CAD User May/June 2015 Edition

CAD UserMAY/JUNE 2015

VOL 28 NO 03

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TTwwiinnmmoottiioonn 22001155Immersive real-time 3D visualisation

PPrreeddiiccttiinngg tthhee ffuuttuurree ooff ddeessiiggnnPredictive Background Processing in ArchiCAD 19

PPllaannnniinngg ffoorr BBIIMM LLeevveell 22Are you ready for April 2016?

VVeeccttoorrwwoorrkkss DDeessiiggnn SSuummmmiitt 22001155What’s in the Vectorworks ‘goody bag’ for this year?

Blade stunnerGenerative Design shapes One Blackfriars

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© 2015 Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Bentley and the “B” Bentley logo are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or one of its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. CS47 04/15

Bentley offers comprehensive solutions for the collaborative design and multi-discipline engineering, construction, and delivery of building, industrial, and other infrastructure projects of any scale or complexity.

Bentley’s BIM portfolio includes applications for design, analytical, construction, reality, and asset performance modeling, along with an information and collaborative framework to manage all aspects of project delivery. This comprehensive solution empowers architects, engineers, contractors, and owner-operators to leverage BIM advancements successfully for better performing projects and better performing assets.

Find out more at: www.bentley.com

Bentley is Sustaining Infrastructure

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FAIL TO PLAN: PLAN TO FAIL 28

Ben Wallbank, BIM Strategy Manager at4Projects by Viewpoint, highlights theimportance of adequate planning for April 2016

SimpsonHaugh and Partners uses GenerativeDesign to shape their One Blackfriars Towerconcept, letting daylight into neighboringproperties via a blade-thin, 50-storeyskyscraper

PREDICTING THE FUTURE OF DESIGN 10Due for release in June, ArchiCAD 19 istaking a giant leap forward in BIMperformance through its use of PredictiveBackground Processing

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BLADE STUNNER 18

A VECTORWORKS TAKEAWAY 24

All the best parties end with a goody bag and the2015 Vectorworks Design Summit was nodifferent, sending attendees home with a bundleof exciting developments to look forward to

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I NEWS................................................INDUSTRY NEWS....................................................................................................6• NEW KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PARTNERSHIP FOR NORTH-EAST • TRIO OF ASTA DEVELOPMENTS

SOFTWARE REVIEW........................YOU’VE GOT MAIL MANAGED............................................................................14• MAIL MANAGER FROM OASYS TURNS TRADITIONAL EMAIL MANAGEMENT INTO A PRODUCTIVE TOOL

SOFTWARE REVIEW........................TALK TO ME!.....................................................................................................20• ZWCAD THE .DWG COMPATIBLE APPLICATION, INTRODUCES VOICE ANNOTATION WITH ITS LATEST RELEASE

CASE STUDY...................................ONLINE BOOKINGS.............................................................................................22• AECOM DELIVERS A HIGH QUALITY HOTEL REFIT ON TIME - WITH THE HELP OF CONJECT

SOFTWARE REVIEW........................THE 5TH DIMENSION OF 3D MODELLING.........................................................26• ASTA DEVELOPMENTS BRINGS BIDCON BIM TO THE UK

CASE STUDY....................................A WINNING WIND MENTALITY!..........................................................................30• ESSS USES ANSYS MULTIPHYSICS TO TEST WIND AND OTHER FACTORS AT THE NATIONAL STADIUM IN BRASILIA

TRAINING MAP................................AUTODESK TRAINING.........................................................................................32• YOUR GUIDE TO AUTODESK TRAINING

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS...................GOT THE WORLD TWINMOTION.........................................................................34• Create visulations and 3D immersion in real-time with Twinmotion 2015

May/June 2015 3

CONTENTS

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Jack of all trEditor:David Chadwick

([email protected])News Editor:Mark Lyward

([email protected])Advertising Sales:

Josh Boulton([email protected])

Production Manager:Abby Penn

([email protected])Design/Layout:

Ian [email protected]

Circulation/Subscriptions:Christina Willis

([email protected])Publisher:

John [email protected]

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COMMENT

Jack of all trades

What a great time to be an architect.3D modelling tools have reachedsuch a high degree of

sophistication that any conceivable structurecan be created, rendered and located insome exotic location, and appearindistinguishable from a real building. It canthen be analysed, sectioned, layered andused to produce a wealth of fascinatingreports from the geometrical data, and theinformation stored with each additionalcomponent.In fact there's not much that you can't do

now when it comes to laying out the actualshape, size and components of a building,and a lot of the most recent developmentsand innovations have centred aroundimproving the actual means of doing so,namely the user interface. Except that nowwe have some really interesting stuff beingadded to the latest releases of two of ourmost popular architectural applications thatgive extra power to the architect, in terms ofenhanced performance in modelling andgreater freedom in design.In the first instance, Graphisoft has broken

free of the constraints of multi-coreprocessing, which is great for staticprocesses such as rendering and simulation,as the compute intensive processes involvedcan be chopped up and fed into each of acomputer’s cores for proper parallelprocessing, but which is not so hot for thedynamic elements of model design - namelythe drawing and editing process itself. Using algorithms that they have developed

and are now patenting, Graphisoft hasintroduced predictive backgroundprocessing in ArchiCAD 19 (see the articleon page 10). Predictive backgroundprocessing updates background views of amodel using one or other of a computer’s'idling' cores. This means that when they areselected by the user by opening theappropriate tab, the up to date model isimmediately available. This represents amassive leap in BIM performance.

Vectorworks is also making things a wholelot easier for architects with the unveiling ofVisual Scripting at their recent 2015 DesignSummit. Scripting allows users to create aflow chart outlining the building designworkflow, created from a series of nodes thatspecify one or more attributes or logicalconstraints. These are then translated intogeometric components using the PythonAPI. Similar to Bentley’sGenerativeComponents in scope, it allowsiterations in building designs to be used toconfigure optimum designs according towhatever constraints are built into theworkflow. See the article on page 24 of thisissue for more. Of equal interest is the inclusion by both

companies of Point-Cloud support. It isgetting to be the 'must have' application forall architects, perhaps reflecting the need toreference existing structures, either as abasis for adding to them, refurbishing them,or plonking your own project next door tothem. The rise in interest in 3D scanningcould also be guessed at by the number ofexhibitors at the recent BIM Show Live eventwho were demonstrating the latest 3D laserscanners. Building performance is another tool being

handed to the architect. It's not enough thesedays to just create a concept and thendevelop it through to a buildable 3D model -architects now have to calculate energyusage or building performance right from thebeginning of a project. An architect doesn'tneed to have the skills of a professionalenvironmental engineer though, as themodules available with both ArchiCAD andVectorworks are simple to use andsophisticated enough to provide an architectwith a projected BREEAM rating. All of these new developments will provide

architects with the tools to work faster,design better, create more complexstructures, deal with environmental concernsand communicate better with each other.That’ll work for us!

by David Chadwick

Articles published reflect the opinions of

the authors and are not necessarily those

of the publisher or his employees. While

every reasonable effort is made to ensure

that the contents of editorial and advertis-

ing are accurate, no responsibility can be

accepted by the publisher for errors, mis-

representations or any resulting effects

4 May/June 2015

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www.btc.co.uk

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INDUSTRY news

May/June 20156

A TRIO OF ASTA DEVELOPMENTS

Graphisoft has announced aRhino connection for

ArchiCAD. The connectionenables ArchiCAD users onMac and Windows platforms toimport Rhino models into Archi-CAD as GDL objects.

The Rhino-ArchiCAD link con-verts a Rhino model into Archi-CAD geometry. The container ofthe Rhino-based model is GDL,

which is ArchiCAD’s genericobject format. For larger andcomplex models, Graphisofthas introduced the option toconvert a Rhino model into aset of smaller GDL objects. Thisprocess enables the user toretain separate logical partswithin the same model whileproviding a functionality to mon-itor and easily update theimported Rhino models in Archi-CAD. The LCF option is alsoadvised to enable ArchiCAD'sperformance optimisation algo-rithm to work seamlessly on animported large Rhino model.www.graphisoft.com

Asta Development has offi-cially released the second

version of Asta PowerprojectBIM and is rolling the productout via its global reseller net-work for the first time. Asta hasalso launched the estimationtool Bidcon BIM into the UK(see the article on page 26 ofthis issue) and is adding to thecapability of Site ProgressMobile with the addition of aweb application to allow brows-er access.

Asta Powerproject BIM wasthe first product to combine 3Dplanning and scheduling in asingle, affordable 4D applica-tion. Version 2 builds on its corecapability to create and play 3Dvisualisations along a timelineby allowing users to:• Separate 3D objects in IFCmodels into a number of small-er 3D elements - in order toassociate separate elementswith tasks in a timeline to reflectthe realities of construction • Split multiple times in 3 axes• Merge IFC elements into sin-gle objects to associate themas a whole with a project tasks,

where they can be managed asingle item or action• Assign build sequence tosub-sections for more accurateplanning• Work with locally-stored IFCfiles, in addition to those in theELECO BIMCloud, which addsoffline capabilities in addition toexisting cloud information shar-ing and file transfer.

Site Progress Mobile will havethe addition of web browseraccess from 1st June, addingfurther improvement to analready flexible site progressreporting tool. Originallydesigned to be a mobile tabletand smartphone-centric tool,Asta users asked for the capa-bility to be extended for use onPC and laptop as well as oniOS, Android and WindowsMobile. Site Progress Mobileenables users to accesssecure Asta Powerproject filesvia the cloud, and work withthem regardless of the avail-ability of site WiFi or mobiledata connectivity. www.astadev.com

ANorth-East architects firm isattracting international

clients thanks to a jointresearch project with TeessideUniversity into cutting edge BIMtechnology. Ryder Architecturein Newcastle is working with theUniversity on a KnowledgeTransfer Partnership (KTP) toinvestigate different ways inwhich BIM can be implementedinto facilities management.

This is the third KTP thatRyder has undertaken withTeesside University and theresearch into BIM has helpedposition it as a leading practi-tioner of BIM methodologiesand helped attract clients inAustralia and the Far East.

The latest KTP is looking atways in which this knowledgecan be adapted to provide dataand information which can beused to manage the buildingafter its construction is complet-ed and how this knowledge canbe fed back to architects andengineers so they can designbetter buildings.

KTPs typically last for twoyears and are a collaborationbetween a University and acompany. They are part-fundedby Innovate UK to help busi-nesses to improve their com-petitiveness and productivitythrough the better use of knowl-

edge, technology and skills.Ryder’s previous collaboration

with Teesside University hasalready led the company toform a new business, BIMAcademy, an R&D, educationand consultancy organisation tosupport other firms which wantto implement BIM methodologyin their work.

The success of the KTP pro-jects helped Ryder win a presti-gious international consultancyon BIM for facility managementat the Sydney Opera House fol-lowing a global tender call.Ryder is also working on BIMprojects at the M+ Museum ofArt being constructed in WestKowloon, Hong Kong.

The company has also formeda partnering agreement withEcodomus, a US IT firm whichspecialises in BIM for facilitiesmanagement to help push thetechnology in UK and the FarEast. Peter Barker, Director atRyder Architecture and Manag-ing Director of BIM Academy,said: "From Ryder’s perspec-tive, the KTP has really helpedto broaden our services, notjust in terms of designing theclient’s building but also havingthe potential to deliver reliableinformation about the buildingfor the operational stage." www.innovateuk.org

NEW KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PARTNERSHIP

ARCHICAD MAKES RHINO CONNECTION

From left - Professor Nash Dawood, Omar Tapponi and Peter Barker

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By January 2016, everyone working in the UK construction sector needs to understand the potential of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and how they can use it to produce better quality buildings and landscapes more efficiently. For 25+ years, Nemetschek Vectorworks Inc has been a global leader in design technologies providing elegant architectural, landscape and lighting design software that offers Building Information Modelling capabilities in a flexible, hybrid-design environment. Act now and contact us to make sure you are ready for BIM.

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THE CLOCK IS TICKING…ARE YOU READY FOR BIM?

For more information on Vectorworks: visit www.bimvectorworks.com or call 020 8358 6668

Associations we work with include the following:

BIM & CAD SOFTWARE FOR ARCHITECTS AND INTERIOR DESIGNERS

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EXERTIS ACQUIRES COMPUTERS UNLIMITED

INDUSTRY news

May/June 20158

BIM MODULE VERSION 1.1 RELEASED

Arithmetica has significantlyenhanced its Pointfuse

automated point cloud process-ing software with simplified inte-gration for CAD software. Thenew release of Pointfuse Proalso automatically textures thegenerated 3D models by usingRGB, Intensity or statisticalderived values.

Using the original RGB valuesfrom the point cloud the soft-ware can now automaticallyadd real world context to thegenerated models.

Other new functionality allowsusers to quickly and accuratelygenerate 3D models and theneasily produce 2D plans, eleva-tions or sections for use in pro-ject documentation. The soft-ware also includes the ability tocreate scaled ortho imagesfrom the point cloud data that

can be used to draw measureor take dimensions from.

"The latest version of Pointfusemakes it even faster and easierto visualise large point cloud astextured vector models,” com-mented Mark Senior, PointfuseDevelopment Manager, “but,more importantly we have sim-plified the workflow allowingusers to create 3D models, 2Dline work and scaled orthoimages automatically, quicklyand easily. These are then fullycompatible with CAD softwareand modelling packages. Themodels can also be made tolook photorealistic with auto-matic and accurate texturing."

An evaluation version of thesoftware will be available as afree download from June at thewebsite below.www.pointfuse.com

Business Collaborator hasreleased version 1.1 of their

BIM Module. The BIM DataViewer and Server now enablethe entire project team to Feder-ate together models from differ-ent disciplines and run ClashDetection to find problems inthose models.

Models are uploaded to Busi-ness Collaborator (CommonData Environment/ProjectExtranet/Document Manage-ment System) andimported/optimised into aSemantic Database. Fromthere, any member of the pro-ject team can select two ormore models and view them atthe same time. All of the capa-

bility when viewing a singlemodel is transferred acrosswhen viewing many modelstogether. Users can navigate, fil-ter by IFC Category, turn individ-ual models transparent andsearch for objects across theFederated model.

Stephen Crompton, CTO ofBusiness Collaborator Ltd, said:"The team have worked incredi-bly hard to deliver this nextphase in our BIM journey. ModelFederation and Clash Detectionwere unanimously identified byour customers as the mostneeded additions to our BIMmodule and I am delighted tobe able to announce the avail-ability of this functionality, fullyintegrated with our leading CDEand Project Extranet platform. Ihave no doubt our customerswill be just as delighted with theresult as we are and can't waitto get this into their hands."www.groupbc.com

Exertis, distributors of IT,communication & home

entertainment products, hasacquired Computers Unlimited,the distributors of Vectorworksin the UK. Computers Unlimit-ed supplies a wide range ofthird party branded software, IThardware and consumer elec-tronics products to over 2,000partners throughout the UKand Continental Europe. Thebusiness employs 200 peopleand operates from offices inLondon, Paris and Barcelona. Exertis is one of Europe's

largest and fastest growingtechnology distribution andspecialist service providers.

Niall Ennis, Group MD ofExertis said; "We are excited atthe prospect of extending thereach of Computers Unlimitedto the multiple retail channelsthat Exertis supports both inthe UK and in France. Thisacquisition also extends theExertis footprint into the Span-ish retail sector, where Com-puters Unlimited has a grow-ing presence." www.unlimited.com

GREATER POINT CLOUD INTEGRATION

BIM PRODUCT DATA TEMPLATES FROM ICON

The Industrial & CommercialEnergy Association (ICOM)

has announced the completionof BIM Product Data Templates(PDTs) for five categories ofcommercial and industrialheating equipment. The PDTshave just ended their publicconsultation period and thecomments will be reviewed byCIBSE before they areapproved as the industry stan-dard. These are amongst thefirst product groups within thebuilding services sector to bedistributed for public consulta-tion by CIBSE.

The product categories areair heaters, burners, gas & oilboilers, gas boosters anddirect-fired storage waterheaters This means that engi-neers specifying these prod-

ucts are able to work withgeneric PDTs that are manu-facturer-neutral.

These PDTs are standardisedproduct group questionnaires,which manufacturers will thencomplete with their productinformation. The completedPDTs will then become Prod-uct Data Sheets (PDSs) con-taining digitalised informationunique to each manufacturer'sproduct.

ICOM Director Ross Ander-son commented: "ICOM mem-bers have come together toshare their knowledge and cre-ate industry-wide templatesthat will prove to be of signifi-cant benefit to the building ser-vices industry as a whole."www.icomenergyassociation.org.uk

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There’s never been a better time to buy a professional desktop 3D printer from StratasysWith the new Stratasys Trade In, Trade Up programme you can get up to £1000 off the professional Idea Series 3D desktop printers. All you have to do is trade in your old 3D printer, and as long as it’s in full working order you can get:

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It all means that these superb Stratasys 3D desktop printers are now an even better buy than before!

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Trade in your old 3D printer and get up to £1000 off a new Stratasys Idea Series professional 3D desktop printer

SOFTWAREreview

May/June 201510

It's a measure of the quality andusefulness of a software solution that itis capable of being upgraded to take

advantage of the latest technologydevelopments, offering performanceenhancements undreamed of when thesoftware was originally being mapped out.Graphisoft's ArchiCAD is in that happyposition, and the latest release of thesoftware, ArchiCAD 19, offers users aquantum leap in the speed with which fullyprepared model views are loaded,dramatically improving the editing,modelling and viewing experience.

Predictive Background Processing is justone of the highlights of ArchiCAD 19.Besides a number of working environmentand productivity enhancements, thesoftware now includes Point-Cloud support- the 3D scan results becomingincreasingly popular for mapping legacystructures prior to refurbs and otherdevelopments - and an Interactive 3DSurface Painter, for drag and drop editingof building model surfaces.

Leading the way in Open BIM, thesoftware also includes the ability to importcorrect IFC models with perfect geometryand minimal attributes.

BACKGROUND PROCESSINGIf you are going to buy a computer thesedays - anything from a workstation to afairly basic laptop - then you’ll want at leasta 64-bit multi-processor with a minimum of4Gb of RAM and 500Gb HD as aminimum spec. Current architectural CADapplications, however, were developedbefore the days of multiple coretechnology, which means that, whilstparallel processing may be a possibility forsome purposes, the software doesn't knowhow to fully take advantage of it. In a 4core machine, then, most of the time 3 ofthose processors might be kicking their

heels while the remaining core takesthe strain.

Whilst processes like rendering andsimulation, which used to be handledseparately when computers weresomewhat slower, can easily besubdivided into separate chunks and runthrough a number of cores in parallelprocessing mode, elsewhere the strain ismore evident - such as in the editing of a3D model.

Creating and modifying geometry, andthe frequent switching of model views thatit entails, incurs substantial amounts ofrecalculation. When a user switches fromone view to the next, that is when thecomputations start. In order to address thisGraphisoft has now developed analgorithm that 'second-guesses' the userswitching between views, anticipating whatthe user is going to do next, and takingadvantage of spare core processingcapability to update the model in thebackground. This means that whenalternate views are accessed they areimmediately available and up to date.

ArchiCAD is already capable of handlinglarge and complex projects more efficientlythan other mainstream applications

because of the way it handles modelupdates, and predictive backgroundprocessing puts it further ahead of thegame. Predictive background processingis seen by Graphisoft as a significantgame changer, and consequently theyhave a patent pending on the technology.

FLOATING PALETTESTo make views even more accessible, andas part of its improved work environment,Graphisoft has also updated ArchiCAD’suser interface by introducing Tab-basednavigation to ArchiCAD 19. It’s a muchmore transparent method of accessingpages, and wil be familiar to users of web-based applications. Tab-based navigationspeeds up the ability to switch betweenfloor plans, sections, elevations and 3Dwindows. Views hidden by tabs areupdated in the background with currentdata whilst the user is editing their model,and are then available in less than asecond with a single mouse click!

Graphisoft has also introduced a true full-screen mode that provides a more 'natural'viewing environment. Wanting to cut downon clutter and give users maximum spacefor developing designs, they have

Due for release in June, ArchiCAD 19 is taking a giant leap forward in BIM performance throughits use of Predictive Background Processing

Predicting the future of design

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SOFTWAREreview

May/June 201512

maximised the working area on screen,and populated it with floating palettes -Toolboxes - that can be opened andmoved about at will, so that only relevantToolboxes need remain open at any time,tucked away in the most convenientlocation on screen.

PERMANENT GUIDELINES.A couple of handy drawing tools havealso been added. Permanent guidelinescan now be created in any plane(previously it was only possible to createtemporary 2D guidelines), and can betoggled on or off, snapped to geometryand, once set up, shown in differentviews. There is also support for drawingtangents to circles - not so easy toachieve if absolute accuracy is required -which shows a 90 degree angle oncetangency has been achieved.

Related to this is the ability to display therelationship of objects to each other withina drawing - the sort of thing you wouldhave dragged the protractor out for in thepast! Splines can also be drawn withregular subdivisions, created byspecifying measurements or number ofsubdivisions along a given length formore accurate drafting.

POINT-CCLOUDSAs mentioned earlier ArchiCAD 19 alsointroduces support for Point-Clouds,enabling users to import and navigatethrough the massive amounts of dataassociated with 3D scanning. This ismade possible with the software's fullyoptimised OpenGL engine for smootherand faster 3D navigation andwalkthroughs. Version 19 supports colourinput, snapping to individual points,

sectioning and slicing of Point-Clouds -through the line of a façade, or to create ahorizontal slice. Imported Point-Coudscan be used as reference models orstarting points for standard 3D modelcreation. Point tools are also used for as-built surveys which, when compared withthe original building model, show thedifferences between the intended andactual construction, highlighted in red.

INTERACTIVE SURFACE PAINTINGArchiCAD provides a substantial library oftextures and surface effects for rendering3D models, traditionally accessed and setup through dialogue boxes for eachmaterial before they could be applied.ArchiCAD 19 makes the whole processinteractive, enabling users to drag anddrop surface materials from a floatingpalette, called the Surface Editor. With afew more clicks surfaces for a wholebuilding can be selected and updated.

Two further surface tools are included.Syringe produces a list of elements andmaterials used in the model, whilstSurface Lists handle the schedulingexposed surface areas, and defining thedifferences between exposed andcovered areas.

DIMENSIONS AND LABELSHardly a trivial matter, things like labelsand dimensioning tools can beaggravating if they are difficult to read orimplement. ArchiCAD 19 addresses bothof these with innovative solutions. Textscaling enables dimensions to remainlegible whatever the scale of the drawing,and pointers for dimension texts can bepositioned and sized to enable users toshow the dimension of objects that are

close to each other. It's the label tool that impresses most,

having been redesigned completely. Nowyou can attach more than one label to anobject, each of which shows differentinformation, automatically generated fromthe elements parameters, and which canbe displayed together on designatedlayers. It's common sense really - anobject that is displayed on the floorplanmay need to impart different informationto that on an MEP layer.

The solution’s Collision Detectioncapabilities in the MEP ModellerEnvironment have also been improved inthe new release.

OPEN BIMGraphisoft is a leader in BIMimplementation. This is taken further withthe ability to import IFC models that willlook as they did in the original applicationin which they were created, in the mostcomplete implementation of the standard.

Although IFC was meant to be the mostefficient file sharing collaboration format itis well known that some applications,because of their model structures, havedifficulty in full compliance. IFC files forarchitectural models will also containdifferent information to those fromStructural Steel engineers. Graphisoft,however, filters out technology specificinformation. It also handles IFC creationautomatically, eliminating much of themundane tasks involved.

Graphisoft is also working on IFC4, thenext generation of IFC that will handlemore advanced geometry, includingNURBS, and web links embedded inmodel information.www.graphisoft.com/archicad

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LOCATION - VENUE - DATE

Bristol - Bristol Zoo Gardens, The Clifton Pavilion (BS8 3HH) - Thursday, 2nd July 2015

Edinburgh - Royal College of Surgeons (EH8 9DW) - Tuesday, 7th July 2015

Manchester - The Studio (M1 1FN) - Wednesday, 8th July 2015

Birmingham - The ICC (B1 2EA) - Thursday, 9th July 2015

London - Central Hall Westminster (SW1H 9NH) - Thursday, 16th July 2015

BIM ROADSHOW

FIND OUT MORE AND REGISTER:www.excitech.co.uk/br2015cu

A journey demonstrating how today’s technology and processes can make a real difference in a project lifecycle. From inception, through design and construction, to meeting the owner’s ongoing space and asset management requirements, we will use real data to make the journey a reality.

May/June 201514

Even though I am a sole user, Ithink I count as a ‘power emailer’with an understanding of the

problem Mail Manager from Oasysseeks to solve for businesses. I haveupwards of 35,000 emails distributedbetween a dozen separate folders, andwhen I want to search for something Ihave to be quite specific, otherwisepages of results pop up.

There is no connection between myemails and the information they relate toeither. Companies send press releases,technical information and images, whichI duly file away in the appropriate folder,but there is absolutely no record ofwhere it was sent or why. I barelyunderstand the logic behind my ownfiling system as it has evolved over thelast couple of decades, but there is noway anyone else coming upon it wouldfind anything useful in it.

By and large, then, the sort of thingsthat I can't do on my system areprecisely those that are vital to any largeorganisation, and which Mail Manageraddresses perfectly. To retain the linkbetween emails and the projects they areassociated with, both emails and theproject documentation are stored withinthe same folder. That makes searchesthat much easier, although Mail Managerhas a sophisticated set of filtersspecifically designed to optimise thesearch process.

My shortcomings with regard to filingemails and ensuring that others knowwhere I have put them are alsoaddressed, as Mail Manager promptswith a suitable storage location whenemails are opened, and both incomingand outgoing emails are filed withincommon locations in the cloud server, sothere’s no danger that I could gowalkabout - or get fired! - without theorganisation being able to accesseverything I’d been working on.

As for remembering where I put things acouple of years down the line, well MailManager includes an audit trail thatknows when I sent what, and to whom,what their response was and, more to thepoint, what documentation accompaniedour digital correspondence.

Talking of which, Mail Manager can alsodepict email traffic graphically, enablingmanagers to see at a glance who hasbeen talking to whom, who is working inisolation without communicating withanybody, and where most traffic hasbeen routed within any project. Besidescreating a secure storage system foremails, Mail Manager also has aneffective solution for archiving old emailsin an organised manner.

SO WHAT'S NEW?Having been developed to serve the AECindustry, it soon became apparent thatthe problems of effectively managing

email systems aren’t just limited toconstruction, but are applicable wherevercommunication by email has become thenorm. Mail Manager is therefore directedat all large organisations and can workas a plug-in to the widely used MicrosoftOutlook users, enabling them to managetheir interpersonal communications in amore secure and efficient way. It containsa number of tools that allow users to fileemails and documents more quickly, runfaster searches with advanced filtering,and share folders more easily.

Mail Manager not only slashes the timewasted on managing an organisation’semails but also effectively formalises it,providing a framework that individualusers find easy to learn and work with(it’s estimated that a couple of hours arequite sufficient for users to come to gripswith Mail Manager and to start using itproductively).

So, how has the latest version, MailManager 6.1, managed to enhance itsproductivity further? For a start, there's afresh user interface, faster filing withmore filtering options, a refined dialoguefor even quicker searches, easier foldersharing and brand new support forBentley ProjectWise.

FILE, SEARCH ANDCOLLECTIONSFile, Search and Collections are threefundamentals of Mail Manager.

SOFTWAREreview

Mail Manager from Oasys turns traditional email handling nightmares into a productivemanagement tool

You’ve got mail managed

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Save time and effort each day

File, share and retrieve emails

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Download a free 30-day trial from the Oasys website, and see how Mail Manager can save you time and effort each and every day.

+44 (0) 191 238 7559 [email protected] oasys-software.com

With billion of emails sent and received each day, it’s easy to see why email overload is seen as an unavoidable feature of today’s business world.

EMAIL OVERLOAD?

SOFTWAREreview

May/June 201516

Collections are filing locations forgroups of connected people -architects, engineers, project members,etc. - or personal selections such asBIM and Marketing. File and Searchprovide users with a number of ways ofreceiving, redistributing, storing andretrieving emails and associateddocuments, applying a bit ofintelligence by learning favoureddestinations and recipients to speed upthe process. The more you use thesoftware, the more intelligent itbecomes.

In the latest version of the softwarefiling tools are enhanced by adding a'file on send' handler, to the list of filingoptions, automatically storing emailsafter they have been sent inpredesignated folders. Alternatively,users can click on the file icon withinOutlook once an email has beenopened, select a project and click to file- or click to file without opening theemail. By sending a file to a commoncollection it can be accessed byauthorised users within a project orgroup.

An organisation might have manyhundreds of thousands of emailsfloating around, though, and with 200recipients working on the same project,sending emails with large attachmentstends to waste valuable space on thesystem. To overcome this, emails canbe sent that merely contain a link to thelocation of the file itself.

With Bentley's ProjectWise becomingthe de facto Project Managementapplication of choice in many major

projects, it is natural that one of thefiling options also allows users to file toProjectWise.

SEARCHINGThere are numerous ways to file anemail, and numerous ways to find them.Users can search on date, time andsubject in the appropriate projectfolders and selecting date ranges,authors and so on.

With rather less information to go on adialogue box is available to search thewhole database, with each additionalsearch criterion dropping off those thatdon't match, until only the file you wantremains. If unsuccessful, users cansearch for near misses - to pick upspelling mistakes for example - and cangrade results by their 'strength'. And youdon't even have to be online to do this,as Mail Manager retains the searchcapability offline.

MOBILE APPLICATIONSMail Manager is available across allmobile, tablet and laptop operatingsystems, extending its use outside theoffice. It almost acts as a remote controlfor the office system, providing thesame capability of filing and searchingemails. The list of available folders is'intelligently' selected for ease of use,and emails dragged and dropped intowhichever is appropriate.

Besides managing the routine processof sending and receiving emails, MailManager includes a couple of veryuseful tools; one for grabbinginformation from the screen and

distributing it to others, and another foranalysing the social patterns of emailtransmissions within an organisation.

SNAP AND SENDRather like the 'Printscreen' feature fortaking snapshots of the display andprinting it out, Snap and Send enablesusers to select items on the screen -some text, images, spreadsheet details- and to mark them up, add someexplanatory text, and then to send themwithin an email to their list of contacts.

SOCIAL NETWORKSBriefly mentioned above, a graphicdisplay is available that shows the mapof email transmissions over a givenperiod of time, enabling managers tosee who is sending and receiving mosttraffic. This can be narrowed down to asingle date or time period to isolatespecific activity on a project.

Once the sequence of emails can beascertained, the results can be used tosearch and retrieve the relevant emailsthemselves. It might show, for instance,that the Project Manager has beendirecting most of his emails to thefinance department, which wouldindicate a problem with invoicing orcash flow - or alternatively show emailsbeing sent and decisions being made inisolation to the rest of the project team.

It’s clear that Mail Manager hasevolved far beyond merely handling theins and outs of emails to become ahighly useful project 'management' toolin its own right.www.oasys.com

0DLO�0DQDJHU�T[G��3DJH��

www.bimobject.com

Thousands of free BIM objects from almost300 manufacturers across Europe. Over 60,000architects and designers are using theseintelligent and configurable objects, withautomatic alerts when objects change.

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APPs, the objects are available directly fromwithin market leading BIM solutions including Revit, ArchiCAD,Autocad and SketchUp Pro. Other formats are also supported.

Make sure you’re not missing out by going to www.bimobject.comor, to find out more, enter BIMobject into search on YouTube.

BIMobject UK LtdTom Newman – +44 (0)7427 162 204 – [email protected]

CCM Advert 26/11/14 16:22 Page 1

London's leading property developer,St. George PLC, retainedSimpsonHaugh and Partners to fulfil

a vision for mixed-use development at thejunction of Blackfriars Road and StamfordStreet, situated at the head of BlackfriarsBridge in the central London borough ofSouthwark. The award winning practicedesigned the GBP 250 million signatureskyscraper One Blackfriars usingGenerativeComponents, Bentley'sparametric modeling software, to set outthe curved geometry of the building formand define the relationships betweeninternal and external façades. The 170-metre tower joins a sequence of landmarksalong the Southbank of the River Thames,where its minimal footprint and slenderprofile allow it to rise skyward withoutovershadowing its neighbours. One Blackfriars presents 74,925 square

metres of prime space for a 152 roomboutique hotel and 274 luxury apartments,as well as retail shops, restaurants andbars, a health and fitness centre,community viewing lounge andunderground parking. The site also makesspace for a landscaped public piazza.Targeting ambitious performance standardsfor sustainability and energy, the tower wasdesigned to Code for Sustainable Homes(CfSH) Level 4 whilst the hotel wasdesigned to Building ResearchEstablishment Environmental AssessmentMethodology (BREEAM) Rating Very Good.

BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOUR In an age of austerity and popular criticismof the contemporary tower form, theintroduction of another sculpturalskyscraper to the Central London skylinecould have been controversial. OneBlackfriars achieved the balance betweenform and function to earn its place on thecityscape, but not without a struggle.Conceived in 2004 as a hotel-led tower, theconcept for One Blackfriars eventuallyearned community approval and planningpermission, having been tested during apublic inquiry in 2008 where they wereresponsive to public feedback. To stand the test of time, the tower design

needed to address form, scale andproportion as well as deal with therecurrence of element repetition, andprovide a contextual response to theparticular place. The No. 1 challenge wasto establish a base at the bottom of thetower on the site without obstructing thedaylight of neighbouring properties. At thesame time, SimpsonHaugh had aresponsibility to fulfil numerous functionalpragmatics of the original program. Finally,the building had to be beautiful from everyaspect. The final tower design marks the southern

bridgehead of Blackfriars Bridge and is agateway to Southwark. SimpsonHaughconceived a thin form with 'shoulder blades'on the east and west elevations that reduceits apparent width. To develop the design

for this flaring shape, SimpsonHaughdeveloped a set of innovative tools basedon existing applications such asGenerativeComponents, BentleyArchitecture, and other software thatintegrated with the core Bentleyapplications. The aim was to use thetechnology to deliver the scheme with fewerpeople, in less time, and with fewer errorsdue to reworking or inaccuratecoordination.

BUILDING WITHIN A BUILDING SimpsonHaugh benchmarked its existingprocesses, team structures and uses oftechnology against best practices inarchitecture, engineering and otherindustries. For example, the design andmanufacture of boat building and luxuryyachts inspired the development of thebuilding canopy. Bentley applicationsprovided a solid platform for parametricmodeling and building informationmodeling (BIM). SimpsonHaughcustomised and enhanced the availablescripts and tools to push the boundaries ofwhat could be achieved. The design created a double-skin façade,

where the outer leaf is a substantiallytransparent glass surface that traces thecurved geometry of the envelope. The solidelements of the more orthogonal inner leafare coloured to overlay the interior volumeswith a subtle variation of rendering thatlightens as the building extends skyward.The building-within-a-building conceptresulted in an outer skin comprising 5,496panels - each one different from the other -including flat, single and double curved.The inner skin provided thermal lining andopacity. The building breathes through theskin, so ventilation and solar gain had to bequantified and accommodated.SimpsonHaugh quickly realised that the

parametric model could be used to providemore than the initial building form.Development of the model allowed the

CASE study

May/June 201518

SimpsonHaugh and Partners uses Generative Design to shape their One Blackfriars Towerconcept, letting daylight into neighboring properties via a blade-thin, 50-storey skyscraper

Blade Stunner

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May/June 2015 19

CASEstudy

team to explore the relationship betweenthe inner and outer glazing systems,internal spaces, structural columnpositions, and other systems. For example,SimpsonHaugh used the model toinvestigate and rationalise the geometryand manufacture of the outer façade, thecolouring of the glazing schemes, and thesize of the shadow gaps between façadepanels.From the base geometry, SimpsonHaugh

developed five modules for the externaland internal façades, structure, residentialareas and the 3D surface model. Externalcomponents included the tower cap,mechanical ventilation, purge ventilation,panel type drawings, setting out drawings,unwrapped elevations and schedules.Internal components comprisedunwrapped elevations; panel type, settingout, scoping and rain screen drawings;panel wall division and set out colours. The structure involved slab set out

drawings, column set out, clash detection,slab openings and an analysis model.Residential areas required matrix drawings,apartment types and views, area labels andaccommodation schedules.

MODEL EXCHANGE Panel types, analysis model and façadezones were entered into the 3D surfacemodel. The analysis model of the structure- comprising points, lines, and meshes -was imported directly into analysis softwareused by the project's structural engineers,WSP Building Services. The results were

then fed back into the parametric model,which ensured consistency andaccelerated the collaborative process. The parametric model was also imported

into the building information model inBentley Architecture, allowing the team togenerate detailed schedules and generalarrangement drawings. In addition, theparametric model was used to draw,annotate and dimension the elementsrelated to the façades and the setting out ofthe structural slabs and frame. The teamused MicroStation to develop details andassembly drawings based on dynamicviews extracted from the model. The 3D model of the external façade

contained crucial information on the façadezones, panel geometry, curvature, warp,inclination, skew, stack joint group, stackjoint deviation, glass wastage andpinstripes. This information was then madeavailable to contractors as editable files,which helped to explain the complexity ofthe design. One particularly challengingaspect of the tower design was the towercap, where façade mullions lie on a planedefined by the façade joints. The transomplanes were set on a best-fit geometrysegment by segment, so that they arenearly perpendicular to the glass surface.

PRODUCTIVITY GAINS By integrating a parametric workflow withintraditional BIM and 2D processes,SimpsonHaugh was able to investigate andresolve a number of unique design issuesand respond quickly to client requests and

requirements. Bentley's parametric toolssignificantly increased project teamefficiency and productivity, while ensuringproject delivery exceeded clientexpectations. Many innovative design options explored

within the virtual environment would neverhave been considered, much lessdeveloped for buildability. Complicatedtasks that might have been insurmountablein the past were not only completed butdelivered within very short timeframes -e.g., two days instead of weeks to producevisuals for viewing angles from each andevery apartment.

FAÇADE DELIVERY Bentley's GenerativeComponents allowedthe project team, led by Matt Schmidt andRalph Lindemann, SimpsonHaugh’scomputational designers to deliver acomplex façade system that might not havebeen possible otherwise, fine tuning thefaçade to reduce the number of panels andminimise the number of double-curvedpanels with a direct impact on cost savings. Though some were sceptical that One

Blackfriars would be built, the ground-breaking ceremony in October 2013marked the start of construction, which isexpected to be completed by 2017. With amix of residential, commercial, and retailproperties, One Blackfriars represents asignificant investment by the developer.The 50-storey tower is now beingmarketed worldwide.www.bentley.com

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May/June 201520

Talk to me!

SOFTWAREreview

ZWCAD, the .dwg compatible application, has gonefrom follower to innovator, with voice annotationamongst the new features in its latest release

ZWCAD+is ZWSOFT's 2D and 3Ddrafting software, and with a userbase of over 320,000 satisfied users

across 80 countries, ZWCAD+ is gainingmomentum as the .dwg-compatible,affordable alternative to other mainstreamCAD tools. In addition to ZWCAD+Standard and Professional, the ZWCAD+family of products includes ZWCADArchitecture and ZWCAD Mechanical - asolution for all users across the AEC andMCAD industries in other words. As one would expect ZWCAD+ has a

comprehensive set of common 2D and 3Ddrafting functions, so this article willhighlight some of the innovative features inZWCAD+ that differentiate it from similarCAD tools. Often it's easier to express design intent,

request design changes or capture designreview comments as audio rather thantext. ZWCAD+'s SmartVoice allows usersto do exactly that by enabling users toannotate their drawings with voice notes,the SmartVoice Manager providingoptions to manage the voice objects. Other features such as SmartMouse,

SmartSelect and File Compare furtherdifferentiate ZWCAD+ from itscompetition. SmartMouse allows the userto execute defined commands by movingthe mouse on a certain path, for examplepressing the right mouse button andmoving vertically upwards invokes the'_new' command. The set of predefinedmouse gestures can be augmented withuser defined gestures to invoke otherfavourite or often used commands. SmartSelect presents the user with a

dialogue box which presents lists of all theobjects in the drawing and allows easyselection of the objects through a series offilters. File compare enables users to spotany differences between two similardrawings by highlighting them in differentcolours. Variations between blocks,attributes and text can be easily found,

and the comparison settings such ascolour and filters can be customised.The Online module for file

synchronisation in ZWCAD+ allows usersto save drawings and customisationsettings to third party cloud services likeDropbox, Google Drive and others.Configuring the Online Module isstraightforward and, coupled withZWSOFT's mobile CAD solution CADPockets, drawings can be accessed atanytime from anywhere.ZWCAD+ offer many functions for

drafting and detailing - howeversometimes the standard commands andfeatures in CAD tools are not sufficientand further customisation is necessary.There are a number of APIs available inZWCAD+ including LISP, VBA, .Net andZRX. The ZRX, ARX and .NET are code-level compatible and Lisp routines cannow run directly on ZWCAD+ with only afew modifications. These APIs also enabledevelopers to very quickly portapplications written for other CAD tools toZWCAD+ . In addition to the regular ZWCAD+

products, ZWCAD+ Standard andProfessional, there are two application-specific ZWCAD+ products available,ZWCAD Architecture and ZWCADMechanical.ZWCAD Architecture includes all the

functionality of ZWCAD+, plus contentlibraries and tools designed specifically forarchitectural drawings, which enhance theworkflow, automate tedious drafting tasks,reduce errors and increase efficiency. ZWCAD+ Architecture allows users to

generate walls, add doors and windows,and create roofs. From the completed 2Dplan, elevations and sections can begenerated accordingly. The componentsyou draw in 2D, but after switching viewsthey can be viewed in 3D, and the 3Dmodel can then be exported as a .dae fileor .stl file.

ZWCAD Mechanical is also built onZWCAD+ and supports ISO, ANSI, DIN,JIS, and GB drafting environments.ZWCAD Mechanical has a number ofadditional features specific to mechanicaldesign. For example, Power Dimensionmakes dimensioning easier withabbreviated dialog boxes that control andexpand the variables relevant tomanufacturing, as well as integratetolerance and fit list information. There is acomprehensive part library containingscrews, nuts, washers, pins, rivets,springs and bearings, and parametricmodels of shafts and gears are alsoavailable.One feature of ZWCAD+ that remains

constant is its licensing mechanisms.ZWCAD+ products are licensed either asa single user or a network license, givingflexibility in how users access thesoftware. Licenses are perpetual andthere are no ongoing subscription fees.Users are not obliged to update theirlicenses as new releases of ZWCAD+become available. ZWSoft continue to develop ZWCAD+,

and current projects include cross-platform support, more optimisations inperformance and additional features tofurther improve the ZWCAD+ userexperience.In the UK ZWCAD+ products are

available from ZWSoft's Valued AddedReseller EDA Systems. For more than fiveyears EDA Systems has provided salesand technical support for ZWCAD+ aswell as developing add-on applications forusers, including lighting design, drainsurveying and arboriculturists. EDA Systems' ZWCAD+ user base

currently comprises over 150 companies,ranging from multinational corporationswith many licenses through to smallcompanies with one or two licenses. www.edasystems.co.uk/ Email: [email protected]

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BIMGUIDEA4.qxd 09/04/2015 12:04 Page 1

With choosing and booking into ahotel now being carried outentirely online, it is interesting that

global construction companies often stillhave paper-based defect managementsystems in place when tasked with therefurbishment of such properties, like theNovotel in Dubai. The digitisation of the industry may have

come on apace, but there are still areaswhere entrenched practices remain in force- although they can be addressed with theappropriate tools. Defect Management isone such area. Introducing a mobilesolution, like conjectMI, has proven to saveboth time and reduce manual processingerrors, leading to a refurbishment projectbeing finished well within time and onbudget. AECOM are an international provider of

construction, engineering and technicalservices across a broad range of sectors.With over 60 years' experience operating inthe Middle East, AECOM were selected tomanage the total refurbishment of the 13floor, 4 star Novotel hotel, part of the

famous Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

THE CHALLENGEBeing a refit of a high-end hotel, deliveringhigh quality standards, including the rapididentification and rectification of defects,was a priority. Compounding the challengeof effectively managing defects, the workwas carried out in multiple stages whilst thehotel remained open. In addition to thenormal costs associated with poor defectresolution, delays in resolving defectswould have knock-on effects on otherstages of the project and could impede theday to day running of the hotelAECOM's defect management method

had been manual inspections recorded onpaper-based spreadsheets and formswhich were used to track the process fromidentification to resolution. AECOM SeniorProject Manager, Amer Abuzeineh statedthat with the existing method, the averageturnaround time from identifying to closinga defect was 5 days. With three differentcompanies logging defects over a 200,000square foot site, accurate recording of

defects was vital and the existing paperbased system carried the risk of clericalerror and the process of sharing defectinformation by email was administrativelyburdensome.Amer wanted a more efficient way of

delivering quality control, turnaround times,and better reporting than was possibleusing the existing paper-based system.Management tasks like the tracking ofdefect statuses, meeting projecttimescales and ensuring that high qualitylevels were being delivered, were all madedifficult due to the lack of timely reporting.AECOM were not using specialised

software to assist with their defectsmanagement processes, so Amer alongwith DWTC (the client) decided to deployan inspections and defects softwaresolution to test the impact on efficiencyand quality. Based on the selectioncriteria of ease of use, reliability andmonitoring/reporting functionality,conjectMI mobile inspections anddefects software was chosen as thepreferred solution

CASEstudy

May/June 201522

The Challenge for AECOM was to deliver a high quality hotel refit on time. CONJECT provided theanswer, replacing handwritten defect management with an online system

Online Bookings

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MOBILE DEFECT MANAGEMENT Before the solution was deployed,CONJECT consultants spent time withAECOM assessing their processes andconsulting on both configuration changesto the software and changes toinspections and defects processes, toensure the two were closely aligned. Amercommented, "The fact that CONJECTwere able to easily configure their solutionto match the nature and requirements ofthe project removed barriers to adoptionof the new system. All users were able touse the system after the first trainingsession with no issues."Users logged in using tablets that had

been loaded with the relevant floorplans.Locations, images and descriptions ofdefects (including the relevant trade) weremarked up using the tablet. The data wasthen synchronised with the master versionof the floorplan, either on the move orwhen returning to the site office,depending on Wi-Fi availability.

EARLY COMPLETION In the three month duration of theinspections and snagging phase of theproject, the team recorded 6,654 defectsacross a project area of over 200,000square feet. The defects inspection,resolution and quality assurance projectrepresented a significant commitment ofproject time and cost. Fast snaggingidentification and resolution ensured thatdefects were quickly and accuratelysnagged using conjectMI, and theinformation was automatically shared withthe relevant parties so they couldundertake rectification works.

Amer commented, "Under the previoussystem it took between three and fivedays to resolve a defect but usingconjectMI the resolution time wasreduced to two days." Considering thenumber of defects the system recorded

this represented a significant time savingfor the project team. It was also of benefitto the supply chain as they quickly gotthe information they needed on exactlywhere and what the defect was,improving performance against internalquality and compliance targets.

REAL-TTIME REPORTS As well as significantly speeding up theprocess for identification and notificationof defects, the entering of all snags ontothe conjectMI platform allowed real timereporting of the status of each defect.These reports could be easily exportedand sent to other members of the projectteam. This meant intelligence, such as thenumber of defects per area or per tradeas well as overall progress updates onthe work, could be quickly shared withsuppliers and stakeholders who were notusers of the system. This level ofoversight ensured that the project wasboth delivered on time and with highlevels of quality.

PROJECT SUCCESS On reviewing the benefits conjectMIprovided Amer considered its use onthe project a success, stating "Thesystem will be recommended to beused to my colleagues within AECOM

and to future Clients."

ABOUT CONJECTMI ConjectMI is a web-based, mobileenabled, collaborative defectsmanagement tool for constructionprojects. It handles the capture,organisation, distribution and tracking of allproject defects among project participantsthroughout the project lifecycle. ConjectMIalso helps to eliminate defects efficiently toensure on-time quality-assured projectdelivery and cost control.

Supplementary modules include:

Zone cutting - Easy-to-use zone cuttingsoftware. It views, defines and cuts allsizes of DWG files into zones, reducingzone creation time and significantlyimproving zone management - allwithout the requirement for AutoCADknowledge.

Handover management - Streamlinesand optimises the built asset deliveryprocess. It ensures the capture,organisation, tracking, distribution andrepair of handover defects. It helps toresolve defects efficiently to ensure on-time, quality-assured project deliveryand cost control.www.conject.com/uk

May/June 2015 23

CASEstudy

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Like all good software companies,Vectorworks has a large andactive feedback group that sends

in suggestions for the future direction ofthe software. Every year about ahundred or so good new ideas are putforward, with quite a few of themmaking it into subsequent releases. Thesuggestions put forward are notnecessarily unique or singularlyinventive, but are rather tools that userswould like to have access to within theirfavourite application.

As a taster, at the end of thePhiladelphia Vectorworks DesignSummit, Dr. Biplab Sarkar outlinedsome of the suggestions that havebeen accepted and developed - andwhich are now ready to be released tothe Vectorworks community of users.

VISUAL SCRIPTING The first of these is Visual Scripting, tobe made available as a separatemodule with the rather interesting nameof Marionette. This is a brand new rapidcomputational system that can be usedto explore design variations. Inappearance it looks like a hand drawnflow chart - and that's exactly how you

lay it out, linking nodes together, eachof which has an algorithm or logicstatement associated with it. If you arebuilding a multi-storey building, forinstance, one of the nodes would relateto the height of each storey, which canbe changed on the fly to try out designvariations. These are the buildingblocks of the process.

Nodes are assembled within aseparate toolbox, and can be draggedand dropped to create the flow chart. Itcan all get quite complex though, asarchitects can use logic to introduce anelement of randomness to the flowchart, or path extensions can bemodified on the fly to create individualshapes that would be difficult to designotherwise. Visual Scripting, therefore,extends the boundaries of anarchitect’s creativity. So, to help simplifywhat could develop into a complexmaze of workflows and interactions,sequences of nodes that covercomplete operations can be condensedinto a single node on the flow chart.

The network of nodes is thenconverted into a geometrical model,using Vectorworks Python API orVectorscript - Pascal like programming

languages that define path-basedparametric objects, coordinates andactions. Objects created (rectangles,parallel lines, etc.) along the underlyingpath can be subsequently edited inVectorworks using Reshape and otherediting tools. It might take someexperimentation to get the most out of,but Visual Scripting is a very interestingaddition to the Vectorworks stable.

ENERGY ANALYSISBuilding performance has been notablylacking from previous versions ofVectorworks, which has always aimedto provide a complete solution forarchitects; from terrain developmentright through to rendering, landscapingand visualisation. No development canbe undertaken these days, though,without incorporating energy usecalculations into the design - and inorder to be effective they have to beavailable as early as possible in thedesign process.

Hence the introduction of EnergyAnalysis as another module, essentialfor anyone aiming for net zero buildingdesign. Users can work on lowering thecarbon footprints of buildings withEnergos, which uses Passivhauscalculations and methods to provide abuilding's energy performance figures.Energos is a BREEAM and MINERGIEASHRAE compliant feature, providing asimple tool for calculating energy use ina building.

The module covers all components,materials and elements within astructure including doors, windows,ventilation and heating systems. Theanalysis looks at the overall designusing typical spaces within the structureto produce performance figures, andarchitects can play around with differentlayouts, materials, heating systemperformance ratings and so on, to

TECHNOLOGY focus

May/June 201524

All the best parties end with a goody bag and the 2015 Vectorworks Design Summit was nodifferent, sending attendees home with a bundle of exciting developments to look forward to

A Vectorworks takeaway

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May/June 2015 25

TECHNOLOGY focus

achieve an optimum solution. At theend of the analysis the software comesup with the building’s environmentalclassification.

The architect as environmentalengineer? Not quite, as Energosdoesn't include the necessary CFD andother tools that enable a detailedenvironmental study of a structure to bemade, but instead uses the dataalready available within the model toperform a satisfactory survey andconfirm that the right steps have beentaken to maximise a building’senvironmental credentials.

PROJECT SHARINGVectorworks allows users to set up amulti-user environment collaboration,which works on a layer basis. Userscan extract and work on different layers,allowing a number of users to edit partsof a building model simultaneously.When editing is completed andreturned to the model the whole modelis updated.

The first time a model file is openedpermissions and constraints areconfigured to allow a number of usersto work together on the same model.Each member of the team is able tocheck out the layer that contains theparts that he or she needs to work on.Once editing has been completed, therevisions are shared with all teammembers and the layers reinstated withthe building model.

New layers can be issued at any time,and throughout the process teammembers can collaborate with eachother in real-time, using split screens

and video to enhance communication.All team members have to return theirlayers at the end of the editing session,so that modifications or alterations canbe reviewed and implemented. Thewhole process is audited throughout,so that shortfalls in editing arehighlighted and can be returned forfurther work before the process is finallysigned off.

POINT TOOLS SUPPORT3D scanning is rapidly gaining inpopularity with projects involvingrefurbishment of existing properties, orbecause architects need to use existingstructures as reference points beforedesigning can start. As a resultsoftware developers are gearing up tohandle the extremely large files thatarise from the extensive 3D point clouddata. Vectorworks users can now takeadvantage of such data too with theaptly named Vectorworks Point CloudSupport function.

A degree of object recognition isincluded, so that various configurationswithin the point cloud can berecognised as objects and transformedto become geometric elements. PointCloud Support includes a number oftools for slicing through, changingcolours or flattening point clouds as anaid to recognising features, andpreparing them so that they can beused as a basis for furtherdevelopment.

SUB-DDIVISION SURFACESSub-division surfaces provide adifferent way of modelling surfaces. It

provides a tool for creating irregular,nonlinear shapes, using existingshapes as starting points. To design achair, for instance, you can start with acube (an unlikely starting point for suchan object, I admit) and then start tostretch the shape, having divided thesurface of the cube into segments,each of which contain sets of anchorpoints for bending it, pulling out arms,slicing off ends. In fact you can totallymanipulate the shape, rather likeplaying with plasticine, to create a free-form model of the chair. Another tool forreleasing the creative juices of thearchitect or interior designer then.

ON THE HORIZONThis was a great group of features toend any conference on, introducingnew modules that will be great fun touse and increasing the range of thingsthat you can do with Vectorworks. Thefinal taster was the likelihood ofintroducing browser-based CAD atsome point in 2016. Using Vectorworksapp streaming users can have all oftheir designs on a browser, andbecause it’s cloud-based the designscan become shared entities, allowingusers with different devices to work ona shared project.

There are obviously a number ofissues to address with browser-basedCAD - otherwise it would already bewidely available in the same way thatGoogle’s own apps are - and I amcertainly looking forward toinvestigating the implications beforeVectorworks launch their own app.www.unlimited.co.uk

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3D modelling has now progressedthrough the 4th dimension, time,and into the fifth Dimension,

namely cost. The breakthrough hasbeen made by Asta, well known for itsproject management software, AstaPowerproject, by introducing a newestimating package, Bidcon BIM, thathas links with Asta Powerproject.

Bidcon BIM enables costs to beassociated with a building project froman early stage - and if you have thenecessary basic information at hand, atthe planning and budgeting stages ofthe process. This allows managers toextract information from IFC models ofthe project and associated sources, inorder to build up a database of costswhich will form the basis of detailedfinancial reports.

With accurate cost informationavailable throughout the life of aproject, managers are forewarnedabout budgetary overruns, can makecritical decisions with an understandingof the financial implications, and areable investigate alternative solutions tokeep projects on track and in budget.

A powerful and comprehensivecosting program, Bidcon has beenavailable in Scandinavia for manyyears. The market leading tool wasdeveloped within the Eleco Group, ofwhich Asta is a part. It is based on anSQL database and uses dynamictemplates and reports to identify themost cost-effective solutions, enablingproject managers to revise estimates tosuit changing conditions.

As the project develops, quantities

and associated costs are shared withAsta Powerproject through take-offsfrom an IFC model, helping to enable aCommon Data Environment. Budgetplans can be set up even earlierthough, and linked to the IFC modelwhen it becomes available. It's adynamic process throughout, asresources can be built up and newcosts established as the projectprogresses, all of which increases theaccuracy of the periodic reports.

The cost estimates are built up frommaterial costs using SQL-basedreference libraries, such as Spon'sPrice Books, or from quantitiesautomatically imported via the ELECOBIMCloud portal, and from other BOMsas Excel or text files in virtually anyformat, probably compiled from pricerequests sent out to suppliers, togetherwith manually added elements such aslabour, plant and other resources.Where there is duplication of prices formaterials from more than one supplier,Bidcon automatically selects the lowest

- which can be overridden, however, ifone supplier is preferred over another.

The software provides a suite ofready-made templates for reports, butto enable users to produce reports thatsuit their own particular requirements,they have the freedom to set up theirown resources, or to create their owntemplates to base their estimates on.

Cost estimates, generated within fullydetailed customisable reports, caneither be viewed in their entirety or byusing filters to drill down to resourcegroups, construction phases and otherareas. This highlights the fact that onsome of the largest projects, themassive amount of cost informationavailable could, if unchecked, swampthe capabilities of those tasked withhandling it.

It is suggested therefore that, whentransferring quantities from the largestprojects, it is best done piecemeal,working on one part of the project at atime. This is where the real benefit ofBidcon becomes apparent, as thesoftware retains a link between the IFCmodel and the estimate. Each itementered is kept track of, allowing usersto stop working on the model and toreturn to it at a later stage, with nodelays and no items lost.

The IFC link also enables users tokeep abreast of model updates, hencethe addition of BIM to the applicationtitle, and to upload revisions throughEleco BIMCloud, and to verify elementsby visually navigating their way throughand around the model.

Once a cost schedule has been

SOFTWAREreview

May/June 201526

Asta Development brings Bidcon BIM to the UK, adding cost estimation to its popular AstaPowerproject project management application

The 5th dimension of 3D modelling

View the model and information contained

within it. It is also useful to hide the imported

objects and view a summary of the number

of objects yet to be taken off.

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compiled it can be imported by AstaPowerproject, or alternatively by otherapplications that can read industrystandard IFC formats.

BUILT-IIN NRM LIBRARYThe Framework of the New Rules ofMeasurement, provided as a built-inlibrary, guides users through the Orderof Cost Estimating. If that doesn't quitemeet their needs, though, they can addtheir own frameworks of codes, andconfigure the system so that they canbe selected by Bidcon in a manualbuild-up or automated import.

COMPLEX RESOURCESQuite often, single costs will need tocover a combination of resources, suchas materials, plant and labour used fora particular job, and Bidcon allowsthese to be combined and set up ascomplex resources. Similarly parametricassemblies (design elements) can beused for construction elements - apartition wall or trench - which have avariable cost, determined by theirdimensions multiplied by cost per unitof measurement. Quite a useful feature,as detailed parametric assemblies can

even be used to cover different types ofrooms, buildings or, even, railwayembankments, with a commonstructure, but variable contents.

SUPPLIER AND SUBCONTRACTORTENDERSLarge databases of material andcomponent costs come with acorrespondingly large network ofsuppliers. Sending out requests totender to them, and then setting out tocompare the returns of each with itscompetitors, is a pretty daunting task.Imported into Bidcon, though, in one ofthe many formats available, allowsthem to be compared side-by-side andfor Bidcon to select the lowest price bydefault. Or, as we saw earlier, thatselection can be overriden in favour ofa preferred supplier.

This points to a very flexible solutionthat can automatically select the mostfavourable costs based on cost pricealone, and which then allows the userto analyse the results, substitutingalternative prices to meet specificneeds. This could take the form ofidentifying a price that needs to beachieved to meet a tender sum, or to

experiment with what the bid pricewould be, based on a variety of manualor global adjustments, and thenproducing reports on a number ofoutcomes for managementdiscussions.

Reports are entirely customisable, andcan be set up to cover high levelsummaries or in-depth analysis. Theycan also be configured to cover themost relevant information, whether it'son the NRM code, materials, locationsor other user-definable criteria. Thisallows users to very quickly and easilyprovide summaries for differentperspectives. Helpfully, reports can begenerated as previews or sent to aprinter, as well as being saved as usefulfile types such as Excel.

Bidcon BIM is another element tickedoff on the BIM checklist. Taking fulladvantage of the cost data associatedwith a Building Information Modelenables clients to factor in Capex, aswell as Opex, on a project at an earlystage in the development process. Thisis essential for overall budgetary controlwhen costs and time schedules arecritical for a project's success.www.astadev.co.uk

May/June 2015 27

SOFTWAREreview

Report templates can be amended to adjust the level of

information; change the criteria of the summary; and customise

the columns. This particular report has been configured to

display a summary of costs and hours for NRM Group Elements

and NRM Elements.

Use Design Elements to produce complex parametric assemblies

that can provide accurate resource quantities & costs from some

basic high-llevel information.

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The digitalisation of the constructionindustry is upon us. UK CabinetOffice returns indicate that by

September 2014 total contract values of£9.4 billion (excluding MOJ, EFA, DoH andHS2 returns) were in the marketplace withLevel 2 BIM Deliverables. At a BIMTechnologies Alliance briefing on 15th May2015 the software providers were informedthat that figure is now at about £20 billion,halfway to the April 2016 target. In addition to these public sector projects,

many private sector clients are starting tounderstand the advantages of offeringasset data sets to allow potentialpurchasers and tenants to drill into the 80%of the cost of an asset that lies beyondconstruction. Across the industry one hearsreports of BIM deliverables in Requests forProposal from the private sector client,although often poorly defined. Many of these projects are large and as

such have long gestation periods, but ourindustry should be under no doubt that atidal wave of work, where teams arecontracted to deliver to Level 2 BIM, isabout to hit the construction coal face. Much of the industry has been preparing

for this; however, there is a substantialsection that is not yet ready to deliver.Large projects have extensive supplychains and BIM can only succeed if allparties understand what they are supposedto do and when, and are able tocollaborate to achieve the contractedobjectives. Even the well prepared tier onecontractor will, therefore, face substantialchallenges in coordinating and definingwhat is required from the design andconstruction team. We now have a framework of standards,

guidance notes and supportingdocumentation which, if followed, will assistthe industry in BIM adoption. The five partsare BS/PAS 1192, (standards andprocesses), the CIC BIM Suite ofdocuments (commercial and legal),

Government Soft Landings and theemerging Digital Plan of Work (level ofinformation and detail required) andUniclass 2015 (classification). together theydefine what Level 2 BIM is, namely:-

A federated BIM (coordinated and clashdetected)

2D contract documentation derivedfrom the federated model

Sharable structured asset information(COBie)

Use of a Common Data Environment(CDE)

Viewpoint’s objective is to provide theindustry with the tools necessary to deliverBIM projects through collaboration in theirCommon Data Environment (CDE).4Projects was founded 15 years ago andquickly established a reputation as a cloudbased collaborative Electronic DocumentManagement System. The company wasacquired by Viewpoint, a constructionsoftware specialist with its headquarters inPortland Oregon, just over two years ago.Viewpoint 4Projects is Viewpoint's offeringto the Common Data Environment. A CDE still needs to be able to deal with

documents and drawings; at Level 2.These are still a key deliverable. A CDE,however, needs to be able to do much

more than just be a repository for drawingsand documents. It may not be apparent toestablished users just how far Viewpoint4Projects has developed beyond its EDMSroots. 4Projects' Newcastle office is now the

Viewpoint Company HQ for Europe, theMiddle East and Africa. UK employeeshave doubled in number since theacquisition. Reflecting the increasedinvestment and resources, softwareupdates to Viewpoint 4Projects are now bi-annually, in Spring and Autumn. The rest of the world had this software

update since March. In the UK, however,the company has also just moved its entireserver farm to a market leading provider,Rackspace. The change has delivered asubstantial increase in speed to users, buthas delayed the UK Spring softwarerelease until now. With the challenges facing asset owners

and design and construction teams withLevel 2 BIM delivery they need far morefrom their chosen CDE than just a record ofwho has done what and when. At the earlystages of a project a CDE should be ableto assist with defining who will be requiredto do what and when. It should thenmonitor progress and validate submitteddata, and be able to report back to allcontributors on their progress with

SOFTWAREreview

May/June 201528

Ben Wallbank, BIM Strategy Manager at 4Projects by Viewpoint, highlights the importance ofadequate planning for April 2016

Fail to plan, plan to fail

The Information Planner: Assignation of who does what and when by work stage.

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additional requests and tasks as necessary.Viewpoint's 4BIM allows users to federate

models using their web browser throughany computer or mobile device. Noadditional software is required. Teams withvarying BIM originating software or noneare able to collaborate. An add-on has alsobeen produced for Revit users to allowdirect connection to Viewpoint 4Projectsfrom within their software. Add-on's forother software are in development. The model can be viewed, in both solo

and shared sessions, marked up and tasksallocated. Data and documents can beattached to elements of the federatedmodel and this data resides within the CDEdatabase, keeping model sizes down. COBie data can be viewed and the

selection of a line of COBie data isgraphically shown in the model or data tree(or vice versa). COBie data can beimported and COBie from all contributorscan be federated, edited and updated andthen exported for use in the AssetInformation Model. The familiar workflowand tasks capabilities for use in documentmanagement have also been incorporatedinto 4BIM. This also enables Viewpoint4Projects to be templated to comply withBS/PAS 1192 and also to any LEANworkflows that a user wishes to incorporate. The most interesting addition with this

release is the Information Planner. This toolenables the project Information Manager toallocate who is to do what and when. Amatrix is provided for the allocation of tasksand the level of detail expected at each

work stage. This matrix can be exported tobe incorporated into Appendix A of the CICProtocol giving contractual affect to theagreed deliverables. The matrix looks remarkably similar in

structure to the NBS's Digital Plan of Work(dPOW). Both companies are based inNewcastle, so perhaps this should comeas no surprise. In fact the underlyingtechnology of 4BIM is identical to that ofdPOW and as soon as it is officiallyreleased Viewpoint intend to develop a linkto enable data from dPOW to populate theProject Planner. The Information Planner contains a

naming conventions tool to develop dropdowns to ensure that naming protocols areadhered to as models are uploaded to thesystem. There is also a COBie tool. Thisenables the EIR COBie requirements to beallocated to different parties at each workstage. The architect perhaps allocatedmodelling the spaces at Stage 1 through toWarranty Information being allocated to asupplier at Stage 6. Each contributor'sprogress towards COBie completenesscan be monitored and reported by workstage, with a RAG (red, amber, green)reporting tool.The Autumn software release will

strengthen Viewpoint's offering further withthe integration of BCF file exchange, modelversion control, an Employers InformationRequirement (EIR) tool and BIM ExecutionPlan (BEP) tool (both replete with helpfulnotes for the compiler). In addition,Viewpoint are currently beta testing a new

non-sequel database for the Ministry ofJustice that will enable searches to becarried out across multiple COBie assets,and this too should be released in theAutumn. Viewpoint continues to grow and five

months ago they acquired Priority1 (nowViewpoint Field View), which will beintegrated into their CDE in the comingmonths. Viewpoint is already working onthe field capture of COBie data (enablingsupply chain members to capture COBiewithout even knowing they are doing so).In fact the first COBie efficiencyenhancement for Viewpoint Field View hasjust been made in recent weeks. There isnow the ability to import COBie spaces intoViewpoint Field View, avoiding the need tomanually populate spaces on drawings.With the addition of mobile data entry to theCDE from the field, Viewpoint 4ProjectsCDE should continue as a market leader. To be successful at Level 2 BIM delivery a

little time must be invested in planning,setting out the roles and responsibilities ofall contributors to the BIM. Only by doingso can progress against targets bemonitored, validated and, of course,recorded. If delivery teams avoid thesetasks (implicit in the UK Standards) BIMadoption will surely fail. With the addition ofthe Information Planner to their CDE alongwith monitoring, validating and recordingtools, Viewpoint are insuring that theircustomers have the best chance tosucceed at delivering Level 2 BIM. www.4projects.com

May/June 2015 29

SOFTWAREreview

Naming Convention Tool: Has a BS 1192 default but can be configured to any bespoke

convention.

COBie deliverables can be defined for each

contributor on each tab/workbook.

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Brazilians are noted for theirpassion for football, so when anational stadium had to undergo

a major renovation, it was not only thewind that had to be factored in to thesafety analysis but the structure itself,and the activities of the ebullient,cheering crowds. Because timeconstraints on the project meant that awind tunnel solution was unrealistic,ANSYS multiphysics tools were usedinstead, allowing CFD tools for windtesting to be used together with ANSYSMechanical structural analysis forgravitational testing of the spectators'actions, under the umbrella of AnsysWorkbench environment.

Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, a70,000-seat football stadium in Brasília,Brazil, was rebuilt in 2013 and hostedseven games of the 2014 FIFA WorldCup Brazil, including a quarter-final.Validating the design of a stadium of thissize for wind loads normally requireswind tunnel testing, which is timeconsuming and costly, and runs the risk

of scaling errors - a scale model that fitsin a wind tunnel does not exhibit thesame precise behaviour as an extremelylarge building. With assistance from theCFD simulation specialists at ESSS, theANSYS channel partner in Latin America,the engineering consultant for theproject used ANSYS multiphysicscapabilities to verify the safety of thestadium.

The ESSS team used CFD tools topredict airflow around the stadium andpressure on the stadium cover. Then astructural analysis was performed tostudy the combined effects of wind,stadium infrastructure and the cheeringcrowd. The study recommended severalchanges, such as increasing the numberof cables and cable tension.

This is believed to be the first time thatCFD analysis has been used to replacewind tunnel testing in the design of amajor stadium in Brazil. The analysis wascompleted in only two weeks. Simulationreduced costs by one-third and tookone-tenth the time of wind tunnel testing.

MAJOR RENOVATION PROJECT The stadium was originally built in 1974and named after the famous Braziliansoccer player Mané Garrincha. EstádioNacional was almost completelydemolished through a controlledimplosion in 2011 to make way for thecurrent stadium, which includes a newfaçade, metal roof and stands - as wellas a lowered pitch (playing field) thatenables unobstructed views from everyseat. The reconstruction involveddismantling the lower tier of seats andincorporating the upper tier into a newrectangular bowl. The size of the playingfield was reduced to make the stadiuminto a single-use facility for football.

The renovation cost approximately$500 million (U.S.). NOVACAP, aBrazilian state company involved inconstruction in Brasília, contacted ESSSto validate the safety of the stadiumdesign from a wind-loading perspective.Traditionally, this is done by building ascale model and testing it in a windtunnel while measuring loads on the

CASEstudy

May/June 201530

simulation specialists ESSS have used ANSYS Multiphysics to test wind and other factors on theNational Stadium in Brasilia. Paulo de Mattos Pimenta, Professor at the Polytechnic School atUniversity of São Paulo, Brazil, explains

Wind FactorsTotal deformation at 0.432 Hz

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May/June 2015 31

CASEstudy

model. More recently, projects havebeen completed by using CFD topredict the loads on the structure, thenusing a wind tunnel to validate CFDsimulation. However, stadium CFDsimulation has progressed to the pointthat wind tunnel validation is no longermandatory, saving substantial time andmoney. In any case, the validation hadto be done in only 15 days, far less timethan is required to build a scale modeland perform wind tunnel testing.

CFD SIMULATION NOVACAP provided an architecturalmodel of the design. The stadium wasdesigned as two independentstructures. The roof is supported bycolumns and is independent of thestadium itself, which consists of seating,stairs and ramps. The roof is 309 metersin diameter, the largest circular roof inthe world. To provide a suitably largeenvelope in which to carry out accuratewind simulations, the CFD design spacewas made 6 km in both horizontal andvertical directions, which is about 20times the size of the stadium.

The model of the stadium usedquadrilateral, tetrahedral and pyramidalelements which, together in thecompleted model, amounted to 20million computational cells with 120million degrees of freedom. The teamiterated to remove details of the

geometry that did not impact the flow,hence speeding up simulation withoutany loss in accuracy. Wind speeds weretaken from the Brazilian building code,which specifies a velocity of 35 metersper second.

The team applied wind from twoorthogonal directions as a boundarycondition at the edge of the solutiondomain and employed the k-epsilonturbulence model. ANSYS CFDsimulation took about four hours tocomplete on a high performancecomputing cluster with 12 nodes, 24processors and 96 gigabytes ofRAM.The results of the analysisprovided the pressures, both positiveand negative, exerted by the wind onthe structure's various elements.

STRUCTURAL ANALYSISThe structural engineers converted thedesign into a finite element model with100,000 beam and shell elements forstructural analysis. The pressurespredicted by the CFD model weretransferred to ANSYS Mechanical usingthe ANSYS Workbench environment.The gravitational loads provided byspectators in the stands, lights andaudiovisual systems were alsoincorporated into the model.

The stadium model was used tocalculate the structure's natural modeshapes and frequencies of vibration.

Modal analysis was performed on thepre-stressed structure. The lowestfrequency mode was a rotating mode atbelow 0.5 Hz. This mode was a problembecause the original design did nothave a lot of stiffness in the rotatingdirection. The lowest bending modewas at 0.8 Hz, which was acceptable.Hand calculations were used todetermine the amplification factor of thestructure.

The CFD model allowed evaluation ofa number of different design changes toaddress the rotating mode problem.Simulation showed that by addingadditional cables and increasing tensileforce on some of the existing cables,the rotational stiffness of the structureincreased and the frequency of therotating mode was raised to above 0.8Hz. The architectural designincorporated these changes, and thestructure was completed in 2013.

The stadium was used for the first timefor the opening match of theConfederations Cup, in which Brazildefeated Japan. The stadium hostedseven matches of the 2014 FIFA WorldCup Brazil; it will host some footballgames in the 2016 SummerOlympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro.The work was performed under theauspices of Maruska Holanda(NOVACAP) and Pedro Almeidawww.ansys.com

Streamlines and air pressure on roof as predicted by CFDStresses in cables and trusses as predicted by structural analysis

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YOUR GUIDE TO

212

4

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WPDS�T[G��3DJH��

MANCHESTER 11

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MANCHESTER 13


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YORKSHIRE 15

MicroCAD - BradfordContact: Darren I’AnsonTel: 01274 [email protected] www.microcad.co.ukA B C D E G H I J K L M N O P Q S T X

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MicroCAD - DurhamContact: Chris SwinhoeTel: 0191 374 [email protected] www.microcad.co.ukA B C D E G H I J K L M N O P Q S T X

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version of Twinmotion, developed afterclose association between the softwaredeveloper and over 100 internationalarchitecture firms. Written for Windows OSand aimed at architects, urban plannersand landscape designers, it changes theway designers interact with their models,and is compatible with every 3D modellingsoftware solution currently available. Twinmotion 2015 is an 'out-of-the-box'

solution that allows users to rapidly createhigh quality images and animations, and tocompile and share 360 degree iViewpanoramas with clients. The latest versionincludes hundreds of new materials, betterdynamic reflections, real-life architecturalcolours and realistic skies, backgroundimages and even perspective correction. The days of sending out images to

rendering farms for visualisations are just ahazy memory. Now, within a few seconds,projects can be incorporated into dynamiclandscapes, allowing users to experimentand share designs and export images andvideos in high quality - even, if you are soequipped, outputting stunning 3D videos.

TWINMOTION - THE GAMEVideogaming is second nature to today'stech savvy software users, and Twinmotiontakes advantage of that familiarity.Everything is easy and instantaneous inwhatever 3D environment you choose,Twinmotion allowing users to interactivelyexplore and share the atmosphere andspaces of their creations. Everything can becontrolled in real-time, from the effects ofwind, rain or clouds to the simple modellingof sites and 3D surfaces, adding trees andplants, or even the flow of vehicles or

characters within the environment.Twinmotion even goes beyond the levels

of interactivity that you would typicallyconceive of. You can sculpt a surface,change materials, modify sunshine by dateand geographic coordinates, add acharacter or a crowd, or integrate a car orseveral lanes of vehicles on a road anddraw their route. Alternatively you could addwaves to the ocean, create a town squareor a forest, modify the foliage of one tree ormany, transform raindrops into snowflakes -and then view your project from all angleswhile walking, driving or even flying.You control the 3D enviornment in the

same way that you might manipulate an'open world' game environment, choosinghow to move and the speed and mode ofwalking, driving or flying. The interface withchronological tabs continuously guides youthrough your immersive walkthrough, andthe logic behind Twinmotion allows you toprogress step-by-step in the construction ofthe scene. From perspective toorthographic views, you can observe yourproject from any angle, and for moreprecision access the Object manager andits advanced features to customise yourworkspace.

IMPORTING THE MODELTwinmotion imports many model typesdirectly (FBX, DWG, DAE, SKP, C4D, LI3)and you can merge multiple Twinmotionprojects in a single scene. You can alsoimport images and videos to enhance yourscenes. The scenes environment can beset up using a 'slider' system, with eachchoice visible in a preview window.Surfaces can be 'flooded' to enhanceocean colour, reflections and even the sizeand type of waves.A wide choice of materials are available,

which can be adapted to day or night time,and are amenable to adjustments of theirUV scale, opacity and halo effects, andillumination or brightness - with 'bumpmapping' applying relief effects for addedrealism. Illuminating the scene is easy, witha wide range of customisable light sources.IES users can also import their IES files.

POPULATING THE LANDSCAPEProjects can be set in any desired - orimagined - location, as you can chooseyour terrain, trim the surface using push /pull to create hills and valleys, and 'paint'textures of rocks, sand or earth to enhanceyour landscapes. And then you can use the'brush' tool to create a forest, choosing andadjusting tree species, sizes and densities.Vegetation is animated, 3D trees andblades of grass reacting to the wind andadapting to the seasons. Various rocks and 3D models of green

walls are also available. People and carscan also be added, defining their pathswith Bezier curves with just a few clicks.Different types of animated characters -professional, casual, mixed - are alsoavailable, and you can adjust the numberof traffic lanes, density and speed of cars.

LIGHTS, CAMERA - ACTIONCamera settings allow focal, vignetting andpossibly lens deviations using the intuitivecamera editor. You can also transformscenes using a filter ('white model', 'Black &White' or 'Sketch' etc.), customise them withthe many options detailed above and thenexport the results in your optimal resolution.Video formats are MP4 and WMV (H.264) instereo 3D video; images are PNG format. Twinmotion is distributed and supported

by Abvent, developers of Artlantis:www.abvent.com

CASEstudy

May/June 201534

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