Re/Cappers, what is up!?
There’s an intersection of government and GIS we’ll delve into shortly, but since one politician has gotten some Americans asking what GIS is anyway, the origin story of Guv’ment GIS may be worth mapping.
Canadians are known for being nice. But in GIS, they’re also kinda first, as geographer Roger Tomlinson created the Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS) in 1963. It was designed to manage and analyze land use data for the Canadian government, marking the inception of GIS as a vital tool for land and resource management.
1967 - the first documented use of “Geo-information system.” Image credit R.F. Tomlinson via Esri
In come the ‘70s, and as bell bottoms gained traction, so too did government agencies digitizing geographic data. Uncle Sam’s Census Bureau began digitizing census boundaries, roads, and urban areas, while Great Britain’s Ordnance Survey launched digital topographic mapping in ‘71.
The 80s’ software explosion sent GIS capabilities everywhere, while also sending sixteen users to the first Esri conference. The 90s saw Nirvana on Earth, but achieved nirvana in its orbit, as new observation satellites and remote sensing technology broadened government GIS applications. Agencies began utilizing GIS for the once-lofty ambitions of urban planning, environmental management, and disaster response.
In recent years, the focus has expanded to include public engagement and transparency, with governments publishing GIS applications and data for citizen use. And one politician in particular, whom we’ll get to shortly, loves it.
Now, if only they could harness GIS for a quicker way to get to you at the DMV.
A preface, dear Re/Cappers: this newsletter neither supports nor rejects politicians of any party. It does support tech and mapping, but if you’d like to skip the politician-related story today, we’ve made sure to lay it out clearly in the Re/Cap title.
What’s Cappenin’ This Week: Laser scanning provides sneak peeks of theater seats, two massive companies do a dope drone deal, AR shifts architecture’s architecture, gov’t GIS, and a casino AEC Error of the Week in which reality capture would have been a smart bet.
Mini ‘Cappenins: Underground mapping in Britain, video chats get twinned, ConTech acquisitions, food delivery robots, BIM software projections, and an RCN pod where CEO & Founder Matthew Byrd is the one receiving the questions.
Last week on reality capture maybe making coral bleaching start ceasing, an Indian digital twin’s ripple effect, LiDAR lending a hand to trucks too tall, architecture software getting ranked, and an Italian Insta-famous AEC Error of the Week!
A pillar of how rotten the ticket industry has become is…pillars! Literally, as in finding one blocking your view as you take your seat.
London-based company Preevue, however, might be taking a technological wrecking ball to “view obstruction” at events; and Broadway is the worksite.
Scantom of the Opera. ★★★★. Image credit Preevue
Preevue has scanned nearly 70,000 seats in over 250 theaters worldwide, so they’ve got the reps down. And now, negotiations are underway with a prolific Broadway theater to revolutionize seat selection and transparency, as Forbes lays out in full below.
Swisscom is apparently the most sustainable telecommunications company in the world.
They’re probably now the most aerial too, after partnering with Nokia to dispatch 300 “drone-in-a-box” (please all be named Jack) units in Switzerland.
Nokia’s drones for Swisscom = the coolest and most innovative 300 since the movie. Image credit Telecom Review Europe
This turnkey system includes a drone, docking station, ground control station, video and thermal camera payloads, and more. Read the specifics of how emergency response and infrastructure are set to thrive, and how requesting one won’t be unlike a simple Uber fetch, courtesy of IOT World Today.
Augmented reality’s place in the world is still amorphous to some, even annoying to others, what with the Apple Vision Pro’s relative flop after decades of AR hype.
But this may all stem from a misinformed expectation that AR needs to be universally useful, instead of “just” excellent in niche domains.
Visualization is merely a fraction of AR’s utility in architecture. Image credit Limina Studios
You know, like architecture, where AR is a time-saving, productivity-elevating steroid. Parametric Architecture presents the case wonderfully in an expansive piece, starting with AR fundamentals and mechanisms, then pivoting to differentiation from VR/MR before exploring numerous architectural applications.
Tim Walz might be new to millions of Americans, but he’s no stranger to attendees of last month’s Esri User Conference.
Yum, seems GIS is guiding Walz to the land of cheese. Image credit Nikolas Liepins/Official Governor’s Office Photo, Wiki Commons
It wasn’t just a name grab either. Walz has been an avid GIS fan ever since his hopeful position was occupied by that guy who kind of invented the internet (VP → Al Gore → 1990s → you’re welcome). Click below for an Esri exposé on Walz’ GIS history, enthusiasm, and governmental applications. View his UC2024 speech here.
The parking structure of the Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey in 2003. Image credit Brian Branch-Price via Guy Nordenson and Associates
On October 30, 2003, the Tropicana Casino Resort in Atlantic City was set to expand its offerings with a new parking garage. But what was meant to be a straightforward construction project turned into a cautionary tale of oversight, poor communication, and tragedy, when the structure collapsed.
As workers poured concrete on the sixth floor, the garage’s exterior bay suddenly gave way, causing five levels to plummet in a catastrophic failure. Investigations revealed that the root of the disaster was improperly installed steel reinforcement, along with inadequate shoring and bracing, which failed to support the weight of the precast concrete slabs. This oversight was compounded by a lack of quality control, sub-optimal communication among teams, and insufficient safety training for workers on-site.
Put another way, this oversight could have been mitigated or entirely prevented with prudent use of reality capture, which has been known to augment QC, communication, and safety.
Also notable is that the lift-slab construction method, while innovative, requires meticulous execution and attention to detail. Unfortunately, these elements were not sufficiently prioritized, leading to a perfect storm of structural failure.
Precise models of the garage by way of thorough 3D laser scanning could have unveiled those shoring and bracing red flags. Photogrammetry and drone surveys would have introduced a bird’s-eye view of the construction site, revealing any deviations from the design, and imminent problems from subpar or nonexistent steel reinforcement.
Integrating strain gauges and sensors with BIM systems could have created a safety net of continuous monitoring, alerting teams to concerning developments well before they could lead to disaster. And how about a digital twin, simulating what the precast concrete slabs could support? Technology catalyzing safety, pure and simple.
The AEC industry finds itself at a crossroads. On one side lies the well-worn path of traditional construction methods, fraught with potential oversights, flawed or no communication, and human error. On the other, a road paved with cutting-edge technology, offering keen insight into every aspect of a build.
The choice seems clear, yet adoption of these life-saving tools remains frustratingly slow. Perhaps it's time we view reality capture not as a luxury, but as a moral imperative. After all, in an industry where mistakes are measured not just in dollars, but in human lives, can we afford to turn a blind eye to the very technologies that could prevent such catastrophes?
As we move forward, let's not just build structures, but build them smarter, safer, and with an unwavering commitment to the lives that depend on our diligence. The future of construction isn't just about reaching new heights – it's about ensuring everyone makes it home at the end of the day.
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