CU1705

INDUSTRY news
TRANSFORMING TEMPORARY WORKS DESIGN
Swanton Consulting has
transformed the design of
temporary works - such as
façade and basement retention
- using a software innovation
that creates instant 3D models
from laser scanner data. Processing
of the millions of individual
3D laser scan measurements,
known collectively as
point clouds, used to take
Swanton up to two weeks.
However, since introducing
Pointfuse V2 point cloud processing
software, Swanton can
now produce highly accurate
vector models, suitable for
immediate use by design engineers,
in less than a day.
Swanton Consulting specialises
in the design of temporary
works, deep basements,
façade retentions, retaining
walls, specialist structural elements
and contractor delegated
design elements. Working
alongside design teams and
contractors, Swanton is one of
the leading providers of façade
retention engineering solutions
in London.
"One of the first projects we
tested Pointfuse on was the
design of steel structure to support
the façade of two Grade II
listed structures in London's
prestigious Mayfair," commented
Pearse McMahon, Senior
Technician at Swanton Consulting.
"The façade scheme was
developed and coordinated
with the permanent works, with
the layout driven heavily by the
use of 3D modeling from point
cloud surveys."
Data to support the design of
the façade steel work was collected
by Swanton's Testing and
Monitoring division using a
Leica ScanStation laser scanner.
Originally, the vast point
cloud was imported into the 3D
construction modeling software
using Tekla Structures, produced
by Trimble. The 1.5 Gb
DXF CAD file, comprising more
the six million cross hair points,
then took the best part of two
weeks to process into a usable
model onto which the steel
structure framework could be
positioned.
Following the acquisition of
Pointfuse V2 software, the original
point cloud was
reprocessed to create a 3D
model of the façade in the open
IFC format for onward use in a
variety of software packages,
including Trimble's Tekla and
AutoCAD Revit. However, rather
than taking two weeks to create
usable models, the Pointfuse
output was ready for use by the
designers in under a day.
www.pointfuse.com
SAGE PARTNERS WITH AUTODESK, ETAKEOFF
Sage has launched a new
integrated BIM, takeoff,
and estimating solution
developed through a collaboration
with Autodesk and
eTakeoff. This BIM solution is
a unique best-of-breed
approach to automating the
time-consuming, manual
process estimators face when
trying to produce detail cost
estimates from 3D models
and 2D digital plans. It also
paves the way for integration
with cloud based solutions
used in field project collaboration,
on mobile devices and
in today’s digital plan rooms.
The amount of estimatingrelated
information included
in a model can vary greatly.
As a result, estimators have
to refer to 2D drawings to get
details, such as floor coverings,
that are often missing
from the model.
The new model-based cost
estimating solution integrates
eTakeoff software and
Autodesk Navisworks with
Sage Estimating. It provides
an easier way to do detailed
takeoff simultaneously from
ALLPLAN OPENS NEW UK OFFICE
BIM solutions provider
ALLPLAN has expanded its
team with the opening of a new
office in the UK in order support
its growth in the European market
and further help influence
BIM for engineering. The new
office will cover the UK and
North European markets, supported
by a strong, industryexperienced
team.
Richard Brotherton, Managing
Director at ALLPLAN GmbH
commented: “The new UK
office is part of ALLPLAN‘s international
growth strategy. The UK
and North European markets
have a strong potential and this
both 3D models and 2D
drawings. With this new integration
estimators can:
• Drag and drop objects from
a BIM model onto selected
estimating assemblies, eliminating
the time-consuming
task of transferring quantities
and measurements.
• Obtain information missing
in the BIM model directly
from 2D drawings, all in the
same integration tool.
• Drill down from the estimate
spreadsheet all the way
back to the 3D model to
review the original takeoff
source and any changes that
have been introduced.
"We’re providing a way for
construction firms to integrate
these best-in-class
solutions to effortlessly move
between 2D and 3D content
for production-level estimating,"
said Curtis Peltz, CEO
of eTakeoff. "It’s all part of
our efforts to provide the
most innovative and practical
BIM takeoff and estimating
solution available today."
www.sage.com
opening furthermore demonstrates
our vision and investment
to strengthen client acquisition
and marketing activities.”
Leading the team is Business
Development Director, Kevin
Lea, who said “It is an exciting
time to join ALLPLAN and to be
part of its international expansion.
I am impressed with
ALLPLAN’s innovative BIM solutions
and how they improve the
design process for engineers.
We have an experienced team
in place and we are looking forward
to bringing the benefits of
Allplan to the UK market”.
www.allplan.com
6
May/June 2017