Re/Cappers, we’re going Dutch today.
No, we’re not talking about simplifying a dinner bill; we’re talking about an inspiring mapping story in the Netherlands, featuring one heroine advancing tactile maps for the vision-impaired.
But while her and four visionary companies’ efforts may be new, tactile maps, and their utility for the blind and partially-sighted, are nearly two centuries old.
The first patented tactile map appeared in 1837, in an atlas of the United States created by Samuel Gridley Howe of the Perkins School for the Blind. But how?
Of 50 printed copies, only four survive. Image credit Open Culture
Early tactile maps of course relied on manual surveying and cartography techniques, with surveyors meticulously measuring terrain and structures so as to translate the data into raised relief maps. Painstakingly handcrafted, this process was time-consuming, and often rife with imprecision.
But as geospatial and eventually reality capture technologies advanced, tactile maps would follow suit; the advent of GIS marked a significant shift in tactile map production by integrating various data layers.
More recent evolutions of tactile mapping have been driven by advanced geospatial and reality capture technologies. Of course, 3D printing can call upon scan data to create detailed, accurate tactile maps and models of complex environments.
Tactile maps of urban environments have enjoyed a paradigm shift thanks to mobile mapping, and vehicle-mounted sensors combining LiDAR, cameras, and GPS capture of street-level details.
As these tools continue evolving, they will yield even more detailed and interactive tactile maps. This augments navigation for visually impaired users, surely; but it also opens new avenues for education and exploration. With continued iteration & integration of these technologies, we can ensure that tactile maps remain an essential resource for promoting inclusivity and accessibility in our spatially rich environments.
…Now that’s tact.
What’s Cappenin’ This Week: Tactile mapping assists the vision-impaired, a digital twin assists the Vatican, digital transformation assists solar power, a million women COULD assist construction, and a Barcelonian AEC Error of the Week that’s needed assistance for, like, 150 years.
Mini ‘Cappenins: Our AI robot future, a podcast with Trimble’s VP of Geospatial, the city of Milan’s digital twin project, a radiance field blog on cross-modality, a leap forward in camera space capture, and drone news galore.
Last week: Best of The Re/Cap!
Loneliness is a global epidemic. Worse yet, its effects are more pronounced for, and more common among, the blind and visually impaired. And what tends to increase as more people continue living longer? Loneliness, and vision loss.
Tactile maps have mitigated these difficulties, but their problem lies in their tedious, often prolonged creation. And that’s precisely what technology, and some inspiring testers, are solving.
Tactile maps rely on raised vectors such as 3D points, braille, polygons, and lines. Image credit American Surveyor
Four organizations - Kadaster, Foundation Accessibility, Dedicon Foundation, and Esri - are collectively developing advanced tactile mapping technology. American Surveyor profiled the uplifting story through the lens of Ellen Zieleman, a 60-year-old woman who became fully blind five years ago, yet has achieved newfound independence through tactile maps. Click below for some geospatial feel-good.
Announced by Pope Francis in 2022, Jubilee 2025 will draw millions of people to Rome. And just has been the case for every preceding Holy Year, millions of others will be unable to make the pilgrimage. That’s just been life.
So to call what Microsoft and the Vatican just did “life-changing” is anything but hyperbolic. The titan of industry and titan of theology created an AI-powered "digital twin" of St. Peter's Basilica, making the iconic church more accessible than ever—no need for a plane ticket or a papal blessing!
A scene from St. Peter’s Basilica, projected onto a cement cupola as a part of the Vatican’s immersive exhibit. Image credit CNS/Carol Glatz via USCCB
A website will offer virtual views, streaming services, and podcasts, while an app launching on December 1 will provide itineraries and real-time updates. And starting in January, students can explore the sacred space through Microsoft’s Minecraft Education platform. Two immersive exhibits will dazzle: one projects stunning images onto the basilica's dome, while another takes you on a stroll through its profound history. Absorb the whole verse of the project below, full of quotes from cardinals and creators alike.
Solar energy’s growth chart since the year 2000 could easily be mistaken for that of Beyonce’s cumulative Grammy nomination total. But despite being hailed as an energy source of the future, many of its intricacies operate sluggishly, stifled by inefficiencies in every stage of implementation.
This has made a proper digital transformation imperative for the power source. Problem is that it’s confusing.
Or rather, it has been.
Sun’s ‘bout to set on solar’s old workflows. Image credit Repsol
Most solar firms struggle with a digital transformation because of the opacity of the term relative to their field - new ideas for new industries tend to be more challenging than in older domains. But there are three emergent tools that are driving that sorely needed digital transformation, starting with reality capture, and ending with two acronyms. Get charged up below, courtesy of Solar Builder.
The labor shortage in construction is dire, even in spite of the field’s record spending. The aging workforce trading hands on the shovel for toes in the sand is a significant cause. But it’s matched by a failure to lure new talent, particularly women since, you know, they’re half the population for Pete’s Pam’s sake.
Governor Janet Mills of Maine signed an executive order in May to “improve the recruitment, training, and retention of women in Maine’s construction industry.” Image credit Office of Governor Janet T. Mills
This dearth prompted the U.S. Department of Commerce to author the “Million Women in Construction Community Pledge” in May of 2024. It also prompted Maria Davidson, CEO and founder of ConTech company Kojo, to pen a discerning piece on how exactly such a lofty vision could materialize. Enjoy a trove of wisdom below on targeted campaigns, educational institutions, training, work environments, and much more, thanks to For Construction Pros.
La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, where construction projects go not to die, but live. For, like, over a century. Image credit Dezeen
In the heart of Barcelona stands a structure so ambitious, it makes the Tower of Babel look like an IKEA coffee table assembly. Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Familia isn't just a cathedral; it's a 141-year-old testament to the fact that some architects really don't know the meaning of "deadline."
Begun in the 1880s, the Sagrada Familia was supposed to be a quick little side project. Fast forward to 2024, and it's still not finished. At this point, it's less of a construction site and more of a generational family business. "What do you want to be when you grow up, little Jordi?" "A Sagrada Familia construction worker, just like my father, and his father before him!"
The project has faced more setbacks than a sloth in a 100-meter dash:
But perhaps the biggest "oopsie" was the lack of a sound backup plan. When the Civil War turned Gaudí's workshop into the world's most tragic bonfire, it left future architects playing the world's most high-stakes game of Pictionary. "I think this squiggle means...flying buttress? Or maybe it's Gaudí's lunch order. Who knows!"
If only Gaudí had access to modern reality capture tech. Imagine the possibilities:
A laser scanning and photogrammetry combo, terrestrial or aerial, could have preserved his models in digital form. Civil War? No problem! Just hit Ctrl+Z and print new ones.
360° cameras could provide regular, immersive updates, proving to skeptical donors that yes, something is actually happening up there.
BIM could integrate historical data with current plans, while VR could let architects "walk through" proposed additions. It's like The Matrix, but instead of dodging bullets, you're dodging centuries-old construction debris.
As the Sagrada Familia crawls towards its latest projected completion date of 2026 (or possibly 2040), it stands as a reminder that even the grandest architectural visions can benefit from a reality check. And maybe, just maybe, a strict deadline.
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