Get those violins tuned Re/Cappers, we get classical today with a lead Re/Cap on the latest digital twin effort of Siemens, one that makes Beethoven’s Ninth look as innovative as a doctor’s office xylophone.
So what was the path traveled for Siemens, to arrive here in such rarified air?
Their digital twin groundwork was laid over 30 years ago, somewhat by happenstance when developing software for advanced robotics. This early work enabled the creation of full 3D models of automotive body assembly cells that could simulate, validate and optimize robotic operations before physical implementation.
As computer science went berserk in the subsequent years, so did Siemens’ twin tactics; Product design twins, manufacturing process twins, and digital performance twins were integral to smart buildings.
The acquisition of Mentor Graphics sent simulation capabilities soaring.
Then came the disruptive projects and partnerships.
They partnered with Tokamak Energy to harness digital twin tech to accelerate the development and fidelity of fusion energy.
They collaborated with Zipline, a drone delivery company, to design a fleet via digital twin technology. These drones have since flown thousands of medical delivery missions with nearly 100% reliability, saving hundreds of lives in the process.
Oh, and electric vehicles? HA! Try electric aircraft.
And then, there’s today, when Siemens is realizing they don’t just like the idea of digital twins. They like the sound of it. It’s all comin’ right up!
What’s Cappenin’ This Week: Digital twins focus on sound rather than what’s on the ground, GNSS & photogrammetry set sail for smooth shipping, Utah DOT 💓 3D, some RIEGL UAV production, and a rather intact AEC Error of the Week in Shanghai, China.
Mini Cappenins: Buncha drone news, an autonomous coral reef survey, big data in Indian agriculture, an AI-powered computer review, an RCN pod on reality capture in crime scene documentation, and a new aerial imaging software release
Last week on laser scanning providing a sneak peek of theater seats, two massive companies’ dope drone deal, AR shifting architecture’s architecture, gov’t GIS, and a casino AEC Error of the Week in which reality capture would have been a smart bet.
At 104 years old, Austria’s Salzburg Festival is iconic because of the music and drama it resurrects from the past.
Now, it’s storied because of what it signals for the future.
German tech titan Siemens used #SalzFest to test one of its boldest ventures yet – an acoustic digital twin, using the festival’s majestic performance hall and the tunes of Mozart as guinea pigs. Read TheNextWeb’s thorough account below, on how advanced sound wave analysis and digital twins could usher in a future of acoustic-driven architecture, rehearsals in replicas, and so much more. A no-brainer top Re/Cap for 2024 you do not want to miss.
For shipping lanes, maps and imaging aren’t just crucial for routing efficiency; they’re musts for safety, as accidents remain commonplace to this day. Why? Modern mapping is still performed by conventional ships with antiquated workflows…
…workflows that are about to walk the plank, thanks to the TAPS platform of Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies, and Image Exploitation (IOSB).
Team ISOB, in the midst of a three-year survey project, has developed an autonomous surface vehicle wielding unprecedented aquatic survey capabilities, thanks largely to the photogrammetric glory visible above. Digest Quality Digest’s quality exploration of the process, technology, and positive consequences, all with an assortment of excellent photography.
Turns out land accidents are in need of a technological savior too, and hey, applaud Utah for putting tax dollars to good use!
The initial goal is for intersections statewide to be laser scanned and 3D modeled. The second is revolutionizing how traffic engineers remedy potential hazards for motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, heck, even pesky repeat jaywalkers.
The tertiary goal of the project is advancing connectivity, such that LiDAR will sync with connected vehicle technology. It all funnels into UDOT’s ambition of zero roadway fatalities. Just below, The Salt Lake Tribune covers the scrappy start of the project, the experimentation, use cases, companies involved, and more.
Intergeo 2023 had an outerworld introduction – the RiLOC-E, a fully integrated subsystem for localization and orientation from the minds of RIEGL. The reception was such that the brains and hands of the operation went into development & testing overdrive.
As those were passed with flying colors, production is set for liftoff. Designed for RIEGL’s miniVUX-series UAV LiDAR sensors, RiLOC-E boasts a compact and lightweight design that incorporates a MEMS-based IMU, a GNSS module, and specialized software. GIM International scanned it all, with a deep dive on specs, applications, RIEGL quotes, and more.
Shanghai, 2009. The city’s skyline was a testament to China’s breakneck development, with new buildings sprouting like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. Among them stood the Lotus Riverside complex, a cluster of 11 residential towers promising modern living in the bustling Minhang district.
But on June 27, one of these towers would instantiate the perils of unchecked urban expansion.
In the day’s early hours, Building 7 of the Lotus Riverside complex did the unthinkable – it toppled over sideways, nearly intact. This wasn’t a controlled demolition gone wrong; it was a catastrophic structural failure that claimed the life of one worker and shattered the dreams of hundreds of prospective residents.
The culprit? A perfect storm of poor planning, corner-cutting, and disregard for basic engineering principles. Developers had excavated a 4.6-meter deep pit adjacent to the building for an underground garage, weakening its foundation. Compounding this error, they piled the excavated soil by a nearby creek, causing the riverbank to collapse and allowing water to seep into the ground beneath the building.
The result was a muddy, unstable foundation that couldn’t support the weight of the 13-story structure. In a matter of moments, years of work and millions of dollars came crashing down, along with public trust in the construction industry.
But what if reality capture technologies had been employed? The tragedy might have been averted:
Building Information Modeling (BIM) could have integrated data from laser scans, allowing for comprehensive analysis of the structure’s integrity and its interaction with the surrounding environment.
Drone-driven high-res photogrammetry could have monitored the excavation process and soil displacement, providing crucial data on site conditions. A comprehensive digital twin of the complex could have simulated the effects of the excavation and soil piling, highlighting potential risks before they became reality.
The Lotus Riverside collapse serves as a somber reminder that in construction, there are no shortcuts to safety. It underscores the critical need for rigorous oversight, adherence to engineering best practices, and the integration of advanced technologies. Because in the race to build higher and faster, we must never lose sight of our fundamental responsibility: to build safely.
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