaken by a public transportation agency serves as a case in point. The objective was to create tasks for Job Plans for a set of assets and assign safety considerations where necessary, culminating in a unified resource that would efficiently manage work and risk across an asset portfolio. 

The ambitious project was to develop generic Job Plan and Safety Plan (JPSP) templates for nearly 500 asset classes. These templates could be tailored to unique requirements by field experts. However, the project ran into a significant challenge during the proof of concept stage, involving the need for multiple subject matter experts (SMEs) to review and refine the templates due to the diversity of the asset classes.

OpenAI GPT came to the rescue, streamlining the process by generating draft JPSP templates based on asset classification names. This breakthrough demonstrated the power of AI when it is integrated with human expertise, transforming the traditional ways of working and propelling asset management into new frontiers.

A precisely engineered system of prompts was devised to generate a JPSP for asset classes, ensuring their seamless alignment with a predefined structure. The first prompt was designed to generate a comprehensive list of potential hazards that workers may encounter while servicing the asset, using authoritative standards established by OSHA as a reference. 

Subsequently, another prompt was created to generate a general set of Job Plan Tasks whose scope encompassed all applicable subcategories within the given asset class. For instance, the procedural steps designed for an asset class such as Pump were carefully crafted to seamlessly extend to Metering Pumps, Booster Pumps, and other related classifications, ensuring maximum efficiency and consistency in output. 

Following the definition of OSHA hazards and generation of Job Plan Tasks, an iterative process was initiated, wherein each step of the Job Plan was assigned safety precautions.  Another prompt was employed for this purpose to determine relevant safety considerations for each Job Plan Task, accounting for areas where the identified OSHA hazards were likely to be encountered. 

The system utilized a sequence of meticulously engineered prompts to generate JPSPs for asset classes. It identified potential hazards, generated general Job Plan Tasks that covered all subcategories within a given asset class, and assigned safety precautions to each Job Plan Task, all with remarkable efficiency and accuracy.

The project then moved into a second phase, where ensuring the accuracy and usefulness of the AI-generated JPSPs became the focus. Through a careful review process involving two separate engineering groups, issues were identified, and improvements were made, leading to high-quality results.

This project marks a significant shift in the dynamics of the workforce, with AI taking over tasks traditionally performed by developers, and SMEs assuming a central role in fine-tuning the outputs. As AI systems continue to advance, SMEs with their deep domain knowledge and expertise are becoming pivotal in ensuring the accuracy, relevance, and overall quality of AI-generated outputs.

In this new era, a synergistic relationship is emerging between AI, SMEs, and developers. The workload is intelligently distributed, allowing developers to focus on strategic initiatives, while SMEs contribute their specialized knowledge to refine the AI outputs. This evolution heralds a future where the collaborative efforts of AI and SMEs become paramount, paving the way for unparalleled productivity and innovation.

Dr. Jeff Chen, Ph.D., LEED AP is Director of Digital Transformation, Symetri. Dr. Chen leads digital technology integration services for all aspects of client businesses to drive efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and increase sustainability. He has directed Enterprise Asset Management, (EAM), Enterprise Project Management (EPM), Building Information Modeling (BIM) and data asset validation projects for some of the nation’s largest and most respected organizations and public agencies, including a bi-state transportation agency, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Nicholas Russo is an Enterprise Asset Management GIS Analyst with the Symetri Asset Management, Strategic Advisory Service Team. He specializes in AI integration, data management and governance, digital twin solutions, GIS cloud integration and application development. Nick has led the development of AI implementations for a bi-state transportation agency, and has designed and implemented scalable GIS-BIM information systems.

Why does it take so long to deliver national infrastructure? Lets take, for example, a new port on the Mediterranean coastline. Any change to the natural and built environment has a significant impact on its local surrounding, not just commercially and environmentally, but practically too. Is there sufficient power in the grid to meet this new demand? Can the local transport infrastructure handle the increase in transit? What about the hospitals? The sewers? The list goes on. Poor planning leads to, well, poor performance. A new port at standstill due to traffic, left idle with intermittent power or temporarily closed to deal with an unforeseen environmental impact is not just embarrassing to those involved, it can–and does–cause injury and death. So thousands of experts spend years undertaking investigations to ensure every possible mitigation can be put in place to ensure a smooth construction and operation. 

But what about when a port floods? With no warning, huge changes take place; power goes out, transport shuts down, hospitals become inaccessible. In an ideal world, we would have the same thousands of experts and years of time to plan all conceivable permutations of the disaster to develop an appropriate disaster response plan. However, natural disasters are very hard to predict. This makes it a significant challenge to allocate the equivalent time and resource into planning for natural disasters as one might do for the supporting infrastructure systems that are consistently in demand.  

So where does this leave us? For the most part, it’s an uncomfortable lottery, in which disaster could strike communities that have only been allocated minimal preparation for the management of the consequences of such events. 

However, there are numerous projects going on around the world tackling this, using advanced technology and high-quality data to provide informed decision making that can help communities respond to natural disasters. Here are just two examples: one around the creation of an integrated digital twin encompassing the UK’s critical infrastructure, to plan and invest in climate change adaptation and resilience matters. The other looks at catastrophic flood risk in Tajikistan and Zimbabwe, to help the UN protect vulnerable communities against food shortages. 

Tajikistan and Zimbabwe

Flooding can severely restrict food supply in low-income countries. It destroys crops and food stores, kills livestock, obstructs supply routes, and leads to higher food prices. 

The UN World Food Program (WFP), the world’s largest humanitarian organization, contracted flood mapping platform Floodbase to supply emergency flood analytics for countries affected by food insecurity. Many countries participating in the WFP are at heightened risk of food shortage because they lack local flood data. To provide reliable, consistent flood alerts regardless of data scarcity, Fathom’s modeled risk data is supplementing earth observation (satellite) data and hydrometeorological data.

WFP needed reliable data to understand where flooding is occurring in real time and where catastrophic floods are likely to strike in the future. This intelligence enables them to deliver food and funds to at-risk communities quickly in emergency situations. It also allows for the prioritization of repair to assets contributing to long-term food security, such as water harvesting systems.

Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of people in Zimbabwe live below the poverty line and the country ranks 108th of 119 in IFPRI’s 2017 Global Hunger Index. The devastating effects of climate shocks are intensifying already-severe food shortages here. 

Floodbase provides WFP Zimbabwe with emergency maps of forecasted flood events. These support an accurate understanding of the immediate impact of flooding on communities, agriculture and important assets; intelligence proved critical in 2022 during Tropical Storm Ana. During this emergency, the maps shaped WFP Zimbabwe’s first response to major flooding in two vulnerable regions, Chidodo and Mushumbi Pools. Further, they supported vital communications for government decision-makers who urgently needed accurate information on the floods’ impacts and locations.

Fathom’s Global Flood Map also helps WFP Zimbabwe understand the country’s risk to infrequent severe flood events. Thanks to the flood intelligence data provided, WFP Zimbabwe has made planning decisions that identify and protect communities most at risk of high-impact floods.

Meanwhile, Tajikistan has the highest malnutrition rates in Central Asia. Nearly one third (30.1 percent) of its people are undernourished and it has a long history of severe floods that compound food insecurity. The World Bank reports Tajikistan as the country most vulnerable to climate change in Europe and Central Asia.

Projects in Tajikistan that have benefited from flood data include a disaster management system for the Government of Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situation and Civil Defense. The government and the University of Central Asia have further used Floodbase for country-wide flood-risk planning and infrastructure vulnerability assessments. In addition, flood risk maps have allowed institutional partners to understand downstream flood risks in Dushanbe and surrounding areas.

The UK 

Under climate change, the UK’s critical infrastructure faces greater disruption and costs, as natural disasters such as flooding become more frequent and more severe. When an asset floods, the ensuing disruption is not limited to the network to which the asset belongs. For example, an electricity substation could knock out power for a water treatment plant. And this cascading impact on interconnected asset networks can result in even wider consequences for society and the local economy. 

To tackle this, providers need to work together on integrated climate change adaptation, mitigation, and resilience measures. 

The challenge is that utilities and other asset owners work independently, meaning it’s different to model their interdependencies. This was recognised by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and resulted in the creation of CReDo–the Climate Resilience Demonstrator. Originally created by the Centre for Digital Built Britain and now steered by Connected Places Catapult, the aim of the project is to create a digital twin of the UK’s infrastructure networks, across traditional sector boundaries. 

The project is still in development, though a prototype of the platform was built for East Anglia, thanks to a collaboration between Anglian Water, UK Power Networks, and the BT Group. For this, Fathom provided CReDo with pluvial (rainfall), fluvial (river) and coastal data for the region under a range of climate scenarios for 2030 and 2050, as well as today’s climate state. 

The prototype can illustrate the potential effects of flooding on assets by predicting:

• which sites would be affected by high water levels under different climate scenarios, for the different types of flooding – fluvial, pluvial, and coastal – and across a range of return periods
• which assets in the network might fail or suffer as a result of cascading impacts
• the resulting economic costs to the providers, and the wider societal impacts and costs.

Thanks to the prototype’s success, CReDo is now able to scale up the platform across new regions and partners including the transport sector and local authorities, and for additional climate risks beginning with extreme heat.

In summary

Reducing uncertainty lies at the heart of appropriate investment into disaster response planning, enabled by high-quality input data. At Fathom, we’re committed to enhancing the quality of this data and the power of processing methods to help communities be better prepared, enjoy improved social and economic outcomes, and have more resources, time, and space to further contribute to tackling their–and our–global challenges.

These projects are just a few examples of how actionable flood data can strengthen decisions (by decision-makers including country planners, disaster managers, first responders, and government focal points) on how to protect vulnerable communities from flooding and climate change. What is hopefully clear throughout these examples is not just the value of data, but also the importance of collaboration, with partners coming together to plan and invest in climate change adaptation and resilience matters, together. 

Peter Slater is part of the engineering team at water risk intelligence firm Fathom. He works closely with engineering and architecture consultancies around the globe, helping to improve their understanding of how flooding interacts with the natural and built environment. With a degree in civil and structural engineering, and a passion for technology, Peter’s particular focus is on integrating flood data into different platforms and digital twins. 

Automation, AI, and Robotics have been topics at the forefront of conversation in the construction industry for over a decade at this point.  What were once steadily growing topics of conversation have now exploded onto the main stage, and everyone is clamoring to predict the impact they will have on the AEC industry.  In the construction industry, however, automation and robotics are already making a massive impact on the way projects are planned and executed.

Invented by DPR construction in 2013, “the Laybot” was a robotic solution  performing layouts in the field.  Despite building two prototype robots, the group wasn’t able to achieve the desired efficiency they had set for their goals, and the project was temporarily shelved.  However, this wouldn’t be the end for the promising concept, and, with those two prototype models and a patent in hand, DPR’s innovation team began to look for partnership opportunities.  To this end, DPR partnered with a startup who shared its vision, licensing their patent to Dusty Robotics (Dusty).  

Dusty’s robot delivers on the original vision and creates new capabilities for the industry at large.  

According to Henning Roedel, Robotics Lead at DPR, their digital layout journey began in the early 2010s, with the initial work and invention of Laybot, which was “the first field printer of its kind.”  Roedel traces the groundwork done on those first prototypes directly to tools like Dusty Robotics’ Field Printer.  Since partnering with Dusty Robotics, DPR has worked to scale Dusty’s technology, which ultimately improves upon the precision and productivity of the Laybot prototype.

From an efficiency perspective, Dusty has greatly improved the efficiency of the layout process.  Using robust virtual design and construction programs as a data set, Dusty’s team was able to develop a robotic solution that performs layout with millimeter precision.  Such improvements to the layout process benefit the construction industry in both improving the health and safety of tradespeople as well as eliminating mistakes in the process of construction.  Mistakes made in the layout process can often compound into problems that have serious consequences on cost and schedule.  

Furthermore, using traditional methods, the layout process is time-intensive, ergonomically unsafe, and pivotal to construction projects.  This collaboration aligns with DPR’s robotics strategy, which is focused on testing and implementing tools that will reduce the physical nature and repetitiveness of construction work.  By doing so, tradespeople can “do what they do best–focus on craftsmanship and solving problems in the field,” says Roedel.  Even beyond layout, DPR’s robotics work has been key in allowing foremen to focus on running jobs while also reducing exposure to poor ergonomics.  For people working in the trades, this reduces the rate of knee and back injuries and keeps them from getting covered in chalk and dust.  

Roedel points out that–as we continue to develop solutions to improve our processes–change is often a difficult process.  Specifically within the AEC industry, Roedel says that systematic change is “very difficult because of the number of stakeholders at any given time.”  He points to this difficulty as the reason for DPR’s disciplined process of piloting new technologies and addressing barriers in a systematic way.  This begins with a simple proof of concept trial to provide confidence in the technology, leading to a wider rollout to test different markets and teams.  Next is a business analysis and decision making process prior to wider adoption.  Roedel says this is similar to the approach DPR has taken in their recent transition to Autodesk Construction Cloud.  DPR has used various Autodesk construction management tools since 2011, and recently decided to standardize all project workflows on Autodesk Construction Cloud. He continues, saying that emerging technologists should reach out to construction companies, visit job sites, and address key challenges in safety and quality.  Further, these emerging technologists should use automation to deliver increases in productivity to benefit the industry.

As conversations about automation, AI, and robotics continue to be debated, they almost inevitably boil down to one key point: what will work look like in the future?  However, in many places within the construction industry, the future is now, and these technologies are already having a direct impact on projects and productivity.  As other parts of the AEC industry develop solutions using these technologies, examples like the work being done by DPR,  Dusty’s field printer and more serve as a positive framework for how they can be implemented in a way that improves efficiency and promotes safety.

Construction professionals operate under the watchful eye of numerous federal, state, and local government agencies committed to ensuring the utmost safety on job sites. Employers in the construction industry are acutely aware of the potential risks that accompany safety violations, from hefty fines to, most importantly, the safety and well-being of their employees. 

The problem—as anyone who’s ever tried organizing a construction safety meeting in the field will tell you—is the logistical nightmare of getting everyone up-to-date with their training and certifications. Furthermore, even if you manage 100 percent attendance at one session, how do you keep each employee engaged or prove their participation? Are you confident their other certifications haven’t expired? What if their friend signed their name on the sign-up sheet? 

Issues like the above are alarmingly common in the construction industry but aren’t always noticeable in the moment, particularly for larger teams and companies with many employees to track. Technology can help mitigate safety and compliance hurdles and provide the foundation for long-term solutions to industry-wide challenges. 

The snowball effect: Why growing companies must act early 

Leading a small team of employees drastically differs from managing dozens or hundreds of workers. It can be easier to identify and address emerging issues quickly, and trust and communication are streamlined since fewer levels of management separate leadership from field employees. The same is true on the other end of the spectrum. For instance, you’re much more likely to actively participate in a company safety meeting if you’re one of five employees as opposed to one of 100. 

While firms on the rise may feel like their safety and compliance programs are under control, seemingly minor problems can grow exponentially as the construction business scales. For this reason, organizations should implement solutions long before small issues develop into perfect storms for worksite safety risks and noncompliance penalties. 

Unraveling safety and compliance barriers

Engagement and accessibility 

Both new and seasoned employees must comply with standards and stay up-to-date with training, regulations, and certifications from various agencies. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) alone has 15 high-level categories for general safety and health provisions under construction’s US Code of Federal Regulations.  

To qualify for jobs and remain compliant, construction professionals are subject to hours upon hours of training sessions that, while vital to a safe workplace, are frankly not always that engaging. Motivating employees to complete additional — even the required — work can feel like delivering bad news. However, they’re much more likely to actively pay attention and participate if they receive individualized instruction and the materials are easy to access. 

A learning management system (LMS) gives construction companies needed flexibility when it comes to workplace training and maintaining construction HR compliance. An LMS is used to house and deliver training and can work on a computer, kiosk or mobile device. Employees can complete required training and update certifications from their preferred devices 24/7, and the LMS records completion and any certifications without any additional administrative work from the employer.   

In addition, agencies like OSHA want companies to succeed and have taken measures to make the process easier for workers. For OSHA safety requirements specifically, companies can pair their LMS with approved training developed by industry experts, such as ClickSafety. These courses are already OSHA-approved and are automatically updated.  

Language barriers 

The construction industry relies heavily on bilingual workers, with Spanish leading as the most common foreign language spoken by construction workers. Digitizing the training experience with an LMS allows employees to receive training in their preferred language. Removing language barriers ensures employees receive the most impactful instruction and can continually explore professional development opportunities without needing a translator or separate non-English sessions. 

Certificate management

Consider a construction firm that recently held a mandatory company-wide OSHA-10 training. Let’s also say they had perfect attendance, and everyone properly completed the necessary documentation to update their certifications. That’s one mandatory certification that’s now up-to-date. What about the others? 

While individual employees are responsible for tracking their expiration and renewal dates, it’s the construction company that will be penalized — taking a hit to both its bottom line and brand reputation — for each non-compliant employee. 

An LMS allows users to efficiently track training completions and certifications for compliance and even set up alerts to notify employees and employers of upcoming expirations. Required training can be assigned and accessed through the employee portal 24/7, ensuring that every person on a job is educated on the best practices and regulations to keep the workplace injury-free.  

Recording safety incidents

Accidents happen, and there’s no denying that construction can be a potentially dangerous job, which is why added safety measures and training are so vital. When safety violations, injuries or fatalities do happen, it’s crucial to report the incident adequately.

Using cloud-based solutions to transition from manual to digital recordkeeping can streamline data collection and empower decision-makers to improve job site conditions by analyzing real-time safety data and trends. Companies can also adopt software that allows supervisors to record in-the-field conditions electronically. This encourages more accurate reporting since the information can be filled out in the moment rather than at the end of the work day, potentially hours after an incident occurred. It can also enhance project-based performance reviews by enabling supervisors to identify areas for improvement and give regular feedback on safety.

In addition, storing reports and training certifications in the cloud instead of a filing cabinet makes it easier to access documentation if OSHA comes calling. This digital solution significantly reduces the risk of misplaced files or clerical errors.

A safer future

Safety isn’t taken lightly in the construction industry. In fact, the consequences for violations and noncompliance are only getting steeper. This year, OSHA increased the maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations from $14,502 per violation to $15,625 per violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations also increased from $145,027 per violation to $156,259 per violation. 

Maintaining and enforcing strict safety standards has long presented challenges for both construction firms and their employees, but technology is cleverly evolving to simplify and streamline safety processes. Now, companies need only open their eyes to the underlying challenges hurting their efforts and implement long-term solutions to ensure their sites are as safe as possible. 

Brad Kneeskern is Vice President of Account Management at Arcoro, a provider of HR management solutions for the construction industry. Reach him at brad.kneeskern@arcoro.com. 

Space debris—items due to human activity in space—presents a major hazard to space operations. Advanced Space and its teammates Orion Space Solutions  and ExoAnalytic Solutions are applying advanced ML techniques to finding and identifying small debris (0.1-10 cm) under a new Space Debris Identification and Tracking (SINTRA) contract from Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA).

“Space debris is an exponentially growing problem that threatens all activity in space, which Congress is now recognizing as critical infrastructure,” said Principal Investigator Nathan Ré.  “The well-known Kessler syndrome will inevitably make Earth orbit unusable unless we mitigate it, and the first step is developing the capability to maintain persistent knowledge of the debris population. Through our participation in the SINTRA program, our team aims to revolutionize the global space community’s knowledge of the space debris problem.”

Currently, there are over 100 million objects greater than 1 mm orbiting the Earth; however, less than 1 percent of the debris that could cause mission-ending damage are currently tracked. The Advanced Space team’s solution—the Multi-source Extended-Range Mega-scale AI Debris (MERMAID) system—will feature a sensing system to gather data; ground data processing incorporating ML models to observe, detect, and characterize debris below the threshold of traditional methods; and a catalog of this information. A key component of this solution is that the team will use ML methods to decrease the Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) required for detecting debris signatures in traditional optical and radar data.

Advanced Space CEO Bradley Cheetham said, “Monitoring orbital debris is critical to the sustainable, exploration, development and settlement of space. We are proud of the work the team is doing to advance the state of the art by bringing scale and automation to this challenge.”

Advanced Space (https://advancedspace.com/) supports the sustainable exploration, development, and settlement of space through software and services that leverage unique subject matter expertise to improve the fundamentals of spaceflight. Advanced Space is dedicated to improving flight dynamics, technology development, and expedited turn-key missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Erie County is in the western portion of New York State, bordering on the lake of the same name. A major industrial and commercial center, the County is the most populous in upstate New York, with 954,236 people residing there in 2020. Located within the County are three cities and 25 towns, including the City of Buffalo, the second largest city in the State, which serves as the County seat.

“We are honored Erie County has selected Aurigo Masterworks to manage their end-to-end capital program,” said Balaji Sreenivasan, CEO and founder of Aurigo Software. “As our nation continues to invest in infrastructure, public agencies are leveraging technology to help select the right projects for their communities and deliver them efficiently. We are excited to support the County on this transformative journey.”

Erie County, whose population grew by 3.8% between 2010 and 2020, plans to spend over $220 million on capital improvements over the next 6 years. The County maintains a surface transportation system boasting 1,176 center lane miles that withstand a full four seasons of weather. Capital projects undertaken by the County include bridge replacements, road surface maintenance, a major stadium renovation, public library upgrades, and infrastructure development of an upcoming agribusiness industrial park.

Masterworks will allow Erie County to collect proposed projects, prioritize them, and estimate their costs. What-if analysis of proposed plans will help identify optimal project combinations based on available funding and strategic priority. Once projects are underway, the system will keep track of project budgets and construction administration tasks such as submittals, daily progress reports, and requests for information. Masterworks will provide real-time performance measurement and help the County report on its commitments to women- and minority-owned businesses. As part of the initiative, Masterworks will integrate funding, purchase order, and payment data with the County’s financial system of record, SAP.

The County joins several other local and regional agencies across North America using Aurigo’s Masterworks to modernize their capital programs, including the cities of Seattle, Portland, and Las Vegas, and regional agencies in Colorado, Florida, and Ontario, Canada. The company has seen an increase in demand from the public sector as agencies take advantage of funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in November 2021.

In partnership with Atlanta-based Fortune 500 and local disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) companies, strategy development and demonstration pilot sites will bring together a wide spectrum of partners. Two interactive pop-up sites along the Atlanta BeltLine will provide Atlantans with tech-driven experiences to help bridge the digital divide by providing free public Wi-Fi, an autonomous grocery store, information on BeltLine activities, smart trash cans, maps and more in the coming months. It’s part of a pilot project with Fortune 500 and local businesses to address urban issues such as access to food, technology and wellness.  

According to the Federal Communications Commission, approximately 19 million Americans—6 percent of the population—still lack access to fixed broadband service at threshold speeds. That number rises as high as 25-33 percent for people living in certain areas along the BeltLine as sourced through the American Community Survey. 

“The Atlanta BeltLine uses public infrastructure as a vehicle for catalyzing economic growth and development. This digital inclusion and smart cities initiative will play a major role in defining our legacy and impact as an organization as we seek to leverage our telecommunication infrastructure to open up new economic opportunities to residents, students, business owners, seniors and the community at-large,” said Clyde Higgs, President and CEO at Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. “The BeltLine itself is a testing ground for innovation. It’s a place where we can use technology to solve problems facing our communities that could be scaled city-wide and as a case study for cities across the country.”

This project will be enabled by eX² Technology’s early investment in a robust fiber optic network installed along the Atlanta BeltLine. The project will engage community feedback and data to help identify the types of technologies that might be considered for implementation on the BeltLine corridor and serve the adjacent residents, businesses and schools. The outcome of the initiative will be to develop a long-term approach to solving urban issues, to enhance the BeltLine user experience, and to create long-term funding sources as well.

Leading the strategy effort is Honeywell, a global leader in the smart cities space, and N-Ovate Business Solutions, a metro Atlanta-based innovation firm focused on creating strategy around digital transformation, data modernization, and cybersecurity. They will seek to identify and collect data to better understand the digital divide in adjacent neighborhoods and how technology could help solve those issues. They will help develop recommendations for addressing the technology gaps that were exacerbated for local residents and business owners, especially on the south and west sides of the Atlanta BeltLine loop, during the pandemic.

The Rocket Community Fund, the philanthropic partner of Rocket Companies, is providing financial support for the development of the strategy and additional resources to support the initiative.

Pop-Up Sites Showcase Innovative Technology

Atlanta BeltLine and eX² Technology will transform two areas along the BeltLine into smart city pop-ups, showcasing pilot technologies. This demonstration project will garner additional community engagement and usage data to inform future BeltLine strategies. Sites on the Southside and Eastside Trails will feature high-speed internet powered by ABI’s fiber network. Moreover, each of the pilot areas will house a Nourish + Bloom Market, a Black-owned autonomous grocery store; a Rove IQ interactive wayfinding kiosk; a Big Belly smart waste bin; and, adjacent to the corridor, a Blink Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging station, among others. Georgia Green Energy Services, a local certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) will deploy and manage the electrical needs at both sites. A steering committee of industry experts is helping to provide further insight and opportunities to inform the project. Microsoft is also sharing a fellow with the BeltLine to support this initiative through Georgia Tech.

The BeltLine’s smart cities demonstration sites also will feature the first U.S. deployment of the Honeywell City Suite, an artificial intelligence-enabled IoT platform serving over 75 cities globally and improving the lives of over 100 million people worldwide. The sites’ technology will be integrated and driven by Honeywell’s City Suite Software, acting like the central hub of the project, which seamlessly aggregates information from multiple city systems including environment, emergency services, safety and security, and utilities, among other areas – in a single, unified view. Through the Honeywell platform, the BeltLine can collect information to make data-driven decisions through analytic technology to improve trail services, enhance the user experience, and monitor the flow of disposable and recyclable materials, supporting a more resilient BeltLine and sustainable environment.

eX² Technology designed and installed a 15.7-mile multi-duct, fiber optic network on the Atlanta BeltLine in 2021 to create a new funding source through the sale of fiber to support the long-term economic viability of the BeltLine and enable high-speed technology on the corridor. eX² Technology manages and maintains the communications system as well as serves as the BeltLine’s exclusive commercialization partner. “Our dark fiber commercialization efforts have supported the development of this Smart City Pilot as well as promoted economic development and digital inclusivity,” said Jay Jorgensen, Chief Operating Officer at eX² Technology. “Our company has a long history of partnering with communities and organizations like the BeltLine and bringing multiple partners together to develop innovative, technology-rich programs. We continue to seek additional partners who want to establish their services within the Atlanta market and have worked with the Atlanta BeltLine to reduce the price of the dark fiber to further promote new partnerships.”

For Honeywell, this initiative offers a chance to showcase its technology in an area where it has a major corporate presence.  “Our Atlanta office is just one mile from the Atlanta BeltLine, so we are not only professionally invested in the success of the BeltLine but also personally as many of our employees use the BeltLine every day,” said Matthew Britt, General Manager, Smart and Sustainable Cities, Honeywell. “We’re looking forward to growing our relationship with the eX² team and are thrilled that our first project together is supporting the Atlanta BeltLine’s mission of improving social equity along the corridor and improving the community long term.”

As a leader in the digital equity space, the Rocket Community Fund is committed to ensuring their efforts are moving the needle across the country to bridge the digital divide. “At the Rocket Community Fund, we firmly believe that digital connectivity is foundational to success in every aspect of life,” said Rob Lockett, Team Leader, National Housing Stability at the Rocket Community Fund. “We’re thrilled to partner once again with the Atlanta BeltLine team to transform the way residents and visitors at the BeltLine connect digitally with employment, education, healthcare, and community.”

The Rocket Community Fund’s commitment expands its partnership with the BeltLine. Previous collaborations focused on affordable housing providing residents with direct connections to key housing stability resources and funding for the Legacy Resident Retention Program.

The Atlanta BeltLine has more dark fiber available and is looking for additional service providers who can provide technology to end users. For more information, please visit https://ex2technology.com/atlantabeltlinefiber.

Founded in 2014 in Salt Lake City, Utah, by CEO Mark Pittman, Blyncsy applies computer vision and artificial intelligence in analyzing commonly available imagery to identify maintenance issues on roadway networks. Pittman originally conceived the idea for the company while stuck at a traffic light, believing there had to be ways to combine “real-time” condition data and innovative technologies to help DoTs become more efficient. 

Blyncsy’s disruptive AI services replace costly and slow manual data collection efforts, reducing the need for personnel or specialized vehicles or hardware in the field and improving transportation owner-operators’ awareness and timely mitigation of road conditions. Blyncsy detects over 50 different roadway safety issues, including the actual location of active construction work zones.

Pittman said, “Blyncsy is committed to applying the latest AI and machine learning techniques to benefit transportation networks. This alignment with Bentley will only strengthen the value to our users and together we will provide even deeper asset analytics to transportation owners, to support the drivers of today and tomorrow.”

“Safety is our first priority, and operational efficiency is a high number 2. We depend on real-time data, like the information we receive from Blyncsy, to proactively manage the highway system to be as safe and reliable as possible,” said Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen. “HDOT embraces technology that enables us to run in the most productive manner possible. Blyncsy gets us weekly reports with graphics and photos detailing guardrail, roadway, and vegetation conditions that provide more tools to allow us to prioritize our resources to address the needs of the system.”

Bentley’s iTwin Ventures managing executive, Mike Schellhase, said, “Blyncsy came to our attention for potential participation in a successive VC investment round. But we were so convinced of the significance of their breakthrough that we undertook its outright acquisition, in order to scale it rapidly and pervasively. We expect investments in widespread asset analytics to accelerate leveraging infrastructure digital twins.”

Blyncsy will adopt Bentley’s iTwin Platform for immersive integration with infrastructure owners’ engineering and simulation models, and Bentley will incorporate and bring to market Blyncsy’s AI services within its emerging mobility digital twin offerings.

The acquisition was supported for Blyncsy by Ignatious Growth Capital and Advisory. Blyncsy’s investors included: Peterson Ventures, Doug Wells, Elemental Excelerator, Park City Angel Network, OakHouse Partners, and CEAS Investments.

The round was co-led by Inven Capital, a leading European climate tech fund, and global software investor Insight Partners, which also led WINT’s B round. The round was joined by Taronga Ventures, one of the world’s leading real asset technology investors, and other prop-tech and construction-tech investors, providing WINT strategic access to new markets. 

“As a climate tech investor, we were greatly impressed by WINT’s vision to bring sustainability and risk mitigation into water management, coupled with its ability to rapidly rise to market leadership in this fast-growing space,” said Michal Mravec, Investment Director at Inven Capital. “Their exponential growth, focus on customer value, cutting-edge technology, and ability to deliver globally are a uniquely powerful combination. We’re excited about the prospect of working with this exceptional team to help drive WINT’s continued growth while making our world a better place.” 

The successful C round supports WINT’s global market expansion and technological innovation. The investment reflects the urgent need for WINT’s solutions across the globe as contractors, owners, tenants, and insurers seek solutions for mitigating the damage and cost of water leaks. The investment also reflects the increasing impact of global water stress and the urgency for water management solutions that prevent water waste and its associated carbon emissions. 

“We’re excited to close this round at a time when water scarcity and climate change are becoming some of humanity’s greatest challenges, while the costs of water leak damage in buildings are reaching unacceptable levels for insurers, owners, developers and contractors,” said Alon Geva, CEO of WINT. “We’re thrilled by the opportunity to partner with Inven and with other world-leading realestate and climate tech investors, and we are confident that their support and industry depth will help us solve these massive challenges for the world’s built environment.” 

WINT equips contractors, developers, owners and facility management teams with cutting-edge solutions to manage water throughout the lifecycle of a building, from construction to operations. WINT’s AI-based solutions help companies eliminate water waste and its associated carbon emissions and prevent water damage on construction sites and in commercial and residential buildings. 

For more information about WINT, visit https://wint.ai. 

The annual SGA Awards recognize members for advancing the natural gas industry. The 2023 winners were selected from 61 nominated projects with more than 1,500 votes cast from Southern Gas Association members. Winners were announced on June 13.

TC Energy’s GeoForce was built within the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ArcGIS Enterprise, a robust and industry-leading mapping and location analytics platform, and customized by WSP USA, a leading engineering, environment and professional services consultancy. The toolset centralizes data into a single geospatial platform that is used daily by members of the Weather and Outside Forces (WOF) geohazard threat management team.

The GeoForce program has been very successful in better supporting geohazard threat management for TC Energy, a company that provides world-class energy infrastructure to communities across North America.

The web-based platform includes multiple custom apps and dashboards that enable the WOF team to efficiently view, summarize, add and update geohazard threat data. Another key feature is its connection to the ArcGIS GeoEvent Server, which provides near real-time geohazard threat notifications via dashboards and email, plus detailed information about sections of the system that are impacted by geohazard events.

“TC Energy’s datasets are extensive, covering their entire footprint across the U.S. — a sizable portion of which crosses through areas that are highly susceptible to geologic hazards,” said Stephen Schmidt, assistant vice president and asset risk data management practice lead at WSP. “This includes 15,000 active areas and some 30,000 water crossings that are being tracked for TC Energy’s pipeline system, so it’s a massive amount of data. We’re currently in the third year of this project and already preparing for the ninth release of the platform this September.”

GeoForce is designed to handle three primary types of threat data:

• pipeline exposure locations: Supplies essential information about areas where pipelines may be exposed and potentially prone to damage or interference,
• water crossing locations: Focuses on significant points of potential risk within the TC network and the data that helps manage and mitigate those risks, and
• landslide identification: Provides a repository of all identified landslide sites near the centerline.

In the web-based platform the WOF team can rapidly view, query and inventory new geohazard threat data and readily cross reference spatial threat data with other TC Energy datasets.

While Schmidt oversees the data management portion of WSP’s work with this longtime client, other members of the team are involved in the field program. Initially, data on 15,000 landslides was collected.

“Those are all individual site delineations for high resolution LiDAR data, with numerous high-risk locations requiring an in-person site assessment,” Schmidt said. “About 10 years of field work went into collecting the initial database and, today, data is still being collected.”

Schmidt added that collaboration with our WSP team in Turin, Italy, resulted in custom data entry tools, several automated project workflows, and development of predictive climate models, as well as automated data integrity checks.

Essentially, WSP built a novel system on the client’s network with the client’s software and data, leveraging it in a more robust manner that was customized to address the real needs of TC Energy.

“It can be difficult to quantify the value of what we are doing because it’s about risk mitigation,” Schmidt said. “So to have SGA recognize the GeoForce system as an innovative risk management tool highlights the value of what WSP and TC Energy are achieving.”

SGA is an important forum for recognizing leading natural gas companies across the U.S. and Canada, supporting and showcasing companies and individuals that achieve real, measurable business outcomes in their organizations.

About WSP USA
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering, environment and professional services firms. Recognized on Fast Company’s Brands that Matter List for 2022 as a top Community-Minded Business, WSP USA brings together engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals who are dedicated to collaborate in the best interests of serving local communities. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,500 employees in 300 offices across the U.S., WSP partners with its clients to help communities prosper. wsp.com

Over the years, DSS has grown substantially and now offers a huge range of specialized equipment from scaffolding, shoring, and formwork to temporary fencing, staging, and bleacher systems. Each of these categories offers a wide range of options and as these new offerings were added to the former site it became clunky and hard to navigate.

“We listen to our customers and their needs, which has led to our engineering and product development teams designing and releasing more and more solutions to our customers,” DSS CEO Mike Doxey said. “Our website had outgrown its original design and we knew we had to launch a new site to make it more user-friendly for our customers and contacts.”

The new site which is available at the old URL www.DSS.net, is split into easy-to-navigate sections of products listed with details and images. DSS also created a dedicated page for OEM (original equipment manufacturers) and private label customers.

“We work with customers across the world to help them achieve their goals. We aim to engineer and re-engineer components to remove costs while maintaining quality resulting in more value for our customers,” Mike said. “We want to ensure that message is correctly shared.”

If visitors are more comfortable learning about DSS product range via catalogs, they are available on the site’s resources page.

“We’re delighted to have made the new website live and look forward to receiving feedback from users so we can continue to improve our service as needed” Mike added.

This technology will allow the Army Corps to more quickly 3D print concrete structures without relying on the delivery of large amounts of construction materials.

“By harnessing the power of AI, our research team aims to streamline the process of material selection, ensuring optimal performance and cost-effectiveness,” says Khayat, S&T’s vice chancellor for research and innovation. “The AI program will evaluate a wide range of locally-available materials in various areas and identify the most appropriate combinations for 3D printing concrete.

“This will enhance the efficiency of the construction process, improve troop safety, pave the way for more sustainable practices and help expedite humanitarian assistance missions.”

Khayat also serves as S&T’s Vernon and Maralee Jones Professor of Civil Engineering and was listed as a top researcher in his field in an analysis by Stanford University. For this interdisciplinary project, he is leading researchers with expertise in materials science and engineering, civil engineering, and computer science.

Everything from temporary bridges and barracks to guardhouses and defense obstacles could potentially be created with this program.

The team’s goal is to have 50% or more of the materials be indigenous, or local, to replace traditional cement materials. The materials will be tested to determine how easily they can be pumped, extruded and used for construction.

Potential materials will come from natural minerals, industrial byproducts and agricultural waste, which could include sources such as rice husk ash, palm oil fuel ash, ground dolomite and ground glass. Khayat says that using these materials could also potentially improve local sustainability and provide an economic benefit for the local areas.

Khayat’s team will also consider a variety of fibers to reinforce the 3D-printed structures. Some metal and synthetic structural fibers will be tested, but so will more unconventional fibers derived from plants and recycled materials, such as bamboo, coconut, glass, hemp, cellulose and rubber.

“This will be a comprehensive project that will make a significant difference in the mobility of our troops,” Khayat says. “The amount of supply chain issues for materials will be greatly reduced, as will the construction costs. Missouri S&T is a leading university for researching novel 3D printing of concrete materials, and we are proud to answer the federal government’s call to help with this important work.”

Khayat joined S&T’s faculty in 2011. He has long been considered a pioneer in the field of high-performance concrete with adapted concrete rheology, including self-consolidating concrete. He has won multiple awards for his efforts, including the Robert E. Philleo Award from the Concrete Research Council of the American Concrete Institute Foundation and a lifetime achievement award from the International RILEM Conference on Rheology and Processing of Construction Materials.

About Missouri University of Science and Technology
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System and located in Rolla, Missouri, Missouri S&T offers 101 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top 10 universities for return on investment, according to Business Insider. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.

The investment will allow Transcend to continue to expand its customer base, which already includes many of the leading infrastructure players in the world such as Arcadis, Black and Veatch, Brookfield Asset Management, Anglian Water, Xylem, and Veolia. In less than two years, designs generated through Transcend’s software have already positively impacted the lives of over 100M people in 65 countries around the globe.

Transcend’s market-leading generative design software, the Transcend Design Generator (TDG), fully automates the conceptual and preliminary design of critical infrastructure assets, enabling asset owners to reduce design costs and timelines and prioritizes the incorporation of innovative and sustainable technologies. TDG integrates process, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering calculations and decisions to automatically generate complete and accurate preliminary engineering designs for a variety of water and power infrastructure projects. The outputs include 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) models, carbon footprint estimates, equipment lists, operating and capital expenditure calculations, and many others.

“Autodesk feels strongly that new and better ways of designing and making can lead to a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable world for all. So we appreciate how Transcend is applying generative and outcome-based design to accelerate development of sustainable critical infrastructure,” said Theo Agelopoulos, Vice President of AEC Design Strategy at Autodesk. “This investment and our collaboration with Transcend will help make advanced technologies more accessible to a wide range of asset owners, engineering firms, and equipment suppliers, enabling them to achieve better outcomes faster.”

Transcend will use the investment to accelerate its go-to-market strategy and product roadmap, further establishing its market leadership in generative design software for critical infrastructure.

“We look forward to this next phase of growth as we continue our mission to help engineers, utilities, and technology suppliers design innovative and sustainable critical infrastructure,” said Ari Raivetz, Founder and CEO of Transcend. “Autodesk’s commitment to our business as part of this Series B is a clear indicator that the world is moving towards the automation of preliminary design activities to develop resilient infrastructure for the future. That is good news for everyone, because we must move faster to build the next generation of green infrastructure if we are going to solve the climate crisis.”

Autodesk customers and other users working with TDG can automatically generate complete, accurate preliminary designs for a variety of water and wastewater treatment facilities and electrical substations including editable design documents that are native to Autodesk products including AutoCAD®, and Revit®.

“This investment is not only a catalyst for the growth of our business, but a catalyst for our customers as well. We will continue investing heavily in product features that our users can leverage to build a better world for all of us to live in,” said Adam Tank, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Transcend.

To learn more about Transcend, visit transcendinfra.com.

About Transcend

Transcend is a B2B Software-as-a-Service company focused on design and engineering automation for critical infrastructure. Their flagship product, the Transcend Design Generator (“TDG”), integrates process, mechanical, structural, electrical, civil, and architectural design disciplines into a hosted cloud-based software and generative design platform that permits users to input data and automatically generate a preliminary engineering design for critical infrastructure projects and vertical assets, including automatic generation of a wide variety of engineering documents and files. For more information, visit them at https://transcendinfra.com/, or follow them on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/transcend-infra

Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, AutoCAD and Revit are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

“We invite our entire customer base, those participating in educational programs around the world, and all those aspiring to be civil engineers, to try their hand at Hydrology Engineer,” says Bruce Carlson, president and founder of Carlson Software. “Players are welcome to submit the hydrology design with the lowest cost including penalties and meeting all conditions. It doesn’t matter where you live, what your background is, how much training you have, if you are a ‘natural,’ if you think like a civil engineer or if you are willing to try many scenarios, you can win.”

The goal of the game is to design a storm sewer system from available inlets and pipe types and sizes that drains the site successfully, with no excessive pressure in the pipes overflowing at inlets and no excessive gutter spread in the streets that might cause flooding and hydroplaning.

The game uses a photo-realistic depiction of a subdivision with low points in the streets that require the placement of inlets with catch basins and it must drain to a detention pond also found on the site. Players will be scored by the program automatically as they try to produce the lowest cost solution that drains the site and successfully meets regulatory requirements.

Each month, Carlson Software will provide either a new site or the same site with new constraints such as additional utility systems that must be factored into the design, to avoid collisions or meet regulatory requirements for offsets. For each month, all purchasers of Hydrology Engineer can compete to produce the lowest cost solution, earning an announcement on our website and a design approval certificate as well as the opportunity to connect with engineering firms for potential job opportunities.

Many universities and educational institutions have adopted Hydrology Engineer as a supplemental part of their existing curriculum. Carlson offers unique offers for any educational facilities interested in adopting the game as part of their program.

For more information about Carlson’s Hydrology Engineer video game or to purchase, visit carlsongaming.com. Sign up now to play to enter into the July 2023 challenge.

Founded in 1983, Carlson Software Inc. specializes in CAD design software, field data collection, laser measurement and machine control products for the civil engineering, surveying, GIS, construction, and mining industries worldwide, providing one-source technology solutions for the entire project cycle. Carlson Software is headquartered in Maysville, KY., U.S.A., with branch offices in Boston, MA; Almere, Netherlands; Victoria, Australia; Ottawa, Canada; and York, England.

Expanding Roads without Major Land Purchases

As traffic in San Antonio continued to grow, the city needed to expand its road system. In particular, the section of Interstate 35 between Loop 410 and Loop 1604 needed extra capacity. As well as adding three lanes in each direction for 21.8 miles, the project required the development of new interchanges at each loop, full pavement reconstruction of loop 1604, and partial replacement of existing barriers and sidewalks. The Texas Department of Transportation awarded the project to Ferrovial Construction through its subsidiary Alamo NEX Construction.

However, since the project is in a dense urban area, the TxDOT was unable to make major land purchases to expand the highway in a traditional manner. As a result, the highway had to be constructed within an elevated viaduct to avoid disruption to the many adjacent buildings. Alamo NEX had to determine the optimal method for designing the needed number of lanes within a tight space. 

Reaching the Limits of 2D Design

As Alamo NEX planned how to accommodate the viaduct, the potential design grew increasingly complex. They needed to determine how to place the substructure of bridges between the existing mainlines and frontage road. This was no easy feat as the footprint had to be minimized, and the frontage road would have to be moved to create room for the foundation. The new viaducts would overhang existing roads, requiring traffic to be moved away due to safety requirements. 

Even with the viaduct design, Alamo NEX had to reuse as much of the existing infrastructure as possible. As a result, they needed to determine how to connect the new elements to existing assets. Since the company also faced a challenging supply chain, the team wanted to eliminate the most expensive elements that would normally go into a road project, such as steel spans. Alamo NEX previously designed road projects using traditional 2D methods, though this technique typically resulted in conflicts during construction that resulted in costly redesigns and a considerable loss of productivity. “More often than not, we will find a substantial amount of conflicts in the field that need a significant effort by our company,” said Carlos Gonzalez, vice president, engineering services, design operations lead North America with Ferrovial Construction. The organization needed a more efficient way to design the project to meet its strict requirements. 

Revealing and Resolving Clashes by Going Digital

After studying their options, Alamo NEX determined Bentley applications could help teams collaborate within 3D design, enabling them to work within the tight space while keeping any clashes to a minimum. They began by using ProjectWise to establish an open, connected data environment with clearly defined servers and tight control over who accesses information, ensuring all information is up to date and accurate. “This is very beneficial to the group as there is absolutely no doubt of the most current version of a specific design file, as no consultant can work on their server,” Gonzalez said. Team members then used MicroStation, OpenBridge, and OpenRoads to create and refine models for each portion of the project. 

ProjectWise enabled the team to share designs to the iTwin Platform, enabling all team members to review options, highlight elements, and make comments. By comparing design proposals with real-world data captured from LiDAR scans, the teams created a digital twin that could help them determine available vertical clearances, available spaces for machinery, the types of retaining walls required, and the dimensions of columns. As the project incorporated numerous elevated viaducts, having strong 3D visualization helped designers immediately realize the impact of designs on the urban environment. Finally, combining individual components and real-world assets enabled them to reveal and resolve clashes, ensuring seamless connections between all elements. 

Improving the Driver Experience with a Digital Twin

By designing all elements of the project within a single environment, Alamo Nex enabled all team members to contribute to every portion of the project. Combining clash detection tools and LiDAR information for existing elements greatly reduced the number of clashes and errors, ensuring seamless connection during the design phase and preventing costly redesigns during construction, such as having to rebuild elements that were demolished by mistake. The team detected and eliminated 3,530 clashes during design. Additionally, they determined how to reduce the use of expensive elements like steel spans while keeping the design strong.

Alamo NEX also worked to improve the experience of commuters. Team members took care to view assets in the design applications from the point of view of people driving on the highway. With that perspective, they removed, raised, or moved elements of the viaducts that could block views of signs. Designing the highway with a 3D digital twin helped them overcome the tight design area to create the unusual but effective viaduct form, all while greatly improving efficiency.

Amy Heffner is director, product marketing with Bentley Systems. She can be reached at amy.heffner@bentley.com.

So many people talk about how technology is reimagining the jobsite. Whether drones, reality capture, or machine control, there’s little debate about technology’s role in the modern jobsite in enabling efficiencies in time, materials, and resources. 

The discussion, however, should also center on the larger role technology should play to keep the jobsite — and everyone on it — safe.

The industry is at a turning point as the next generation of workers takes leadership roles within companies. Undoubtedly, younger generations have a different relationship with technology — we see the conversation in our daily lives; civil and structural engineers need to proactively bring that same discussion into their professional lives.

The tendency in any profession is to rely on what’s worked previously, rather than rocking the boat. While approaching the jobsite “the way it’s always been done” works to a point, civil and structural engineers have an opportunity to reimagine the job site and make it safer for everyone in the process.

The only certainty is uncertainty.

Whether it’s the shortage of skilled workers or the onset of new technologies, a new job site has emerged over the past few years.

These changes have led to some level of uncertainty.

That sentiment is borne out in the latest data from The Civil Quarterly (TCQ) from Dodge Construction Network, produced in partnership with Infotech and Hexagon. Respondents identified various factors contributing to feelings of uncertainty, including shortages of skilled workers and increased regulations.

To tackle these concerns, roughly half of the civil contractors and civil engineers surveyed said they would allocate more resources toward recruitment. However, only a small proportion mentioned investing in technology.

The widespread deployment of technology on the jobsite can fundamentally change operations for the better — and in the process, make the jobsite safer. While there are multiple ways to achieve a safer jobsite, having technology as the enabler allows teams to chart the solutions they want to deploy on the jobsite.

Addressing safety today doesn’t only mean physical safety; it’s expanded to include mental health.

The seen and the unseen.

Numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal an often-overlooked threat facing the industries: suicide and, by extension, declining mental health.

CDC numbers reveal the construction industry’s suicide rate is one of the highest of any industry. However, the official numbers may not fully capture the scope of the crisis.

In 2016, the suicide rate of 49.4 per 100,000 for men in the “construction and extraction occupations” was roughly double the suicide rate for civilian working men between 16 and 64 years old in 32 states (27.4/100,000). It was also five times more than the construction industry’s fatal work-related injuries rate of 9.5/100,000 in 2018.

It is difficult to say what is causing the elevated suicide rate, and the CDC suggested additional research to understand why the rate is higher for construction workers. Anecdotal evidence points to job strain, long work hours and other “psychological risk factors,” including depression and stress, contributing to the rate.

What is happening on the jobsite today?

Reshaping the jobsite requires reexamining every aspect of the construction process, starting with site preparation. On the modern jobsite, companies must look at site prep as more than moving dirt because the success of a project starts before the first shovel turns any dirt.

Historically, many people in the industry start working before they perform the checks to ensure the job site is safe. Unfortunately, these operators function based on what they know and what they have done their entire careers.

What happens is that crews often find discrepancies or errors after they’ve started to move dirt. That means rework, and companies start losing money.

Technology is the game-changer that can help improve safety, and it starts with focusing on the root causes. If job strain and long work hours are among the leading causes of worker suicide, firms should look at solutions that reduce those factors.

Solutions like machine control and total stations help teams easily capture jobsite intelligence and complete tasks quicker, allowing them to spend less time on the job site.

Additionally, performing utility detection checks before starting excavation work can lead to a safer jobsite, while potentially saving millions of dollars. While site preparation teams often focus on avoiding costly mistakes, the costliest mistake a company can make on the job site is not taking safety seriously.

Data collection will help companies track the risks.

The true benefit of technology is the opportunity it gives companies to know everything happening on the jobsite. For that knowledge to be useful, companies must maintain it in a format they can easily reference and guide their operations.

A growing use to improve operations is the collection and analysis of safety data.

However, Dodge data revealed that companies aren’t harnessing the power of data-driven safety. The report confirmed that large companies are collecting safety data, but not enough are using technology to accelerate the data collection process, minimize human error, and derive analysis from the data collected. 

According to the Dodge data, most civil contractors (93%) gather safety data by manually filling out forms. The percentage holds true for small, mid-size and large companies.

Paper forms manually completed must be entered into a system to allow for impactful analysis, opening the door to potential mistakes. Not enough companies opt for solutions like wearable sensors or site access technology to ensure the data they collect is accurate.

About half (47 percent) of civil contractors think collecting and analyzing jobsite safety data is too time-consuming, the Dodge data revealed, which is not surprising given the common use of manual processes. Shockingly, 10 percent of civil contractors aren’t collecting any safety data.

Technology augments a company’s biggest investment: its people.

Often the most important investment isn’t a piece of equipment or technology. Instead, people are the most significant investment and what truly powers an organization.

Engineering firms often don’t realize how much technology can help improve their operations until they meet with a provider and test solutions.

For a company to be successful, it is important to prioritize the well-being and safety of its employees. Deploying these solutions will help avoid those mistakes and help save money, but the most significant savings are realized with a focus on the team.

Earlier data from The Civil Quarterly (TCQ) showed that only about a third of contractor respondents (34 percent) said their companies have “good access to resources that help address mental health issues.” When asked about their organization’s state of mind/mental health compared with five years ago, twice as many civil contractors (36 percent) report improvements than worsening conditions (15 percent).

While this survey is specific to civil contractors, it’s likely indicative of the entire construction industry.

The uptick could result from the relatively high levels of job security or even the increasing attention to mental health since the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, more work is needed.

Technology cannot remove all risks from the jobsite or guarantee a worker’s safety. However, it can potentially make the jobsite safer by removing at least some of its risks.

Contractors cannot afford to stand idly by and watch the industry’s changes. They are not observers of these changes; they are actively involved in them.

It’s time to embrace the current technology today and lay the foundation for the industry of tomorrow. Only then can we start to make the jobsite safer.

Troy Dahlin is vice president, heavy construction segment, US/CAN of Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon. For more information, please visit www.leica-geosystems.com.

In a time when business operations need to be optimized to meet the challenging conditions caused by supply chain upheavals, geopolitical conflicts, and environmental threats, more and more industries are turning to new digital solutions.      

It is clear that the practices of yesterday are not going to solve today’s problems. Innovation has always been a part of the construction industry, and digitalization represents another of these opportunities. 

The key now is to remove the obstacles to adoption for construction companies, such as digital literacy and ease of integration, to empower construction firms to embrace digital solutions and see the benefits from increased time efficiency, reduced resource waste, and perhaps most significantly, reduced carbon emissions thanks to a more streamlined workflow. 

Adopting technology in road construction and the place of 3D machine control 

In order for technology to be adopted by contractors, it must be effortless and impactful. This means it should be easy to introduce and scale and get the job done in less time, to a higher standard, and with the lowest risk to all parties. In the road construction industry, the implementation of 3D machine control systems is an innovation with the potential to meet these requirements. 

3D machine control systems in paving applications might also be referred to as “Stringless Paving”. Going “stringless” has the benefits of lower cost and time requirements, as well as improved safety of the road construction job site. On some projects where there is limited space, in tunnels or city centers, for example, 3D technology for paving is already a legal requirement. Unlike in the past when road paving teams had to wait for surveyors to scrutinize the project, now 3D project files can be prepared upfront in the office ready for on-site use thanks to digital machine control systems. The workflow from earthmoving to paving application is therefore seamless, the project time is reduced and the overall costs are lowered. 

To enjoy the full benefits of 3D machine control technology in road construction, the digital solutions should be integrated throughout each step of the project. This starts with preparing an even ground using 3D solutions, ensuring a correct slope and grade for CCR (cement concrete road) or CTB (cement treated base) pavements. This will save the more expensive hot mix asphalt or concrete in the later processes, economizing on resources and money. The best method to harness maximum benefit from 3D machine control solutions is therefore to apply it from the bottom up to see how the benefits and savings accrued from one stage can be applied to the next.

Overcoming the key obstacles and implementing digital solutions that work

Introducing new technology into a business can feel like a daunting process, especially when it requires change across a workflow. That’s not to say 3D machine control systems are something to be avoided or wary of. They simply need to be carefully considered to ensure the right technology partners are chosen to ensure that the best digital solutions are applied. 

Before any new tech can be put into action, construction companies must first consider several points: how the new technology might be integrated with existing systems, how it will be used and accepted by their employees, how it fits in with the long-term strategy and workflow of the company, and also how efficiently the technology can be deployed. Four key aspects impact the construction industry’s adoption of digital technology:

1. Workforce acceptance 

New technology transforms processes, but it also greatly impacts people. While it will be easy for some people to adapt to and to adopt digital technologies, it is not always the case across the whole workforce. It’s crucial to choose a technology provider who will help train employees so that they accept and, importantly, enjoy using the new technology. With the right training and as more tech is used, the barriers to adoption among the workforce will naturally start to decrease, allowing easier adoption of new technologies in the future.

2. Strategy is priority

Digitization is not often an immediate solution to a short-term problem. It is vital for construction companies to consider how prepared they are to change their workflow. Optimizing entire fleets with 3D machine control systems, for example, is a long-term strategy that affects the entire road construction workflow and requires serious strategic consideration.

3. IT Integration

The complexity and variety of data formats and interfaces can pose challenges when planning to start or expand technology investment. On top of this, there can be added confusion with the different data formats road contractors use stringline models and others opt for terrain models. Choosing a technology partner who can integrate their IT into either model is therefore essential when changing to 3D technology.

4. Deployment efforts

Once the appropriate tech solution is identified and the IT can be properly integrated into the company’s processes, the next step is deployment. During road construction projects, and construction projects more broadly, the aim is always to complete the job well, and to complete it the first time. Therefore, how intuitive the technology is to deploy and manage is essential. Making sure it is easy helps foster workplace acceptance, facilitates compatibility with existing and future investments, lowers complexity for all stakeholders, and ultimately means it is faster to deploy.  

How successful 3D machine control technology will be for a business is more than just a matter of making the right single purchase. It is a strategic, multi-level decision that involves choosing a technology partner that can support the product, the people and the overall digital transformation. Once a team becomes acclimatized to 3D technology and the management understands that its use requires change to the entire workflow to harness all the benefits, 3D machine control technology acceptance is no longer an issue. Instead, it slots easily into a company’s long-term plans and strategy for enhanced work processes. 

From inefficiency to sustainability  

Sustainability is more than just a buzzword of the 21st century, for every industry it is an actionable priority. Overcapacity, inefficient processes and methodologies are hampering the construction industry and contributing to the 39 percent of global C02 emissions generated by the industry. However, there is a silver lining. Technology-enabled workflows not only reduce waste by optimizing the quantity of material used during a project, but they also help to ensure that machines and other equipment do the work right the first time. This means more time, fuel, and machine hours are saved, capacity is enhanced and efficiency is guaranteed.  

Beyond this, there is also great potential for road construction to be an example of the circular economy if machine control technology is widely and properly implemented. This technology helps to control the amount milled, and reduce the amount of new hot mix asphalt or concrete material made, the production of which requires a significant amount of energy and natural resources. Saved resources can then be used in future paving projects and the new pavement volume can be reduced with the help of 3D technology. This material saving potential using 3D technology can help the construction industry reduce its carbon dioxide footprint.

The process of digitization may feel like a daunting one. There are certainly obstacles construction companies must first surmount before it invests in new technology such as 3D machine control systems. However, construction technology manufacturers know that effortlessness and impactfulness are paramount for contractors, and develop their technologies so as to deliver on these requirements. Technology partners will help along the way to ensure that any new tech can be properly integrated into the work systems and any training required for personnel will take place. The benefits of investing in machine control systems for the road construction industry go beyond improving quality and saving time, to minimizing waste and improving the overall sustainability of the industry.  

Tommi Kauppinen has more than 25 years of experience in the Machine Control business. Mr Kauppinen holds a degree in automation engineering as well as a few patents relating to positioning and awareness related solutions.  He has been involved with several start-up companies as a founder and held senior strategic roles within large publicly traded global companies. 

He currently holds the position of Vice President Heavy Construction, Machine Control Field Solutions.

Hexagon

Hexagon is a global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. We are putting data to work to boost efficiency, productivity, quality and safety across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, public sector, and mobility applications.   
 
Our technologies are shaping production and people related ecosystems to become increasingly connected and autonomous – ensuring a scalable, sustainable future.  
 
Hexagon’s Geosystems division provides a comprehensive portfolio of digital solutions that capture, measure, and visualize the physical world and enable data-driven transformation across industry ecosystems. 

Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.2bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.

Tommi Kauppinen is Vice President of Heavy Construction, Machine Control Field Solutions, Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon. Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.2bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.

Has your firm been struggling to implement a new process or new tool throughout the org chart? You may think you’re having a hard time because the new shiny thing just isn’t a good fit for your firm, or maybe your idea-vetting process isn’t working, or maybe the rollout wasn’t clear. No matter your reason, new ideas have always been hard to accept. Humans are not accustomed to rapid changes, and the world around us is evolving quickly. We are coming up with new ideas every day on how to improve our workplaces, advance ourselves technologically, or just communicate better. All of these are forms of innovation, and innovation is how we improve ourselves and our collective lives.

“Innovation” has become a buzzword. Leaders in firms are trying to find the next best innovation – whether they call it that or not. But they are often thinking solely of technological innovations. This type of thinking can limit the potential of a firm. Innovation, according to Everette Rogers in his book Diffusion of Innovations, is “an idea, practice, or object that is perceived as new.” You can look at the most recent Apple unveiling event to see how far technological innovations have come with the introduction of their new virtual and augmented reality headsets. But you can also see where they’ve plateaued – when will the MacBook not have a bevel and when will its web cam quality finally catch up? You can also look to AI and its rapid expansion into the workplace for how innovations can diffuse into new contexts. Zweig Group has been a part of starting the conversation around integrating AI into the AEC industry because we know it has the potential to change the industry from all sides.

But, as mentioned above, we are not accustomed to change. With rapidly developing technologies like AI, no one can know how well an innovation will be integrated from the start. If you want an innovation to stick, you must begin by communicating the advantages to the groups that will use them. In this way, innovative communication has the potential to have the biggest impact on any idea. This means leaders need to understand how information is being shared across a company through its different business groups. Ideas spread fast in like minded groups, so identifying the most influential people in each business group and getting them bought into a new idea should be one of the first steps taken when fielding a new idea to your company.

If leaders are the only ones fully in the know of what new ideas, products, and processes are coming down into the rest of the org chart, that’s inviting pushback and could have a negative impact on adoption rate. Pushing new ideas onto a group will create reluctant adoption which in turn can build resentment and ultimately push people out if they don’t feel like they have a choice. This can be avoided if those deciding – or even the ones creating – innovations include the users in the creation and adoption process.

Again, from Rogers’ book, if an innovation is to be effectively adopted by a group, its relative advantage of use must be clearly stated without being overly complex. The innovation must be thoroughly tested and observed as being compatible with the needs of the potential users. For example, if an innovation is brought forward by an employee in a firm and understood to be useful, but that benefit is only explained once to leadership before being established as a new standard practice without being tested by other parts of the company, that innovation is likely to fail. It wouldn’t fail because the innovation was poorly designed or hard to use, but because the advantage was not tested or communicated effectively with all potential users. Without communication, innovations cannot be adopted. If innovations are not adopted, we cannot elevate our industry.

If you are looking to elevate your firm, the AI Innovation Discovery service now offered by Zweig Group is designed to help identify areas of your firm that have the potential to adopt innovative ideas: a new process, a new product, a new way of communicating. We will walk you through exercises in a workshop format that will center your firm’s and employees’ needs around the problem, so that the final solution fits your firm’s unique situation. Click here to learn more. 

Katelynn Santiago, MFA, is senior design manager at Zweig Group. Contact her at ksantiago@zweiggroup.com.

AI Innovation Discovery

We provide valuable insight into how to best understand and seamlessly merge and adapt AI into your organizational structure. Let us guide you and optimize the impact of AI on your operations, identify areas where AI can be implemented, and develop a roadmap for successful AI adoption. Click here to learn more!

“The industry needs this partnership as many companies struggle with a gap in the parts procurement process, which can lead to errors in the parts ordering process and productivity lapses,” says Hayden Price, product manager, Equipment360, HCSS. “Businesses will benefit from the efficiencies gained by automating the entire parts procurement ordering process from end to end. With the integrated workflows, customers can collaborate and procure orders from the right dealers to get parts faster to reduce the repair cost and downtime of equipment.”

“Together, Gearflow Parts Hub Pro and HCSS Equipment360 will create new efficiencies for heavy equipment fleet’s repair and maintenance processes,” says Luke Powers, Gearflow CEO and founder. “At a time where the need for skilled labor has never been higher, our partnership will allow fleets to do more with less by sourcing parts faster, working smarter — and ultimately adding margin opportunities back to their bottom lines.”

“With Parts Hub Pro and Equipment360, fleet teams can digitize their entire parts ordering process to drastically reduce the costs and equipment downtime stemming from today’s parts processes,” says Ben Preston, Gearflow COO and co-founder. “We can now streamline a customer’s process from the moment a part is needed to the moment a part is received, filling the gap from the time a work order is created to when an invoice is processed. We are excited to work with a partner in HCSS who has a shared vision to improve the productivity and profitability in construction through the implementation of technology.”

HCSS Equipment360 is a shop management and fleet maintenance solution that allows construction companies to manage assets and inventory, schedule and plan for preventive and predictive maintenance, manage mechanics and work orders, perform and track inspections, and more.

Gearflow simplifies the parts ordering process for heavy equipment fleets by increasing access to parts suppliers, centralizing communication, and maximizing visibility, all in one easy-to-use platform. Integrating with E360 removes the need for duplicate entry of parts request information and eliminates manual steps while giving fleet teams automatic oversight of all parts transactions.                                    

“The goal for the HCSS marketplace is to bring high-quality solutions into the HCSS ecosystem, and Gearflow fits well into this system as it aligns perfectly with the HCSS fleet offering and elevates the customer experience,” says Rateb Almasri, product manager, HCSS.

Gearflow and HCSS are ultimately after the same thing — to reduce cost and equipment downtime for heavy equipment fleet teams through an improved level of productivity achieved through technology. By digitizing the entire parts procurement process, users will save time and money, while eliminating downtime.     

About HCSS

HCSS is the trusted leader in construction software for estimating, field entry, project management, safety, digital plans, fleet management, and telematics. For 35 years, the company has used annual user group meetings to listen to customers resulting in innovative software to manage every part of the project lifecycle. With 24/7 instant support and a proven implementation process, HCSS has helped improve operations for over 3,500 companies ranging from $1M to billions in revenue across the United States and Canada. HCSS, a 15-time Best Place to Work in Texas, has a unique 12-acre campus in Sugar Land, Texas, with three buildings capable of housing 700 employees. Learn more at hcss.com.

About Gearflow

Gearflow is simplifying the parts ordering process for heavy equipment fleets by increasing access to parts suppliers, centralizing communication, and maximizing visibility, all in one easy-to-use platform. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in Chicago. For more information, visit gearflow.com.

“Digital twins and enabling technologies are revolutionizing how we approach even the simplest of tasks, from managing the flow of stock in a warehouse to designing, deploying and maintaining a fleet of aircraft,” said Dan Isaacs, GM & CTO, DTC. “Digital twin systems accelerate digitization as they provide organizations the means to operate more efficiently, effectively and adhere to best practices and guidelines.”

The guide discusses the IT/OT infrastructure, virtual representation, service interfaces, applications, and mechanisms for synchronizing real-world data. The guide reviews commonly adopted technological approaches and standards and emphasizes the importance of security, trustworthiness, and governance.

“The Platform Stack Architectural Framework: An Introductory Guide answers fundamental questions such as “What are the critical constituent parts of a digital twin system?” and “What elements take a solution from being a great model or simulation to qualifying as a digital twin?” said Dr. David McKee, Entrepreneur and Portfolio CTO at Counterpoint Technologies, and Co-Chair of the Capabilities and Technology Working Group, DTC. “The guide also helps business leaders and developers understand how to design and architect digital twin systems with best practices for scalability, interoperability, and composability to realize their transformative value.”

The guide discusses five use cases of varying maturity levels with examples of how designers can use the architecture in practice. The use cases include buildings as batteries, emergency communication services, manufacturing quality control via remote operator, scope 3 carbon reporting emissions, and infectious disease management. Technology Readiness Levels (outlined in the guide) help designers understand the technical maturity of a system as it moves through the following stages:

• Technical modeling and simulation, starting with theoretical models and improving to being based on real-world data
• Digital twins as individual components based on actual data and validated in the real world through synchronization.
• Digital twin systems in production and operational environments, with system integration and clearly defined synchronization at a specified frequency

The guide is the first in a series of digital twin publications OMG consortia will publish in the coming months. For more information, please download the Platform Stack Architectural Framework: An Introductory Guide from the DTC website.

About Digital Twin Consortium

Digital Twin Consortium is The Authority of Digital Twin. It coalesces industry, government, and academia to drive consistency in vocabulary, architecture, security, and interoperability of digital twin technology. It advances digital twin technology in many industries, from Aerospace to natural resources. Digital Twin Consortium is a program of Object Management Group. For more information, visit https://www.digitaltwinconsortium.org.

In recent years, more driver assistance functions (i.e., automatic speed control, vehicle distance/white line detection) have been introduced as vehicles become progressively electronic and sophisticated. As such, the demand for RGB chip LEDs capable of expressing a range of colors to indicate operational status in instrument panels and meter clusters is rising. In addition, there is an increasing need to create a comfortable and luxurious cabin space with decorative lighting using RGB chip LEDs.

In response, ROHM has developed an RGB chip LED that further minimizes color variation by precisely controlling the luminous characteristics of the RGB elements and improving color mixing through in-house device technology.

Generally, developing RGB chip LEDs that emit light at the specified color requires precise control of the wavelength and brightness of the mounted red, green, and blue (RGB) elements individually and methods to enhance color-mixing capability. ROHM has minimized element color variation over general products by utilizing a vertically integrated production system from the element fabrication stage – one of ROHM’s strengths. At the same time, original element color mixing control technology reduces color variations caused by color mixing that tends to occur in RGB chip LEDs, resulting in accurate color expression required in automotive interiors. ROHM also supports detailed color matching tailored to user specifications with the chromaticity simulation system.

In the future, ROHM will continue to contribute to improving in-vehicle comfort and safety by developing industry-leading products optimized for automotive lighting through a quality-first approach.

Chromaticity Simulation System

The SMLVN6RGBFU sets adjustment coefficients for each chromaticity rank while providing calibration support to bring the color closer to the desired target. This new RGB chip LED and high-accuracy chromaticity simulation allows precise color matching.

The latest installment of HDR’s Experts Talk interview series features Brad Robinson, HDR’s director of project controls, and Brandon Joy, HDR’s commercial management director, describing new tools that streamline the development of project dashboards to help leaders better deliver infrastructure.

Citing examples from large and small projects and programs, Robinson and Joy explain the benefits of these new tools and outline the incremental approach that works for developing staff and building the experience to apply these solutions. They describe systems used to manage the CA$10 billion-plus Ontario Line Subway in Toronto that integrated over a dozen data sources, and smaller installations for change and quality management for fast-track design-build projects, large and small. Republication of the article or separate interviews with Robinson and Joy are available on request.

“For a reasonably low cost, we develop a single source of truth — a data hub that includes workflow and notifications — that gets you running quickly,” Joy said. “Some black-box solutions can take a year to get modules going; we can be up and going in a fraction of that time.”

“Simply by eliminating side files — those Excel sheets you create to analyze data from multiple sources — it’s useful for any size project,” Robinson said. “Because these applications sit on top of clients’ existing systems, they’re economical both in simple form for a small $100K project and in more complex form for billion-dollar projects, so the solution scales really well.”

HDR’s Experts Talk interview series shines a light on various aspects of transportation infrastructure design and delivery. Each subject matter expert offers unique expertise and insights about new and ongoing trends, emerging technologies and the human side of infrastructure.

The construction industry has made tremendous progress in terms of the number of women represented.  Not only are there more women in the construction industry than ever, but the number of women in the industry has increased steadily since 2016.  Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that, as of August 2022, women made up 14 percent of the construction workforce.  While this represents a significant increase on the lows of 12.4 percent in December of 2015 and 12 percent in 2005, there is still a lot of work to be done in the way of progress.  Part of the steady increase in the number of women in the construction comes as a result of an increase in women in leadership positions.  As more women enter the workforce, there are more opportunities for women to fill leadership roles and support other women looking to advance their careers.  There is also the opportunity to alleviate the current labor shortage by hiring more women in the industry.

There have been significant changes in the AEC industry during the last fifteen years, and Danielle O’Connell has not only experienced these changes, but has been a driving force.  O’Connell is the Senior Director of Skanska USA’s National Emerging Technology team.  A 15-year year veteran of the AEC industry, O’Connell has spent the last five and a half years with the global building and development company Skanska.  Prior to taking her current position, O’Connell held a number of different roles including BIM/VDC management, project manager, and owner-side positions as well as spending a short time with a technology company.  O’Connell points out that, when she first started in the construction industry, there weren’t many women in the same roles as her, particularly within BIM/VDC and construction technology.  

This realization was a catalyst for O’Connell’s drive to be a resource for other women.  This means paving a path for women looking for similar roles, and encouraging them to incorporate “their passion for these things into more traditional operations roles.”  And, to develop these leadership skills, O’Connell says that she has not been short of outstanding examples of leadership and advocacy to look up to.  While O’Connell points to leaders and advocates within her career that have shaped her professional life, the same leadership and advocacy can come from outside forces and shape one’s professional life.

Ankita Ramakrishnan is an Assistant Project Manager for Lendlease Construction.  Ramakrishnan grew up in the Bay Area in California, having recently relocated to New York to pursue her passion in construction and development.  As a woman of color working to level the playing field in these fields, Ramakrishnan is focused on the sustainable environment, social responsibility, and resource conservation.  Growing up in the Bay Area, she gained firsthand experience with gentrification and expensive housing, which shaped her interest in building affordable homes rooted in ethical community development.  Ramakrishnan is focused on ethical community development because it means providing safe, clean places for people that will enhance their standard of living.  She believes it’s as simple as this: we need to service communities’ wants and needs.

Ramakrishnan understands that, while this goal seems clear, the process to provide these resources is “oftentimes tied up in red tape and difficult to expedite.”  This difficulty prevents resources from being allocated to communities that need them most.  Ramakrishnan believes developers need to have stronger relationships with local governments, and that these local governments need to be motivated to create positive change for their communities.  She points to community organizations like RYN, which “have been incredibly useful for me to organize grassroots movements in order to propose long term changes that better communities at large.”  Ramakrishnan points to her upbringing in the Bay Area as a big influence on her unique perspective.  She says that sustainability was not only encouraged but was actively discussed and innovated upon.  This framework allowed Ramakrishnan to pursue her passion for sustainability with active support from teachers and peers.

Whether leadership and advocacy come from teachers, peers, coworkers, managers, or anywhere else, these elements are essential to continuing progress in the AEC industry’s journey towards diversity, equity, and inclusion. We’ve even seen technology partners like Autodesk step into the conversation with DEI efforts such as the initiative in which they funded safety harnesses specifically designed for women.  As Ramakrishnan points out, there is a direct link between our industry and the lives of people in communities all around the world.  Our ability to effectively respond to the challenges of the future hinges on our ability to respond to the communities we serve.  By demonstrating leadership and advocacy, we can grow our industry to include more voices that will help solve our coming challenges.

Palmer Paving is no stranger to benefits of software technology, and a unified approach to estimating, performance tracking and accounting continues to pay dividends. Technology systems at the company based in western Massachusetts include B2W Estimate and B2W Track from B2W Software and the Vista accounting/ERP program from Viewpoint, all Trimble companies.

Palmer is a Peckham Industries subsidiary specializing in highway construction, commercial paving and excavation and sitework. The company also supplies asphalt and aggregates with four plants.

Bidding fast and accurately with software

“What makes the estimating software so effective and one of the leading products out there is the availability to customize it, to really tailor it to the jobs that we bid,” says Jim Madden, chief estimator.

Palmer Paving creates more than 500 estimates annually. Large bids are in the $10- and $20-million range. Smaller projects might be worth less than $150,000.

Regardless of bid size, a prepopulated database of accurate cost items within the estimating software is a big time saver. Estimators at Palmer have also built various crew structures and tasks for completing work, along with personnel, equipment, and other costs associated with these crews and tasks, into the software. These can be plugged into the bid as required.

“We can get a small, routine bid out of here in 15 or 20 minutes, if we have all the information for it,” says Madden. “With a larger, more complex job, the software allows us to not have to build the whole thing from scratch.”

Bidding on larger jobs can be a collaborative effort at Palmer Paving. One estimator could be inputting subcontractor pricing while others work on other aspects. This ability for multiple estimators to work simultaneously, without confusion over versions or who changed what, is a powerful advantage of estimating with specialized software.

For DOT projects, the software comes with a database of cost items used by each state. Contractors like Palmer Paving can have them pre populate those item databases with their costs. “The software is great for DOT bidding because it’s so automated,” says Madden. “When we download a state bid form, a lot of items can be pulled automatically from our database, and we just have to add quantities and make adjustments.”

Because they don’t have to look up and enter items manually, estimators instead move right to the more strategic work of reviewing and modifying estimates. When they’re ready, they export bids easily from B2W Estimate to a CSV file for uploading to the state system.

The fast, seamless process buys valuable time. “We’ve been able to make changes two minutes before the bid time and export it, upload it, and get it in on time with that change in there,” says Madden.

Agile performance tracking in the field

Contract administrator Mary Lessard oversaw adoption of software for field tracking at Palmer Paving. Electronic field logs were a big improvement, she says, citing less effort, more accuracy and instant access to consolidated data in a single place.

“We’re capturing labor, billing quantities, equipment hours, and production and subcontractor quantities,” Lessard explains. “All the information for a particular job is in the system and at our fingertips, so there is less error in entering employees, equipment, tracking accounts and quantities.”

Foremen also leave notes in the logs to explain circumstances impacting labor hours or production quantities on a particular day. “The foremen are basically our eyes and ears out there,” Lessard says. “What they enter in those field logs gives me a picture, so I can do the next step and actually bill the job.”

Adoption of the field tracking software was relatively smooth, according to Lessard, once some foremen got over what she calls the ‘I’m scared of a computer’ thing. In a construction sector like paving, where jobs can be similar from a crew and equipment standpoint, the option to create new field logs by copying previous ones has proven to be an appreciated alternative to starting from scratch.

Estimating, field tracking and accounting systems are integrated

Palmer Paving has developed tight integration and a smooth data flow between systems used to manage estimating, performance tracking in the field and its accounting or ERP functions.

Bid data, including estimated costs and tracking accounts, are exported directly to the Viewpoint Vista accounting ERP system for budget creation and job costing.

“After I set up the job in Vista, I imported it into B2W Track, so whatever is in Vista exactly matches Track,” Lessard explains.

“Payroll hours, equipment hours and production quantities are brought into the accounting system from Track,” Madden adds. Those production quantities, captured on the field logs, are then used for billing. They can also be compared versus the original estimate. The process eliminates the need to reenter the data manually, saving time and removing opportunities for errors.

“Overall, it definitely does save time,” Lessard concurs. The export/import functionality is way more efficient than keying in all of that information, and if something comes in incorrectly, it’s an easy thing to fix.”

Cohesive field tracking and estimating systems give Madden and his team another advantage. They make it easier to use actual production data from work that has been completed to sharpen the accuracy of upcoming bids.

“I can look at production reports, which are derived from daily field logs, and see average tons of asphalt paving per shift, for instance,” Madden explains. “That’s very powerful information for us when we’re bidding a similar job.”

Greg Norris is Director of Marketing Communications at B2W Software, a Trimble company. The B2W platform connects people, workflows and data and includes unified applications to manage estimating, scheduling, performance tracking, equipment maintenance, data capture and business intelligence. Greg can be reached at: gnorris@b2wsoftware.com.

In this recent article in Civil + Structural Engineer Magazine, my colleague Mike Housby wrote about how managers of large capital projects are swimming in data that has the potential to help them make better, faster decisions. But there is a problem: there are several obstacles to making that data truly consumable and actionable. He quoted the famous line from Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner to describe the conundrum: “Water, water, everywhere. Nor any drop to drink.” So much data. Too few insights. It’s a problem that every project manager I know can relate to.

Mike didn’t just diagnose the problem, though. He mapped out how organizations responsible for these large capital projects can tap into the potential of that data by using enterprise GIS and location intelligence. That technology and the best practices he discussed are a gamechanger for managing large construction projects in ways that keep them moving forward, simplify management of all the moving parts, and make it more likely for these massive projects to stay on time and on budget. One of the UK’s biggest infrastructure projects is a great example of that: The Thames Estuary 2100 flood risk management project, based in London.

Referred to most often as TEAM2100, the UK Environment Agency’s Thames Estuary Asset Management 2100 Programme is the first step in a nearly century-long plan to manage tidal flood risk for the UK’s most important and famous river. TEAM2100 encompasses the tidal Thames estuary and associated flood plains from west London downstream to the North Sea, protecting over 1.4 million people and £321 billion pounds worth of property from tidal flooding. The asset system comprises more than 4000 flood defense assets, including 350 kilometers of walls and embankments, the iconic Thames Barrier and several other tidal barriers, 290 outfalls, 348 frontage gates, and just over 100 pumping stations, each with hundreds if not thousands of related data components. The volume of data related to the programme is enormous. But no one is quoting Coleridge’s “Nor a drop to drink” line when it comes to turning that ocean of data – or in this case, a massive river of data – into “drinkable” insights. Location intelligence has been a critical tool for management of the TEAM2100 programme. 

I have been directly involved in the TEAM2100 integrated delivery team for several years working with its lead partners, the Environment Agency (EA) and Jacobs, who are responsible for overall management of the Thames Estuary work. In that role, I have promoted location intelligence as a critical tool to enable project success. Jacobs knew how complex project controls and data management would be for orchestrating such a large initiative, and they made an important decision to use Enterprise GIS and location intelligence to address that challenge. Jacobs leveraged its geospatial partner Locana to develop an enterprise GIS platform that connected data sets and computing systems so that project managers were able to easily utilize data analytics and data visualization to successfully execute programme functions. 

Early in the project, TEAM2100 experienced an onslaught of data, which included large amounts of legacy information, infrastructure assessments, and newly-generated information from the new projects. Data management quickly became difficult using a collection of spreadsheets, databases, engineering drawings, and software. In addition, the size and scope of the program, with many projects going on at any time, meant deploying disparate systems that lacked complete integration. This led to data issues, including redundancy, latency, incompleteness, and low confidence. Project leaders at the EA, Jacobs, and Locana recognized the potential to use location as a critical factor for solving these challenges. Enterprise GIS provides a natural integration point for multiple systems, enabling users to consume data from different sources for analysis and visualization in one platform. And pulling asset data and related information into a location-based format—a map—would make it easy for stakeholders to find and view the necessary information. 

From program inception, Locana developed the enterprise GIS platform known as Estuary Eye (E.E.). The platform was designed using ArcGIS software from Esri, including Esri’s Web AppBuilder for web applications and Survey123 and Field Maps for mobile capabilities. The solution integrates multiple systems, including Oracle’s P6 and Bentley’s ProjectWise engineering software, into a seamless web-based GIS solution, providing a single source of truth for users across the programme. E.E. breaks down silos between data sets, computing systems, and, vitally, people that are so common with large capital projects. The result is not only a more unified overall view of the programme through data, but the ability to derive actionable insights that were previously unavailable. 

Asset management is an area where the impact of E.E. has been dramatic. Through the insights that E.E. produces, TEAM2100 is able to more effectively manage the full life cycle of thousands of assets across the massive geographic area of the Thames Estuary. E.E. uses location intelligence to deliver over 400 users a rich array of up-to-date data that is used for every aspect of asset management, including planning, scheduling, construction, operation, and maintenance. E.E. holds over eight terabytes of information accessible through 400 map layers, including over 200,000 photos, survey data and elevation profiles, georeferenced drone video, and more. In addition, the platform contains open-source technology for viewing large LiDAR datasets using a web browser. 

TEAM2100 is using the system across all aspects of asset management, including analyzing assets within their geographic context, how they interface with neighboring assets, what they are made of, their condition, and whether opportunities exist to take advantage of a single site visit versus going back to the site repeatedly. Teams go to an area with mobile GIS applications built on Esri’s Survey123 and Field Maps to capture information about the assets. The data is then submitted from the field and instantly viewable in E.E. by engineers or analysts in other locations. 

A great example of the impact of E.E. is how TEAM2100’s staff can perform analysis that provides predictive maintenance and reduces the need to respond to asset failures. The location intelligence produced by the system helps accelerate construction projects by quickly providing engineers with topographic survey data from various sources and time periods. They can perform visual inspections using a wealth of geotagged photos and georeferenced videos, as well as record asset defects in the office and from the site. 

Ease of access was a key guiding principle for TEAM2100’s E.E. system. The data and insights from E.E. are available through a single GIS viewer that can be accessed easily by a range of devices, including mobile devices in the field. That puts the power of the system into the hands of TEAM2100’s team and its construction partners wherever they are working. This empowers workers at every level of the project. At the tactical level, users can find information for their day-to-day work in an hour instead of days or weeks removing one of the most frustrating causes of delays. In addition, the richness and immediate accessibility of the information often means they can proceed with their workflow without requiring a site visit. That saves the time and expenses and makes their jobs safer. At the macro level, senior leadership is able to leverage the insights from E.E. to do more effective long-term asset programming and forecasting, filtering data as needed to plan 18 and 24 months out. They can view variables such as where current projects exist and where future assignments will occur. The GIS also provides a longer term look at the asset system, where information on management of the defenses out to 40+ years is available via a series of StoryMaps.

No two capital projects are the same, but the data challenges and project management complexity I’ve discussed above are universal. TEAM2100’s years-long use of Enterprise GIS and location intelligence on one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects provides a blueprint for how other organizations can tap into their oceans—or rivers—of data as well.

About the Author:

Dan Culli is a GIS Consultant at Locana, an international leader in spatial technology. Based in London, Mr. Culli is a highly qualified GIS professional, geospatial analyst and geographer with solid experience in enterprise GIS, spatial data analysis and management, business analysis, remote sensing, and policy analysis and development. He has served in multiple levels of government and the private sector in both the UK and the US across a variety of application areas including AEC, urban issues, and agriculture. 

The funding program will continue through 2026. FHWA will issue a call for projects for FY 2024-2026. For those projects, up to $17 million will be available in each fiscal year.

In FHWA’s announcement of the grant opportunities, the agency highlighted potential projects “with a focus on the integration of information from design to construction to asset management.” In addition, the agency encouraged state DOTs to work with local governments, tribes and private industry in the development of grant-eligible projects.

Trimble, a leading provider of advanced digital construction and asset lifecycle management technologies, will host a webinar on July 18, 2023 at 2 pm Eastern, for potential grant applicants to learn how the private sector can support the development of a competitive application.

In the webinar, a panel of experts in public grant funding, digital technologies, and infrastructure management will provide an overview of the new grant program, recommended proposal language and tips for ensuring interoperability and equity within submissions. Designed to maximize the benefits from funding opportunities, the Trimble team will focus on the following goals:

• Supporting states in implementing technology to maximize interoperability, boost productivity, and reduce project delays and overruns throughout the construction lifecycle
• Reducing reliance on paper documents to increase the timeliness and effectiveness of information sharing
• Helping state and local governments adopt tools that help them integrate technology into contracts and weigh the costs of digitization more effectively
• Reducing the environmental impact of construction projects

Trimble offers expertise and proven experience to help government agencies and other asset owners identify grant-eligible programs, submit grant applications, and develop strategies for digital transformation. For more details about Trimble’s ADCMS webinar and ongoing support, please visit the online ADCMS data sheet and/or contact Trimble’s team of specialists.  

Maris-Tech will also present a live demonstration of two of its customized AI-based solutions with cutting-edge, unique technology for HLS applications such as border and crowd surveillance, smart cities, and critical infrastructure security.

The Jupiter-AI is a low-latency streaming and YOLO-5-based AI (detection, classification, and tracking) solution for remote platforms, such as drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”), and robots using four cameras, including HDSI, analog and USB.

The Callisto platform, a next-generation 8K ultra-HD video and Hailo-8-based AI acceleration edge computing platform will demonstrate AOL’s AI application using several IP cameras, suitable for traffic control and safe city applications.

“We are excited to present and demonstrate our innovative products and their applications together with our partners, highlighting our successful cooperation with AOL and PEL and a testimony to Maris-Tech’s position in the global HLS market,” said Israel Bar, CEO Maris-Tech.

About Maris-Tech Ltd.

Maris-Tech is a B2B provider of video streaming and AI technology, founded by veterans of the Israel technology sector with extensive electrical engineering and imaging experience. Our products are designed to meet the growing demands of commercial and tactical applications, delivering high-performance, compact, low power and low latency solutions to companies worldwide, including leading electro-optical payload, RF datalink and unmanned platform manufacturers as well as defense, HLS, and communication companies. For more information, visit https://www.maris-tech.com.

With the new capabilities, infrastructure professionals can fully automate embodied carbon calculation reports and impact analyses by taking advantage of iTwin Experience, enabling them to explore multiple design choices faster and eliminate manual data exports and normalization.

In 2022, Bentley developed an integration service in the iTwin Platform to automate the process of generating embodied carbon reports for infrastructure projects via One Click LCA and EC3. Reports are initiated using the iTwin Platform and then viewed in One Click LCA or EC3. Now, iTwin Experience provides a ready-to-go, bi-directional integration with EC3, enabling carbon assessments to be visualized in a digital twin without the need to write code. iTwin Experience exports a data model to EC3, a free tool for which users need to be separately registered, which performs the embodied carbon calculations and returns results that iTwin Experience seamlessly reads and visualizes.   

Organizations that want to include carbon assessment workflows in their infrastructure projects without developing proprietary iTwin-powered apps will benefit from the newly available carbon calculation capabilities in iTwin Experience. The capabilities also unlock the integration of carbon assessment workflows with other Bentley products and solutions for designing and managing infrastructure projects.

The capabilities are being released in Preview and will be available for a restricted number of partners and early adopters.

Kaustubh Page, Director of Product Management with Bentley Systems, said, “Lifecycle assessments, environmental footprint analyses, and reports are becoming standard requirements for infrastructure projects worldwide. Designers and environmental engineers spend critical time generating environmental assessments or reports. Because the required data needed to be manually exported from multiple design authoring tools and then aggregated and verified, generating these environmental assessments has been a time-consuming and potentially error-prone process. With these new capabilities built into iTwin Experience, it is feasible to transform what is typically a six-month process into a six-minute workflow. Our goal is for iTwin Experience users to spend their valuable time on designing, optimizing, and making better decisions, faster – not exporting, aggregating, and validating data.”

Rodrigo Fernandes, Director of ES(D)G with Bentley Systems, said, “We want to enable users to implement carbon analysis and optimization as a natural, repeatable, and standardized procedure, as part of managing every type of infrastructure project, anywhere in the world. The sooner that carbon assessment is integrated into an infrastructure project, the bigger the carbon reduction opportunities will be. This announcement is focused on embodied carbon, particularly relevant in the early project stages, but iTwin Experience unleashes opportunities for telling the whole ‘carbon story’ of an infrastructure project and asset. We are genuinely unlocking environmental footprint assessments powered by infrastructure digital twins.”

Mark Tablante, Design Technology Director with Burns & MacDonnell, said, “Electrification is a critical component to meeting the world’s decarbonization goals. There is a tremendous amount of capital investment needed in electric T&D infrastructure and a carbon-efficient design makes the most of every dollar spent to further decarbonization. Tracking and reporting on progress toward utilities’ net zero goals is important to not only their shareholders, but for the future of our world. Burns & McDonnell is working with Bentley to test their new iTwin-powered carbon reporting capabilities for the electric utility industry. Our sustainability engineers and environmental group are proud to work with our clients and technology partners to help develop vendor agnostic solutions for a brighter future. We look forward to integrating these services and continuing helping our clients track carbon and reach their net zero goals.”

Bowman provides complete implementation support from site identification and acquisition, through land survey, preliminary engineering, environmental due diligence, and interconnect application, to full electrical & civil design, and construction management.

According to Bloomberg NEF’s March 2023 report, the Americas region is expected to represent 21% annual storage capacity on a gigawatt basis by 2030, led by the U.S. with large-scale projects in California, the Southwest and Texas. Bowman has seen marked increases in BESS contracts in these regions along with emerging expansion in the Mid-West and Mid-Atlantic.

“Marrying our end-to-end engineering and survey services with the aggressive implementation schedules of our battery storage clients has created a streamlined process for speeding the delivery of BESS solutions to new locations,” said Dan Swayze, executive vice president of energy services for Bowman. “With the inclusion of battery storage in the FAST Act, our clients will be able to combine expedited permitting with Bowman’s proven processes to successfully build out battery storage and fully support the growth of renewable energy in the U.S.”

“Regis, and our affiliated partners, are leading the growth of the BESS market,” said Daniel Senneff and Nathan Vajdos, co-founders and Managing Partners of Regis Energy Partners. ”Bowman has the network of nationwide professionals, the breadth of services and the industry experience we require to support our leadership role and enable our teams to successfully meet market demand for battery energy storage.”

“Today’s architectural firms are challenged with tightened project timelines, finding talented staff to execute on current projects, while at the same time focusing on innovation to win new projects and remain competitive,” says Bill Zavadil, president and chief operating officer, IMAGINiT Technologies. “Investing in a continuous learning solution like our ProductivityNOW solution, helps create a culture that embraces professional development ultimately attracting and retaining the brightest employees. In addition, our Clarity software increases efficiency and team output of tasks in Autodesk Revit, Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro, and Autodesk Construction Cloud. Whether your teams are focused on ramping up summer interns on the latest CAD tools, or automating time consuming manual tasks so they can focus on more strategic work, stop by our booth to meet with our experts and learn more.”

IMAGINiT’s ProductivityNOW eLearning and Support platform is an easy way to give BIM and CAD teams reliable and consistent answers to urgent questions and to enhance their Autodesk software skills. Powered by the Pinnacle Series platform from Eagle Point Software, ProductivityNOW includes Autodesk learning content, hundreds of videos, user quizzes as well as content from ASCENT Center for Technical Knowledge, a division of Rand Worldwide. Firms can also upload their own content to the Platform such as workflows and standards to help ensure consistent design practices across the firm.

“We’re excited to work side by side at this year’s conference. It’s an extension of the work we’ve already done with IMAGINiT in helping to create a rock-solid foundation for ProductivityNOW powered by our Pinnacle Series Platform,” says Steve Biver, chief operating officer, Eagle Point Software. “Our long-term relationship continues to grow as we find opportunities together to help customers access the best learning content in the industry. We love seeing results when firms fully embrace learning initiatives to advance the productivity and professional development of their employees. When it comes to training and education, our two teams are ready to answer any question attendees throw at us.”

“In 2022, four million harsh driving events were captured in HCSS Telematics,” says Phillip Robinson, Telematics Product Manager at HCSS. “The new dashcam can protect drivers from potential litigation and help clear their names from any wrongdoing. The dashcams also help companies comply with insurance policies, potentially providing discounts on insurance premiums.”

The HCSS ADPlus Fleet Dashcam is an advanced plug-n-play dash camera with a built-in Al processor to detect driving events like forward collision and improper driver behavior such as using mobile phone usage and distracted driving. Having a dashcam installed has been shown to help reduce unsafe driving behaviors, such as cell phone usage.

HCSS Dashcams will alert the driver in real-time of potentially unsafe behaviors, and upload events to HCSS Telematics to be reviewed by a fleet manager. Dashcams can also be used to verify complaints from the public regarding a driver’s behavior, providing the proof companies need to reduce false claims with recorded footage.

HCSS ADPlus Dashcam Features include:

• Road and cab-facing cameras
• Plug-n-play installation
• Built-in AI event detection
• Harsh driving detection with 6-axis g-sensor
• Real-time in-cab coaching
• Dual SD card storage with dual-stream recording (HD and SD recording)
• Live-view support
• Ultra-low power sleep mode (<0.1W)

Telematics devices like the HCSS Dashcam capture behavioral events to take precautions against driver errors such as hard acceleration, braking, and turning. The HCSS Telematics Fleet Safety Report compiles driver behavior information into an easy-to-understand report to facilitate driver coaching.

“Interested parties can fill out a form found here. Afterward, HCSS will create a custom demo tailored to the company’s needs to show how HCSS Telematics can help to protect fleet drivers immediately,” adds Robinson.

The iTwin Activate program supports startups in scoping and building industry relevant solutions by leveraging or interoperating with Bentley technology through program and co-development funding, solutions architecture support, and access to Bentley executives for commercial insights. Tom Kurke, Bentley’s Vice President of iTwin Ventures, said, “Our first cohort was a small, invitation-only group of four startups focused on the electric grid industry. We were excited to see the innovative solutions that the startups built incorporating our technology. The projects serve as powerful examples of new capabilities that arise from these collaborations, and in some cases we are already seeing our shared users benefit from these new tools and the efficiencies they unlock.”

iTwin Activate Cohort #1 – Grid supported four startups: Spatial Data.AI, Virtual Technology Simplified, Rebase Energy, and SurPlus Maps.

Spatial Data AI’s solution automates the processing of LiDAR data from point clouds into ready-to-use vector formats, including SPIDAcalc models and various other CAD formats. This project focused on building a connector to Bentley’s pole analysis solution (SPIDAcalc). Spatial Data founder Doug Culbert said, “Participating in the iTwin Activate program supported the automated development of a design-centric digital twin for electrical distribution and telecommunications companies. The outcome of this initiative advanced our technical solution and expanded our service offerings in these markets. Spatial Data would like to thank the Bentley team for this accelerator program and is excited to continue co-developing products and services, enabling digital transformations across the infrastructure sector.”

Virtual Technology Simplified (VTS) enables tablet and phone data capture of utility assets and developed a data mobility and visualization solution on the iTwin Platform. John Chwalibog, founder and CEO of VTS, said, “For us at VTS, two things particularly jumped out. One was that the VTS development team had access to Bentley’s team of SME’s who could help us identify problems and collaborate with us to find solutions to any technical issues that came up throughout the project. Second was the team of people that came together over the course of the cohort. They were able to address the challenges all startups face when going from startup to funded company. We would highly recommend the program to other startups in the geospatial community as the experience was extremely positive for the entire VTS team.”

iTwin Activate Cohort #2 will focus on solutions for Infrastructure Internet of Things (IIoT) use cases and is open for all interested parties to apply. Cory Baldwin, Bentley’s Vice President of Infrastructure IoT, described his goals for this cohort. “We are excited to work with startups in the IoT space and build technology and partnerships together to solve the needs of the infrastructure sector. We are particularly interested in working with teams focused on creating predictive analytics or deriving insights from the sensor data federated in the iTwin Platform, as well as those creating novel sensors or sensing technologies that can be brought into our digital twin ecosystem as part of a software-led motion.”

If you are a team building infrastructure IoT solutions and would like to be considered for participation in the iTwin Activate Cohort #2, we encourage you to apply at https://bentleyitwinventures.com/itwinactivate/. Applications will be open through June 16, 2023, and we anticipate notifying participants of their application status by June 23, 2023. We expect to announce iTwin Activate Cohort #3, focusing on generative artificial intelligence for infrastructure use cases, in summer of 2023.

For more information about the program, please visit, iTwin Activate.

The new features let contractors communicate automatically and in real time across the office, field and shop for further efficiency in resource scheduling, field performance tracking, and equipment maintenance workflows.

“Things change constantly in construction, and immediate alerts and notifications are emerging as important options for getting information into the hands of people that need it, when they need it,” according to Bob Brown, general manager for B2W Software.

More than two dozen actions taken in the B2W Schedule, B2W Track and B2W Maintain applications can now trigger immediate messages delivered to selected recipients by text message or email. These actions range from creation of resource assignments and maintenance requests to submission, approval or rejection of field logs and mechanic timecards.

The B2W Track application for field performance tracking and analysis can now trigger alerts and notifications when field logs (for crews) or work logs (for individual employees) are created, submitted, approved, rejected or transferred. B2W Maintain users can now generate and manage messages indicating when preventive maintenance services are due and for the creation and status of maintenance requests, work orders, and purchase orders.

Electronic forms created with B2W Inform can also be set up to generate alerts and notifications based on the data entered into specific fields. Common examples include identification of a defect on an equipment inspection form or notification of an injury on a safety incident form.

Notifications regarding new or changed personnel assignments, equipment moves or material deliveries can be sent to employees or external recipients with the B2W Schedule application for resource scheduling and dispatching. The May 2023 update includes enhancements for reviewing these notifications and for communicating acceptance, rejection or completion of the activities initiated by the alerts and notifications.

The B2W platform approach gives contractors advantages in extending real-time benefits of alerts and notifications across multiple workflows without overwhelming recipients with too much data or conflicting data, according to Brown. “Unified applications and a single operational database for lists of jobs, employees, equipment and other information make it easier to manage and monitor these instant messages cohesively,” he explains.

The B2W Platform includes applications to manage estimating, resource scheduling and dispatching, performance tracking, equipment maintenance and electronic forms and reporting. Additional 2023 B2W Platform enhancements include:

• Expanded API connectivity and vendor and subcontractor management features for B2W Estimate a
• Clock in/out and geolocation capabilities for individual performance tracking within the B2W Employee App
• The ability to accept, reject or complete assignments for equipment moves and materials deliveries in B2W Schedule 
• Enhanced purchase order and inventory management features within B2W Maintain.

Founded in 1999, Team D3 employs more than 200 people, generating net sales more than $120 million. Based in Springfield, Missouri, with additional offices in the mid-west, it was one of the first partners of Autodesk in the US and expands their offering in the Manufacturing and Power & Process industries and capacity within the AECO industry.

With this acquisition Symetri and Microdesk expand their  footprint in the US market, strengthen their position in the manufacturing, power & process, and AECO market, and enable the company to deliver more value to their customers. Together they will serve more than 25,000 customers and 450,000 daily users with more than 1,000 employees as the #1 Global Autodesk Solution provider.

Microdesk’s customers will immediately benefit from an increase in the breadth of skills Team D3 has access to within the Manufacturing, Power & Process and AECO industries.

The acquisition of Team D3 is in line with their strategy to be a global market leader within their industry. Together, Symetri, Microdesk and Team D3 will have an increased Service and R&D capacity, unique product lines including Naviate and Sovelia, and the ability to deliver more value for their customers. The combined companies are committed to ensuring that people work smarter and more sustainably.

Michael DeLacey, CEO of Microdesk, added, “Team D3 is a world-class integrator of engineering and design solutions, and as an Autodesk Platinum Partner, reigns among the most accomplished manufacturing solution providers. They bring exceptional skills and more capacity to our customer base of manufacturers, engineers, architects, and construction professionals. This expansion will allow us to drive more value and more sustainability to the US design and make community.”

Kevin Schlack, CEO, Team D3, commented, “When we began to consider strategic options to take Team D3 to the next level, one thing was clear, we wanted to partner with someone that put customers and innovation at the heart of everything they do. From the very beginning we were struck by the similar journeys our companies had been on, the closeness we felt to our customers, and the importance we place on having a great company culture. When we then looked at Microdesk’s and Symetri’s product lines, Naviate and Sovelia, and the investments they make every year in R&D, we realized the incredible value they could offer our customers. We are excited about joining Microdesk and Symetri and looking forward to building a successful global business for both our customers and our employees.”

About Microdesk

Microdesk is a Global BIM and EAM consulting firm dedicated to assisting design, construction, and operations teams with improving workflows and integrating BIM, VDC and EAM technologies.

Using software from industry leaders such as Autodesk and IBM, combined with its vision and passion for sustainably meeting the demands of urbanization, our team of industry experts is redefining project delivery and asset management.

Microdesk was acquired by Symetri in beginning of 2022 and will be rebranded as Symetri in June 2023.

About Team D3

Team D3 is a leading Autodesk Platinum Partner, established systems integrator that excels at extending the digital thread to solve our client’s mission-critical issues. Our approach involves connecting every phase of a client’s project, from design to manufacturing, construction, production, and beyond. By integrating these stages seamlessly, we drive continuous innovation and improvement for our clients in the Manufacturing, AECO, and Process & Power industries.  

About Symetri

Symetri creates and provides technology solutions and services for design, engineering, construction, and manufacturing businesses. Symetri empowers people to work smarter for a better future by ensuring they have access to the expertise and technology they need to improve their performance and sustainability.

Symetri was founded in Sweden in 1989 and has grown to a team of over 800 people with offices across Europe and the US. Symetri is an Autodesk Platinum Partner, Autodesk Authorised Training Centre (ATC) and Autodesk Global Service Provider.

Symetri is a global leading solution provider of digital BIM, product design and lifecycle solutions and the revenue for 2022 was more than $288 million.

Symetri is part of Addnode Group AB, whose B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm. Addnode Group offers business-critical IT solutions to selected markets in both the private and public sectors. With a combination of its own IP, best of breed technology from partners, and a comprehensive range of services, we enable our customers to create sustainable designs, maximize efficiency and increase competitive advantages with digital solutions.

Related links

Team D3 – www.teamd3.com

Symetri – www.symetri.com/company

Microdesk – www.microdesk.com

Addnode – www.addnodegroup.com

As NCCER’s flagship curriculum, Core provides individuals with foundational skills and knowledge such as basic safety, tool usage, and construction math. The new updates to NCCERconnect for Core Sixth Edition take this already robust training curriculum even further by introducing additional learning assets to enhance learners’ application and understanding of the material while empowering instructors with valuable resources.

Key features that will benefit trainees and help instructors:

• Self-guided interactive learning: Each module now includes self-guided learning, allowing learners to get engaged with interactive, narrated walk-throughs of module content. These interactive experiences augment the trainee guide materials with visually engaging elements, making class time more efficient and improving knowledge retention.
• Hands-on projects for a range of skill levels: The updated NCCERconnect course also features an extensive library of hands-on projects designed to make it easier for instructors to lead activities in the classroom or use as homework. Developed and provided by real NCCER instructors, this collection of projects will offer additional ideas for engaging classroom activities that align with both the program’s learning objectives and performance requirements.
• New math study questions: Recognizing the importance of math skills in construction, the enhanced NCCERconnect for Core includes a new, robust math question bank that covers the Study Problems in the Introduction to Construction Math module. Learners will also benefit from new videos with helpful tips and tricks for understanding construction math.
• Augmented reality (AR) learning experiences: NCCERconnect for Core now includes augmented reality experiences in partnership with SENAR. Learners can engage with simulations of Basic Safety and Rigging through their smartphones, gaining hands-on understanding of these essential aspects of the construction industry.

The course also features an improved navigation system and on-screen layout, aligning with other recent Level 1 craft curricula in NCCERconnect. This ensures a consistent experience for instructors and trainees across all modules.

To learn more about the new features for Core Sixth Edition, sign in or register for NCCERconnect.

NCCER develops and distributes its curricula in partnership with the world’s leading learning company, Pearson, and ensures that it complies with the Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship requirements for time-based training. Individuals who successfully complete these training programs through an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor will earn industry-recognized credentials. To learn more about NCCER curricula and purchasing options, click here.

The project is located just north of Columbus Circle, southwest of Central Park and adjacent to the Time Warner Center and the prestigious 15 Central Park West development, which was also led by Eyal Ofer’s Global Holdings.  The 26-story, 298-ft.-tall building will include nearly 197,000 sq. ft. of residential space encompassing 123 housing units, as well as over 20,000 sq. ft. of commercial retail space.

After site data captured via helmet-mounted 360-degree cameras is automatically analyzed using proprietary AI algorithms, the platform provides the project management team with true-to-life progress reports supported by visuals. This leads to significantly improved efficiency in terms of costs, labor and management time, and resources. 

The award-winning technology is currently being used on sites across North America, the UK, Europe and the Middle East by leading global construction firms including Sir Robert McAlpine, Lendlease, Build Group and EllisDon among others.  

J.J. Ofer, CEO of Global Holdings Management Group (US), said, “Global Holdings has a strong pipeline of projects and we see the huge impact that Buildots has on efficiency and transparency in construction, which are critical factors that help us to maximize usage of our resources, minimize costs and speed up construction in a responsible way. The Buildots technology platform is used to fundamentally enhance our project management capabilities and we are excited to be working with the company and bringing this revolutionary technology to New York.” 

The building, located at the corner of Broadway and West 60th Street, has been designed by INC Architecture & Design with SLCE Architects serving as the architect of record.

“We are thrilled to bring Buildots’ AI-based technology to New York City with the Columbus Circle Building project. Our platform offers full visibility and control on projects’ progress, enabling improved performance and efficiency, and we look forward to collaborating with Global Holdings Management Group and other leading developers on future projects in New York and beyond,” said Buildots CEO Roy Danon.

STILFOLD’s technology enables designers to produce complex, light and sustainable structures by folding flat sheet metal over curves using computational design and advanced robotics.

The Swedish patent covers the core technology that enables STILFOLD to design and build sophisticated products using origami-inspired curve folding. It includes the company’s proprietary computer-guided software (called STILWARE) which enables designers to create folding instructions for flat materials and turn them into three-dimensional shapes. 

The idea behind STILFOLD is to design and manufacture products that combine functionality, durability and sustainability, enabling designers to use fewer raw materials and components without sacrificing design complexity. Eventually, the STILFOLD technology will be made available to designers, architects, manufacturers and engineers who want to licence it to build their own products whilst minimising their environmental impact.

To date, STILRIDE has eleven pending patent applications in Sweden, the United States, Europe and internationally (PCT) covering different aspects of its technology. 

How STILFOLD works 

1. STILFOLD’s STILWARE software gathers information about the desired shape the designer wants to create and the properties of the material being used. 
2. The designer, engineer or architect uses the software to simulate folding and unfolding their desired shape, so they can create “folding instructions” to bring it to life. 
3. The flat sheets are laser cut to the necessary shapes and sizes.
4. The folding instructions are sent to an industrial robot. Each part is fed one-by-one through the robotic cell to create each element of the design. Robotic arms and tooling with specially-designed fittings fold each piece to create the desired structure. 
5. If required, each folded structure (whether it’s a beam, enclosure, surface structure or exoskeleton) is glued, welded or fitted with additional components to create the finished product.

The potential applications for STILFOLD are diverse and include aerospace, transportation and architecture. STILFOLD’s daughter company, STILRIDE, is already using the technology to build a hotly anticipated light electric motorcycle: the STILRIDE 1. The technology is also being used by Polestar to develop the world’s first climate neutral car; and by Swedish space innovation agency I.S.A.A.C to explore how curve folding could be used for construction in outer space. 

STILFOLD has also released several case studies showcasing how the technology could be used to improve material efficiency and reduce weight, cost, components and CO2 emissions for structures including bridges and semi-trailers for trucks.

Jonas Nyvang, CEO and co-founder at STILRIDE, comments –

“We’re thrilled to have secured a patent for STILFOLD. The patent means we can start sharing our industrial origami technology with the world and realise our vision of empowering forward-thinking companies, designers and engineers to reimagine how they make things. The patent is a recognition of our originality and creativity in developing a new way of manufacturing with metal: one of the most widely used and recyclable materials in the world.

“AT STILFOLD, we’ve developed knowhow and IP for several years and continue to do so. We are currently in possession of a growing international IP portfolio. In addition to this approved patent, we have eleven pending patent applications spread across four different patent families. Our IP portfolio covers STILFOLD – our “industrial origami” manufacturing process – as well as our proprietary tools for forming sheet material, material diagnostics and specific design applications.”

“As a developer of add-ins for Autodesk Revit® software, we strive to stay connected with BIM users around the world,” said Glynnis Patterson, Software Development Director, Ideate Software. “Serving Women in BIM in this new way gives us the tremendous opportunity to learn from and provide insights to people who share our passion for BIM while helping the organization support, empower, and celebrate female BIM and digital construction professionals.”

Nivin Nabeel, Customer Success Manager – Americas, Ideate Software, continued, “I am excited about meeting members of Women in BIM, both virtually and in person, to bring their attention to Ideate Software tools that can help boost their competitiveness by reducing the time they spend on model data management.”

Ideate Software’s decision to partner with Women in BIM through a Corporate sponsorship stemmed from a decades-long commitment to working with women who make a major positive difference in the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operator arena. Women in BIM’s vision resonates with Ideate Software, and through the sponsorship, Ideate Software will help increase respect, fairness, and inclusion for female BIM professionals.

“We are excited to join with Women in BIM and support their efforts of fostering diversity and equality,” said Glynnis.

Chair and founder of WIB Rebecca De Cicco stated, “Having partners like Ideate Software as part of the Women in BIM community allows our vision and our strategic purpose to grow, to flourish, and to target all areas of the built environment. We are so very pleased to be working closely with Ideate Software to help foster a more inclusive industry.”

Visit www.ideatesoftware.com to learn how Ideate Software add-ins for Revit help users save time, increase model accuracy, improve deliverables, and elevate design. Give them a try by downloading trial versions or purchasing the bundle for access to Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, IdeateApps, and Ideate StyleManager for six months.

Purdue University postgraduate students have launched Aerovy Mobility, a startup company that commercializes cloud-based software solutions to plan and operate infrastructure that charges electric aircraft with renewable energy.

Nick Gunady is Aerovy Mobility’s CEO, a PhD candidate in Purdue’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics and research assistant in Purdue’s Center for Integrated Systems in Aerospace. He said improvements in battery energy technologies have improved enough to make electric propulsion technically feasible and economically viable. This includes urban air mobility, which uses electrical vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, and regional air mobility, which may use traditional aircraft configurations that travel greater distances.

“The advances in electric propulsion make travel significantly less expensive: Fuel costs are lower and the aircraft may or may not be piloted. These are two of the biggest costs to airlines,” Gunady said. “There is a huge potential with future mobility to spur economic development in underserved locations because of the reduced cost and difficulty to travel there.”

Gunady said, however, that the U.S. power grid is not ready to handle energy spikes related to charging electric-powered vehicles, especially during rush hour use. A paper presented at the 2022 AIAA Aviation Forum concluded that trillions of dollars may be needed to enhance infrastructure that transmits and distributes electricity.

Aerovy Mobility is addressing those power grid limitations with its software solutions.

“The AATLAS planning software identifies locations that would attract the most demand so operators would be able to make back their investments quickly,” Gunady said. “It also assesses the expected usage over time, simulating charging events minute by minute throughout the day. We can size power generation and storage assets, which enables end users to reduce dependence on the grid.”

Gunady said Aerovy Mobility’s VEMS operational software automatically connects users with all their assets at infrastructure sites, including chargers and off-grid energy systems.

“Customers will have full control over their infrastructure site without physically needing to be there,” Gunady said. “We have built automation tools to remotely connect with the aircraft, charge vehicles, minimize grid cost and dynamically price without any user input.”

The cloud-based software suite was based on work by Purdue graduate and undergraduate students who won the grand prize in a 2022 Federal Aviation Administration contest. Gunady, Akshay Rao, Sai Mudumba, Seejay Patel and Ethan Wright won the Smart Connected Aviation Student Competition with their entry “Advanced Air Mobility as an Electric Grid Demand Response Asset.” Purdue professor and Aerovy Mobility Chief Scientist Daniel DeLaurentis and associate professor Shaoshuai Mou advised the team, along with personnel from GE Aerospace, American Airlines and San Diego International Airport.  

Aerovy Mobility recently established a partnership with Altaport, an automation software company based in Salt Lake City; Electro.Aero, an electric aviation charging technology company based in Perth, Australia; Greenstar Aviation Partners, an investment firm based in New York City; and Skyportz, a developer of vertiport infrastructure based in South Yarra, Australia.

It also has been in discussions with other original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs; airports around the world; and major U.S. airlines. The company has several memorandums of understanding, or MOUs, in place. It is looking to raise funds by the end of 2023.

“We are looking to connect with companies and individuals with an interest in exploring electric infrastructure at existing airports or vertiport companies interested in identifying locations to place infrastructure, too,” Gunady said.

Due to the interest and demand, the company is accelerating its expansion with a dedicated sales team and revenue operations to include four new team members and welcomes Contech vet Jeff Horn as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).

Jeff Horn brings a wealth of experience to the XYZ Reality team with 20+ years of experience in sales, operations and international business. Before joining XYZ, Jeff worked at construction management software provider, Procore as the VP of Corporate Sales, where he was responsible for building, managing and scaling the sales organization to over $400 million in ARR. Horn will play a critical role in the company’s US expansion and is excited about the potential for growth in multiple markets and the impact Engineering Grade AR will have on the construction industry.

“I’m excited to be joining XYZ Reality at this pivotal moment of ground-breaking innovation in the construction industry,” said Horn. “With XYZ’s revolutionary AR technology, we are poised to transform how construction projects are executed, delivering them on time and on budget like never before. It’s an honor to be part of this industry-shifting movement, and I can’t wait to work with our US clients to unlock new levels of success with these cutting-edge solutions.”

Horn is the latest former-Procore employee to join XYZ Reality, joining recent executive hire Harry Battu, who joined XYZ Reality as Chief Marketing Officer in Autumn 2022. Previously, Battu led International Marketing and the global expansion of Procore, exceeding $100M ARR during his tenure.

In addition to the new team members, XYZ Reality has opened a new regional office in Santa Barbara, California, to better serve its customers.

The company’s flagship product, the Atom^TM, has already been deployed on construction projects worldwide, with a combined project value of $9.6 billion. Through more than 10,000 logged hours and 12,000 inspections, it has demonstrated its effectiveness in the field, resulting in millions of dollars in savings for contractors and asset owners.

Now, the largest US asset owners are turning to XYZ Reality to build mission critical facilities (data centers, pharmaceutical facilities, battery/gigaplants, and energy projects to name a few) to improve project efficiency and reduce costs. XYZ Reality has already achieved remarkable returns, delivering up to 9x ROI and reducing rework to less than 1%.

“The construction game in the US is no joke. It’s competitive and always on the move. But lately, there have been some major hurdles holding back contractors and asset owners,” said David Mitchell, Founder & CEO of XYZ Reality. “One of the biggest headaches is quality assurance – the number of errors, defects, and rework are sky-high. That’s where XYZ comes in. The digital revolution is taking over, and it’s great to see solutions like ours become better understood, and interest increasing. With so much potential, expanding our presence was a no-brainer, to obtain a deeper understanding of the market and offer a more localised service.”

To find out more about XYZ Reality and the Atom click here.  

“With this release, Green Badger provides the first and only solution allowing general contractors to easily track 100 percent of the metrics covered by BuildingGreen’s Contractor’s Commitment in one central platform,” said Tommy Linstroth, Green Badger Founder and CEO. “The focus of many construction sustainability programs often starts with reducing energy use, setting waste reduction goals, and perhaps carbon accounting – all Environmental-related goals. By including these Social-goals, we’re at the forefront of evolving standards and are committed to staying there for our customers.”

M/WBE tracking is often required on public projects, but like most compliance tasks, it can be cumbersome, time-consuming, filled with spreadsheets, and difficult to monitor progress. Green Badger’s software takes less than 20 seconds for a subcontractor to fill out their company details, upload a compliance certificate and be ready for approval.

The same module used to create their profile also automatically calculates local compliance, within a user-defined radius (i.e., subcontractors with offices within 50 miles). The software then generates a map showing subcontractor office locations in relation to the project site.

Green Badger’s new functionality also makes it simple to set up project philanthropy goals, which can be shared publicly, and track monetary contributions or hours spent volunteering and in community outreach. Similarly, developing job site wellness programs focusing on air quality, fitness, mental health, nutrition, severe weather exposure, and other unique measures is both straightforward and easy to verify.

Customizable and easy-to-understand dashboards show current ESG tracking versus overall project goals so teams can stay on track, and roll up data into corporate dashboards tracking metrics across all projects – not just those with public requirements.

Linstroth said, “I’m proud of our team’s commitment to staying on top of industry needs and offering this next evolution of Green Badger’s construction ESG software. We will continue to innovate and build out a robust platform that rises to meet expanding ESG requirements and save our clients tremendous amounts of valuable time and effort.”

The release comes on the heels of receiving a Gold Stevie® Award in the small Company of the Year – Materials & Construction category from The American Business Awards®.  According to comments from judges, “Overall, Green Badger is revolutionizing the entire built industry, fostering widespread adoption of more sustainable processes and plans with a global impact.”

Journey to Project Intelligence 2023

Chief Executive Officer Javier A. Baldor shared that the company had first unveiled its vision for BST Global and the AEC industry two years ago at the inaugural “Journey to Project Intelligence” event. At that time, they envisioned a consumer-grade, smart and collaborative solution designed by project managers specifically for project managers. It would offer AEC firms an intuitive, project-based system infused with AI and machine learning for predictive insights. Since that event in 2021, BST Global’s vision has become a reality with the development of BST11 ERP, but the company didn’t stop there. Based on market feedback, BST Global expanded its vision to include offerings that complement other ERP systems like Deltek, Oracle and SAP. 

“We want to revolutionize the way projects and people are managed for the entire AEC industry,” Baldor said. “What we have designed and created is not only for BST Global clients leveraging our ERP platform, but for everyone across the industry, regardless of what ERP system they currently use.”

Baldor then unveiled the new suite of AI-powered project intelligence solutions:

• BST Insights: Like Waze GPS, but for projects, BST Insights tracks 35+ digital signals from current ERP data, and applies AI and machine learning to predict project outcomes with more than 95% accuracy. This lets project managers easily understand which factors are influencing their projects, and course-correct to positively impact profitability.
• Resource Management: Get out of spreadsheets and take team intelligence to the next level. BST Global’s resource management solution is powered by Audere, a smart solution designed for the modern workforce. Part of the BST Global family, Audere is a powerful SaaS tool that lets teams assign, balance and share work in an intuitive, collaborative experience. In the future, this solution will be used in conjunction with a firm’s existing ERP solution.  
• BST11 Work Management: Say “goodbye” to Excel and “hello” to BST11 Work Management, the world’s first consumer-grade project and resource management solution. This solution complements a firm’s current financial-based ERP investment with the power of BST Global’s work management solution for better project and resource optimization and outcomes.
• BST11 ERP: BST Global’s newest ERP is the industry’s first consumer-grade, project-driven and collaborative ERP solution. Firms can now gain a live 360° view of all aspects of their business — projects, people, performance and more — to guide project decisions.   

Chief Product Officer Debbie Preacher then took the stage to kick off the live demonstrations, saying “Today, our vision becomes reality — your reality. Today, we begin to revolutionize the way your project leaders and teams initiate, execute and manage their projects and resources going forward.”

Preacher and BST Global experts showed audiences how the day-to-day functions of project managers, people managers, project directors, team members, project accountants and their firms would be positively impacted by these new offerings. 

Some of the major product highlights featured during the robust live demos included:

• Simple, intuitive design that is easy to navigate
• Anytime availability, so teams can access work from anywhere and on any device
• Convenient team collaboration with project and resource visibility 
• Quick project setup and staffing capabilities 
• Accurate project outcome predictions 30 days in advance through AI and machine learning 
• Easy access to personalize the work experience with setting controls such as light and dark modes
• Advanced financial capabilities for ERP customers 

The new products will be available to firms starting July 14, 2023. Firms interested should secure their spot on the BST Global product “Trailblazer” list by preordering here. 

To read more about the “Journey to Project Intelligence 2023” event or to watch the full video recording, visit the recap page here. 

“Companies large and small, in markets around the world, are turning to 3D printing for faster, more flexible, more personalized, and more resilient and sustainable production,” said Didier Deltort, president of Personalization & 3D Printing, HP Inc. “It’s promising to see the development of so many game-changing 3D printed applications across automotive, consumer, healthcare, and industrial, but to disrupt industries, these parts must be manufactured at scale. To help our customers scale effectively and efficiently, HP remains laser focused on delivering industrial hardware, supplies, software, and services supporting the entirety of the digital production workflow from application design to final parts production.”

Automating Production Workflows

As customers scale, AM workflows become more complex. To help simplify these increasingly complex workflows, improve productivity and quality, and reduce costs, HP is introducing two new automation solutions for Multi Jet Fusion customers.

• HP Jet Fusion 3D Powder Handling Automation Solution: a pneumatically connected, closed-loop material processing system to minimize labor, provide cleaner, more efficient material flow, and enable quality control and operational traceability.
• HP Jet Fusion 3D Automation Accessory: designed for customers with high-volume production demands, provides automatic build unit exchange for two consecutive prints without requiring manual support. In addition to minimizing idle time between print jobs and reducing requirements for manual labor on nights or weekends, the Accessory is automation-ready for further integration into factory configurations with Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs).

To push the limits of workflow automation on the AM factory floor, HP is working closely with long-standing partner Siemens on a proof-of-concept demonstration. The concept features HP’s two new automation products integrated with Siemens Automation Hardware and industrial Software, for example Siemens SIMOVE for Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) in flexible Production Systems. The project is active in the Barcelona-based DFactory which is a hub for HP collaboration with partners and customers on R&D, application development, and production use cases.

Expanded Materials, Software, and Services

Along with its industrial 3D printing hardware, HP is developing or partnering on innovative materials, software, services, and post processing solutions. To enable a broad range of applications across industries, HP continues to work closely on materials development with partners including Arkema, BASF, Evonik, and Lubrizol. This includes general availability of the new ESTANE 3D M88A TPU, a flexible and highly durable material which enables complex geometries and lattice structures.

To help polymers and metals customers optimize part development and scale production, HP is offering a portfolio of software products within its HP Digital Production Suite and is collaborating with other software providers to integrate Factory IT and Manufacturing Execution System (MES) solutions. The HP Digital Production Suite now features expanded software products designed to help customers develop metals applications more quickly and easily. HP 3D Digital Sintering and HP 3D Process Development software each support the commercial Metal Jet S100 Solution.

• HP 3D Digital Sintering: AI-enhanced simulation of the sintering process provides feedback on the outcome of a sintered part and enables application engineers to pre-compensate the part geometry to improve the dimensional accuracy of the output. Helps reduce time, cost, and speed of final part production by eliminating the need for a build and test approach.
• HP 3D Process Development: democratizes process development and gives customers insight into the science of Metal Jet through access to open process parameters and build report. Provides ability to conduct guided experimentation to optimize applications.

To accelerate the path to production and reduce barriers to entry, HP Digital Production Services provides customers access to a variety of Professional and Financial Services. HP Professional Services includes support for design (DfAM), application development, and 3D printing factory set-up. HP Financial Services leverages partner programs to provide flexible financing and business models including leasing and subscription options.

HP is also collaborating across the post processing ecosystem to ensure customers have access to a broad range of alternatives from providers including AM Flow, AMT, DyeMansion, and Rösler Group AM Solutions.

Partner and Customer Momentum

To meet the growing demand for high-quality final parts production, HP continues to expand its DMN. More than 60 members around the world are providing high-quality manufacturing services and enabling OEMs to build their digital supply chain. The DMN includes the Digital Manufacturing Partners (DMPs) and Multi Jet Fusion Production Professionals.

HP DMPs are a select group of premiere parts service providers certified by HP through onsite assessment to ensure they are equipped to meet the highest standards for manufacturing expertise, part quality and reliability. HP has recently promoted Athena, Endeavor 3D, and The Technology House (TTH) to DMP. Endeavor 3D is expanding its HP-enabled manufacturing services in its factory in Douglasville, Georgia, adding HP’s Metal Jet S100 Solution to its existing fleet of HP Jet Fusion 5200 and 5420W systems.

“Adding HP’s Metal Jet capabilities to our manufacturing services enables us to provide more to our customers,” stated Phil Arnold, CEO, Endeavor 3D. “Top-down, our expert engineering team believes that this technology will help manufacturers reshore production and we are excited to be a major player in that supply chain.”

To learn more about HP’s DMN visit www.hp.com/go/DigitalManufacturingNetwork.

HP at Rapid+TCT

Visit HP Booth 4618 to learn more about HP’s new solutions, services, software, and materials, and see the latest production applications. HP will also participate in several thought leadership panels at the event, including:

• ‘How to scale your AM operations’ featuring Duygu Gunay, product manager, HP Personalization & 3D Printing, on Wednesday, May 3 at 10:15 a.m. CDT in Room W474B.
• ‘Communicating More than Just Geometry for Additive Manufacturing with 3MF’ featuring Arvind Rangarajan, global head of software and data, HP Personalization and 3D Printing, on Thursday, May 4 at 11:00 a.m. CDT on the McCormick Place – West Building main stage.

Procore Technologies (NYSE: PCOR), America’s largest construction management platform, announced a new integration with Plans4Less, the premiere blueprint platform for ordering and shipping plans nationwide. The new integration provides the Procore user with the ability to use Plans4Less, via the new Plans4Less App, to order and ship hard copy blueprints through an embedded experience within their Procore account. 

“This is a very meaningful announcement for Plans4Less,” says Brian Burke, CEO and Founder of Plans4Less. “There are over 250 Apps listed in the Procore App Marketplace and our newly launched Plans4Less App is the only hard copy Blueprint App available to every one of Procore’s 10,000+ customers. That is a powerful statement for us.”

Burke continues, “Our integration allows access to Plans4Less using your Procore login credentials with a single sign-in. Procore connects all stakeholders across the entire construction lifecycle. This helps everyone work more efficiently, communicate better, and build faster by creating a single dependable information source.”

Burke goes on to explain other added-values to users of this new integration: “With this new relationship with Procore we are providing Plans4Less users with a smoother, more seamless, time-saving process. “Simply put, that is more speed and more ease when ordering and shipping plans.”

Procore users can find the Plans4Less App by searching under “Plans” or “Blueprints” in the Procore App Marketplace. “To take advantage of the new full API integration with Procore, the only requirements are an active Procore account with Admin rights and downloading the Plans4Less App from the Procore App Marketplace,” says Burke.

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) make possible today’s electronic communications that enable instant sharing and help expand our interconnected world. Plans4Less is a pioneer and industry leader providing a seamless software platform to Commercial GC’s and Subcontractors for ordering and shipping hard copy, large format blueprints anywhere in the U.S. Cloud-based construction management software allows teams of construction companies, property owners, project managers, contractors, and partners to collaborate on construction projects and share access to documents, planning systems and data, using an internet-connected device.

“Data Security and general Risk Mitigation are paramount in a customer relationship in this digital world”, says Burke. “Now having the user experience within a fully embedded Procore API, the Procore security ecosystem, is a game-changer for Plans4Less and our users. The data is secure, safe and reliable.”

Burke says this new partnership is in keeping with his goals of using tools to help manage risk, grow profits, and ensure data is secure while driving productivity and performance: “If you are adding your current Reprographics company into the project directory, then your data is not secure. Our embedded App solves that. Join the 40 other general contractors that have already added the Plans4Less App into their systems.”

Examples of Plans4Less pricing:

Full size B&W plans 24 x 36, 30 x 42 and 36 x 48 — $ 1.50 each.

Plans4Less Annual Prime Membership entitles the client to Unlimited FREE Ground Shipping for $95.00 per year (no minimum size order).

Civil engineering contractor, FM Conway, undertakes regular maintenance on buried utility assets across the UK and this often requires complex and hazardous excavation work to determine the condition of the assets.

FM Conway has a wealth of 3D data that it uses to create design models of buried assets, but this is often supplied to on-site engineers in 2D format, which can be challenging to interpret.

Their engineers required access to better visual representations of buried assets to safely assess their condition, reducing both the need for excavation and the likelihood of service strikes due to damaged assets.

MGISS supplied a situational awareness solution to FM Conway, comprising augmented reality software which integrates all 3D geospatial utility data and presents it through an app, allowing engineers to see both the highway and the subsurface utilities in real time.

The vGIS solution uses accurate survey and scan data to create virtual 3D projects with fully customisable layers, providing visibility over buried gas, water, electric, telecoms and unmarked assets, showing a visual representation of their size, depth and exact location.

The app is accessible through a QR code, which means anyone with a smart device can investigate the assets in situ, ensuring all relevant personnel have visibility over buried assets in specific sites.

Many of the sites FM Conway works on, particularly in central London, are footpaths congested with underground utility networks, so the simplicity and accessibility of this solution delivers valuable insights to the team.

This intelligent solution, powered by X-ray vision clarity, is now simplifying field work, improving productivity and streamlining processes for the engineering teams at FM Conway.

Darren Harlen, Head of Consultancy at FM Conway, said: “We’re supporting excavations by removing the need for sprayed line tracing, and we’re able to project 3D data demonstrating the size, depth and labels for underground assets which we’ve surveyed using GPR.

“Reality capture is enabling us to reduce risk by removing the need to undertake excavations when completing maintenance work on assets we’ve already scanned using the platform.

“We’ve worked closely with MGISS to develop a system that works for us, leveraging their skills and expertise to rapidly deploy a solution to reduce risks across our excavation sites.”

View a short video of the impact this solution is having here.

Daniel Taylor, Technology Platform and Services Sales Manager at MGISS, added: “FM Conway needed a data-led solution that would improve visibility and reduce the need for physical excavation on its sites.

“Now, through the power of augmented reality, the team have a robust system in place which is streamlining their design, build and maintenance processes.

“This technology has a multitude of applications, across varying sectors, and the MGISS team looks forward to exploring new opportunities to integrate this solution, minimising on-site risk and delivering valuable time-savings to our customers.”

Find out more about this solution and MGISS’s geospatial solutions here. 

The Builders website is targeted to middle and high school students, educators, counselors, colleges and universities, and industry professionals nationwide. TAP’s goal is to help build the next generation of construction workers and managers, connecting classroom science and technology with meaningful career paths that are critical to society. The site features videos of young construction professionals at their jobs; information on how to get started and training opportunities; and how current and emerging technology is being integrated into construction industry operations.

The basis for the site is the highly touted book, Those Amazing Builders, produced by Trilogy Publications LLC, with over 25,000 copies nationwide. Trilogy has donated the books and the copyright of Those Amazing Builders to TAP. States Rose Reichman, Executive Director of TAP, “The web version of Those Amazing Builders makes the content universally accessible. It also allows us to easily update and adapt the material in response to teacher and student feedback.”

Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with key industry players excited about the site’s potential to present construction as a highly desirable career option. “Not every student follows the same path,” says Reichman, “and construction offers incredible avenues for non-traditional learners and kids whose talents tend toward using their hands and minds in bringing some amazing plans to life.”

The Port of Long Beach will devote its share of funding to the ongoing development, enhancement and refinement of its Supply Chain Information Highway, a digital solution designed to maximize efficiency and visibility in cargo movement.

“Sharing vital shipping data will reduce delays and aid the entire goods movement industry from the docks to doorsteps,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “By working together, California’s ports can enable end-to-end visibility and connectivity across the supply chain.”

“Consumers and shippers expect cargo visibility in this era of e-commerce and overnight deliveries,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Sharon L. Weissman. “A single, unified clearinghouse of information will move goods more quickly and efficiently.”

Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed Wednesday in Sacramento, Newsom said the one-time $30 million allocation from the California Budget Act would be shared by the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Oakland, the Port of San Diego and the Port of Hueneme.

The Port of Long Beach in 2021 partnered with a leading tech firm, St. Louis-based UNCOMN, to create the Supply Chain Information Highway and provide partners with access to data to plan, schedule and track cargo containers.

With the project now in Phase 2, developers are focusing on enhancing the system’s interoperability, particularly among other seaports. The Port of Oakland, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the Utah Inland Port Authority, PortMiami and the South Carolina Ports Authority are collaborating and participating with the Port of Long Beach in the project.

The Port of Long Beach is one of the world’s premier seaports, a gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in goods movement and environmental stewardship. The Port handles trade valued at more than $200 billion annually and supports 2.6 million trade-related jobs across the nation, including 575,000 in Southern California.

Our new study, “Finding Common Ground: The Future of Project Information Management,” examines challenges related to sharing project information, including model data. The study included a survey fielded by the Dodge Construction Network and a closed-session roundtable panel discussion composed of architects, engineers, and contractors. 

The study uncovered both technological and human obstacles to effectively sharing model data.  Although the industry has evolved in this area with the introduction of BIM, our study revealed some inconsistencies related to adoption and use. 

What is BIM – Building Information Modeling? 

According to the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), “BIM is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. As such it serves as a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its lifecycle from inception onward.” 

BIM goes beyond traditional 3D modeling by providing extended information such as component relationships, standards, specifications, information about size, square footage, material makeup, fire rating, finishes, manufacturer, and performance data. 

Given that all stakeholders share a common goal of delivering successful projects, it is surprising that BIM is not widespread. We asked some key questions in our study to try and understand where the roadblocks are with BIM adoption. 

Who has a BIM process?

We asked several questions related to the state of BIM, starting with a question regarding the use of a BIM process. There is some good news. Many of our survey respondents (67 percent) indicated that they do have a BIM process. However, it was surprising to learn that only one-third of engineers do. In addition, less than half of general contractors deploy a BIM process. 

Our study reveals that most architects (88 percent) have a BIM process, but other stakeholders lag. So how is information being shared, and is it being shared effectively?

It may be that each stakeholder has their own BIM silos.  In our roundtable discussion, Nathan Wood from the Construction Progress Coalition shared “The big question is, whose model is it and at what point in time? And is there one model or are there different copies of the model where we think it’s one copy but it’s not? Who has the contractual obligation to maintain that model? There are still a lot of unknowns.”

Who’s using a BIM platform? 

In addition to asking survey participants if they have a BIM process, we also asked if they have a BIM Coordination Platform.  Although most architects (66 percent) have a BIM coordination platform, only one-third of engineering and general contractors have this type of technology in place. 

How is model data shared?

If many project stakeholders do not have a BIM coordination platform, how is model data being shared?  We asked survey participants to tell us how design-related documents are being shared in the handover phase. File transfer software was the top answer. Surprisingly, some respondents are also emailing.  

Top challenges managing BIM

The highest-ranking net top three challenge was getting non-BIM stakeholders to participate and provide input on models. Given that non-BIM stakeholders most likely do not have a BIM process or a collaboration platform, it’s not surprising that it is difficult to get them to participate in BIM. Architects ranked this higher than their engineering and contractor counterparts (39 percent vs. 18 percent and 28 percent, respectively).  Another challenge that also ranked high in the net top three is collaborating and sharing information with people outside their organization. 

Participation from non-BIM stakeholders

Sixty-two percent of respondents from this year’s survey (net top three ranking) say the key obstacle to managing BIM information is convincing non-BIM stakeholders to take part and provide input. Our roundtable panel provided some insight as to why this may be a problem. Access and security were two major themes.  

Participation in the BIM process requires access to information. Information that is housed in software applications that require a license to access may be an issue. 

“As the industry moves into more user-type licensing, assigned licensing, or cloud-based licensing, it becomes more problematic because companies are having to purchase licenses in order to collaborate with the system that we use,” said a roundtable participant from a leading architecture and engineering firm.

In addition to licensing, access related to security also remains a barrier. 

“We often must go through our IT group or some sort of security protocols to make sure that everybody has the right access,” explained another roundtable participant. “As project teams change throughout the longer projects, we have to update that access. It is constantly changing and it’s hard to keep up with it. When we are talking about real-time collaboration with people outside of our company, it gets a lot more complicated.” 

Sharing model data outside the organization

Many of the issues related to sharing model data are related to participation and sharing with stakeholders outside the four walls of an organization. This is where the “WHY” and “WHEN” components of sharing model data may come into play. Our roundtable panel uncovered obstacles related to expectation-setting around how the model data will be used. Determining what model information is needed, by who, and why, is key.  

“When we look back at how BIM has evolved, 3D really helped us start to visualize spaces and visualize volumes, and that helped us improve our deliverables,” said a roundtable participant from an architecture firm. “And then we start to load up on more content and data to make our production quicker, easier, faster, and more accurate. But at the same time, we have a contractor and owner running alongside, looking at our model, going, ‘Hey, that’s valuable information. Can we look at that? Can we have that? Can we use that?’ And now we find ourselves handing over the model, which at one time was just basically our production tool.”

He also explained that setting expectations up front on how the model information will be used is key. “It is not only trust, but also expectations. If you know at the beginning of the job that I’m handing this over to the contractor and I’m handing it over to the owner, you know that there are certain aspects that have to be in alignment with their expectations of how they’re going to use it.”

Liability concerns also continue to stand in the way.

“One of the challenges is the transparency issue between designers and builders,” said a roundtable participant from a major general contractor firm. “Whenever we go into the modeling component, it’s, ‘Here’s our model, and your assets, and you are liable for anything that’s wrong in the model that we might have messed up.’ Which is fine. We’ll take on that risk.” 

Removing the roadblocks

Companies often focus on the technology before a comprehensive project information management strategy has been developed. By developing the strategy first, companies identify what information needs to be accessed and shared, along with how it needs to be accessed. Not all information needs to be shared. This provides an opportunity to eliminate outdated workflows and organize information that is more accessible and useful for the organization.

Technology and automation do play a key role. Although some suggest that having everyone use the same platform and same set of tools will resolve issues, it may not be practical. Integration of applications does not necessarily require all project stakeholders to use the same centralized system. There are industry initiatives to develop standards and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) with the main goal of identifying workflow pain points and automating the flow of information between software applications. This strategy enables teams to use the applications that are best suited for their work while automating the sharing of common information.

However, incorporating best practices for sharing BIM information starts with talking to each other.

Peg Landry is content marketing strategist at Newforma, the leading provider of project information management (PIM) software for architects, engineers, contractors, and owners worldwide. 

A comprehensive construction management platform, instilled with extensive construction industry expertise, is increasingly viewed as a superior alternative to multiple point solutions loosely strung together into a web of technologies that are difficult to maintain. By connecting end-to-end business processes from estimating to budgeting, from contract management to change management, and from document control to turn-over, owners, contractors and engineers can deliver smart capital projects that swiftly react to changes, with unprecedented collaboration and visibility across stakeholders.

The new innovations include a significant expansion of InEight Explore – live digital dashboards that provide full-spectrum visibility into project progress, costs and schedules, and changes and risks across entire projects and portfolios. Because the InEight dashboards are powered by embedded Microsoft Power BI, teams can easily define their own project specific KPIs, metrics and dashboards, with no database or programming knowledge required. This unique, self-service approach to dashboards and project analytics is a key ingredient in the elevated visibility and collaboration enabled through the InEight platform.

This window into current project information also extends to completed projects, providing new opportunities to benchmark and validate project plans using historical data. Indeed, InEight’s connected data approach lays the foundation for construction organizations to create an immensely valuable knowledge library that can be used to “train” AI models to augment human intelligence. InEight can already use AI to create new project schedules and make suggestions, with future uses of AI planned for numerous workflows cutting across scope, cost, and schedule.

Brad Barth, Chief Product Officer at InEight, said: “We’re seeing greater pressure on capital project budgets and timelines, and that’s leading to an increasing need for more accurate, risk adjusted project plans, and more efficient performance. InEight is heavily invested in solving these challenges, with a connected project controls platform that removes friction from workflows, and helps all stakeholders see the bigger picture to drive more predictable project outcomes.”

“We believe SimSolid Cloud has the potential to dramatically accelerate and simplify the daily work of finite element structural analysis users in all markets,” said James R. Scapa, founder and chief executive officer, Altair. “Anyone using conventional finite element tools will be left behind if they do not embrace this technology soon.”

With SimSolid Cloud, there is no need for software installation or extensive computing resources; users get fast, accurate results for seamless collaboration. In addition to eliminating the most time-consuming tasks of geometry preparation and meshing, SimSolid Cloud also offers structural linear and nonlinear static, modal vibration, and thermal stress analyses that users can perform within their preferred web browser. Some of SimSolid Cloud’s key features include:

• Mesh-free technology and full-fidelity CAD simulation
• Comprehensive physics support
• Adaptive solver technology
• Automated model connections
• Results in seconds 
• Intuitive, user-friendly interface
• Extensive material library

SimSolid Cloud is also beneficial for design engineers working on complex projects across various industries, engineering analysts and consultants who want to handle complex geometries and conditions, and more. It is great for users in all industries, especially those in industrial machinery, tooling and equipment manufacturing, heavy equipment, consumer products, and architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC). 

SimSolid Cloud is available via Altair One, Altair’s cloud innovation gateway that offers collaborative access to simulation and data analytics technology alongside scalable high-performance computing and cloud resources – all in one place. SimSolid Cloud includes a flexible subscription option, making advanced engineering capabilities available to all, and is particularly ideal for independent professionals and small- and medium-sized businesses looking to optimize their design and engineering processes without needing to make significant investments in hardware or software maintenance. 

To learn more about Altair SimSolid, visit https://altair.com/simsolid or click here to register for a free trial.

Superior Construction based in Florida and Indiana and Feller Enterprises in Utah were recognized in the Best ROI with the B2W Platform category for success with multiple applications of the B2W Platform. Ajax Paving Industries based in Florida and Michigan won the Best ROI with a Single B2W Application award for results with B2W Maintain. The award for Most Innovative New Use of B2W Software went to Jakes Construction based in British Columbia, Canada for a creative use of the B2W Track application for daily performance tracking.

The unified B2W Platform includes applications for estimating, field tracking, scheduling, fleet maintenance and data capture and reporting. B2W has recognized 24 contractors since the origin of the Innovation Awards program in 2017. Judges select winners from applications submitted by contractors throughout North America. 

Superior Construction demonstrated its integration of B2W Estimate, Track, Maintain and Inform as well as the Viewpoint Vista system for accounting in its award application.

“We’ve simplified operations, eliminated a lot of paper and saved countless hours spent on redundancies and double entry of data,” according to Superior learning and development manager Jessica Paske. “Improved accuracy in tracking hours, production and equipment utilization enhances our maintenance program and saves our projects money on a daily basis.”

Replacement of Excel spreadsheets with B2W Estimate and Track was a “game changer” at Feller Enterprises, according to estimator and project manager Travis Snow. Snow says the B2W Platform allows the sitework contractor to now review project performance daily at the production account level and to easily review actual past performance and production rates when putting together new bids.

“We’re bidding much more accurately and faster than with Excel and seeing profits stay very close to what we estimated,” says Snow. “Our foremen like to look at the summary in the B2W Track app daily to make sure they are staying as close as they can to the estimated cost and plan.”

Ajax Paving earned the innovation award based on its success in working closely with B2W to customize and deploy B2W Maintain to improve equipment maintenance processes, costs and uptime.

“Our mission was to move from reactive to proactive maintenance and we have fully demonstrated the power and capabilities of B2W Maintain,” says Ajax fleet manager Dan Maitland. A 29 percent increase in accuracy for planning maintenance, a 31 percent reduction in priority-one emergency work orders and an 11 percent reduction in direct repair costs were among the results highlighted in the application.

B2W recognized Jakes Construction for creative use of B2W Track to meet daily performance reporting requirements of a three-year pipeline project in western Canada. Instead of re-entering data from B2W Track into complex spreadsheets originally required by the project owner and general contractors, Jakes demonstrated that customized reporting directly from B2W Track could provide the information in a more concise and user-friendly format.

“This was a monumental turning point,” according to Derek Sterkenburg, an estimator at Jakes. “We tripled our monthly volume and revenue on the project while reducing administrative time by 66 percent. We estimate that we have saved more than 2,000 hours of administrative time to date.”

“We’re always looking for high-quality companies to partner with that complement HCSS products and elevate the customer experience,” says Phillip Robinson, Product Manager, Fleet Solutions at HCSS. “Diesel Laptops’ shop efficiency solutions offer additional tools for companies and people that use our fleet systems. This partnership is a great value-add for ownership, shop management, mechanics, and project managers who rely on equipment availability to stay on schedule.”

“Diesel Laptops’ wide range of repair resources, training, and reference tools make it easier for everyone to make repairs faster and more efficient,” says Andy Turnbull, Chief Revenue Officer at Diesel Laptops. “With a labor shortage in nearly every industry, it’s more important than ever to get the job done right and get trucks back on the road. Joining forces with HCSS helps us to better address this disparity so our mutual customers can get greater results from less labor.”

HCSS Equipment360 and HCSS Telematics are tightly integrated. The telematics hardware connects with construction equipment to measure engine health. Fault codes are then sent to Equipment360, which generates repair work orders. With the Diesel Laptops integration, users will now be able to identify an equipment issue, get instructions on how to fix that issue, and instantly access lists of which parts they will need to fix the problem. The HCSS/Diesel Laptops coupling allows mechanics to work faster, finish repairs sooner, and keep projects in projected timetables.

“A mutual customer introduced the two companies,” added Turnbull. “He thought an integration between the solutions would work well. Our customers know what they need.”

Sandra Bethke, BIM Manager/IT, HPP, said, “HPP has been successfully using Ideate Software tools for many years. We use Ideate BIMLink the most, and it saves us a lot of time by enabling us to export data to Excel where people who don’t know Revit can audit data, enter new data, and update existing data.”

When providing an example, Sandra shared how HPP uses Ideate BIMLink to export component lists from Autodesk Revit® models into Microsoft Excel files and then makes them available to specialist planners who quickly and easily fill in parameter values using familiar Excel tools. When the data is imported back into Revit, the completed parameter data is automatically assigned to the respective components. “This way of working saves a lot of time, especially in very large component lists, such as doors,” said Sandra.

Read Spotlight on HPP for more. 

Visit www.ideatesoftware.com to learn how Ideate Software add-ins for Revit help users save time, increase model accuracy, improve deliverables, and elevate design. Give them a try by  downloading trial versions or purchasing the bundle for access to Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, IdeateApps, and Ideate StyleManager for six months.

“We are pleased to partner with the federal government to help modernize their delivery of critical assets,” said Balaji Sreenivasan, CEO and founder of Aurigo Software. “With the increase in investment from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, public agencies need cloud-based solutions offering the highest standards of security and reliability. FedRAMP accreditation is a testament to the hard work put in over several years to build the safest and most resilient technology platform for our customers.”

Due to the nature of their work, federal agencies require the highest level of security and companies must pass a rigorous compliance assessment to partner with FedRAMP. Aurigo Masterworks achieved FedRAMP-ready accreditation, the first major milestone in the process, in February 2022. The In Process designation is provided to vendors who have met FedRAMP-ready status, have passed additional screening criteria, and are actively working with a federal agency to deploy their solution.

Aurigo is currently working with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to modernize the agency’s capital roadway construction planning and management. Masterworks will enable FHWA’s internal staff of over 500 employees as well as hundreds of external vendors to collaborate over the same, cloud-based platform. The system will make offline mobile updates possible at remote project locations, improve document management, replace existing cost estimating systems, and facilitate electronic bidding and construction administration workflows.

“Complex capital programs require a robust, end-to-end technology platform to plan and build the infrastructure communities need,” said Manish Sharma, Aurigo’s Senior Vice President of Engineering. “With ever-increasing security threats, federal agencies are looking for systems that are scalable, secure, and easy to deploy. We are excited to partner with the FHWA and other agencies to help meet these objectives.”

In addition to the FedRAMP In Process designation, Aurigo has been awarded the ISO 22301:2019 Business Continuity Management System Certificate by the International Organization for Standardization. ISO 22301:2019 specifies the requirements for organizations to protect against, respond, and recover when disasters arise.

Together, these two accomplishments deliver a highly secure and reliable SaaS platform to federal agencies for the nation’s most critical building and infrastructure programs.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Industrial Engineering is a $27B market in the United States alone. IEs design and optimize industrial processes by combining domain expertise, organizational knowledge, and tedious manual observations such as time studies, ergonomics assessments, and yield estimates, while reasoning in a Lean Six Sigma and TPS framework. Insights generated by IEs are strategic to building efficient, adaptable, and sustainable manufacturing businesses. Unfortunately, IEs are often struggling with workload, knowledge sharing, and post-Kaizen analysis which limits their ability to maximize productivity, yield, and quality, and ultimately limits the bottom line for the businesses they operate in.

“We trained Retrocausal’s generative AI LeanGPT models on specialized knowledge needed for manufacturing,” said Dr. Zeeshan Zia, CEO of Retrocausal. “Using our new LeanGPT-powered Kaizen Copilot application with our Pathfinder floor analytics platform gives IE’s all the information they need to excel in their roles, including domain expertise, organizational knowledge, and automated process observations, eliminating the need for tedious field studies or combing through unwieldy knowledge bases, while staying firmly rooted in Lean principles.”

Kaizen Copilot can autonomously access the Retrocausal Pathfinder analytics platform through API calls to observe factory floor activity through computer vision and IoT sensors. It can also retrieve hidden insights from an organization’s internal knowledge bases, either by just connecting to it or by “fine-tuning” proprietary LeanGPT models on it. Retrocausal is also releasing Kaizen Copilot as a tablet application so industrial engineers can take it on their Gemba walks around the shopfloor. This app further embeds contextual knowledge into the tool to proactively offer help to IEs and assist in gathering worker feedback on problems and solutions.

The company is piloting its solutions with several Fortune 500 automotive, appliances, medical devices, and electronics manufacturers. Results include improved first-time yields by 20 percent, reduced scrap costs due to assembly mistakes by 75 percent, and reduced operator training times by 44 percent.

“This technology has revolutionized Process Management,” added Dr. Zeeshan Zia. “Instead of starting a new assembly line at 65 percent yield, IEs can now obtain concrete guidance on how to push yield to 95 percent from day one. A Kaizen event performed at one station will automatically trigger notifications to relevant processes across an organization’s factories and assembly lines as determined by the AI, unlocking the potential for massive revenue growth.”

Retrocausal recently raised $3.4 million to advance its AI-powered platform led by Glasswing Ventures and Differential Ventures, along with major investors Incubate Fund US, Argon Ventures, Ascend Ventures Vietnam, and Hypertherm Ventures. The company also opened a new office in Dallas, Texas, to be closer to its manufacturing customers in the Midwest and Mexico. It unveiled joint projects with Honda Innovations and Siemens Digital Industries.

To learn more about Retrocausal LeanGPT and Kaizen Copilot visit: https://retrocausal.ai/kaizen

“With today’s job site challenges, contractors need the best and easiest way to perform layout. Topcon provides that with this software dedicated to building construction applications,” said Ray Kerwin, director of global product planning for Topcon. “It is intended as a valuable tool benefitting a wide variety of trades and professionals with varying technology skills — user-friendly for all building construction users,” he said.

“Many still perform layout using the traditional methods of string and tape or rotating lasers and they are comfortable with the tools they are familiar with. For those taking the step to using Topcon’s unique 3D laser, they will see that it is an easy transition and one that could now allow one person to complete the layout work that in the past took two or three people to accomplish. For those new, or skilled in the use of robotic total stations, they will see efficiency in the intuitive functionality of Digital Layout. Increased productivity results in increased profitability, ultimately helping offset labor shortages and minimize the training time for new workers.”

Additionally, the software can be used with the Point Manager plug-in for Autodesk Revit or AutoCAD to create point files in the office and seamlessly transfer as-built data back to a contractor’s design software. It is compatible with 2D, 3D and BIM workflows, and is supported by Microsoft Windows and Android operating systems. Users can easily generate real-time PDF reports to summarize work progress for stakeholders. Topcon MAGNET Enterprise web service is also included, enabling users to easily share data between the office and field.

For more information, visit topconpositioning.com/digital-layout.

“Lithium-ion batteries have good performance but several serious issues,” Wang said. “It’s not sustainable and is very expensive, and the U.S. does not have deep reserves for lithium. Also, if you are extracting lithium from mines, you are using a tremendous amount of water, which has a severe impact on the environment.”

Wang and her group of LSU ME students have been working on a non-metal battery with a water-based electrolyte that is safer than an electrolyte in a lithium battery, which uses flammable and toxic organic solvents.

“Lithium is not a stable metal, and the organic electrolyte in a lithium-ion battery could be flammable,” Wang said. “There have been lithium battery explosions in the news. This is a recurring problem because when lithium batteries fail or overheat, they release flammable, toxic gases that can spark a fast-spreading fire. My group is designing an ammonium-ion battery that is much safer, lighter, more affordable, and can be biodegradable. It can also be made thin and flexible, so it can twist and bend.”

Wang has spoken with NASA personnel about the battery and its potential use in space.

“NASA’s future space-exploration systems require safe, high-power-density, high-energy-density batteries,” Wang said. “Although lithium ion rechargeable batteries have commonly been used in space systems, the safety issues cause concern and hinder their future applications.” 

Wang’s ammonium-ion battery has an aqueous electrolyte containing high-concentration salts that result in a significantly depressed freezing point for operation at sub-zero temperatures in space systems. The anti-freezing electrolyte can be simply prepared by dissolving ammonium salt in water. The salt concentration will be varied and optimized to achieve the lowest freezing point, maximized ionic conductivity, and electrochemical performance of the battery. The battery will be tested under extreme conditions as is required by NASA.

“This study is expected not only to open a new direction of research on non-metal batteries but will also enhance NASA research and technology while contributing to the overall research infrastructure, science and technology capabilities, diversity in higher education, and economic development of Louisiana,” Wang said.

Like us on Facebook (@lsuengineering) or follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@lsuengineering).​   

LYT’s TSP and EVP solutions (LYT.transit and LYT.emergency) produce a consistent and reliable green light for every transit or emergency vehicle more affordably than other solutions on the market. These technologies harness the power of a single edge device installed in Traffic Management Centers that enable transit and emergency vehicles to speak directly to networked traffic signals in cities through the LYT cloud platform. These best-of-breed transit priority and emergency preemption solutions will now leverage leading GPS network and location tracking capabilities provided by Cradlepoint.

Cradlepoint’s cellular routers ensure reliable connectivity with SD-WAN intelligence to optimize network traffic across diverse carrier LTE or 5G links — enabling continuous in-vehicle connectivity and telemetry data for fleet efficiency. LYTs EVP solution leverages dedicated nationwide public safety networks such as FirstNet and Verizon Frontline. Many agencies are already connected to these networks through highly flexible and reliable Cradlepoint wireless solutions for vehicles.

“The combined solution of Cradlepoint’s proven routers and LYT provides a best-in-class cloud-based approach to transit priority and emergency preemption solutions,” said John Nye, vice president, Technology Alliance Partnerships, Cradlepoint. “Today’s leading transit and first responder networking technologies require solutions that are reliable, easy to implement, and use offering robust data and reporting capabilities for optimum results.” 

“We’re excited to partner with Cradlepoint and we look forward to strengthening our industry-leading intelligent traffic solutions that benefit transit riders as well as emergency first responders,” said Tim Menard, CEO and Founder of LYT. “With the combination of LYT’s innovative technology and Cradlepoint’s leadership in 5G GPS networking, emergency vehicles can improve their response times to accidents and incidents to save more lives, and the schedule reliability of transit vehicles will continue to improve.”

T2D2 is used by engineers, architects, and inspection professionals across multiple sector types, including Beyer Blinder Belle Architects, MD Szerbaty Associates Architecture, Building Conservation Associates as well as asset owners including Hines, Howard Hughes Corporation, Boston Properties, as well as the Chicago Cubs, NYC School Construction Authority, and the U.S National Parks Service to identify deterioration early and throughout the life of an asset. T2D2 makes it easier, quicker, and less expensive to inspect structures, and enables users to proactively identify damage and defects before they become major issues.    

“T2D2 is an important tool for inspection professionals as well as building owners and managers who are looking to preserve the value and structural integrity of their assets. This latest version of T2D2 is a response to the marketplace, where feedback from users has informed the development of the software and company’s growth,” said T2D2 CEO Badri Hiriyur, Ph.D. “It’s much more than an inspection tool; T2D2 helps users better manage structures and building envelopes, making assets more resilient and economical to maintain across the full lifecycle.”    

The most notable upgrade to the software has been the launch of a completely new user interface powered by a robust cloud architecture specifically designed for architecture, engineering, and construction use. T2D2’s online inspection portal is a cloud software solution that allows building owners and their engineers to conveniently store inspection imagery all in one place. Whether the photos are taken by camera, mobile device, or drone, it all can be uploaded to the T2D2 Inspection Cloud. The T2D2 portal conveniently allows collaborative access to all inspection data including imagery, orthomosaics, drawings, videos and 3D models. Tools include AI analysis, reporting, geotagging, orthomosaic generation and more.

The software can also be used to decelerate the impacts of climate change on the built environment. Frequent and more thorough inspections of built structures are proven to decrease the carbonation induced corrosion of reinforced concrete. Using AI to identify corrosion areas, paired with early intervention, prevents widespread issues from advancing, which keeps existing buildings in better condition.    

“We’re heading into a market where asset management is focused on the care and repurposing of existing structures,” said T2D2 Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Ehrlich. “T2D2 provides a real value and competitive edge for buildings looking to trade hands as buyers are easily able to track the year-over-year condition of the building and ensure its safety and health.”    

The company partners with its network of drone service providers including companies such as Aerospect, Building Science Authority, DroneHive, DroneUp, and Helios Visions, to deploy the AI that identifies visual anomalies and other signatures of deterioration on facades and structures, reducing the need for scaffolding. The software analyzes digital images or videos taken by any type of camera (hand-held, fixed or drone-mounted) and can detect and identify conditions of deterioration.

By monitoring buildings over time, T2D2’s AI Damage Detector knows when it sees a crack or a change in previously detected damage. The detected damage conditions can be geolocated on structures using CAD, BIM or photogrammetric 3D models and presented in digital assessment reports that get updated in real-time. The system continues to improve and refine its findings over time, as it “learns” the specifics of each asset/structure and can automatically find red flags that require immediate attention. Unlike a human inspector, the T2D2 Damage Detector uses computer vision trained by hundreds of thousands of forensic images to recognize deterioration sooner and catalog exterior inspection data faster, more accurately and with deeper levels of insight.

“Using big data analysis tools to replace traditional methods of inspection saves time and money – and there can be tremendous value with its continuous use,” added Hiriyur. “T2D2 will identify even small anomalies that might not be picked up between prescribed inspection cycles but can deteriorate quickly and lead to costly problems. T2D2 is also helpful for portfolio-wide capital planning assessments to determine relative condition states between assets and for project prioritization.”

T2D2 has been tested on numerous building envelopes and structures across the United States and Canada. It has been used to scan for damage and deterioration on roofs of million-square-foot industrial properties in California, brick and stone facades in New York City and Chicago, stucco façades of residential towers in Florida, concrete transportation systems, water treatment facilities in New York, MLB baseball stadiums, decommissioned nuclear power facilities, historic stone bridges in Maine and more.

Based on input from more than 1,000 senior executives, Hexagon’s study shows that construction firms are turning to technology to help mitigate and manage challenges, many of which have been exacerbated by the economic instability of the past few years. Notably, respondents cited operational issues including supply chain (39%), productivity/efficiency (36%) and labour shortages (35%) as the most pressing priorities near-term, while driving new business/growth (34%) and managing ESG regulations and programmes (34%) were ranked as top priorities over the next three to five years. And 81% of global respondents stated that their top three challenges represent a “moderate to significant” bottom-line impact on their business.

The survey also shows the industry embracing autonomous technology as one of the most promising solutions. “Construction firms are turning to autonomous solutions to mitigate risks better and improve the effectiveness of operations, which are both key to overcoming the productivity, sustainability and profitability issues they face every day,” said Thomas Harring, President of Hexagon’s Geosystems division. “Progressive firms, which are adopting autonomous solutions at a faster rate and in more areas of their business than their competitors, know that this technology does a lot more than automate tasks. Autonomous tech makes jobsites safer, more efficient and less wasteful by closing the ‘data leverage gap’ – that ever-widening chasm that exists between the data created during the lifecycle of a project and the data actually used to produce meaningful insights, outcomes and opportunities for growth. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Autonomous technology is transformative technology that will define the next era of construction. The key right now is to help the industry leverage technology in a way that ensures optimisation and lasting, scalable results.”

Wide range of autonomous tech provides benefits, but not always aligned with pain points

Survey results show the types of autonomous technology used among construction firms varies greatly — from software and tools to self-driving construction vehicles and robotics — as does the level of autonomy. Project management was cited as the most popular application (32%) followed closely by workplace safety (28%), quality control (26%), surveying (26%) and vehicle operation, document management and verification/project inspection (all at 25%). And among the autonomous technologies used, almost half are partially or conditionally autonomous (requiring human oversight and/or intervention to complete tasks), while the remaining 23% and 30% are split between limited autonomy and full autonomy, respectively.

Interestingly though, even with a wide variety of solutions available, firms appear to have trouble identifying the best autonomous or automated technology to solve their specific challenges and pain points. For instance, among survey respondents who stated that improving supply chain management is a top priority in the next 12-18 months, only 28% reported their companies had invested in autonomous monitoring technology, one of the top reported technologies that aid in this area. Additionally, 37% of respondents found fully autonomous robotics drove sustainability benefits, the leading priority in the next 3 to 5 years, yet only 17% of firms are investing in this type of technology. So while construction firms are reporting clear benefits across key business areas, their use of autonomous solutions is not always aligned to their most pressing challenges.

Continued investment creates major opportunities for bottom-line impact

The disparity between technology selection and business priorities represents a significant opportunity to help firms better address specific challenges and pain points through more targeted autonomous technology adoption. A little over half the firms surveyed plan on investing an average of $7.1M in autonomy within the next three years — with 30% planning to invest over $10 million. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the larger the firm, the larger the planned investment in autonomy.

These investments among many other priorities competing for resources, indicate that the industry sees value in autonomous technology in the long-term. In fact, the majority of respondents believe autonomy will be “very” to “extremely” impactful in supporting profitability (63%), sustainability (62%), market competitiveness (62%), and owner satisfaction (62%).

So, the more aligned these solutions are with a firm’s growth strategies and pain points, the better the return on investment they will achieve in the future.

In conclusion, Thomas Harring adds, “The firms that will redefine this industry are no longer defining themselves as construction companies but rather as hybrid companies with technology, engineering and construction at their core — and autonomous technology will play a major role in this evolution. Companies are already seeing how autonomous technology can improve collaboration and streamline production, but the even greater value comes from its ability to help businesses accelerate innovation while maintaining business resiliency. At Hexagon, we’re focused on helping construction firms of all sizes realise those benefits.”

For a copy of Hexagon’s Autonomous Construction Technology Outlook white paper, “Achieving better project outcomes through autonomy”, visit hexagon.com/contechreport. 

The new quality-control tool for road construction will enable crews to verify pavement quality as they build asphalt roads rather than waiting until after construction and using core samples to determine density of asphalt.

“Being able to detect pavement density during construction can save construction companies millions of dollars in labor, materials and time and improve the overall quality of roadways,” Professor Sesh Commuri of the University of Nevada, Reno – who developed the device, said.

The device, named RTDensity, is based on the Retrofit Intelligent Compaction Analyzer previously developed by Commuri in the University’s Electrical and Biomedical Engineering Department. It is manufactured by G4 Technologies, a subsidiary of the California-based construction company George Reed International, known as GRI.

RTDensity is a stand-alone device that can be installed on any vibratory compacter, such as a road roller used to compact freshly laid asphalt. The roller operator uses the device as the road is being built to determine the road density – a key factor that determines the performance and longevity of the road.

Commuri said the device solves a problem in the road-construction process: quality assurance is now done after construction, with core samples cut out of the road and analyzed. If the core samples do not meet the required density specifications, then the contractor’s payment is reduced. In some cases, the entire road may have to be rebuilt.

A well-designed and constructed pavement is designed to last many years. However, poor construction quality due to inadequate quality control tools is a leading cause of premature failure such as potholes, ruts and cracks.

He said that the equipment will benefit the road construction industry by

• providing continuous measurement of density and stiffness of the road during compaction and help the roller operator avoid over- or under-compaction of the asphalt pavement,
• providing complete documentation of compaction quality for hot mix asphalt pavements that can be verified through in-situ testing,
• helping to improve productivity and efficiency while reducing operational costs, and
• providing information that can be used to plan remedial actions to improve the overall quality of the pavement structure.

For years Commuri has been interested in intelligent compaction — a compaction process that uses rollers (for compacting soil and asphalt) outfitted with an integrated measurement system that includes a Global Positioning System, an accelerometer (an instrument that detects and measures vibrations), and computer and temperature sensors – to estimate the stiffness of materials being compacted.

He developed a neural network-based compaction analyzer that uses computer algorithms to estimate the density of asphalt. After joining the University of Nevada, Reno in 2016, he began working with GRI to develop what would become RICA, which is based on machine learning techniques and is more efficient and simpler to implement than the older technology.

Garrett Winkelmaier, a technology development manager at G4 Technologies and former student of Commuri’s, has worked with Commuri to build the latest software application and system of sensors as well as testing and validating the new technology.

“I believe that RTDensity has the potential to change the way that quality control is handled throughout the industry,” Dr. Winkelmaier said. “Current quality control methods are destructive to the construction process, only offer a snapshot of the road at random intervals and results often come back a day or two later when it is impossible to make changes in the construction.

“RTDensity, on the other hand, gives roller operators real-time information about the quality of the construction and can generate a report for the densities over the entire road. In general, intelligent compaction has been sought-after by this industry for over six decades, and RTDensity is the first product that addressing this need and can be purchased ‘off the shelf’ and retrofit to any steel drum roller already being used at construction sites.”

The device debuted in March at the ConExpo-Con/Agg in Las Vegas, one of the largest construction trade shows in North America. It should be available commercially in July or August of this year, according to Phil Reader, technical services manager at GRI.

“We are very proud of Dr. Commuri’s contribution to industry,” College of Engineering Dean Erick Jones said. “Engineering is all about applying scientific knowledge to solve real-world problems and improve lives.”

Cupix

CupixWorks is a state-of-the-art 3D digital twin platform that enables decision-making and collaboration through all stages of a building’s life cycle. Project Managers, General Contractors, Architects, and Owners can remotely view, track, and manage on-site progress via 3D spatial contexts and life-like 3D navigation.

By leveraging the Bentley iTwin Platform, CupixWorks can synchronize and visualize 3D, 360° capture data — along with BIM models plus customized data — and use georeferencing to place the capture in the site’s physical location.

“We are excited to add CupixWorks to Bentley’s powered by iTwin program,” said Simon Bae, CEO at Cupix. “The iTwin Platform’s visualization and synchronization capabilities help CupixWorks to deliver life-like 3D navigation that feels like you’re on site. This improves collaboration for stakeholders—wherever they are—based on what’s actually happening at the site.”

“We are very pleased to have Cupix add their CupixWorks solution to the powered by iTwin program,” said Adam Klatzkin, Vice President, iTwin Platform, at Bentley Systems. “In doing so, the company joins a growing ecosystem of developers building powerful digital twin solutions on the iTwin Platform. CupixWorks is a great example of how 3D reality capture data and BIM can be synchronized for virtual site navigation and progress tracking of complex construction projects.”

The addition marks another step in Cupix’s efforts to democratize 3D digital twin adoption across the built-world industry. Last year, Cupix announced the release of their CupixWorks X 3D Digital Twin Platform, which is powered by the Gamma Engine 3rd generation AI engine. The platform launch included enhancements to spatial contexts, progress tracking and analytics, and image fidelity in 360° virtual walkthroughs.

For more company news and information, visit https://www.cupix.com/news-info.

“We are continuously expanding our API and integration capabilities from our platform,” said Matthew Brinker, Global Product Manager at Command Alkon. “This will enable our customers to leverage their data with other systems, whether they are Command Alkon systems or not, and have information from Command Alkon Dispatch flowing to that system for production, truck tracking, or any other piece of the operation.”

Operational visibility through API integrations enables field and other personnel – sales, quality control, and management – to have real-time insight into dispatch operations. Dispatch integrates with Command Alkon solutions to share data across all aspects of your operations – from sending production requests and receiving batch weights with COMMANDbatch, to sharing ticket data with TrackIt to inform drivers, and TrackIt sharing vehicle locations and status times with Dispatch. Command Alkon Dispatch can also easily export or integrate with ERP data for invoicing, purchasing, and financials.

Command Alkon Dispatch leverages the Command Alkon Platform, which is secure, scalable, and ready for real-time, mission-critical operations.

“Being a technology company, we completely understand the importance of security, and we value our customers’ trust in us to be a steward of the data in their operations,” said Matthew. “The Command Alkon Platform sits on top of Amazon Web Services and security measures are taken to the next level through regular NIST audits and compliance verification.”

For more information, click here.

Booth demonstration – Maximizing Value with Live Digital Twins Demo
Radix is unlocking data to maximize value creation by providing pulp & paper manufacturers solutions and tools that improve a mill’s consistency, process stability, and regulatory control. Through a live Digital Twin Demo, in which we use AWS TwinMaker in Radix booth #413, we will emphasize the importance of data to reduce cost, variability, and improve production quality.

Commented Elliott L. Bell, Global Head of Pulp & Paper at Radix: “The ability to capture the data and make it available for use by anyone able to create value drives the primary strategy of creating a data driven environment. By eliminating data silos (i.e., unlocking data) it is possible to increase the number of employees and SME’s that can take part in diagnosing issues. The fundamental difference between trying to be digital and being data driven is the desire to automate versus the desire to leverage every source of data to drive value creation by de-risking future decisions.”

For more information on Radix’ solutions for the Pulp and Paper Industry: https://content.radixeng.com/radix-tappicon

Presentations

Monday, April 24

1. What Does a Digital Integrated Asset Data Lifecycle Mean for Industry 4.0, by Elliott Bell. Session PIMA Track 4: Innovation Moving Forward, 3:30-5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 25

1. Data Driven Solutions: Multivariant Solutions for Wet-End Process Control by Elliott Bell, Session 4: Wet End Operations (Joint Session w/Molded Fiber), 2-3:30 p.m.
2. Maintenance Planning Strategies in the Post-Pandemic World by Bruno Baggio. Digital Poster Presentation, 11 a.m. – noon
3. The 5 Levels of data Infrastructure Governance Programs by Justin Conroy. Digital Poster Presentation, 11 a.m. – noon

Wednesday, April 26

1. How to Achieve Success Through a Process Control Improvement Program by Elliott Bell and Barbara Oliveira, Papermaking Technology Track, Session 6: Success Stories Taking Action I, 8-9 a.m.
2. Three Methods for Enterprise PIMS Deployment by Stephen Janes, PIMA Track, Session 8: Technology in the Industry: Perform Better, Live Better (Panel Discussion), 8-9 a.m.

Presenter Bios

Stephen Janes is a Professional Mechanical Engineer and Project Management Professional with more than 10 years of engineering experience. For the past 5 years, Stephen has led and managed PIMS deployments and system integrations for the Pulp and Paper industry and others at Radix. He has had the privilege of working with industry leaders such as Georgia-Pacific, Kimberly Clark, WestRock, and Cascades. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Stephen is passionate about leveraging technology to enhance manufacturing operations and is known for creating innovative solutions. At TAPPICon he has been invited to be member of the YP (Young Professionals) panel discussion centered around the impact technology can have to not only to improve mill performance, but also pose an opportunity to create a better, more predictable work life for future mill engineers with a specific focus on employee retention.

Elliott L. Bell is a board member at the pulp and paper Division at ISA – International Society of Automation and Global Head of Pulp and Paper at Radix. He is a lead speaker and session chair during the RPTA Seminar at TAPPICon.

Elliott has over 28 years of experience in heavy industry, with the majority being in Pulp and Paper, Non-Wovens, and Utilities. Previously he held numerous positions with Georgia Pacific, most recently Senior Director of Advanced Process Solutions, where he championed the collection and use of business and process data for Digital Transformation purposes. He is a process control Subject Matter Expert, and has extensive experience in management, organizational transformation, process controls, maintenance, capital project engineering, and project management. Elliott is Six Sigma Black Belt certified and trained in Lean methodology, Four Step Problem solving techniques and center lining. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University.

This solution is part of Trimble’s comprehensive asset lifecycle management platform designed and built for asset owners, public infrastructure stewards and their business partners to connect data and capabilities across all phases of their collaboration–-from planning and design teams to asset managers and field crews that keep each asset working throughout a service life that can last for decades.

“Utilities must continually manage the polarity between aging assets and new construction to find effective solutions that prioritize ongoing operations, maintenance and development,” said Tim Gallagher, general manager, Utilities Division at Trimble. “Trimble Unity AMS addresses the unique and specific needs of the industry by providing a solution that helps utilities deliver reliable and resilient energy while improving productivity and reducing costs.”

Today’s electric utilities face environmental challenges such as grid and load disruption caused by extreme weather events and the accelerating deployment of renewable energy resources. Plus, utilities must manage aging infrastructure, an aging workforce, cybersecurity threats, and regulatory pressures. All of these challenges–compounded by organizational complexity, inefficient processes, and data silos—often prevent utilities from cost-effectively managing their networks to provide reliable service in an efficient, sustainable, cost-effective way. Configured with GIS-centric electric utility workflows, Trimble Unity AMS addresses these operational challenges by digitizing and streamlining field-to-office-to-field operations—all from a single mobile-enabled platform. The solution comes with Trimble Unity mobile software, which means field crews who once relied on cumbersome clipboard-and-paper processes can now perform their day-to-day tasks more simply and efficiently—and with better accuracy—using a mobile device.

Trimble Unity AMS is built on Esri ArcGIS® as the system of record for utility network information, which provides a centralized source of up-to-date data that multiple teams use for decision-making and operations. This built-in integration helps utilities reduce their operational costs by minimizing handoffs and streamlining workflows between teams—all while ensuring data remains consistent, reliable, and transparent.

“Using the data collected in Trimble Unity AMS, team members can perform risk assessments, make better-informed asset investment decisions, and meet regulatory reporting requirements,” said Rami Naber, strategic product manager, Utility Solutions at Trimble. “In addition, Trimble Unity AMS provides an extensible platform that can integrate with other systems of record—such as financial, billing, and outage management systems—which exponentially increases the benefits to utilities by breaking down data silos, increasing productivity and efficiency, and improving customer service and response.”

Trimble Unity AMS is available now. For more information, visit Trimble Unity AMS or contact the Trimble Utilities team.

• Beam Connectivity are pioneers in connected vehicle systems and have developed a high performance, versatile and secure end-to-end connected vehicle solution.

• The global connected market was estimated to be worth $60bn in 2021 and is forecast to grow to $160bn by 2028.

• WAE has been working with Beam Connectivity on a variety of projects since 2020, including telematics for electric vehicle programmes, and the investment will accelerate commercialisation of the Company’s connectivity solutions.

WAE is pleased to announce a strategic equity investment in Beam Connectivity Limited (Beam Connectivity or “the Company”), pioneers in the connected vehicle space.

Beam Connectivity was formed in 2020 to address the fragmented nature of the connected vehicle systems market, seizing the opportunity to develop a full end-to-end solution. The founders recognised that connected vehicle solutions offered an underwhelming experience for both end users and the organisations that deploy them and established Beam Connectivity to address this issue.

By developing a high performance, versatile and secure end-to-end connected vehicle solution, Beam Connectivity are aiming to capitalise on the growth predictions of the connected vehicle market which, according to Mordor Intelligence, is forecast to reach $160bn by 2028 driven by the growing need to monitor fleets of vehicles in real time and the opportunity for efficiency improvements including over the air software updates and implementation of vehicle connectivity legislation and standards.

WAE’s investment will support Beam Connectivity to scale its connected vehicle solutions, helping to build its commercial team and accelerate the Company’s growth. Having worked with Beam Connectivity on a number of telematics projects previously, the team at WAE are committed to working together to offer long term solutions to customers and capitalise on new market opportunities. Alex Burns OBE will join Beam Connectivity as Non-Executive Chairperson to help navigate the Company’s growth trajectory. The investment further demonstrates WAE’s focus on advanced mobility, bringing digital solutions to market that will make mobility cleaner, safer and more convenient. 

Craig Wilson, CEO of WAE, said: “Beam Connectivity are a key supplier to WAE and have built an excellent relationship with our engineering team. We are delighted to further our relationship through this investment which will bring Beam Connectivity’s class leading connectivity solutions to market faster.”

Thomas Sors, CEO of Beam Connectivity, commented: “Beam Connectivity supports several vehicle manufacturers, providing them with a best-in-class connectivity system and high value vehicle insights. This investment will enable us to grow our commercial team and accelerate the deployment of our Connected Vehicle as a Service platform. We have strong alignment with WAE and are pleased to strengthen our relationship with them through this investment.”

Alex Burns OBE (Non-Executive Chairperson of Beam Connectivity) added: “I am delighted to be joining Beam Connectivity at this exciting time for the Company. Beam Connectivity has an excellent management team and a class-leading connectivity solution. The investment and support from WAE will help the team to accelerate the growth of the business by providing their solution to their growing customer base.”

The third generation of Neusoft Reach’s X-Cube 3.0 front view smart camera is based on Ambarella’s CV22 AI vision system-on-chip (SoC), which runs the camera’s L2 AI perception algorithm. The X-Cube 3.0 is currently being implemented in mass production, providing safe and efficient passenger car technologies and solutions for OEMs based on Ambarella’s CV22 platform.

Building on Neusoft’s nearly 20 years of experience in developing AI vision algorithms for autonomous driving, Neusoft Reach’s in-house neural network algorithms fully utilize the high AI performance and powerful image processing capabilities of Ambarella’s CV22 SoC to achieve the simultaneous deployment of multiple models, including detection, segmentation and semantic classification. Optimized training is carried out for the driving environment with localized characteristics in China, including structural road conditions and complex traffic scenarios, such as non-standard vehicles, pedestrians with abnormal posture, obscured pedestrians, fences, roadblocks and special lane lines. Neusoft Reach’s AI models achieved significant performance improvements through the unique unstructured-sparsity capability of Ambarella’s CVflow^® AI architecture, along with the support of tools from their CVflow platform and local technical team. These improvements marked a breakthrough in optimization efficiency and enabled high algorithm accuracy, which provides users with a safer and more comfortable driving experience.

Ambarella’s CV22 SoC is based on its proprietary and highly efficient CVflow AI processing architecture, which enables the industry’s best AI performance per watt. Additionally, this chipset uses a 10nm, automotive-grade process technology to help achieve low power consumption. Having supported mass production for many passenger vehicles in recent years, Ambarella’s CVflow platform toolchain offers proven support for a wide variety of neural networks. Additionally, the platform optimizes model importing, including quantization, sparsification, compilation and operation. In particular, it supports unstructured sparsity, as well as retraining to compensate for quantization accuracy loss, which provides advantages such as high execution efficiency and low memory bandwidth usage when running the same network.

The Ambarella CVflow platform also provides customers with extensive documentation and includes examples of various open-source networks, as well as training videos. The company’s local support teams communicate seamlessly with customers to assist them in maximizing the benefits of their algorithms and systems, while advancing their intelligent innovation.

“The real-world implementation of L2 and above intelligent driving functions requires fine-tuned application algorithms, optimized chip capabilities, functional safety, hardware security and platform-based rapid iterative reuse,” said Liu Wei, Deputy General Manager of Neusoft Reach. “Component suppliers must also have excellent algorithms and a powerful software architecture, along with high-performance and highly reliable automotive-grade chips. This cooperation between Ambarella and Neusoft Reach showcases our effective implementation of autonomous algorithms, providing innovative technology solutions for the industry while helping to create a new ecology of intelligent networked vehicles.”

“It is gratifying to see our work with Neusoft Reach on their L2 front-ADAS smart camera product achieving mass production in a range of OEM passenger cars,” said Fermi Wang, president and CEO of Ambarella. “Our CVflow SoCs provide a high-performance AI processing engine for Neusoft Reach’s advanced neural network algorithms. Additionally, our integrated image signal processor continues to set the industry benchmark for image quality, while our efficient SoC architecture provides the industry’s best AI performance per watt.”

Ambarella and Neusoft Reach plan to continue their cooperation in China, using Ambarella’s next-generation SoCs to continue creating intelligent driving systems with distinct technology advantages. The companies also plan to continue their joint development of L2 ADAS products for passenger cars in China, helping OEMs bring additional models into mass production that provide consumers with a safer and more comfortable driving experience.

On Tuesday, May 9, VOICE will feature keynote addresses from two dynamic speakers with diverse technical backgrounds and areas of expertise. The first keynote address, sponsored by Headline Sponsor Alliance ATE, will be delivered by Dex Hunter-Torricke, VP Global Communications & Public Engagement at Meta Oversight Board. Dex will discuss how the world and the way we work will change with breakthroughs in the latest technologies from AI to robotics, and VR, and look at the trends, challenges and opportunities. Tuesday’s second keynote speaker, sponsored by Headline Sponsor ISE Labs ASE Group, will be Dr. Gaurav Gupta, VP analyst on the Emerging Trends and Technologies team at Gartner, who will provide a semiconductor market update. His research areas include semiconductor manufacturing processes, chip design trends, artificial intelligence (AI) analytics in chip manufacturing, semiconductor equipment spending, chip industry economics and the supply chain.

On Wednesday, May 10, the first featured speaker will be Claudionor Coelho, chief AI officer and senior VP of engineering for Advantest. With nearly 30 years of experience in R&D, software engineering and machine learning at companies including Synopsys and Google, Coelho has unique insights to share with VOICE attendees on AI technology and its impact on the semiconductor industry, present and future. Wednesday’s second featured speaker will be Michael Campbell, senior VP of engineering at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., who will share his thoughts on how AI and machine learning technologies are impacting the semiconductor industry.

Additional VOICE details
The informative technical program will feature more than 70 presentations across nine tracks, enabling attendees to learn about test-related projects and applications for 5G/mmWave, RF, AI, high-performance computing, and chiplets – to name a few. During the Partners’ Expo, which runs throughout both days, Advantest technology partners will be available to discuss their latest products and solutions. Tuesday evening, attendees will visit nearby Levi’s Stadium for a tour of the San Francisco 49ers Museum, as well as dinner and entertainment.

VOICE 2023 will close Wednesday afternoon with an award ceremony recognizing the event’s best papers and honorable mentions. The annual Visionary Award will also be presented at the ceremony. Endowed in 2020, this award honors an Advantest customer who has made significant, sustained contributions to VOICE over the years.

In addition, a Workshop Day will be held on May 11, providing in-depth, practical learning in hands-on sessions that cover advanced RF demodulation (full day), and V93000 Link Scale and ACS Edge 3.0 (half day each). To learn more about the workshops and to register, visit here.

Registration and hotel reservations for VOICE 2023 will remain open until April 14. Space is limited, and last year’s event sold out early.

The CPD-accredited education programme at DCW is designed to keep visitors at the cutting-edge of innovation for the built environment. The show features 10 theatres that focus on some of the key areas shaping digital construction, including information management, asset management, geospatial, Net Zero, digital transformation and more.

The event boasts 300+ free-to-attend talks, workshops and demos delivered by expert speakers from across AECO. Attendees will be inspired by actionable insights, data-driven knowledge and practical advice from thought-leaders in the field.

Keep reading for some of the highlights from the programme.

Information Management Stage & Information Management Exchange (sponsored by UK BIM Framework and in partnership with nima)

The Information Management Stage (IMS) hosts a series of presentations and panel sessions looking at the benefits of the shift from BIM to Information Management. Topics include product data, interoperability, digital twins, net zero and the Golden Thread.

In Delivering valuable data, Government & Industry Interoperability Group (GIIG)’s Paul Wilkinson will cover the group’s Code of Practice for Technologies. He will present how the code can support procurement to improve data delivery, as well as how attendees can be a part of the future development of the code.

Digital Construction Award winner Emma Hooper, Associate Director and Head of R&D at Bond Bryan Digital, will help visitors gain an appreciation and understanding of information theory, and how it applies to construction. In Information chaos theory revisited – principles and concepts of Information Management, she will also cover what the future of information management may look like and if we are on the right path to achieving it.

Sector Lead at BSI, Dan Rossiter FCIAT’s session UK BIM Framework Overview will look at the role of the UK BIM Framework and how it supports government policy.

The Information Management Exchange (IMX) provides a space for attendees to network, share ideas and learn from one another. The informal and interactive format includes workshops, drop-in clinics, networking sessions, open mics and panel debates. 

Speakers on the theatre include John Hall, Information Management Platform Implementation at GIIG. He will present The client Information Management Platform, outlining the benefits of the platform approach for client organisations.

Asset Management Stage (sponsored by Glider Technology)
 
Brand new for 2023, the Asset Management Stage is home to sessions and discussions that join the dots between the construction and operational phases. This includes asset handover, management, maintenance, and operation. Attendees will learn about the digitised information and strategies available and how they can improve the way assets are managed through their lifecycle. 

BIM Manager at DAA, Michael Early, will present how to structure data for better project delivery in Airports of the future: How to mitigate risk and create greater certainty. Defining what data is meaningful for asset management to contractor and subcontractor partners will also be covered, as well as how to deliver projects digitally.

Shahida Rajabdeen looks after Standard Information Approach Implementation at GIIG. She will share what the Standard Information Approach is and how it can be applied within organisations in Standardising information requirements.

The Museum of London – Smart Delivery and Operation will be hosted by Irina Gales Senior Digital Construction Manager at Sir Robert McAlpine. This session will cover the project objectives, requirements, and the digital tools that have been selected to support the project’s delivery and clients aspirations to be “the Smartest museum in the world”.

Geospatial Theatre (sponsored by Pix4D and Murphy Geospatial)

The programme at the Geospatial Theatre goes beyond hardware, exploring the geospatial technologies that give us a precise understanding of the physical world, helping to solve some of the many challenges we find in the built environment. The stage will be busy with a stream of case studies, research projects and debates linked to location data and mapping, smart cities, estates management, the future of transportation networks, machine controls, the connected site and more.   

In Embracing the 5th Dimension in AEC through a GeoBIM perspective GIS Analyst at Skanska UK, Izzy McLees, will demonstrate how GeoBIM can be used as an enhanced collaboration tool in both building and infrastructure projects.

Ezgi Şendil, Product Development Team Lead in a startup and a MSc. Student in Earthquake Engineering, will talk about the importance of pre-disaster planning in smart cities and the role of technology in enhancing disaster response efforts in Post-disaster management in smart cities.

The value of location data presented by Ordnance Survey’s Director of International, Juliet Ezechie, will uncover how location data can be used to benefit the construction industry in planning, stakeholder engagement, and emergency response.

Innovation Stage (sponsored by Sir Robert McAlpine)

The Innovation Stage at DCW is perfect for those interested in seeing some of the most exciting technological advances in construction and engineering. Learn through live demos and installations in robotics, additive manufacturing, UAV construction, wearable technology and much more. 

How much data does AI need to improve your projects? Find out in Artificial Intelligence to predict future outcomes in Programmes, do we need big data? presented by Danilo Arba, Programme Director & PMO Lead LATAM, MACE Group. This session will provide real life case studies on the application of AI in PMO’s.

The role of generative AI in driving innovation in the built environment will be covered by Mar Zumaquero Gomez, Global Innovation Management Director at Arcadis. The impact of the ChatGPT revolution in the built environment is set to outline how this emerging technology can increase productivity, knowledge sharing and creativity among industry professionals.

If visitors wish to learn how contractor/GCs can access automation to build better, how to rethink the supply chain of construction or how a micro factory network can scale globally, then Mollie Claypool, CEO of Automated Architecture (AUAR), has the answers in Automating Architecture: Radically rethinking what and how we build.

People & Change Theatre (sponsored by Women in BIM)

The transformational nature of the digitalisation of the built environment requires focus in three key areas: people, process and technology. This is why it is important that the People and Change theatre returns in 2023. Sessions will focus on topics including behavioural change, how to embrace new ways of working, using tech to engage and communicate with staff, strategies for inclusivity, diversity, collaboration and wellbeing in the workplace.  

Rudie Masukume, Community and Stakeholder Engagement Officer, Skills and Employment Officer at Costain Group will present More than bricks and mortar –  Building up communities through major construction. She will discuss why transparency is key to making the most of achievements and future success, as well as engaging supporters and stakeholders through digital communications and practical example.

Diversity builds team strength, says Richard Gwilt, Digital Construction Manager at Kier. In his presentation Neurodiversity, the hidden me, Richard will uncover how disability highlights inefficiencies in current methods of working and why accommodation does not need to be daunting.

In Driving excellence in digital skills – A case for investment in people, Kirsti Wells, Business Development Manager at BSI Group, will highlight why implementing training within organisations, and expanding knowledge internally, will enhance collaboration and productivity.

Net Zero Stage (sponsored by Autodesk and in partnership with ZERO)

A huge shift towards achieving Net Zero is underway within all industries, and the built environment is no exception, echoed by the government’s plan to build back ‘better, faster and greener’. Sessions taking place on the Net Zero Stage, in partnership with ZERO, will help visitors navigate how digital tools, methods, and skills are improving the performance of projects and leading to lower emissions. 

The five benefits of digital carbon tools will be outlined by Megan Greig, Senior Engineer at Elliott Wood in her presentation Sustainable construction in action –  how the design office can cut carbon now. Attendees will learn how digital tools and ‘digital twins’ can help decide what materials can be re-used in a circular economy, with practical examples of how to make more informed and sustainable decisions during the design phase.

Johnathan Munkley, Co-Founder of ZERO Construct, will host an introduction to the ZERO Playbook, ZERO community, and its goals. He will also touch on how carbon, cost and net operating income are linked in We want a net zero emissions construction industry, do you?

Transformation Hub (sponsored by Nemetschek and Vectorworks)

Since its introduction in 2018, the Transformation Hub has helped companies and individuals embrace new ways of working by providing leadership and guidance on the implications of technology and innovation on their business. The Hub returns for 2023, boasting hand-picked panel discussions and presentations exploring business transformation, with a focus on the practicalities of digitalisation. 

The role of data sharing to enable strategic outcomes will be discussed in How data can enable accelerated delivery of critical national infrastructure, hosted byKevin Reeves, Industry Director – Energy & Utilities at Microsoft. Impacts of the 4th industrial revolution, and cross sector alignment of digital transformation will also be covered.

In Digital disruption of the construction industry, Huda As’ad, UKI Capital Projects Lead at Accenture, will outline the key ways in which the industry can improve efficiency and productivity through data insights.

Andrew Pryke, Managing Director at BAM Design and BAM Construct UK will presentPlatform 9 3/4 – Are we quite there for this digital construction journey. This session will define what a Platform is, what can be included in a Platform, and overcoming challenges.

These are just some of the hundreds of sessions on offer at Digital Construction Week this year. Browse the full programme at www.digitalconstructionweek.com/programme.

Register now for DCW 2023

Digital Construction Week takes place at ExCeL London from 17-18 May 2023. Register for a free trade ticket at https://go.pardot.com/e/465882/eek23-aspx-TrackingCode-DCW300/3jslx6n/6105253657?h=UY05IW6k5tblAfnIFa8GFAwkpKVNlRjvpdbjpePS4r0

LEEA’s all new Foundation Certificate training course – FOU (Global), is already available in these languages online to all members, as is the Lifting Accessories Course, LAC (Global). This latter course replaces the previous ‘Lifting Equipment General (LEG) Diploma’. The assessment for these courses has been updated and refined to provide a robust and high-quality service. 

Introducing courses to the platform means members can carry out their training when they want, how they want and for as long as they want. The platform is suitable for any device and has an offline study capability with auto-sync updates once back online.  LEEA’s substantial investment into a technology upgrade in its Huntingdon training centre makes e-learning a real option for learners. Equipped with high tech cameras, speakers, microphones and other equipment LEEA staff can hold classes with delegates from across the world and deliver training via Zoom with maximum effectiveness. 

Holders of the LEEA’s new ‘smart’ TEAM Card, which provides instantly verifiable data when required, will have any new qualifications updated by the LEEA team when changes occur.

LEEA expects these exceptional new courses to be extremely popular with members and looks forward to hearing feedback from participants. Watch this space for news of more courses being rolled out on the Academy 2.0 platform.

For further information or to book your place on a course, please email: academysupport@leeaint.com.

Building on the capabilities of GeoStudio’s trusted 2D SLOPE/W product, SLOPE3D is an intuitive limit equilibrium solution for analyzing rock and soil slopes in mining and civil projects – for example, hillslopes, open pit mines, and engineered structures such as dams and levees.  

Chris Kelln, Director, Technical Solutions for GeoStudio, said, “SLOPE3D combines the most up-to-date research on 3D slope analysis techniques with the capabilities in SLOPE/W, a trusted tool for assessing 2D slope stability for over 30 years, providing a practical approach for capturing slope failure mechanisms for simple to complex geotechnical models.” 

“Ensuring the safety and reliability of engineered projects is at the heart of geotechnical engineering,” Kelln added. “We specifically designed SLOPE3D to empower geotechnical and geological engineers to make confident decisions, improve safety, reduce project risks and costs, and ultimately design better infrastructure.”  

GeoStudio’s powerful and easy-to-use interface provides a unique modelling and analysis experience. Multiple 3D geometries and analyses can be added to a single project and solved simultaneously. Geo-professionals can include SLOPE3D analyses in existing 2D stability projects for efficient results comparison. 

SLOPE3D connects directly with Seequent’s geological modelling software, Leapfrog, via Seequent Central, and integrates with GeoStudio’s SEEP3D. This creates a seamless workflow with smooth data exchange and simpler data management to improve project accuracy and outcomes. 

SLOPE3D can be purchased now from Seequent. See the new SLOPE3D product page for more information, release announcement video, and a free trial. SLOPE3D is part of the GeoStudio 2023 release.