CU Jan-Feb 2020

SOFTWARE focus
Under the surface
MGISS and vGIS bring Augmented Reality to 3D mapping and BIM
You may have assumed that being
able to visualise subterranean
plumbing, sewers and drains,
electric cabling, gas pipes, fibre optic
cables and other underground assets
using your iPad or laptop already features
in the toolset of civil engineers and utility
company employees. But the fancy
promotional images that will have led you
to this conclusion are typically mock-ups
that show you what could be achieved if
you have the subsurface model data that
they need.
However there are companies that do pull
all the technologies together to provide
such a solution, and more importantly
create the links to the various models that
contain the information they need - BIM and
CAD models that describe the subsurface
components, and GIS information that
places them in situ. What has really driven
the process forward, though, is the
emergence of Augmented Reality (AR), the
integration of digital information with data
models taken from any form of reality
capture tools footage to facilitate and
enhance the viewing experience.
AUGMENTED REALITY VISUALS
AR is no longer just a marketing tool. The
development of Augmented Reality as a
tool to manage and visualise hidden
infrastructure assets has now taken a
major step forward following the
announcement of a partnership between
two technology companies. MGISS, a UK
geospatial specialist, has partnered with
Canada based vGIS to transform
traditional GIS, BIM and CAD data into
stunning AR visualisations.
Augmented Reality provides the
interactive experience of an environment
where objects that reside in the real world,
such as underground pipes, are displayed
and enhanced with additional intelligence
such as attribute information and
maintenance records.
A specialist in the use of geospatial
technology in the utility, infrastructure and
environment sectors, MGISS understands
the demands for improved spatial data
quality and the requirement to
communicate complex, asset dense 3D
environments in an easy to consume way.
By combining authoritative survey grade
positions and associated data with
consumer grade hardware, MGISS
enables users of vGIS to access
Augmented Reality visualisations from any
suitable smart device.
vGIS is the leading augmented and
mixed reality visualisation technology for
GIS data. Using the vGIS system, field
personnel can see an augmented view that
includes holographic infrastructure objects,
improving environmental assessments and
increasing situational awareness.
ENHANCED COLLABORATION
Besides providing civil engineering
companies and utilities with the ability to
explore underground infrastructure prior to
digging up the tarmac, the BIM
components and working processes that
they will be accessing are primarily
designed to encourage collaboration
between stakeholders, contractors and
workforces. Taking a lead from the
construction industry, it is to be hoped that
the same spirit of cooperation between the
various utilities and civil engineering
companies will result in more efficient
handling of infrastructure projects. This
would eliminate the costly and proverbial
practice of the electricity company digging
up the road and filling it back in, only to be
followed closely by British Gas repeating
the process!
ON A STREET NEAR YOU
MGISS and vGIS are keen to bring their
solution to the UK, and there is no doubt
that the market's expectations and
requirements are neatly falling into place as
AR technology becomes more prevalent in
other industries. Their credentials in this
critical environment are neatly expressed
by the two founders.
According to Mike Darracott, Managing
Director and founder of MGISS, "Initiatives
such as digital twinning and the
expectation of 'Business As Usual'
operations require the capture and
representation of increasingly complex
real-world environments. Asset owners
and operators face a number of
challenges and opportunities including the
need to improve safety, reduce risk and
ensure what lies beneath our feet meets
future infrastructure needs. vGIS truly
understand the needs and the challenges
facing these sectors. In fact, vGIS goes
further than any other AR solution by
providing a full range of 3D spatial data
capabilities; all within a platform that works
with existing enterprise systems and data
structures," added Darracott.
"Value is often hidden deep within the
structure of data. By helping people "see"
data in more intuitive ways, they gain new
insights and can subsequently do more
with that information. That's been the core
operating philosophy of vGIS," commented
Alec Pestov, founder and CEO of Canada
based vGIS. "To achieve this we are
building an ecosystem bringing together
top experts to work jointly towards a
common goal. MGISS possesses deep
expertise in the spatial services and
solutions sector and we are looking forward
to joining forces to deliver augmented and
mixed reality visualisations in the UK."
www.mgiss.co.uk
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January/February 2020