Bridging GIS-BIM to Design, Build & Maintain Resilient Infrastructure

December 30, 2021

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Bridging GIS-BIM to Design, Build & Maintain Resilient Infrastructure

Bridging GIS-BIM to Design, Build & Maintain Resilient InfrastructureDesigning and building smarter, more resilient infrastructure requires taking a broader view of the natural and built environment. The fusion of GIS (geographic information system) and BIM (building information modeling) enables stakeholders to put their projects, issues, and assets on a map, while gaining a deeper understanding of their interaction within the geographic context.



ArcGIS GeoBIM connects models, documents, and more in Autodesk Construction Cloud and BIM 360 with the power of GIS through an intuitive web-based experience. We will cover how GIS-BIM integration with ArcGIS GeoBIM help to improve collaboration and streamline communication from the planning and design phases, through to construction and maintenance. The presenters will also highlight the evolution of ArcGIS GeoBIM and potential capabilities with Autodesk.



In this webinar, you will learn how to:



Avoid costly and time-consuming file translation effort that impact successful projects

Put your project issues and component documentation on a map within the geographic context

Link GIS and BIM/CAD datasets for an intuitive way for teams and stakeholders to access up-to-date information

Unify processes to facilitate better communication of designs with key project stakeholders

Connect with future integrations between Autodesk and Esri

More about the product and associated workflows featured:



ArcGIS GeoBIM delivers an innovative, easy-to-use web-based experience for teams to explore and collaborate on building information modeling (BIM) projects and issues, using data from multiple systems in a geospatial context. Architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) teams can easily work with linked data from multiple systems in configurable web apps that simplify the communication and collaboration with teams and stakeholders.

https://www.civilengineering.ai/bridging-gis-bim-to-design-build-maintain-resilient-infrastructure/

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4D Imaging Radar: The Future of Environmental Response Sensors

December 30, 2021

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4D Imaging Radar: The Future of Environmental Response Sensors

4D Imaging Radar: The Future of Environmental Response SensorsSensors have always been critical components in the roadmap to autonomy on the roads. This article talks about the different levels in automation, the sensors and then focuses on 4D imaging radar and its recent developments.



According to the standards developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the road towards autonomous vehicles is comprised of five different levels. These standards are generated based on the level of involvement the driver has in the driving process.



Level 0 means that the vehicle does not have any automation involved that aids the driving process. At Level 1, the human driver is still in charge of the driving activities, but the automation system aids in the steering or the acceleration process.



Level 2 is the partial automation stage where the vehicle provides steering and acceleration assist, but the safety-critical functions are still under the driver's control.



At level 3, the automation system in the vehicle starts being aware by understanding the environment and performing dynamic driving tasks such as braking on its own. The human driver needs to be at a capacity to intervene if an unexpected situation occurs.



At level 4, the vehicle is supposed to complete its entire journey without needing the driver to intervene in its operations, even when there is an emergency. The driver will have the option to take over the control of the vehicle if he deems that the autonomous vehicle is not capable of driving in a specific condition.



It's the final level of automation, level 5 automation, that all the automotive companies in the world are ultimately trying to achieve.



At this level, the human driver is classified as a passenger. This level of automation ensures that even in dire circumstances, the vehicle needs to be capable enough to manoeuvre itself from danger without the aid of a human driver.

https://www.civilengineering.ai/4d-imaging-radar-the-future-of-environmental-response-sensors/

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There aren't enough skilled workers for Biden's big infrastructure plan

December 30, 2021

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There aren't enough skilled workers for Biden's big infrastructure plan
There aren’t enough skilled workers for Biden’s big infrastructure planBiden's big infrastructure plan, which was passed last month, promises to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, many of which won't require a college degree. But it's going to be an uphill battle trying to fill those roles.



The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $550 billion in new funding for roads, bridges, water and climate change mitigation.



Such a swell in opportunity is coming at a critical time: overall employment remains below pre-pandemic levels; skilled trades sectors, like construction, are struggling with labor shortages and aging workforces; and a slew of workers cast aside during the pandemic are looking to reenter the labor force.



But there's a big kink in this grand plan, labor experts and economists say: There's simply not enough money to educate and develop the hearty stream of skilled workers needed for all those critical roles.



"We have $550 billion of new spending coming down the pike for all of these new types of jobs, and we don't have any money for training," said Nicole Smith, research professor and chief economist at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.



The Biden administration originally proposed that $100 billion be put toward workforce development programs, but many of the high-dollar investments in things like training and apprenticeships didn't make it into the final version of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Only some small-scale workforce skills measures were included, such as digital training and the allocation of transportation funds toward apprenticeship programs.



One glimmer of hope is in a separate bill making its way through Congress, Biden's Build Back Better Act, which includes about $40 billion for workforce development and education to be doled out during the next few years.



But labor experts and training advocates say even that amount might not be enough. It would still leave the US lagging far behind other industrialized nations in labor skills spending; and, considering the elimination of other provisions, like free community college and paid family leave, there would still be barriers to entry for many potential new workers, said Katie Spiker, managing director of government affairs at the National Skills Coalition, a nonprofit worker training advocacy group.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/there-arent-enough-skilled-workers-for-bidens-big-infrastructure-plan/

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Smart cities are the building blocks for smarter societies

December 29, 2021

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Smart cities are the building blocks for smarter societies
Smart cities are the building blocks for smarter societies | Business PostFast-paced digital transformation with citizens and sustainability at its centre will ensure a bright future for our increasingly connected society



This year’s Connected Cities and Towns Summit took place virtually on December 7, featuring a programme of panels and talks on the future of smart towns, including new technologies, real-time data and how funding and financing can be secured.



The opening government address was delivered by Patrick Neary, chief technical officer of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. “The pandemic has changed what it means to go online,” Neary said, “and there will...



Subscribe from just €1 for the first month!

https://www.civilengineering.ai/smart-cities-are-the-building-blocks-for-smarter-societies/

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Metro-North Railroad seating availability feature now on Google Maps

December 29, 2021

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Metro-North Railroad seating availability feature now on Google Maps
Metro-North Railroad seating availability feature now on Google MapsMetro-North Railroad customers can now turn to Google Maps to see the capacity of seats available in each car at any given moment to make informed decisions based on real-time data.



The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Metro-North Railroad has announced that the seating availability feature of the Metro-North Train Time app – which allows customers to see an approximate percentage of seats available in each car of an approaching train – is expanding to Google Maps.



The feature first became available through the Metro-North TrainTime app in November 2020 for most trains operating on electric portions of the Harlem and Hudson Lines, and has since expanded to all east of Hudson trains.



Now, customers can also turn to Google Maps to see the capacity of seats available in each car at any given moment to make informed decisions based on the real-time data of how many estimated customers are on each train car.



“Through the collaborative efforts of teams at MTA IT, Metro-North and Google, it’s even easier to get access to real-time seating availability,” said Catherine Rinaldi, President of MTA Metro-North Railroad. “This is especially valuable for our occasional riders who may not have downloaded our trailblazing TrainTime™ app on their phone. We want to make it as convenient as possible as we continue to welcome back our riders.”



The real-time seat-tracking function works by measuring the weight of each car’s seating cabin using data from the suspension system. Metro-North modified the software on the cars to transmit this weight value to a central server, from which a nearly precise estimate of how many customers are on board can be derived.

https://www.civilengineering.ai/metro-north-railroad-seating-availability-feature-now-on-google-maps/

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The Future of Humanless Construction: Rising Cost of Labor vs. Falling Price of Robots

December 29, 2021

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The Future of Humanless Construction: Rising Cost of Labor vs. Falling Price of Robots
The Future of Humanless Construction: Rising Cost of Labor vs. Falling Price of RobotsDublin, Dec. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Trend Opportunity Profiles - Future of Humanless Construction" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Developers are increasingly investing in digital tools like robotics and automation to improve productivity. 3D printing and other new technologies will lead to rapid advancements in prefabrication and modularization. These advancements, in turn, will improve productivity and reduce overreliance on on-site processes.



With a rapidly aging workforce, the construction industry is also expected to face an acute skills shortage over the next decade. For instance, in North America, 1 in 5 workers will reach retirement age by 2030. In addition, the construction industry accounts for 25% of all fatalities globally - the highest among all industries.



As developers strive to achieve zero-accident work sites, investments in automation and robotics technologies will open up new applications that are not accessible or feasible to humans.



Around 60% of the global population is expected to dwell in urban areas by 2030. The role of buildings as an integral part of the surrounding environment will also evolve through the long term. Building automation system vendors that currently focus on disparate solutions such as smart security and smart climate control, will need to expand their horizons to include automation solutions for the entire lifecycle of the building. In future, autonomous buildings will interact with the smart city infrastructure and city networks in real time.



The convergence of transformational Mega Trends shaping the industry, including prefabrication, 3D printing, digital upskilling, robotics, and autonomous systems will result in new growth opportunities. These include an online modular building configurator, remote construction monitoring, and smart autonomous buildings.



Key Issues Covered:



What are the key factors or indicators driving this market?

What is the scope for innovation and commercialization in this space over the next decade?

What are the key growth opportunities to watch out for in the next decade?

What are the critical success factors for growth for market players seeking to enter this space?

Key Topics Covered:



Strategic Context



Six Key Performance Indicators for Project Success

Rising Cost of Labor vs. Falling Price of Robots

Automation and the Cost of Worker Safety

Future Vision of a Humanless Construction Site

Three Levels of Construction Autonomy

Key Trend Opportunity Levers

Challenges Facing the Adoption of Automation & Robotics

Trend Opportunity Analysis



Trend Opportunity Overview

Off-site Prefabrication - Component and Modular Prefab

Off-site Prefabrication - 3D Printing

On-site Automation and Robotics - Task-specific Robots

Drones and Autonomous Vehicles

Building Automation Evolution

Building Automation - Smart Building Controls

Building Automation - Autonomous Buildings

Trend Impact Analysis



Trend Opportunity - Regional Exposure

Trend Opportunity Impact and Certainty Analysis

Trend Opportunity Matrix - Trend Innovation Index

Innovation Attractiveness Score

Trend Opportunity Matrix - Trend Growth Index

Growth Attractiveness Score

Trends - Beets Implications

Future Visioning Scenarios



Four Future Scenarios

Scenario 1 - Business as Usual

Scenario 2 - Digital Augmentation

Scenario 3 - Zero-human Automation

Scenario 4 - Whole Lifecycle Automation

Growth Opportunity Analysis



Online Modular Building Configurator

Remote Construction Monitoring

Smart Autonomous Buildings

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ybc8yr



About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/the-future-of-humanless-construction-rising-cost-of-labor-vs-falling-price-of-robots/

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Acquisition of EcoDomus’ Digital Twin Software by Siemens to Expand Its Smart Building Offering

December 29, 2021

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Acquisition of EcoDomus’ Digital Twin Software by Siemens to Expand Its Smart Building Offering
Acquisition of EcoDomus’ Digital Twin Software by Siemens to Expand Its Smart Building OfferingSiemens Smart Infrastructure has signed an agreement to acquire digital twin software for buildings from EcoDomus, a US-based company. The move helps Siemens Smart Infrastructure expand its digital building portfolio, including its cloud-based building operations twin software and its flagship building management platform Desigo CC.



The EcoDomus software creates, maintains, and visualizes Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based digital building twins, making design and construction data available for building operations and maintenance. Customers can generate digital replicas of their real buildings and assets, creating a common data environment that integrates BIM, Building Management Systems (BMS), Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), and Internet of Things (IoT) systems. The solution enables BIM-driven workflows and digital twin-based lifecycle management, complemented by 3D visualization.



In the past, BIM data usage has mostly focused on a building’s construction phase. Today, its benefits can also be leveraged in the operations and maintenance phase. This is crucial because this is where 80 percent of a building’s total lifecycle costs will occur.



Leveraging the acquired data creation and visualization capabilities, Siemens’ digital building software portfolio will bring substantial benefits to customers: enhanced insights into the performance of their building, real-time issue identification and resolution, better space and energy utilization, and many others. Customers will be able to turn their buildings into more sustainable, comfortable, and safe places to live and work, while at the same time streamlining processes and reducing operational costs.



EcoDomus Inc. is a privately held US company. The closing of the deal is expected in the next few months and subject to the conditions agreed by both parties.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/acquisition-of-ecodomus-digital-twin-software-by-siemens-to-expand-its-smart-building-offering/

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It’s time for rail companies to get smarter with data

December 29, 2021

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It’s time for rail companies to get smarter with data
It’s time for rail companies to get smarter with data | New Civil EngineerThe rail network is awash with data. There are systems measuring everything you could possibly compute – from ticket sales and toilet cleaning to punctuality and passenger satisfaction. Use this data smartly, and you have the power to transform your train operating company (TOC).



But here’s the catch; to use the data, you’ve first got to get your hands on it, and with the way many TOCs are organised, that’s not always as simple as it sounds.



What’s the magic password?

So much of this rich, wonderful data is still stuck in silos, and where there are silos, there are gatekeepers. The people who manage and ‘own’ the data aren’t always too keen to share it.



This has a lot to do with the old rail franchise model. The short length of franchise contracts stifled long-term thinking, so TOCs would focus instead on specific, short-term goals. They’d deploy an array of tools and processes designed to meet those very defined aims, with very little thought to what may lie beyond.



Over time, this has created a fragmented tech landscape. Systems rarely work together or talk to one another, and each department collects and stores data in its own way - which makes reporting a real headache.



Let’s say you want to crunch some numbers on station maintenance. The data you need could be scattered all over the place, from digital tools and databases (if you’re lucky), to email threads, paper records and old-style logbooks.



Gathering what you need won’t be easy. And what if someone with access to a key bit of data is on holiday? By the time they’re back, weeks might have passed – and the stats you needed may no longer be relevant.



Pulling it all together

Imagine how much better it’d be if everything were more joined up. If all the data from all your business units were gathered and stored in one central, digital hub, where you could access on demand - any time of day or night.



With that kind of bird’s-eye view of all your TOC’s data, you have a clear picture of what’s working, what’s costing you time and money, and where you need extra resources and investment.



More than that, you can compare and understand trends across your entire business. You can start to make connections that wouldn’t have been possible before and observe how results in one department affect performance in another.



For instance, one day you might notice a spike in revenue-protection activity on a certain stretch of track. You might assume your inspectors are just having a particularly productive day catching the fare-dodgers. However, when you check your central, digital hub, and look at data from stations in the area, it tells you several ticket machines are down at one of the main stops on the route, and it shows that footfall around the ticket office is unusually high.



You join the dots and realise it’s not a spike in deliberate fare evasion. It’s simply a case of honest passengers being unable to use ticket machines, and the ticket office being too busy to help them. In a couple of clicks or taps, you can check if the faulty ticket machines have been reported, and if they haven’t, you can assign an urgent task to a maintenance person and get the problem sorted.

https://www.civilengineering.ai/its-time-for-rail-companies-to-get-smarter-with-data/

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Nobina expands bus operations in Stockholm with new contracts

December 26, 2021

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Nobina expands bus operations in Stockholm with new contracts
Nobina expands bus operations in Stockholm with new contractsNordic operator Nobina has been awarded two contracts for the operation and development of public transport services in Stockholm.



Nobina, the largest bus transport operator in the Nordic region – serving markets in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden – has been awarded two new contracts by SL (Stockholm Public Transport) to operate and develop public transport services in Huddinge-Botkyrka-Söderort and Nacka-Värmdö.



The contracts largely include electric buses, which will be the first time that this type of vehicle will be introduced on a broader scale in the Stockholm region. Under both agreements, services will commence in April 2023, and the total value is approximately SEK 12.7 billion over the 10-year contract period. No additional optional years are included.



The two new contracts mean that Nobina will expand its operations in Stockholm. All vehicles will meet the highest environmental requirements according to industry standards and will run on 100 per cent fossil-free fuel. Furthermore, the vehicles will be equipped with security cameras, real-time systems, USB chargers and low entry steps, providing Nobina’s passengers with a welcoming and safe journey.



The contracts involve approximately 530 scheduled buses when services commence, a large portion of which will be electric buses. Additional scheduled buses will subsequently be added over both contract periods; an additional approximately 40 electric buses will be added to the Huddinge-Botkyrka-Söderort contract, while approximately 70 electric buses will be added to the Nacka-Värmdö contract.



“Nobina and SL have a well-established and long-standing cooperation, and it is gratifying to extend this further by concluding these two new contracts,” said Henrik Dagnäs, Managing Director of Nobina Sweden. “It is also particularly pleasing that both contracts entail a robust expansion of electric buses in Stockholm. At Nobina, sustainability is a matter of course and is also a promise to our passengers. The focus on electric buses is a clear example of how we are working to fulfil this promise, and represents one of several important contributions to the company’s goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80 per cent by 2030.”
https://www.civilengineering.ai/nobina-expands-bus-operations-in-stockholm-with-new-contracts/

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UK’s West Midlands signs MoU with Malaysia to support transport innovation

December 12, 2021

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Transportation

UK’s West Midlands signs MoU with Malaysia to support transport innovation UK’s West Midlands signs MoU with Malaysia on transport innovationThe West Midlands Combined Authority and the Iskandar Regional Development Authority will share knowledge, ideas and lessons learned from within the urban and transport planning realms.



The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Malaysian government body to co-operate in the area of transport innovation and smart cities development for the next three years.



The MoU with the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) will be an opportunity for the West Midlands to share knowledge, ideas and lessons learned from within the urban and transport planning realms, as well as promote mutual recognition of international design standards for inclusive transport.



The virtual signing of the MoU took place at the Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) Regional Transport Coordination Centre (RTCC).



The signing saw TfWM’s Interim Managing Director, Anne Shaw, putting pen to paper for the WMCA, alongside representatives from IRDA and the British High Commissioner to Malaysia, His Excellency Charles Hay, who joined either in person or virtually.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/uks-west-midlands-signs-mou-with-malaysia-to-support-transport-innovation/

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King County Metro marks major milestone in bus electrification project

December 09, 2021

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King County Metro marks major milestone in bus electrification project King County Metro marks major milestone in bus electrification projectKing County Metro has awarded the contract for the design and build of the electrification infrastructure needed for battery-electric buses.



King County Metro (Metro) has marked a major milestone toward making its bus fleet cleaner and greener, after announcing that it has awarded a $40 million contract for the design and build of the electrification infrastructure needed to charge and operate up to 120 battery-electric buses.



The Interim Base Electrification Project is estimated to cost a total of $67 million and is located just south of Metro’s current South Base facility in Tukwila. Metro recently built prefabricated buildings on its 543,900ft2 site with the intent of operating up to 120 battery-electric buses to serve riders in South King County.



“We look forward to working with the contractor team to deliver this important project and make progress on our region’s climate goals,” said King County Metro’s Capital Division Director, Diane Carlson.



Walsh-Stantec Progressive Design-Build Team was selected based on its combined score for its bid and proposal to achieve project goals. Design work is scheduled from December 2021 through to May 2023, and construction is scheduled to start in 2022 and be completed in 2025.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/king-county-metro-marks-major-milestone-in-bus-electrification-project/

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Severe Flooding in the Pacific Northwest

December 09, 2021

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Severe Flooding in the Pacific Northwest Severe Flooding in the Pacific NorthwestTorrential rain in the Pacific Northwest spurred deadly floods and mudslides that have damaged infrastructure and isolated communities in Canada and the United States. Much of the rain fell from November 13-15, 2021, the product of a potent atmospheric river that took aim at the region and added more moisture to already saturated soils.



The map above depicts a satellite-based estimate of rainfall over the 24-hour period on November 14—a day that broke numerous records. The darkest reds reflect the highest rainfall amounts, with some places receiving as much as 10 centimeters (4 inches) or more during this period (the top of our scale). The data are remotely sensed estimates that come from the Integrated Multi-Satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG), a product of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite mission. Local rainfall amounts can be significantly higher when measured from the ground.



On November 14, the airport gauge in Hope, British Columbia, collected 17.4 centimeters (6.8 inches) of rain. Vancouver measured 5.3 centimeters (2 inches) that day. Both cities set new daily records. The airport in Bellingham, Washington, reported 7 centimeters (2.8 inches), the fifth-wettest day on record. Almost 2 more inches fell the following day, breaking the city’s two-day rainfall record.



The rainstorm was the latest in a parade of storm systems that have walloped the Pacific Northwest in recent months. Parts of the Pacific Northwest have endured an extraordinarily wet autumn, inching toward the seasonal record. With soils already saturated, the torrential rain from the latest atmospheric river posed an even higher risk for flooding and mudslides.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/severe-flooding-in-the-pacific-northwest/

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Bird riders save 1.1 million gallons of gasoline and 10,000 metric tonnes of carbon in 2021

December 08, 2021

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Bird riders save 1.1 million gallons of gasoline in 2021Bird has published a range of end-of-year data outlining the environmental, economic and other notable achievements made during 2021.



It takes more than 650,000 gallons, or around 2.5 million liters, of water to fill up an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Double that, and you start to get a sense of how much gasoline was not burned in cars in 2021 thanks to the modal shift behaviours of Bird riders all around the world.



In a year when the United Nations’ (UN) IPCC report on climate change issued an unambiguous ‘code red’ warning for humanity, these figures are encouraging. The estimated 1,125,000 gallons of unused gasoline saved by Bird riders equates to as much as 10,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide prevented from entering the atmosphere, calculated with reference to guidance from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is comparable to the amount of CO2 absorbed by nearly 460,000 mature trees in one year, using the methodology published by the Arbor Day Foundation.



In other words, riding with Bird in 2021 had the same impact on carbon sequestration as one year of protecting 2.5 square miles, or 6.5 km2, of the Amazon rainforest. That is not enough, but it is certainly a step in the right direction.



It is important to note that calculating the environmental impact of shared e-scooters and e-bikes is not an exact science. It is a complicated process that should, if done correctly, factor in everything from research, development and detailed lifespan assumptions to recycling efforts.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/bird-riders-save-1-1-million-gallons-of-gasoline-and-10000-metric-tonnes-of-carbon-in-2021/

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Norwegian cable network of undersea sensors able to detect submarines found disabled after cables were cut

December 08, 2021

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Norwegian cable network of undersea sensors able to detect submarines found disabled after cables were cutAn unmanned submarine traced the cause to Node 2, a surveillance platform 820 feet underwater that was dragged away from its normal location.



Oslo – A Norwegian undersea surveillance network that is capable of detecting submarines has had its cables mysteriously cut. The Daily Mail reports. Continue reading original article



The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:



22 Nov. 2021 -- Police were called in to investigate amid suspicion Russia could have 'sabotaged' the undersea sensors, which predominantly monitor fish but can pick up the movement of submarines.



The cables were cut and then disappeared, with the Institute of Marine Research describing 'extensive damage' to the outer area of the Lofoten-Vesterålen (LoVe) Ocean Observatory.



LoVe consists of a network of undersea cables and sensors located on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, an area of strategic interest for both Norway and Russia. LoVe, which was only declared fully operational in August 2020, has been offline since the outage in April.



Related: Leidos gets Navy go-ahead to fabricate TRAPS deep-ocean sonar system prototypes for anti-submarine warfare (ASW)



Related: Teledyne Brown to build and upgrade undersea glider UUVs to gather data for anti-submarine warfare (ASW)



Related: Lockheed Martin eyes Integrated Common Processor (ICP) for bistatic sonar and anti-submarine warfare (ASW)



John Keller, chief editor

Military & Aerospace Electronics
https://www.civilengineering.ai/norwegian-cable-network-of-undersea-sensors-able-to-detect-submarines-found-disabled-after-cables-were-cut/

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Raspberry Pi Smart Mirror: How to Make a Magic Mirror

December 08, 2021

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Raspberry Pi Smart Mirror: How to Make a Magic MirrorA Raspberry Pi smart mirror combines a reflective display with customized features. Read on to learn more about how to build one!



Whether in the bathroom, closet, or bedroom, chances are you probably use a mirror regularly for tasks like getting ready for the day or trying on new clothes. However, your mirror’s capabilities don’t have to stop at simply reflecting light.



With a Raspberry Pi and a few other components, you can make a customizable smart mirror that projects a computer display over a traditional reflective mirror. Some possible uses include displaying the time, a calendar, picture, or other applications in your reflection. These features can help make you more productive or simply allow you to integrate more smart tools into your home.



In this article, we’ll provide a broad tutorial of how you can make a smart mirror with a Raspberry Pi. As there are many different ways to build one, we won’t go over every nitty-gritty detail in the building process, just the main steps shared by most guides, directing you to additional resources along the way.



Before we get into the specific steps, let’s first discuss what you’ll need to build a smart mirror.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/raspberry-pi-smart-mirror-how-to-make-a-magic-mirror/

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‘Fake farmers’ in Odisha caught by remote sensing app

December 08, 2021

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‘Fake farmers’ in Odisha caught by remote sensing appInspection of around 6,000 suspected plots using satellite images to locate paddy and non-paddy plantations led to the revelation that 1,465 registrations that were made to sell paddy were fake.



By Express News Service

JEYPORE: With paddy procurement beginning for Kharif, instances of fake farmers registering names to sell their produce have come to the fore. Of 38,706 farmers who had registered to sell paddy in different PACS in Koraput, 1,465 names were found ineligible and their names were struck off the list.



The nexus came to light after the district administration used remote sensing application following allegations of fake farmer registrations. Inspection of around 6,000 suspected plots using satellite images to locate paddy and non-paddy plantations led to the revelation that 1,465 registrations were fake.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/fake-farmers-in-odisha-caught-by-remote-sensing-app/

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REGISTER FOR SMART BUILDING CONFERENCE ISE 2022

December 08, 2021

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Register For Smart Building Conference ISE 2022 - Essential InstallThe pandemic has profoundly changed the way many of us think about how we live and work. Health, safety and sustainability are powerful concepts reflected at the Smart Building Conference at ISE 2022 – and are driving the global smart building market toward $265.37 billion by 2028. Sign up for the conference for free right here using the code SJU42CU6.



Thanks to the combination of smart sensor technology and the expertise of integrators, homeowners and building managers can create smart systems enabling their buildings to be increasingly intuitive, adaptable and responsive.



In the home, specific devices like surveillance cameras and smart light bulbs are contributing to spend on smart home solutions exceeding $100 billion by the end of 2021, according to Strategy Analytics.



“Consumer demand for connected systems and services in the home is increasing by the day and has been accelerating as a result of the global pandemic,” says Matt Nimmons, MD, CEDIA EMEA. “In the past eighteen months, we’ve witnessed a real expansion in the trend for technologies to facilitate working from home, or as some are calling it, living at work. Many CEDIA members have worked with developers on delivering robust and secure wi-fi connected spaces that can serve as the home office, complete with the high-quality audio and video performance to match.”



As such, the home is now a multi-functional space that provides a place of comfort, rest and relaxation as well as a secure and practical home office, a learning environment, a cinema, gaming room and fitness suite.



“The biggest developments are not so much in new smart tech, but more in the deployment of it,” says Stuart Tickle, MD at custom integration distribution company, AWE. “Now that people are spending more time at home, things previously thought of as luxury have become more standard.”



He cites smart security cameras to keep an eye on kids playing in the garden, and convenient control of energy efficient lighting and heating. Lighting control systems integrated into the wider home automation system can bring other benefits in terms of ease of use, ‘scene’ setting and even deliver human centric lighting.



“There are no signs of this trend stopping with growth looking set to continue throughout 2022,” he adds. “We are in a rare time when supply is outstripping demand, so integrators have long pipelines of work scheduled in too.”



In turn, this demand has driven investment “in the technology that can deliver the services, comfort and convenience that people now see they need,” advises Peter Broome, Director at UK smart lighting controls manufacturer Rako. “Homeowners have turned to integrators to help make the technology experience as easy to use, reliable and enjoyable as possible.”



Well-tech



Health and wellness remain in sharp focus as we approach the end of 2021. Whether through lights that sync to a home-owner’s circadian rhythm to help them sleep better or proper air filtration that offers relief for their allergies, ‘Well-tech’ is creating new ways for people to achieve their desired health outcomes.



“Well-tech is one of the fastest growing technology trends in the residential market, and integrators are the best equipped to implement these products into the home,” says CEDIA Senior Director Strategic Partnerships, Ian Bryant. “Well-tech fits right into the consultative model embraced by many in the CI industry, as they pivot from ‘selling tech’ to improving and enhancing customers’ lives in their homes.”



Giles Sutton, CEDIA Interim CEO, even calls these technology solutions, “truly lifechanging… and they are no long reserved for early adopters or the ultra-wealthy.”



There are calls for integrators to develop their relationships with related trades – lighting designers, HVAC installers, plumbers – in order to become the ‘general contractor’ or coordinator of a holistic wellness solution.



Walt Zerbe, Senior Director of Technology & Standards, CEDIA explains, “Integrators need to spend more time on the discovery side to really understand what the customer’s needs are – who the family members are, what each of them require, is anyone working or learning from home – and it takes an increased amount of study to prescribe a wellness solution for each customer. It’s very personalised. There’s no doubt that wellness is a giant opportunity for integrators to capitalise on.”



Media management solutions



The increased time people spent watching TV and online video in 2020 has resulted in an uptick in demand for dedicated cinemas or media rooms with bigger screens and powered up audio. Similarly, our collective home time is generating demand for cabling that enable outdoor lighting and entertainment systems, in turn helping people to be sociable with garden spaces for wellness and mental health.



The convenience and sanitary nature of voice control is further driving demand for smart appliances. “In particular the growth of dedicated control systems that bring all these devices together and make it easy for customers to navigate and operate via a single platform across multiple control methods, automated, voice and button,” says Tickle.



In this context, remote monitoring and management (RMM) has become more critical for integrators than ever. RMM is one of the key industry evolutions in recent times and, increasingly, becoming a necessity for today’s smart home installation business, says Mark Reynolds, Senior Director, EMEA, Snap One.



To put this into context, remote management platform OvrC by Snap One currently has over 1.5 million devices registered at around 350,000 locations with 15,000+ dealers.



“The ability to access the right tools (Control, Notifications and Monitoring) and having these fundamental resources available in the convenience of one location only enhances the pre and post installation experience,” says Reynolds. Aside from saving the cost of a site visit, the ability to resolve tech issues remotely, often without even the need to visit the site, is a bonus during a pandemic. “Throughout the past eighteen months, more and more clients have understandably wanted to keep any intrusion from tradespeople into their homes to an absolute minimum,” he says.



There’s an opportunity here for vendors and integrators who can pull together media management alongside the networking, audio, video cores. “With so many different content providers, most of us have issues in easily accessing what we want to watch content,” Zerbe says. “So, the next big wave is going to be getting someone in who can manage your media for you and make it simple to use.”
https://www.civilengineering.ai/register-for-smart-building-conference-ise-2022/

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Traffic Technologies cements dominant position in Queensland with $9m in government contracts

December 08, 2021

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Traffic Technologies cements dominant position in Queensland with $9m in government contractsAs it continues its growth trajectory, Traffic Technologies (ASX: TTI) has collared up to $9 million in contracts with the Queensland Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) – cementing its position in the state and shoring up substantial long-term recurring revenue.



The department is responsible for planning, managing and delivering Queensland’s integrated transport infrastructure.



Under the contracts, Traffic Technologies will supply hardware and associated software across TMR’s infrastructure network.



The contracts are for an initial five-year term, with two options for further three-year extensions.



According to Traffic Technologies, including the extensions, the contracts would potentially expire in 2032 and generate up to $9 million in revenue.



Commenting on the new agreements, Traffic Technologies managing director Con Liosatos said they were “significant” and would provide the company with a source of long-term recurring revenue, while securing its dominant position in Queensland.



“The group has been able to significantly strengthen its position in the Queensland market following the acquisition of the Intelligent Transport Systems (iTS) business in June 2021,” Mr Liosatos added.



Continued growth

Today’s announced contracts with Queensland’s TMR follows an agreement earlier this month with Coates, which is a major equipment rental agency.



This deal has an estimated value of $5.7 million and will see Traffic Technology’s iTS business supply Coats with a range of intelligent traffic control equipment including electronic signs, radars and associated software to monitor and notify drivers of road conditions.



“In today’s road environment, static road and street signs are no longer enough to provide motorists with the right information when they require it,” Mr Liosatos said.



“Electronic information displays represent a value proposition for state road authorities and local councils and are being increasingly used for traffic management on congested roads.”



Forefront of intelligent traffic systems

For more than a decade, Traffic Technologies has been at the forefront of developing intelligent traffic systems – well before councils and governments realised the full-benefits they could provide including more fluid traffic management, cost savings and emissions reductions.



Traffic Technologies’ signage and traffic management hardware has been installed at more than 31,000 intersections worldwide and is approved for use by every Australian council.



Driving Traffic Technologies’ increasing revenue is the roll-out of its smart cities platform.



The platform is based on software as a service (SaaS) and internet of things (IoT) technology to make transport infrastructure safer, cheaper, less congested and more sustainable.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/traffic-technologies-cements-dominant-position-in-queensland-with-9m-in-government-contracts/

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Moving from BIM adoption to BIM optimization

December 07, 2021

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BIM

Moving from BIM adoption to BIM optimizationAs the AEC industry begins to see more of their return on investment from BIM, advanced use cases and strategies for increasing efficiency are more possible than ever.



This article is part of our Road to Geo Week series.

Click here to register for Geo Week in Denver, CO, February 6-8, 2022.

If the digital transformation of architecture, engineering and construction is a destination, then Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the road that the industry is paving to get there. BIM encompasses the creation and management of buildings, infrastructure and other build-world assets, and can provide a model that can be used across an assets’ entire lifecycle.



Before the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, the industry discussions were focused on whether or not there was enough ROI to consider switching from traditional, siloed design and construction processes to using BIM throughout the project lifecycle. Faced with the dismal statistics from the McKinsey Report detailing waste and inefficiency in construction, there was a bit of reckoning: The industry needed to digitize its processes - and quickly.



Now, after facing challenges from everything from supply chains to figuring out how to collaborate virtually, the AEC industry has made significant progress towards digitalization and BIM adoption.



Dodge Data & Analytics has been studying BIM in the global AEC industry since 2009. Over that time, BIM adoption has increased significantly, and, as the chart below demonstrates, it is definitely accelerating. According to a recent survey, 37% of the BIM users surveyed started using BIM during or after 2018.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/moving-from-bim-adoption-to-bim-optimization/

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EIB and Alteia sign €15m for development in AI tech applied to visual data

December 07, 2021

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INDUSTRY NEWS

EIB and Alteia sign €15m for development in AI tech applied to visual data | Business“The EIB is pleased to be able to support the development of a company as promising as Alteia in the very high potential market of visual intelligence,” said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle.



This loan aims to assist Alteia's growth by supporting its research and development and marketing investment for its artificial intelligence-led visual intelligence platform.



It is part of the EIB's strategy to strengthen innovation in the deep tech sector and the European Union's competitiveness in the strategic field of industrial artificial intelligence and data processing.



The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Toulouse-based startup Alteia, which specialises in the development of artificial intelligence software, have announced the signature of a €15 million financing agreement. The operation aims to enable Alteia to continue its development of technologies in the field of artificial intelligence applied to visual data (drones, satellites and ground-based sensors) and support the growth and visibility of its enterprise platform. This financing under the European Guarantee Fund aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and is split into two tranches.



Alteia is the visual intelligence platform for enterprise. It gives access to tools and services to develop artificial intelligence applications for processing and analysing images and videos in a much more efficient and cost-effective way than alternative approaches. Compared to its competitors, Alteia's platform approach offers very attractive development and deployment times.



Alteia's software solutions address a wide variety of industrial use cases such as predictive maintenance, safety, productivity management and equipment lifetime optimization via pre-built, customisable and high value-added artificial intelligence modules. The platform's functionalities can be adapted to the various sectors of activity that use its visual intelligence tools, including infrastructure management, agriculture, energy, civil engineering and construction.



Located in the heart of the Aerospace Valley in Toulouse, as well as in Paris and California, Alteia's development team includes specialists in computer vision, spatial image analysis and software engineering.



"Large companies are increasingly including artificial intelligence in their activities, recognising the need to combine this technology and expertise with their core business. These companies generally choose the platform-as-a-service model, which they can use to speed up the development, roll-out and industrialisation of artificial intelligence applications, while still guaranteeing business expertise," said Alteia CEO and co-founder Michael de Lagarde. "With its first successful large-scale deployments, Alteia has proven that it offers the most advanced and scalable solution for large companies to aggregate and integrate their visual data efficiently, also adding an artificial intelligence-driven analysis layer. This EIB financing will enable us to accelerate our activity against a backdrop of exponentially increasing demand, at a time when the digital transformation is becoming a major strategic challenge across all sectors of industry."
https://www.civilengineering.ai/eib-and-alteia-sign-e15m-for-development-in-ai-tech-applied-to-visual-data/

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How nanotechnology can benefit smart cities

December 07, 2021

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SMART CITY

How nanotechnology can benefit smart citiesA smart city is an infrastructure framework that addresses the growing urbanization challenges by embracing integrated and automated information and communication technologies to help optimize all city operations, help achieve sustainability goals and better quality of life for its citizens (read our primer on smart cities).

Generally, the development of smart cities requires more efficient and less polluting transport systems, more habitable residential buildings that require less energy to operate, establishment of better managed public services of all kinds (gas, water, electricity, waste disposal, etc.).



Working towards this goal involves developing and using technologies on several fronts. Some of the challenges are:

The development of lighter and more resilient materials whose manufacture requires less energy, for use in transportation or buildings;

The development of electric cars by designing new batteries or development of hydrogen technologies;

The design of vehicles and systems that allow automatic driving;

The design and manufacture of more resistant construction materials, capable of self-repair that remove air pollution, helping to purify the city's air;

The development of new building materials capable of photovoltaic energy generation, or able to filter light based on brightness;

The development of low-power lighting and signaling systems;

Establishing extensive networks of sensors that monitor traffic, parking spaces, waste disposal utilization, air pollution, the presence of pollen, the temperature, the number of pedestrians, the moisture content of soil in public parks, etc. in real time and with pinpoint accuracy;

The development of networked devices that are able to make decisions automatically and autonomously;

Support of control and observation tasks by system drones;

The development of systems for storage and processing of the huge amount of data collected in order to improve information systems, decision-making, power grid and water network management, the participation of citizens in city government, etc.

Just going through this list it becomes clear that the development of smart cities is linked to the development of new materials and devices, the use of sensor networks, the handling of huge amounts of data ('Big Data'), the development of communication networks between objects, decision-making ('Artificial Intelligence'), data security and decentralization ('blockchain'), and a range of other smart technologies. This leads to and integrates with new concepts such as Smart Roads and Smart Factories.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/how-nanotechnology-can-benefit-smart-cities/

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China Tech Digest: Tencent Unveils IDC Operation Robot; Baidu Apollo To Build Intelligent Transportation In Huangpu

December 07, 2021

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Transportation

China Tech Digest: Tencent Unveils IDC Operation Robot; Baidu Apollo To Build Intelligent Transportation In HuangpuTencent unveils IDC operation robot



Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings has recently unveiled its internet data center (IDC) operation robot. The robot is currently in trial operation in the Qingyuan Cloud Computing Data Center in Guangdong province, and will be applied in several IDCs of Tencent in the future. In addition, Tencent Cloud officially released a new intelligent operation management product system-Zhiwei. The IDC robot has become an important part of Tencent’s Zhiwei system. At present, Tencent Zhiwei has supported nearly 100 Tencent’s data centers around the world and served customers in telecom, Internet, finance and other industries.



Baidu Apollo to build intelligent transportation in Huangpu

Huangpu District People’s Government will have in-depth cooperation with Baidu Inc. in the construction of urban digital public base, digital government construction, and "car-city network" integrated platform. The two parties will also jointly formulate a standard system for intelligent networked vehicles in Huangpu District, build a sustainable industrial development model of "R&D-Design-Test-Demonstration-Application" to promote the development of Huangpu’s automobile industry.



GL Ventures leads series B+ round in intelligent construction solution provider RoboticPlus.AI



GL Ventures has led series B+ round of financing in Chinese intelligent construction solution provider RoboticPlus.AI. Proceeds of the round will be mainly used in product development, automatic factory system construction, and team expansion.



TrendForce: Industrial metaverse will spur global smart manufacturing market to reach US$540 billion by 2025



The concept of "Metaverse" can meet the increasing market demand of remote operations, virtual reality, and simulation operations, according to TrendForce. Intelligent manufacturing is also expected to accelerate the development of related technologies and spur global smart manufacturing market to reach US$540 billion by 2025, with a compound growth rate of 15.35% from 2021 to 2025.



(China Money Network’s articles are curated and translated from credible Chinese media organizations with established brands, experienced editorial teams, and trustworthy journalism practices. However, we are not responsible for the accuracy of the information. For any questions, please reach out to our editorial department.)
https://www.civilengineering.ai/china-tech-digest-tencent-unveils-idc-operation-robot-baidu-apollo-to-build-intelligent-transportation-in-huangpu/

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Transforming Hydrology by Integrating Sensors and Disciplines

December 07, 2021

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SENSORS

Transforming Hydrology by Integrating Sensors and Disciplines - EosSatellite sensing has transformed hydrology by providing global information on variables and fluxes. Breakthroughs will come from integrating sensing information and cross-disciplinary approaches.



Spaceborne remote sensing technologies and approaches have advanced to a stage that planetwide observations on global processes are possible and can provide new insights. These insights will lead to discoveries that will improve our understanding of how the hydrologic processes that define variables and fluxes are globally interlinked to explain the role of the hydrologic cycle in weather, climate, and the biosphere. The issue must be considered of whether the improved observations and advanced understanding are sufficient to address emerging problems related to water and the environment in a global sense. Durand et al. summarize remote sensing progress, predominantly from spaceborne sensors, in estimating the terms of water balance storage and fluxes. Their review leads to a recommendation to optimize the benefits by integrating multiple disciplinary approaches, multiple sensors, leveraging commercial satellite measurements, and employing data assimilation, cloud computing, and machine learning.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/transforming-hydrology-by-integrating-sensors-and-disciplines/

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Impact of digital twins on Middle East construction

December 07, 2021

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Digital Twin

Impact of digital twins on Middle East construction | MEEDAn exclusive report from MEED in partnership with Autodesk reveals the role of advanced digital and data technologies in innovating project delivery



The Middle East construction sector has been painfully slow to evolve and adapt its processes to take advantage of an ever-growing range of digital technologies.



Click here to download the full report



This is changing. With its potential to deliver significant savings in project delivery time, materials and costs, building information modelling (BIM) – three-dimensional digital representations of a project that can be accessed and updated by multiple stakeholders – has gained widespread acceptance in the industry.



But the digitalisation journey does not end with project delivery. Data collected from the integrated workflows and information sharing on BIM models used during the design and construction process can be layered with real-time operational data to create a ‘digital twin’ of the development.



“A digital twin not only looks like the asset, it also behaves like the real asset,” says Anas Bataw, director of the Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction (CESC) at Herriot Watt University – Dubai.



“Digital twins can provide current information on a building’s performance, its subsystems and how it is being affected by occupant behaviour.”



A two-way connection between the digital and physical asset is enabled by sensors, while advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and the internet of things (IoT) give digital twins the capacity to learn, update and communicate with their physical counterparts by exchanging data throughout the asset’s lifecycle.



“Digital twins can also fill data gaps and make predictions on unanticipated scenarios while continuously optimising the operational performance,” says Bataw. “In essence, a digital twin is much more focused upon assets performance than a traditional BIM model.”



The potential for digital twins to enhance asset management is being recognised in the hospitality sector. Used effectively, digital twins promise to not only allow project owners and operators to ensure that their assets are running efficiently and safely, but they also ensure that users, such as guests in a hotel, workers in an office or residents in a residential development, have a smooth and seamless experience.
https://www.civilengineering.ai/impact-of-digital-twins-on-middle-east-construction/

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