Imagina 2012

by Stephen Holmes

The annual Imagina event has a positively continental approach to the uses of digital design tools, which provides attendees from the UK and US with thought provoking ideas.

Despite battling an impromptu strike by Air France that affected travel to the event, and the key absence of Dassault Systèmes’ due to a company-wide reorganisation, Imagina managed to muster enough software companies and interesting speakers to make the trip worthwhile for those who could get there.

Key themes to this year’s event revolved around the attitude of the French State, along with neighbours Switzerland and Benelux, and its promotion to local governments and cities to create detailed 3D models for future planning, including detailed streets and individual buildings. A lot of the technology on show revolved around the use of GIS data to build whole settlements in 3D, while using the cloud for storing and sharing design data. Mapping Archividéo, Bionatics, Eternix, and Virtuel City displayed 3D territory modelling and visualisation software that use geographic source data — usually high resolution aerial photography. The software has advanced rapidly, with higher resolution images now transferring improved quality into more accurate detail for virtual maps.

While each software package differed in detail levels for the planning and management of cities, landscape preservation, military simulation and civil security, their takeup in Europe proved how enthusiastic local authorities on the continent are about the use of GIS and visualisation.

On the boundaries of this technology was CityEngine. Previously featured in AEC Magazine for its ability to quickly build a virtual city, for concept design or in-context visualisation off a few inputted parameters. ESRI, the US-based GIS software specialist, has recently acquired the product and was keen to promote its enhanced ability to work with more rigid, imported GIS data.

Bionatics is currently expanding into the UK market, so it will be interesting to see over the coming year what effect this will have on the domestic AEC market. Getting inside Several software companies had products dedicated to getting the most from a 3D model

One of the standout presentations at Imagina was given by architect and projects manager Ralf Levedag on the planned Stade de Nice, and the work Cabinet Wilmotte & Associés is doing to make the public structure as sustainable as possible The project boasts the world’s largest wooden structure (pictured) thanks to its complex interlinked roof supports. Mr Levedag also spoke about the project’s trials and tribulations, ultimately solved by using modern design tools

that has been built from GIS data.

Spaceyes specialises in transforming 3D models into real-time 3D fly-throughs and visualisations, while offering ‘build’ capabilities that allow for comparison and analysis to be carried out.

Elsewhere it was about sharing the information as easily as possible, often through use of the cloud. Agency9 is a software provider for web-based visualisation of largescale 3D models.

Agency9 was one of the few companies we found that could support all common browsers without requiring installation of a software plug-in; its cloud-hosted CityPlanner allows the model owner to get feedback and update the project as it goes along. Conclusion Imagina firmly promotes the European idea of what can be achieved through innovative use of architectural visualisation and GIS software, however it continues to expand to encompass other uses for 3D technology.

For example, 3D technology is being used more and more to improve the realism of virtual reality and training simulators, and is something we expect to see more of in future.

Despite some key players being absent, and a lack of new products, the show enabled established companies to reveal the advancements that GIS software has made in the past 12 months, with a greater level of detail now available to users.

International design and engineering firm Arup on how better document sharing has led to greater communication.

The National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube in Beijing. Its distinctive façade was inspired by the natural formation of soap bubbles. Arup’s designers and structural engineers realised that a structure based on this geometry would be highly repetitive and buildable, while appearing organic and random

Document sharing on a standardised platform can be critical in large-scale construction and development.

For Arup, contracts, specifications, design information, 3D models, engineering drawings, project timelines, and other important documentation need to be fully co-ordinated. “Our business encompasses everything from engineering to final product,” says Graeme Robinson, associate director, Continental Europe IT leader at Arup. “We need technology solutions that enable employees around the world to share information and thoughts quickly, efficiently, and securely.”

At the same time as being able to share all the required information, project details are valuable assets that need protecting from unauthorised access to safeguard the viability of the business venture.

Arup streamlines the process of sharing design documents with Adobe Acrobat X and Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Master Collection, Design Premium, and Design Standard.

Over the years, Arup migrated from paperbased information delivery processes to digital forms as the technology became widely available and more reliable. However, given its large geographical footprint, digital document generation and reading software varied, sometimes creating difficulties in fully accessing and sharing electronic files.

To standardise operations on the latest version of Acrobat, Arup secured an Enterprise License Agreement (ELA) with Adobe to distribute software to employees worldwide through the Microsoft System Centre Configuration Manager suite — virtual software store — where employees request Adobe Acrobat, submit the request for approval, and IT support will automatically download the software directly to their desktops.

“The ELA helps us leverage the latest version of Adobe Acrobat — and all of the newest security and functionality that comes with it — on every computer around the world,” says Mr Robinson. “It is a straightforward and efficient process for delivering the right technology to the right people at the right time.” Collaborative management Global employees use identical software, packaging and sharing for detailed and highly sensitive design drawings. Arup uses a number of solutions to convert drawings to

Share portfolio

PDF files to share the information in a collaborative environment.

Arup aims to standardise on two PDF management products globally. “Drawings and reports are constantly moved between different groups across Arup and other organisations,” Mr Robinson says. “Using the PDF solutions files ranging from simple documents to more complex 3D models, animations and video are arranged in a way that makes it quick and convenient for teams to locate the information they need and provide comments or mark-up drawings.

“We do a lot of design development work. It is more than just a series of drawings and elevations. We are always looking at ways to send and receive digital information electronically between parties for faster and more efficient management of project delivery times.”

Project managers work with graphic designers and multimedia specialists to produce richly animated visual representations of the project using components of Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Master Collection.

Designs and elevations created in Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended are inserted into project files and brought to life using Adobe After Effects CS5.5 and the Adobe Flash Platform. This interactive approach helps engineers, designers and architects understand the vision of the plan and create imaginative designs to present to clients. Vibrant communications Design is the foundation of Arup’s business. It is important that this vision can be demonstrated to inspire its clients.

It uses Adobe Acrobat X in combination with components of Creative Suite 5.5 to support the production of its client-facing documentation.

Whether it is a graphic designer developing information for a project bid using Adobe InDesign CS5.5 and Illustrator CS5.5 or a videographer capturing the ambience surrounding a project site and editing video in Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5, Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Master Collection components provide a seamless workflow that enables Arup engineers to create compelling designs.

With Adobe Acrobat X, they can be delivered reliably to support a more comprehensive marketing strategy.

Arup can use CS5 to compile a number of file types — video, audio, animated presentations, and branded documents. “We work on some of the most high-profile projects in the world, so the quality of our designs and how we present them is critical,” says Nigel Morris, lead for the visual communications team, Arup UK.

“With Adobe Creative Suite, we can take animations and designs we create with Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 and reliably deliver them to diverse audiences across multiple platforms, devices, and operating environments.”

Recipients need only the free and ubiquitous Adobe Reader software to view and interact with dynamic content in PDF files.

“There is gathering momentum in the industry around using digital communications and shifting away from paper-based processes and collateral. We feel we are ahead of the curve in adopting ways to streamline the process of collecting data, creating compelling content, and delivering it to our audiences quickly and efficiently.”