May/June 2008 >> Vol.

37

AECMAGAZINE
DESIGN, MANAGEMENT & COLLABORATION IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

McNeel’s flying circus

A report from the heart of the
legendary Rhino developer

Bentley goes green / Acrobat 9 / Océ ColorWave 600

AEC Cover.indd 1 15/6/08 10:50:36
 It’s officially a HOT ROD!

ARCHITECTUAL RENDERING COURTESY OF BRIAN CASSIL

And, it’s a workstation by BOXX.

Record-setting performance,
designed for digital content creators

Cutting edge dual quad-core

Intel CPU technology,
maximized by BOXXlabs

Rock-solid and very silent through

innovative liquid cooling

Call a BOXX Sales Consultant today to

CONFIGURE A BOXX WORKSTATION FOR YOUR STUDIO.
1.877.877.BOXX
OUTSIDE THE US 1.512.835.0400

IT’S ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE BUSINESS

w w w. b o x x t e c h . c o m Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Core, and Core Inside are trademarks
of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

BOXX_AEC_5-6_08.indd 1 5/7/2008 11:11:20 AM

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

Vol.37: Contents
11 Event report Bentley Empowered 2008 Conference report
Bentley’s annual customer event was held in Baltimore this year. Called Bentley Empowered, the
main focus was on Sustainable Infrastructure; environmental challenges and opportunities ahead
Editorial for construction. Martyn Day reports.
Managing Editor: Greg Corke
Email: [email protected] 14 Event report McNeel’s flying circus
While many big CAD vendors wielding hefty corporate marketing budgets have come and gone in the
Consulting Editors past 20 years, small developer Robert McNeel & Associates has managed to carve out its own niche
Martyn Day
with Rhino and AccuRender. Martyn Day recently visited the company’s Seattle HQ.
Email: [email protected]
John Marchant
Email: [email protected] 19 Software review
Editorial Assistant: Alan Cleveland
Acrobat 9 Professional Extended
Email: [email protected] Adobe’s latest version of Acrobat further expands the
capabilities of the PDF format for 2D and 3D CAD users.
Martyn Day evaluates Acrobat’s entertaining new set of tricks.
Design and Production
Dave Oswald
Email: [email protected]

Advertising
Advertising Manager: Tony Baksh
Email: [email protected]

Deputy Advertising Manager: Steve King

Email: [email protected]
22 Case study Pushing the limits in stadium design
Now considered an urban essential, increasingly sophisticated sporting arenas benefit from
Dassault Systèmes’ design-to-build technology that generates 3D models for a better outcome.
Subscriptions
Manager: Alan Cleveland 26 Case study Virtual construction
Email: [email protected]
John Robertson Architects has been committed to Building
Information Modelling (BIM) for the last 11 years. It recently
AEC Magazine is available FREE to qualifying took the next step, moving beyond model-based architecture
individuals. To ensure you receive your
regular copy please register online at towards full building lifecycle management.
www.aecmag.com
28 Case study Staying on track
About The East London Line is part of the London
AEC Magazine is published bi-monthly by Underground Network and has been operating in
X3DMedia Ltd various guises since 1869. The line features the
world’s first underwater tunnel, which was relined
93a Rivington Street and refurbished in the mid-1990s in anticipation of
London the East London Line upgrade.
EC2A 3AY
T. +44 (0)20 3355 7310
F. +44 (0)20 3355 7319 30 Case study Visualising the project plan
www.x3dmedia.com
Skanska takes on a major modernisation project for two London hospitals with the help of NavisWorks.

© 2008 X3DMedia Ltd

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part 31 Case study Autodesk integration for Rushmoor
without prior permission from the publisher is Good decision-making depends on everyone working with the best
prohibited. All trademarks acknowledged.
data possible. Rushmoor Borough Council, south-west of London, has
done just that by using AutoCAD Map to bring together its design and
Opinions expressed in articles are those of the
author and not of X3DMedia. X3DMedia cannot geographic information.
accept responsibility for errors in articles or
advertisements within the magazine.
32 Case study Kicking goals
Indian bureau, iKix, is helping architects use 3D printing technology at all stages of the design process.

AEC Magazine is printed by

Warners Midlands plc 34 Hardware review Océ CrystalPoint
www.warners.co.uk It’s not often a new print technology comes along and certainly not one that
promises so much. CrystalPoint from Océ is being seen by many as the
Front cover image. Zaragoza Bridge Pavilion future of wide format colour printing, a bold statement for a technology that
designed in Rhino by Zaha Hadid Architects, London and
rendered in 3ds Max by Opersis
distributes its ink by rolling balls down a chute, writes Greg Corke

AEC MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2008 CONTENTS 3

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

RhinoTerrain 1.0 for

Rhinoceros 4.0 released
RhinoTerrain SARL has
released RhinoTerrain
1.0, a plug-in for Rhino
which enables users to
generate and analyse
3D terrain models.
RhinoTerrain provides support for input
using points, lines and curves with hard
breaklines and soft breakline options. It can
work with large data sets, supporting several
million input points and offers a number of
visualisation features including OrthoPhoto
mapping with geographical referencing. It
supports automatic contour height annotation,
and also makes use of multicore processors
for larger terrains. www.rhinoterrain.com

KIP delivers high volume

large format printer
KIP UK has launched
its KIP9000 digital
printing system, which
offers 600 x 600 DPI
printing with advanced
imaging algorithms for

Bentley Systems and Robert

high quality reproduction of CAD data. It
prints from all major software packages
and includes native DWF batch processing.

McNeel play the generation game

In terms of output delivers 22 A1 prints
per minute. The KIP9000 can receive files
electronically from anywhere in the world
via a web browser.  www.kipuk.com
This month, the most exciting development area in has been most gratifying.
Structural Integrators architectural CAD, Generative design, has just got a lot more “To empower others to employ computational power

boosts Revit’s functionality accessible. Two leading companies, Bentley Systems and
Robert McNeel and Associates, have launched initiatives to
through GC to discover their ideal designs, we have developed
an extremely cost-effective program. To my knowledge, our
Structural Integrators
spread generative technology into the architectural markets, at Discovery Subscription is the first of its kind among providers
has announced its SI
Tools for Revit Structure, amazingly low prices. of software for infrastructure. We are proud to offer it to
an add-in that provides While there has been a lot of hype about Building architects and engineers around the globe eager to pursue a
advanced selection Information Modelling (BIM) technology, the really sexy stuff new approach to design.”
capabilities for structural that has excited the Signature architects has come from Bentley GC was one of a kind but now Robert McNeel and
members. The utility allows users to select
Systems with its innovative Generative Components (GC) Associates has just launched Grasshopper, a generative
all beams, columns, or walls on a single
level or in the entire model, regardless of extension to MicroStation. To push the technology into broader environment that’s a free add-on for its popular Rhino modeling
type or material. SI Tools for Revit Structure circulation, Bentley has just unveiled a special Discovery tool. Previously called ‘Explicit History’, Grasshopper has a
is available free to registered members of Subscription version of GC for non-Bentley customers. For unique graphical front end that requires no programming. As
Structural Integrators and comes with four a fee of $250 you get to download GC, which comes with a you plug together drag and drop ‘boxes’ the software writes the
months free technical support for individual copy of MicroStation V8, together with a personal user license script in the background, which drives Rhino to generate the
licenses. http://structuralintegrators.com
for one year. The fee includes access to online resources and geometry or react in real-time to slider control. With so many
learning materials, together with forums, blogs and wikis. If seats of Rhino in contemporary architectural firms and the
The Wright stuff you are already a MicroStation subscription customer you can visual interface, we think Grasshopper will be a big hit.
Lancashire-based Eric Wright Construction download GC for free. While the subscription does include In addition, with Bentley’s ex-Chief Scientist, Dr. Robert
has selected Autodesk Buzzsaw to help a full working copy of MicroStation, before you pay to just Aish now working for Autodesk, it’s clear that we can expect
manage its projects portfolio. Part of the get a cheap seat, we have been reliably informed that it only another generative contender from the volume leader at some
Eric Wright Group, the firm undertakes
properly works in GC mode and turns off key functionality if you point in the future too. http://grasshopper.rhino3d.com
construction, development, civil engineering
and facilities management projects ranging manage to start it up without the GC component.  www.generativecomponents.com
in budget from £1 million to £40 million. “Thousands have taken advantage of our free trial download
“Buzzsaw is user friendly and it’s very of GC that we introduced last year,” commented CEO Greg
familiar to our staff as it looks like any other Bentley. “They have experienced the ability to quickly explore a
Windows application,” says Adrian Sewell broad range of ‘what-if’ design alternatives, and their feedback
from EWC. “Features such as the ability to
comment on documents online and post the
comments back to the originators, have been Nesting of bended pyramids, created in Bentley’s
really useful for us, and having all the up-to- Generative Components by Martin Krcha, Zaha Hadid’s
date information available in one place has Studio (top), and the Grasshopper graphically-driven
been a real benefit.” www.autodesk.co.uk generative environment for Rhino by McNeel (right)

4 NEWSDESK AEC MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2008

04 AEC News.indd 6 18/6/08 19:25:41

IES_Architects_297x210_AEC 2/6/08 10:35 am Page 1

Integrated
Environmental
Solutions Limited

what f...
<Virtual Environment>

IES <Virtual Environment> links to Autodesk Revit

What if you could easily examine how your design What if you could undertake this analysis yourself, Architects can now easily build energy efficiency,
impacts on environmental performance? without the input of an engineer? lighting and thermal performance into their design
What if you didn’t need detailed building and What if you could undertake all this sustainable as they go. Form, orientation, construction and
room data to do this? design analysis directly from your Revit BIM model, use of passive solar principles can be optimised
What if you could do this right from the initial without re-inputting data? to ensure energy savings.
concept stage? The plug-in for Revit architecture is free.
What if you could discover the impact of different These ‘What ifs?’ are now a reality with IES’s Contact IES to trial or purchase the <VE>
forms, orientations and envelopes? plug-in to Autodesk Revit Architecture and its Toolkits or full <VE> Suite.
What if you could assess the pros and cons of <VE> Toolkits.
different passive solar principles?

design, simulate + innovate

with IES <Virtual Environment>
E: [email protected] W: www.iesve.com T: +44 (0)141 945 8500

AEC IES ad.indd 1 11/6/08 08:03:03

Graphisoft Ad.indd 1 11/6/08 08:51:27
 WWW.AECMAG.COM

HDR invests in 1,800

seats of Autodesk’s Revit
IES launches free green building Global Architecture
and and Engineering
Firm HDR is adding

design software for Revit

Revit as one of its tools
for building information
modelling (BIM) to
improve productivity and collaboration across
IES (Integrated Environmental Solutions) has made a bold the firm. The three-year, multi-million dollar
move to help promote its sustainable design software with the agreement includes close to 1,800 seats
of the Autodesk software plus consulting
launch of a free downloadable tool called VE-Ware. With a view
services from both Autodesk and Avatech
to introducing more architects and engineers to green building Solutions. The agreement also includes seats
design, the software gives limited, but still useful, access to its of AutoCAD Architecture and AutoCAD MEP. 
<Virtual Environment> Apache thermal analysis software. This  www.autodesk.co.uk
enables new and existing buildings to have their energy and
carbon emissions assessed for free.
VE-Ware is designed to help increase the energy efficiency
AutoDesSys unveils new
of the world’s buildings, both domestic and commercial, by Revit platform can be accepted by VE-Ware. However, over the conceptual modelling tool
giving instant feedback on a building’s energy consumption and coming months this will be expanded to include other options AutoDesSys, the developer of Form.Z, has
carbon dioxide emissions. This assessment is based on real for inputting the geometry data. previewed its BonZai 3D modeller tool at
the AIA Convention in Boston. BonZai 3D
geometry, and uses international data on climatic conditions IES is claiming a simple step by step process for using VE-
is an offspring of Form.Z and, not unlike
and the typical characteristics of different building, room and Ware. After insterting the geometry data, users tell the system SketchUp from Google, is designed to fill the
system types. According to IES it is ideal for use at early stages where the building is in the world, then define the building type, demand for a quick and easy entry into 3D.
as it facilitates iterative design, allowing the comparison of construction materials, heating and cooling system types, and The product supports the conceptual and
different design, layout and system options. room types. Once everything is set up, a button is clicked for an sketching stages of design as well as the
IES says the data entry and outputs are managed for the automatic detailed thermal simulation and feedback is given on production of accurate and robust models
that can be used for construction drawings
user so that anyone can use VE-Ware to help reduce the energy energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. The design can then
for 3D printing. www.formz.com
consumption and carbon emissions of a building. be modified and different options assessed.

3Dconnexion adds
Initially only models exported directly from Autodesk’s  www.iesve.com/ve-ware

support for VectorWorks

RC building design specialist adopts CSC’s Orion 3Dconnexion’s complete
line of 3D mice now
Matthew Consultants, a specialist in RC building design and part of the Walsh Group UK, has invested in CSC’s Orion RC provide support
software. Established in Oxford in 1995, Matthew Consultants provide designs in reinforced, pre-stressed and precast concrete. for Nemetschek’s
The company’s investment in Orion was spearheaded by Pat Sharkey, Director at Matthew Consultants, who sees the many VectorWorks 2008 design
software: Designer,
benefits of Orion; including the rapid load chase down to foundation level, the automated column/wall design and the quick
Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Machine
assessment of lateral drift for their complex RC buildings. “We have always believed in proactively harnessing technology to Design, Fundamentals, and RenderWorks.
ensure we maintain our market position, explains Sharkey. “Orion will enable us to provide answers to complex problems quickly With 3Dconnexion’s 3D mice, VectorWorks
and professionally. “Having a single model will also allow us to explore different options and deal with variations effectively.” users can control and manoeuvre 3D objects,
Matthew Consultants already has access to CSC’s Fastrak Building Designer software for the rapid and detailed design of 3D designs and 2D drafts. Users can lift,
steel building structures. press and turn the 3D mouse controller cap
to fly through 3D space while simultaneously
Meanwhile, licences for CSC’s Fastrak Building Designer software have been acquired by Robert Bird Group. Integrating
zooming and rotating the view. An increase in
Fastrak with Revit will enable Robert Bird Group to control their drawing and design information within one model, whilst allowing pressure accelerates motion, while a decrease
both engineer and technician to work concurrently on their aspects of the project. CSC’s S-Frame has also been acquired to give in pressure slows motion for precise micro-
the Group advanced analysis capability when required. www.cscworld.com adjustments.  www.3dconnexion.com

Z Corp demonstrates
New GUI introduced for Tekla Structures 14 3D printing from Revit
interface and menus, and improved tools for managing and At the American Institute
sharing a BIM model between software users and construction of Architects’ 2008
National Convention
project participants. According to Tekla, the software also
and Design Exposition
enables users to work on models twice as big as before without in May, Z Corporation
the risk of running out of memory. demonstrated the new
“Tekla is committed to continuous product development STL Exporter for Revit. Developed by Autodesk
and to making Tekla Structures software easier to use and with support from Z Corporation, this new
learn,” says Tekla Executive Vice President P Risto Räty. “We software utility lets architects and engineers
“3D print” physical models of buildings and
release one main and one intermediate release per year in
projects created in Revit. The STL Exporter
order to offer our customers the most advanced solution on for Revit generates a high quality STL file
Tekla has unveiled version 14 of its Tekla Structures BIM the market. With Tekla Structures 14 I feel confident to say that from models created in Revit Architecturem,
(Building Information Modelling) software. The new release Tekla models provide the highest level of constructability on the Structure and MEP 2009 and is available from
includes several improvements including a task-oriented user market.” www.teklastructures.com Autodesk Labs.  http://labs.autodesk.com

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE NEWSDESK 7

07 AEC News.indd 5 19/6/08 17:11:03

Cadpoint Ad.indd 1 18/6/08 18:23:33
 WWW.AECMAG.COM

Philips drops the 3D

glasses for new display
Autodesk acquires RealViz Philips has introduced
a new 3D display
technology which
enables users to view
models in 3D without
the need for specialist
3D glasses. The company’s WOWvx 3D
uses a new generation slanted multi-view
lenticular lens in conjunction with a standard
hi-definition panel to deliver 3D images that
can be viewed from all angles. The system
currently works with 3ds Max and Maya.
 www.wowvx.com

Gensler signs agreement

for Oasys Mail Manager
Gensler, a leading
architecture, design,
planning and consulting
firm, has entered into
a global agreement
for Oasys’ email
management software Mail Manager. The
deal provides access to Mail Manager to
all of Gensler’s 3,100+ staff in 30 offices
around the world.
CIO Ken Sanders said, “After assessing
Autodesk has completed the acquisition of RealVIZ, the REALVIZ’s Stitcher Unlimited, Stitcher Express, ImageModeler
many products and engaging in an extensive
privately held developer of image-based content creation and Movimento software as standalone products. Matchmover, trial involving 200 staff, Mail Manager
software. RealVIZ’s technology provides ways to generate Retimer and VTour will no longer be available as standalone stood out to us as the best tool on the
3D content and visual effects from photo imaging and products; core technology from these REALVIZ products market for our design teams to manage
2D environments. Its products are used for panoramic will be integrated into future versions of Autodesk’s existing and archive their email. Email has become
photography, image-based modelling, match moving and products, enabling customers to bring the real world into design
an essential form of business-to-business
communication, and leaving emails that
optical motion capture. Autodesk intends to develop and sell environments. www.autodesk.com/realviz
often contain critical project information in
separate Outlook inboxes is equivalent to

Bluesky models new Graphisoft to ship

leaving letters piled up on desks.”
 www.oasys-software.com/mailmanager

market town in 3D ArchiCAD 12 in July BlueCielo releases

ArchiCAD 12, the latest version of Graphisoft’s Virtual Building InnoCielo 2008 suite
modelling solution, will ship on both Windows and Macintosh BlueCielo ECM Solutions, a specialist in
platforms in July. Engineering Content Management (ECM)
solutions, has released InnoCielo Meridian
The new release focuses on three main areas, that of speed,
Enterprise 2008 and InnoCielo TeamWork
design and documentation. Multi-core processor support is 2008. The newest versions of both software
designed to boost performance in 2D and 3D navigation and 3D products feature easy user management,
model generation including sections and shadow casting. Microsoft Outlook integration (which enables
A new curtain wall tool enables users to design and users to store email messages and their
attachments directly into the InnoCielo vault)
document curtain wall systems. The Curtain Wall tool is based
a Data Import Tool and support for the latest
upon the new ArchiCAD “System Technology” which will serve
CAD software versions. BlueCielo’s flagship
as a foundation for future system oriented building components. software InnoCielo Meridian Enterprise 2008
In addition, a new 3D Document capability allows users also includes configurable Folder Types and
to use any 3D view of the model as the basis for creating a offers the brand-new InnoCielo Email Manager
document where dimensions, annotations and even additional module.  www.bluecieloecm.com
2D drawing elements may be added.
“Beyond delivering powerful new 3D design tools, we are Intel’s Nehalem to mark
Using colour 3D printing technology fom Contex, Bluesky
also introducing an innovative 3D documentation capability,
which has the potential to revolutionise communication in
return of HyperThreading
has created a large-scale model to assist with the planning the building industry,” said Miklos Szovenyi-Lux, Director Details have emerged of Intel’s next generation
Quad Core CPU, codenamed Nehalem. Due to
of Sherford, a new market town on the outskirts of Plymouth. of Product Management, Graphisoft. “And on multi-core
ship in Q4 this year the new processor marks a
The model combines up-to-date aerial photography of the computers, operations such as view generation of sections return to HyperThreading with Nehalem having
development site and its surrounding area with highly detailed and elevations from the Virtual Building Model experience a a total of eight logical cores. Intel is estimating
height measurements, to create a geographically accurate, dramatic performance increase.” a 20-30% boost over Penryn, its current chip.
physical model. www.bluesky-world.com Look out for a full review next issue. www.graphisoft.com  www.intel.com

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE NEWSDESK 9

09 AEC News.indd 5 19/6/08 17:39:53

36 AEC BlueGFX Ad.indd 1 4/4/08 11:18:20
 WWW.AECMAG.COM

Bentley Empowered
2008 conference report
Bentley’s annual customer event was held in Baltimore this year. Called Bentley Empowered, the main focus was on
Sustainable Infrastructure; environmental challenges and opportunities ahead for construction. Martyn Day reports.

S
tarting last year at Autodesk University On the company’s performance, Bentley
and moving doggedly onwards, the Green Systems has generated continuous revenue growth,
bandwagon has quickly made its way across the at a compound annual rate of 14% over the past
prairie of every CAD vendor’s conference agenda. That 15 years. In 2007, it had revenue growth of nearly
is not a complaint, I am really happy that this is the 16%, to $450 million.
case, as talking about the problem is perhaps the start As Bentley is the largest privately-owned
of addressing the global issues that we face. software company in the USA it does not have to
Going ‘Green’ is a great opportunity for all report to the markets, so this yearly report is the
software vendors to add great analytical functionality main source of Bentley’s annual performance.
to their products. After having acquired so many of The company has 2,800 employees working in
the leading analytical developers Bentley has great 51 countries, with the majority of its business and
potential to provide essential products to assess employees being outside North America. Greg
design performance and environmental impact. Bentley also said that over the past 15 years the
Bentley is also an important CAD vendor to get company has invested over one billion dollars in
involved in this messaging, due to the kind of clients R&D and acquisitions.
it has. While it may have substantially less seats Following on from Greg Bentley’s belief that
sold than the volume empire of Autodesk, Bentley’s sustainability can be achieved without impacting
corporate customers get involved in huge multi-billion business, Andrew Winston came on stage to
dollar markets and projects. This represents Big highlight companies that are doing just that.
business reacting to the market conditions and the Maybe it’s my European sensibilities that found
implications of ‘sustainable design’, even before CEO Greg Bentley Sustainable keynotes the whole profit from going green a little distasteful
there’s much of a legal infrastructure to enforce it. said that Sustaining The first morning’s keynote addresses were an but Winston’s presentation did slowly win me
This was the second time that Bentley had Infrastructure was interesting mix of Bentley execs and a Green business round, or at least explain to me how a capitalist
brought its customer event to Baltimore and this not just a buzz-term guru, Andrew Winston, author of ‘Green to Gold mindset can justify what needs to be done and how
year the company worked hard to do its best to earn or new mission — How smart companies use environmental strategy
its green credentials. It turns out that 65% of local but an enduring to innovate, create value and build competitive
Bentley colleagues travelled to Baltimore via bus or commitment for the advantage’.
carpool and only hotels within walking distance of company. CEO Greg Bentley was up first to report on the
the Baltimore Convention Centre were contracted for company’s performance, outlook on sustainability and
attendees. the challenges the company faces. Greg Bentley said
There was the onsite recycling name badges and that Sustaining Infrastructure was not just a buzz-term
lanyards at BE Conference and the brochure printed or new mission but an enduring commitment for the
on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. company.
The registration counters were seeing their third year Bentley talked of how he believed that sustaining
of usage and water jugs and recycled paper cups our environment is not incompatible with sustaining
were everywhere! Bentley has committed to reducing our economies, given the necessary infrastructure
its carbon footprint by 15% before the end of 2009, investments. He added, “I’m a believer in global
based on its 2006 levels. markets, so I personally believe that the financial
returns on infrastructure investment – exemplified
by the opportunities in clean energy self-sufficiency,

“It turns out that 65% of local Bentley efficiency, and conservation – are sufficiently high that
these investments will inexorably be forthcoming.
colleagues travelled to Baltimore via bus “I even believe that these superior returns will
motivate continued institutional reforms to encourage
or carpool and only hotels within walking public-private partnerships in those infrastructure Andrew Winston, author of ‘Green to
distance of the Baltimore Convention Centre domains that have been traditionally funded only Gold — How smart companies use
through taxation. I have no doubt of the multiplied environmental strategy to innovate, create
were contracted for attendees.” opportunities that lie ahead for all of us, as a result.” value and build competitive advantage’.

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE EVENT REPORT 11

AEC Bentley x.indd 11 19/6/08 11:08:41

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

architecting for consistency of big datasets, federated

distribution, complex workflows, user interface,
breadth and depth of services and functionality.
The big feature focus remains on conceptual
design tools, dynamic views, distributed projects
management, and built-in geo-coordination.

Generative Components
This wouldn’t be a Bentley report without something
on Generative Components (GC). The big news on
GC wasn’t launched at BE but a few weeks prior at
the American Institute of Architects (IAI). Called the
Discovery Subscription programme, for $250 (if you
are in the US), you can download MicroStation and GC
and learn all about the innovative parametric design
application that everyone is talking about.
Since the departure of Bentley’s chief scientist,
Dr. Robert Aish to Autodesk, Bentley’s GC marketing
has gone into overdrive and it wants to spread the
GC word everywhere. Although you get a full copy of
business must adapt. Above: The ‘six sins’ MicroStation, it has to be used in GC mode.
In Europe we are used to Government intervention of greenwashing.
and legislation, while America still prefers the free
market and less interference with business.
Make sure your
actions reflect your
BE Communities
In the UK we have Part L of the building marketing. The new BE Communities website is Bentley’s
regulations driving environmental design, while the US attempt to create a web destination for infrastructure
has LEED accreditation which is completely optional. community members to connect, communicate, and
Building regulations in the US also vary from learn from each other. There are Forums, Blogs, a
city to city. That said, the US Federal Government Wiki and Resources. With a corporate culture akin to
and some cities (3,500 mayors) are stipulation LEED Intergraph or IBM, this is a positive move on behalf
compliance on tax-payer funded projects. Winston of Bentley. Many of the bloggers have interesting
was especially scathing of companies that marketed opinions and there are some personalities worth
green but were in fact brown — highlighting one knowing. Unfortunately, the look and feel of the site
example of a garbage (rubbish) bag company that Right: Buddy isn’t perhaps as relaxed as I would have hoped but it’s
claimed to have bio-degradable plastic sacks. Cleveland is Senior a start to establishing a more personal relationship
To degrade they required sunlight, so in a landfill Vice-President of with its clients.
they had little chance of degrading! Applied Research The last point to mention here but the first thing I
Winston was all about building an ‘Eco-advantage also spoke at the noticed at the even was Bentley’s new logo, colours
mindset’ – this may well be business-guru babble event. and marketing. After a long hiatus, Bentley is back into
but I figure anything to get the pure-business minded marketing itself to the outside world, with some new
on-board is a good thing. We were given a copy of Bentley takes versus other companies that were not executive appointments and a company revamp.
the book and I’ve started to read it, despite my early mentioned. Bentley rarely gets the recognition that it This literally happened a few months before the
scepticism. deserves for its technical prowess in limiting customer BE event and so it’s not fair to judge what direction
As if looking for a reward for recycling the use pain by rarely altering the file format, actively or vision Bentley will be aligning with. After years
of the word ‘sustainable’ to new levels, Keith Bentley, supporting other vendors’ file formats as native and of concentrating on its installed base, it seems that
CTO, took to the stage and talked about Sustainable generally providing stability of its platform. the company is now keen to promote its image and
Software. I thought that this was going to be a hammer- This is absolutely essential given that the kind products in a more aggressive way, which is good
hit too far on the sustainable nail, but hey, this is Keith of projects that MicroStation gets used on can last news for those customers frustrated with Bentley’s
Bentley and Keith doesn’t do marketing waffle! years, if not decades. Keith Bentley recommitted to self-imposed lack of visibility.
In fact, Keith Bentley made a very interesting pitch continued development without the pain. As is usual While much can be said of jumping on the
explaining the long-term view to development that with Keith’s addresses he gave some insight into green bandwagon, it is Bentley’s massive armoury of
future hardware requirements: dual if not multi-core analysis tools that stand the company in good stead
machines, Windows Vista and 64-bit. to deliver probably the most comprehensive suite of
“Bentley rarely gets the recognition that it compliance tools to the building and infrastructure
deserves for its technical prowess in limiting Athens markets. If we take BE 2008 as the call to arms, next
year I expect to see the company start to better-
customer pain by rarely altering the file The next release of MicroStation, due Q4 2008, got integrate its suite of analytical tools across its product
another airing. I’m sorry there’s no pictures of it here, set.
format, actively supporting other vendors’ I did ask, but I was told Bentley were not promoting it www.bentley.com
file formats as native and generally providing yet, despite showing it to 6,000 people last month and In the next issue of AEC Magazine we will look
6,000 the previous year in BE, Los Angeles. Athens more in depth at Bentley’s BIM and Beyond vision,
stability of its platform.” will be mainly an under-the-hood release with re- which was presented in a break-out industry session.

12 EVENT REPORT MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE

AEC Bentley x.indd 12 19/6/08 11:08:46

 The UK’s No.1 for Cellular Beams

s2EDUCEDBEAMWEIGHTANDCOST s,ONGSPANmOORBEAMSANDRAFTERS
s5NRIVALLEDCELLGEOMETRYANDSHAPE s%CONOMICALlREENGINEERING

Get your FREE copy of our software NOW!

#ALL%MAILDESIGN FABSECCOUK6ISITWWWFABSECCOUK

The force behind Fabsec

coming s
oon!

www.tekla.com/uk

13 AEC Ads.indd 1 13/6/08 15:29:39

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

McNeel’s Flying Circus

While many big CAD vendors wielding hefty corporate marketing budgets have come and gone in
the past 20 years, small developer Robert McNeel & Associates has managed to carve out its own
niche with Rhino and AccuRender. Martyn Day recently visited the company’s Seattle HQ.

H
aving written about CAD and design technology much further to discover the reason for McNeel & people were telling him that he was insane to do it.
for the best part of twenty years, you can’t help Associate’s different take on the market. Bob McNeel Bob was happy to get the software out there for people
but get very familiar with the inner workings is a trained accountant who fell into what turned out to find uses for it and let that drive development. After
of the CAD developers, how development happens, to be a very successful AutoCAD dealership in Seattle three years Rhino eventually went commercial for a
marketing is oriented, and how the route to market and back in the ‘good old days’ of early AutoCAD. very reasonable price and, against all odds, the people
sales are achieved. McNeel hit my radar when his company started who had been using it for free started to buy it.
There are a few basic models and principles to develop AutoCAD add-ons and I reviewed Today, McNeel claims to have 250,000 Rhino
that seem to permeate through 99% of the industry. AccuRender, its photorealistic ‘inside AutoCAD’ users worldwide, covering diverse industries such as
But then there is Robert McNeel and Associates, a renderer when it was launched in the UK market. marine, apparel, product design, jewellery design,
company that appears to swim against this tide like an A few years later McNeel began to develop analysis, CAM and architecture.
Alaskan Salmon dodging all the hungry bears to the a 3D NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline) McNeel & Associates is now out of the AutoCAD
spawning grounds. The consensus from competitors modelling package named Rhino. For years it was in dealership game. Autodesk moved to limit dealers
is that it shouldn’t exist the way it is run, but somehow development and the betas were all given away for selling out of fixed distance from their offices, which
it does and very successfully. free. I remember talking with Bob McNeel on what the reduced their potential to grow, unless they opened
I’ve known Bob McNeel for the best part of give-away business model was about. multiple offices. Then the move to AutoCAD verticals
my journalistic career and you don’t have to look At that time nobody gave software away and arrived, with ever increasing targets, and with the
Corus Bausysteme Rhino software business growing the AutoCAD/
GmbH, modelled in Autodesk relationship terminated. However, old and
“While many industry people thought Bob Rhino. new clients still request AutoCAD training on old
versions of AutoCAD.
McNeel was mad to give away Rhino for so Since Rhino was launched, McNeel & Associates
long, you’d be hard pushed to now find has built a whole ecosystem around Rhino and its
rendering products. In many ways it’s like Autodesk
a CAD software company that doesn’t in the early days, with the vendor working on the
give early versions away on labs to core product and the third-party developers plugging

measure reaction.”

14 FEATURE AEC MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2008

AEC Rhino x.indd 14 19/6/08 10:59:15

 seemed to nark Bob McNeel as Autodesk failed to
update the rendering engine for years, despite their
license agreement allowing them to include the latest
versions.
While the name might be old, the technology
is not and has always been updated. McNeel and
Associates has expanded its reach too under the guise
of AccuRender nXt – the next generation. Scheduled
to work with AutoCAD 2007- 2009, AutoCAD 64-bit,
SketchUp, Revit, Rhino and IntelliCAD, the next
AccuRender is in development and beta participation
is free.
There is a brand new engine, which runs four
to five times faster, is capable of working on larger
models with support for multi-cores and handles
threads a lot better than previous releases. The new
algorithms anti-aliased image quality is looking very
good already and renders are continually refined until
the user stops the process. You can expect better
tone reproduction and materials, fewer artifacts and
a new User Interface. Daylight renders benefit from a
new HDR algorithm, with better indoor day lighting
into the application and adding functionality to Kohn Pederson Fox generation of technologies under development usually too. Indirect lighting without using Radiosity is also
tailor it to a specific vertical. There are already well Shanghai World get shipped as a beta. With Version 4 out, version 5 is possible.
over a thousand developers working with Rhino and Financial Center, available on the company’s Labs page.
extending its functionality around the world. modelled and
New DNA
McNeel has also expanded its range of products,
adding other animals, such as Flamingo, a ray trace
rendered in Rhino.
AccuRender The big news is that there is a new animal about to
and radiosity rendering engine for Rhino, and Penguin For those of us that are long in the tooth, and pre- emerge: Grasshopper. Again a technology for Rhino,
for a conceptual sketch look and feel, as well as dating McNeel’s fascination with animals, AccuRender Grasshopper was a development preciously named
stylised renderings. was probably the first scan-line rendering application Explicit History and targeted Generative design. For
Then there is Bongo for animations and Brazil, a we used in AutoCAD. It had fractal trees, textures those familiar with Bentley’s Generative Components,
Splutterfish rendering add-on for Rhino. For those with galore and quick results. Even though Autodesk Grasshopper is along those lines but without the
multiple licenses, there is a product called ‘Zoo’ to competed aggressively against it, it ended up owning programming. Bob McNeel calls it Visual Basic,
manage your software. its own OEM license when it acquired Revit, as without the Basic.
McNeel and Associates continues its AccuRender was built-in as the default renderer. There has been a lot of interest in Generative
commitment to broad free beta software and within In fact, Autodesk has only just replaced design systems in the architectural world. Dr Robert
weeks of a release being formalised, the next AccuRender in Revit with mental ray. That actually Aish, while at Bentley, came up with Generative

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE FEATURE 15

AEC Rhino x.indd 15 19/6/08 10:59:17

 Three Building Solutions
1) Model, Analyse and Design

Total Building Model your project in Revit Structure, then analyse

it in SMART Modeller (Scia Engineer/ESA PT)
using an intelligent bi-directional link.

Solutions 2) Automated RC Detailing

Design your project in SMART Modeller (Scia Engineer/
ESA PT) then use an automated detailing link to
CADS RC to produce your initial reinforcement drawings.
1

3
STEPS
1 Rendered
3D model

2 2D slab layer view

4
3 Specifying
reinforcement
4 Auto generated CADS RC
drawing and schedule, ready
for finishing touches

3) Model, Design and Detail

Export your general arrangement drawings from the
®
Revit Structure, SMART Modeller and CADS RC Revit Structure model into CADS RC and reduce
your detailing time.

Analysis & Modelling Revit Structure SMART Modeller (Scia Engineer/ESA PT) CADS RC
Design Revit Structure enables SMART Modeller FE software CADS RC is the leading
Detailing Building Information enables modelling, analysis and global RC detailing
Modelling (BIM) for design of structures in concrete, package and is also
Geotechnical structural engineering. steel, timber, composite, etc. based on AutoCAD.
Roads & Drainage
Detailing Services

Computer and Design Services Ltd

Tel: +44(0)1202 603031 Email: [email protected] Value Added Reseller Authorised Developer
System Learn more at: www.cadsglobal.com/solutions

16 AEC Ads.indd 1 13/6/08 15:32:55

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

Components and now Autodesk has hired him he has

a similar task to perform using Autodesk’s technology
(we presume built-on either Maya or 3ds Max).
Generative systems so far all require expertise
in both geometry and programming, to write the
applications that either derive the form or give the
software boundaries and geometric relationships to
allow designers to interact with the framework of a
design.
With Bentley already there and Autodesk in
hot pursuit I was pretty amazed to see an early
demonstration of Grasshopper in Rhino last year. The
output appeared to be similar to GC but the way the
scripts are generated was amazingly ‘plug and play’.
You don’t need to know how to program to create a
parametric model using Grasshopper as there is a
new window for creating what amounts to a bank of
geometry ‘effects peddles’, as you would with a guitar.
You take the input, which may be a line and you
literally plug it into an effect, which can be any kind of
mathematical transform, and which can subsequently
be plugged into other mathematical effects peddles,
all driving the creation of a script (in the background)
that drives Rhino’s geometry engine. It’s all drag and Kunsthaus Graz, Peter Cook and Colin Fournier. Designed in Rhino.
drop and plug and play. Even now, the rapid appearance of the Rhino
The system uses some specific terms, namely version 5 beta, just as Rhino 4 ships is unheard
Parameters, Components and Connectors. A of. It’s based on really enthusiastic users always
parameter stores data; a Component contains an wanting more and happy to play with forthcoming
action; and a Connector connects ‘Ins to Outs’ or technology. However, again, to be doing this without a
‘Outs to Ins’. subscription model in place would have the big CEOs
The Components can be selected from a range weeping into their cornflakes with all that missed
of mathematical functions (Tan, Cos, Pi, Divide, opportunity to ratchet up the income dollars.
Sine, Log etc.) or entered by the user with X, Y and When I arrived in the offices of Robert McNeel
Z. Variables can be assigned to sliders allowing you & Associates in Seattle, Bob was on the phone,
to play with the important underlying geometry. One telling the caller that Rhino probably wasn’t the best
other interesting way of driving the system is the option for what they were looking for and that he
ability to draw curves and plug those into the effects Users don’t need to know how to program to create a parametric model (or she) should probably look for a specific vertical
boxes. So while you might not know how to fully using Grasshopper as there is a window for creating what amounts to a application for the industry that they were in as it
express an equation, you might be able to draw the bank of geometry ‘effects peddles’, as you would with a guitar. might do more. Throughout my two days with Bob
output or input that you want. I have not seen anything and the development team I was trying to figure out
like this in GC. why this laid back approach to developing and selling
What you end up building is a series of wired CAD tools worked. In the most capitalist nation on the
up boxes which drive the geometry creation. This planet McNeel is an anathema to corporate culture.
could be merely to create a form or to make a There is almost a total lack of greed and it’s incredibly
dynamic environment – perhaps a planar wall that refreshing.
deforms when placed in proximity to another piece of While CAD vendors spent millions in marketing,
geometry. All the time the Rhino viewport displays the McNeel & Associates doesn’t, instead preferring their
results of this plug and play visual scripting, giving customers to be the product’s ‘marketeers’, spreading
constant feedback. the good word by mouth and if that’s a slow process
The great news is that, as this is McNeel & then so be it. The McNeel ethos is to listen to the
Associates, Grasshopper is free and is considered customers, help customers, because if the customers
part of the core program. With the sheer number of Image: Railing, derived from the schematic displayed above. are happy, the products do well. It’s not about milking
Rhino users in architectural firms and its position as customers.
a mainstay in Universities, expect to see a lot of users Grasshopper – the loan Kung Fu monk who always To date, McNeel & Associates has done
adopting Grasshopper for Generative design. sorted out problems - and I can see how Grasshopper well to stay below most of the big CAD vendor’s
Bentley recently introduced a $250 downloadable could be seen as Kung Fu for architectural geometry! radar but with increased market coverage and new
version of Generative Components to spread the word While many industry people thought Bob McNeel products that directly compete, like Grasshopper, the
(which actually includes a full copy of MicroStation, was mad to give away Rhino for so long, you’d be company is bound to become a competitive target.
but is only functional in GC mode). It seems that hard pushed now to find a CAD software company that Can these vendors compete against the mature,
the fight has been joined at the ‘grassroots’ level doesn’t give early versions away on labs to measure low-cost products McNeel creates or establish such
of adoption. Perhaps this is the reason behind the reaction. Autodesk’s path to volume is to trial the a community of happy users to drive development?
naming? Although Bob has mentioned that in the software on its labs site and then launch and sell rev Somehow, I don’t think Bob has sleepless nights in
70s TV series there was a character referred to as 2 of the product. Seattle over it. www.en.na.mcneel.com

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE FEATURE 17

AEC Rhino x.indd 17 19/6/08 10:56:30

 &REE4RIAL
)FYOUARERESPONSIBLEFORIMPROVING
YOURCOMPANYgS#!$PRODUCTIVITY
#!$TRAININGPROGRAMMESORRECRUITING
NEW#!$STAFF ANDYOUgDLIKETOSEE
HOWOURSOFTWARECOULDHELPYOU PLEASE
VISITOURWEBSITEFORAFREETRIAL
WWWCADSMARTNETAEC
-ADRID"ARAJAS)NTERNATIONAL!IRPORT $ESIGNEDBY2OGERS3TIRK(ARBOUR0ARTNERS

Teriostar_qtr:M--Files v3 qtr.qxd 24/04/2008 14:17 Page 1

Allied Images
Call 01604 670679
[email protected]

Seiko I Infotech Teriostar LP-1020

multifunction printers offer you
faster prints, more uptime and
lower total cost of ownership!
These colour-capable multifunction printers
are ideal for CAD, AEC, GIS and Copy Shop
applications
Print speed 6.2 A1 prints/min is up to 55% faster
than other printers in same price class

User-replaceable process cartridge maximises

uptime as no service call is needed

Lower total cost of ownership as fewer parts

and service visits are needed

NO click charge (per sheet maintenance charge)

SII Teriostar LP-1020 multifunction printers

from £8,995
Read more at www.allied-images.com/teriostar

18 AEC Ads.indd 1 19/6/08 17:53:24

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

Acrobat 9 Professional Extended

Adobe’s latest version of Acrobat further expands the capabilities of the PDF format for
2D and 3D CAD users. Martyn Day evaluates Acrobat’s entertaining new set of tricks.

O
ver the past three years, digital technical
documentation software and collaboration
tools developers have carved a niche in the
design industry. As CAD systems have expanded from
2D to 3D, encompassing increasingly rich streams
of project and ‘meta’ information, there has been
a corresponding requirement for ways in which to
effectively share and express these rich ideas to teams
and suppliers, both locally and globally.
Adobe believes that for every document
creator, there are, on average, 50 consumers of that
information.
The PDF (Portable Document Format) was born
in 1991 out of the invention of PostScript, a format
that Adobe invented to enable the easy printing of
graphics and text in a ‘dot matrix’ computing world
that had no printing standards. PDF has grown from
this standardised description of text and graphics to
be a digital equivalent to printing because you can
create a PDF from nearly any application and be sure
that whoever you send it to will be able to see the
layout as intended. By continually adding support
for professional applications and many different AEC models can both the process of creation and the experience of improves the experience of wading through a multi-
proprietary formats, PDF has become an extremely now be imported exploring through multi-document PDF. Flash may be document PDF. Each file can be flicked through as if it
rich communication medium for project information into Acrobat via considered a web-based technology, but it is actually were on a carousel (think Apple iPod Touch, or iTunes).
irrespective of source. support for the a powerful visual operating environment in its own The new video feature is great too, as Flash is very
For the last three versions of Acrobat, Adobe has Industry Foundation right and liberates Acrobat and PDF from very ‘static’ efficient at compression. The Video tool lets users
focused considerable effort on its support for 3D Class (IFC) format. front ends. import files in a wide range of formats including AVI,
CAD standards, specifically in manufacturing. With In Acrobat 9, Flash is used to capture and embed MOV, WMV and MPEG, which Acrobat 9 Pro Extended
the release of version 9, it has added emerging 3D video, as well as enhance the delivery and navigation will then automatically convert to Flash FLV. Users
AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) and of packaged multiple files within a single PDF. Here, simply pull out the selected frame as a poster image.
Geospatial formats. Adobe also appears to have settled files can be added into a ‘portfolio’, through a slick Another neat trick here is the new capability to
into a yearly release cycle for new versions of Acrobat, Flash interface. Portfolio is the new term for compiled pause a video and mark-up individual frames with
with the last three versions being released from May to PDF documents and they are really pretty cool. the Redline tools (texts notes, clouds, post-it notes).
July after an extensive open beta program. It is now easy to create a single PDF file that As users pass these comments, a list of marked-up
contains all types of documents with the polished Flash frames gets generated for quick access and the author

New horizons front-end page that includes a title page, displayed

on opening the PDF. The Flash environment radically
the ability to select sub-sections of video to be viewed
by the PDF consumer.
The Acrobat 9 family consists of Acrobat 9 Standard, The inclusion of Flash also means that the PDF
Acrobat 9 Professional, and the new Acrobat 9 has become an independent environment, supporting
Professional Extended software. The latter has applications written in Flash which can be embedded
replaced the Professional 3D branding but still offers to PDFs prior to circulation. For instance, users can
the most comprehensive suite of tools for 2D and 3D add a calculator widget, a live web map or a web
designers. While the Extended brand harmonises the service. This means users can open a document and
naming convention with Adobe’s popular Photoshop use a built-in Flash calculator to work on spreadsheets
Extended image manipulation tool, dropping the ‘3D’ or engineering calculations, without ever leaving
might be confusing to Engineers and Architects who the PDF document. It can be a difficult concept to
associate it with Acrobat’s CAD version. It may be a understand, as it blows away the existing limitations of
marketing ploy, but the news is that Extended is the what can be included in a document: Documents can
new CAD flavour. now include applications.
Since Adobe bought Macromedia, the Flash
format has managed to work its way into the majority CAD support
of Adobe products. This time round it is Acrobat’s Using the range of shading tools it is quick and easy to build up a Acrobat’s formats have been updated with native
turn to benefit and the addition has really enhanced number of views and images to send to clients. support for Autodesk Inventor, B-reps (boundary

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE SOFTWARE PREVIEW 19

AEC Adobe x.indd 19 19/6/08 10:39:12

 Let the Genius Loose.
Then Watch it Work.

GenerativeComponents™ enables architects and

engineers to pursue designs and achieve results
that were virtually unthinkable before. Direct your
creativity to deliver inspired sustainable buildings
that are freer in form and use innovative materials and
assemblies. Explore a broad range of “what-if”
alternatives for even the most complex buildings,
quickly and easily, and spend less time working on edits,
deletions and remodeling changes that can slow down
the design cycle. Open a world of new possibilities while
you work more productively than ever before.

Discovery Subscription now available

for immediate download!

www. .com

Images courtesy of Thompson,

Ventulett Stainback & Associates

2869_AEC-UK_GC_Ad_A4_0608.indd 1 18-6-2008 16:10:11

Bentley Ad.indd 1 18/6/08 18:24:24
 WWW.AECMAG.COM

representations), STL (a standard for Rapid For those 3D formats that are not natively Shared services
Prototyping), Systèmes’ Catia V5 and Siemens PLM supported, Acrobat still includes the ‘3D print screen
Software’s NX formats. This concentration on the high- capture’ capability, which literally grabs the geometry Collaboration and sharing has seen some big leaps
end CAD and manufacturing formats makes sense as that is in the computer’s graphic display system. too. Acrobat 9 users can access a new web service
Acrobat’s customer base expands into Automotive and Authoring and exploring the imported and called Acrobat.com for storing and sharing files. The
Aerospace with clients like car manufacturer Renault. captured 3D files was poorly catered for in past website is a ‘cloud’ location and offers both free and
In the past, Acrobat has catered to AEC with native Acrobat releases. Adobe licensed Right Hemisphere’s paid-for services, such as the new Adobe ConnectNow
support for AutoCAD DWG and DXF. Recognising that 3D Toolkit, which proved to be the most unintuitive personal web conferencing feature, which provides
AEC is gathering pace towards a 3D future, Acrobat application that I have had the misfortune to use in a desktop sharing, video and voice conferencing, and
9 now supports Autodesk’s Revit and Graphisoft’s number of years. So the dropping of that in favour of integrated chat.
ArchiCAD modelling systems via IFCs or Industry the introduction of a powerful new tool called Adobe Another benefit of Acrobat.com is the opportunity
Foundation Classes, a Building Information Modelling 3D Reviewer is warmly welcomed. to collaborate with other users while within a PDF
(BIM) interchange format. This application came along with Adobe’s document. Using Adobe Reader, other users can join
acquisition of CAD format specialist, TTI, last year. in a review session on a file, with the originator driving
While the interface is nowhere near as slick as Adobe’s the group’s navigation through the PDF document
other Acrobat products, the functionality of Reviewer in real-time. As Adobe points out, this helps ensure
goes way beyond authoring and enhancement of the everyone is literally, and figuratively, on the same
3D models, it also acts as an agnostic 3D CAD viewing page.
and comparison tool, much like Cimmetry’s (Oracle’s) Acrobat is really good at making digital forms
Autovision. and now it is great at distributing these forms and
3D parts created in multiple CAD systems can be collating the returns. You may have used web services
easily imported into the same workspace for the creation like www.surveymonkey.com to conduct customer
of and independently sourced 3D assemblies. There surveys, now you can send PDFs out and let Acrobat
are comparative tools to check differences in geometry gather all the responses and tabulate the results. While
between CAD revisions, so new geometry added, or old it sounds complicated, it is all pretty straightforward
geometry lost can be quickly identified. Measurement using wizard-style dialogues.
and sectioning have been improved and it is easier to This release of Acrobat 9 Professional Extended
export the files as 2D vector or Raster files. has really seen the product extend and mature its
Comments and redlines can be added to 3D models and views. Acrobat now knows where in the world its contents appeal to designers in both the manufacturing and
These can be navigated by people who are sent the PDF and use the are located, as support for mapping standards are AEC markets, with additional focus on providing
free viewer. included. It understands geospatial information and powerful internet-based capabilities for presentations
can accurately measure kilometres, miles, longitude and collaboration. The addition of Flash will also
and latitude. This expands PDF into a whole new improve the overall experience for PDF creators and
vertical area as well as enhancing map data for receivers. Replacing the 3D Toolkit with something
AEC applications. The move follows both Autodesk more powerful is welcome but the lack of interface
and Bentley’s addition of geospatial referencing in homogeneity needs to be addressed. Our overview is
AutoCAD and MicroStation respectively. We are all based on the beta version of the software and the final
increasingly designing in a virtual world. code is expected to arrive in July.
www.adobe.com

Acrobat Review is the vastly superior application that replaces the 3D

Toolkit in Acrobat 9 Professional Extended. Here you can fly through
the design, create animations and compare models.

Pricing information
Acrobat 9 Pro Extended, Acrobat 9 Pro and Acrobat 9 Standard for Microsoft
Windows, and Acrobat 9 Pro for Mac OS X, are expected to be available by July
2008. Acrobat 9 Pro Extended is expected to be available for £619 (which is
a nice price cut), and registered users of qualifying earlier versions of Acrobat
can upgrade to Acrobat 9 Pro Extended for £205.
Acrobat 9 Pro is expected to be available for £425, and registered users of
qualifying earlier versions of Acrobat can upgrade to Acrobat 9 Pro for £145.
Acrobat 9 Standard is expected to be available for £265, and registered users of
qualifying earlier versions of Acrobat can upgrade to Acrobat 9 Standard for £85. What’s possible with the new Portfolio capability: PDFs that contain multiple documents can
be scanned through on a carousel in a customised presentation-quality environment.

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE SOFTWARE PREVIEW 21

AEC Adobe x.indd 21 19/6/08 10:39:47

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

Pushing the limits in stadium design

Now considered an urban essential, increasingly sophisticated
sporting arenas benefit from Dassault Systèmes’ Catia design-to-
build technology that generates 3D models for a better outcome.

H
undreds of new sports facilities are being built car parks — to city centre must haves. Above: The Beijing as well as many other specialist technical services.
right now across the world. These will host The importance of new sports facilities in Olympics Stadium Using 3D Catia models, the information that we need
a range of events from The Olympics Games regenerating cities was stressed by the former Mayor represents the peak is easy to access, update and integrate across the
and Premier League football to horse and motor of London Ken Livingstone, who recently said: “The of innovative and internal and external supply chains that we operate
racing, tennis, gymnastics and swimming, as well as London Olympic Games in 2012 will be the greatest complex design. It within.”
multi-purpose venues that enhance national, local and sporting spectacle the world has ever seen — as well is built from more Kate added: “Stadia are all unique and they
community sporting activities. as transforming the Lower Lea Valley and creating a than 40,000 tonnes always incorporate complex geometry. Co-ordinating
Some of the best of these facilities, including lasting legacy of cutting-edge sporting venues for the of steel enclosing their design, planning and construction involves
the 2008 Beijing Olympics Stadium, are developed capital and the nation.” 90,000 seats. The making many changes and updates throughout the
using Catia advanced 3D model-based design-to- apparently random project lifecycle. This process is enhanced and
manufacture solutions from Dassault Systémes and
with the Gehry Technologies’ Digital Project software
Olympic glory design is in fact very
regular, but gives
facilitated through the use of 3D digital models. The
software allows us to save costs by developing a
platform. In preparation for both Beijing 2008 and The foremost company working in this sector is the appearance of a route to manufacture early in the project and also by
London’s 2012 Olympics, Catia is used to ensure Arup Sport, whose work includes the 2008 Beijing natural form hence allowing us to make use of standard components to
that complex structures for the Games and their many Olympics Stadium, The London Olympics Aquatic its nickname – the improve quality and make financial savings. The Catia
associated activities are delivered on time, on budget Complex, the stunning Valencia Stadium, and new bird’s nest. 3D-based model methodology also makes checking
and to the right specifications. world-class stadia for Ukraine and the Middle East. efficient, easy and quick since complex geometry is
The development of multi-purpose sports stadia Arup Sport Senior Structural Engineer, Kate modelled in three dimensions.”
represents one of the most difficult building problems, McDougall, spoke of her work and the use of Catia The spectacular Beijing Olympics Stadium is
since they have to satisfy the needs of so many 3D-based model technology. “The stadia and sports the most high-profile sports facility in the world
stakeholders. New bowl-shaped stadia housing up to facilities that Arup Sport is working on benefit from and represents the current peak of innovative and
90,000 spectators have become symbols and icons of Dassault Systémes’ 3D modelling because of the complex stadium design. The stadium is built from
their locations that have changed from ‘bad neighbour’ functionality and flexibility that this methodology more than 40,000 tonnes of steel enclosing 90,000
buildings, formerly sited out of town, disconnected provides. Our work covers architectural design seats. The apparently random design is in fact very
from transport infrastructure and surrounded by huge services, structural, mechanical and fire engineering regular, but gives the appearance of a natural form

22 CASE STUDY AEC MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2008

AEC Stadium x.indd 22 19/6/08 12:23:25

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

“Stadia are all unique and they always incorporate complex geometry.
Co-ordinating their design, planning and construction involves making
many changes and updates throughout the project lifecycle. This process is
enhanced and facilitated through the use of 3D digital models.”
Arup Sport Senior Structural Engineer, Kate McDougall

Below: The geometry of the steelwork for the Beijing Olympic Stadium was defined using Catia to
achieve the required absolute accuracy that both the design and its commissioners demanded.

hence its nickname – the bird’s nest. The geometry of

the steelwork was defined using Catia to achieve the
required absolute accuracy that both the design and
its commissioners demanded. The structure has been
engineered to accommodate wind and other loadings
to which the building is subject.
Model data was passed to subcontractors for
component fabrication, assembly and erection with
Catia data being used not only to produce the work but
also to check build veracity. The building’s exterior
design looks much more complex than it actually is,
and is constructed from flat plate steel formed into
box sections (with increased thickness to cater for
variable high stress areas of the structure). There is a
very clear pattern to the construction, which is subtly
hidden by a second façade. Using Bill of Materials
optimisation capability leads to more standard parts
being developed and brought into the design of the
impressive façade. Due to its geometry, the building
only has two-fold rotational symmetry – there are only
two of any joint type or element on the project.
The building had to be radically re-designed at a
late stage to lower cost. This reduced the steel content
by 20 percent and necessitated considerable alteration
to the building in many areas. The use of a 3D central

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE CASE STUDY 23

AEC Stadium x.indd 23 19/6/08 12:23:40

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

in Porto, Portugal for example is planned to contain a

shopping mall, a hotel, and a cinema complex along
with deep underground car parks. It will integrate
with an enhanced transport infrastructure planned for
the city and offer sports fans unprecedented levels
of luxury. By making this available, the stadium will
attract visitors at times other than major events to
provide a continuous revenue stream.
This sort of project was described by Andrew
Watts MD of Newtecnic, a firm of architects
specialising in very advanced building façades
— important for producing strong visual impact
Above: Shakhtar along with structural functionalities. He said: “The
Stadium is a football way modern buildings are designed has changed to
stadium in Donetsk, accommodate ideas about how usage will alter over
Ukraine, designed time. Consequently, spaces are much more flexible
by Arup Sport using and non-specific. This means that the mechanical
3D Catia models. It services of a building will change along with its
is currently under usage. A 3D building model is the ideal repository for
construction. the design because it allows changes to be made over
time, effectively extending the design period over the
life of the building.”
He continued: “The process of making buildings
is becoming more complex and the tools, such
as Catia, are developing along with that process.
The ability to change a building while retaining the
integrity of the design vision allows us not only to
design faster and more easily but to show interested
parties how the design is developing in ways that they
can understand and make best use of.”

Rules of the game

model made this work much quicker than it would Above left and left: Because Newtecnic’s façade systems have both
have been by other means and allowed the building to For the Shakhtar structural and decorative functionality and Newtecnic
be brought in on time and within the revised budget. Stadium Arup Sport sees designs through to construction, it has evolved
Arup’s Project Director Michael Kwok was recently used a visual basic a complete façade manufacturing methodology. To
quoted as saying that the Beijing National Stadium link from Catia to handle this level of involvement, Newtecnic deploys
has introduced a new kind of structure to the world generate its analysis Catia technology — the same software that is used
and that its successful completion showed the role models. by major automotive and aerospace OEM companies
engineers can play in defining what is possible in to design and build the world’s most advanced
architecture. engineered products.
Andrew Watts explained: “The ability to turn

Team effort mark-up facilities, to full interaction and, for example,

direct NC machine programming to produce building
conceptual designs into buildable structures while
retaining the precision of the original creative intention
Sports facilities are now considered part of the urban components, fabrications and work instructions. The requires the equally precise methodology that this
fabric that has to be integrated into the existing and digital model has many uses as a central repository software provides. This tool is liberating because
future city context. The use of Catia to help design for ideas and the designs and methods that result it allows designers to iterate the design within a
sports facilities has the great advantage that, in from them. set of flexible governing rules. At Newtecnic, this
using a core 3D model, the design can easily be methodology liberates us by allowing considerable
changed to meet the often conflicting needs of those
involved in planning, operating, financing, fabricating
Plan to win creativity within the rigor of strict rule-based
engineering discipline.”
and construction as well as visiting, using and Planning is of very high value in the development,
broadcasting from the facilities.
Having produced conceptual designs for a
construction and lifecycle operation of sports
facilities. Buildings must have flexible usage and,
Green medal
stadium using Catia 3D modelling software, and taken since their life may be more than 100 years, the needs Environmental impact is a major theme of modern
into account the different needs of all stakeholders, of its users and other stakeholders will inevitably buildings, and their public nature means that
the model can be developed and made available to change. These changes can be best understood and large stadia and other sporting facilities must be
all concerned in a format that suits their needs and addressed using a 3D digital model, which can be exemplars of green credentials. Catia is being
interactivity tools. Each participant can access the iterated easily to accommodate changes of use and used in many buildings to design, refine and
model drawing from it and the data that they need to function. manufacture air circulation systems that reduce
conduct their work most efficiently. This can range Sports stadia are increasingly being built as part reliance on air-conditioning by using passive or
from simple viewing with pan, zoom, rotate and of a broader visitor experience. A new football stadium mixed-mode ventilation with its greatly decreased

24 CASE STUDY AEC MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2008

AEC Stadium x.indd 24 19/6/08 12:23:42

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

energy requirements. Integration with Dassault

Systémes’ Simulia finite element and computational
fluid dynamic analysis software allows designers to
simulate airflows within structures improving comfort
levels for sportspeople and audiences alike.
Catia has been used to design many roof systems
for sports stadia. These are becoming important
showpieces in themselves with their dramatic
operation and engineering ingenuity. The complexity
of these structures that often include intricate but
large-scale moving parts is ideal for development
using Catia which, with its kinematic capability is
able to show a simulation of the moving roof and
indicate potential clashes or other problems. By
deploying Catia in this situation it is possible to solve that the design is subjected to, and that all the while,
all potential problems through analysis and refine the development targets are retained and optimised.
design digitally before any physical manufacturing
commences.
Kate McDougall, of Arup Sport, added: “Roofs
Taste of victory
have to clear certain envelopes and must also operate Zaha Hadid Architects has been commissioned with
with maximum efficiency. Developing optimum delivering the spectacular swimming complex for
geometry and sections is made easier with Catia the London Olympics. Partner, Patrik Schumacher,
because it enables the input of parameters that have a champion and user of 3D modelling software
an affect on the design, and allows automation of recently said: “Productivity, creativity and elegance
certain aspects in the design process.” are available from Digital Project and the Dassault
Importantly this methodology also enables Systémes software.”
parameters held on spreadsheets to drive designs Ken Livingstone recently commended the
in Catia. This often results in innovative and novel complex when he said: “Zaha Hadid’s exceptional
solutions that will comply with functional requirements winning design gives a taste of just what we can offer Complex moving roof sides that have adapted their cheering to suit, and
— leading to better and more advanced buildings. and makes London’s bid to host the Games even more structures of The Qi maximally exploit the acoustics of the setting. Using
The physical making of the building (once the compelling.” Zhong Tennis Centre Catia, it is possible to incorporate these subtle but
design is finalised as a 3D model) can be carried out Geoff Haines, Managing Director of Desktop in Shanghai, by the important influences in an aim to create the perfect
by subcontractors under the guidance and control of Engineering, the company that supplies and supports Environment Design environment for players and fans.”
planners and project managers who use the central Digital Project and Dassault Systémes’ 3D modelling Institute (EDI) of
model as a data repository accessible by all parties
collaborating to maximum mutual benefit.
software at many architects and engineering
companies including Zaha Hadid, Arup, SOM and
Japan. Image by John
Gollings.
Perfect pitch
Allies and Morrison said: “Dassault Systemes’ Catia Another example of advanced pre-build simulation

The long run brings architects, sports facility developers and the
AEC industry the proven benefits of large-scale design
is found in sunlight modelling that shows how
the interior environment will react with the forces
Multiple stakeholder interaction with 3D models was and manufacture software. The Catia-based Building of nature. This is particularly important in order
described by architects at Allies and Morrison. The Information Model (BIM) is a complete set of data that to maintenance both natural and artificial playing
firm was recently involved, with architects HOK, in includes 3D design and manufacturing information, as surfaces. In one celebrated example the constantly
The Emirates stadium and development for Arsenal well as associated rules, methods and knowledge that shaded grass-playing surface of a pitch in Japan is
FC. Despite being a complex multi-purpose facility govern all aspects of a building or development.” placed on a rolling platform and swapped with one
including restaurants, bars, a future-proof flexible that has the benefit of natural sunlight outside the
IT infrastructure in an iconic form, on a historic site
that offers enhanced environmental benefit to its
Mind games stadium. This ingenious solution was developed using
3D modelling software in conjunction with sunlight
central London location, the stadium and associated Lord Sebastian Coe, winner of the Olympic 1,500m calendar data to produce optimised playing surfaces.
development was finished ahead of time and below gold medal in 1980 and Chairman of the London It is well known that great facilities enhance
budget. Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (the sports to produce better outcomes. Across the world
Allies and Morrison remarked that the ability of organisation in charge of overseeing the development Catia users are developing and building ever-more
Catia to integrate with climate and environmental data, of the Olympic Games), is someone who understands advanced venues that help human beings excel at
allows their designers to model not just the structure the significance of well-executed design in sports what they do best.
of a building, but also the weather and light conditions facilities. He recently spoke at the opening of a new
to which it will be subjected. By taking into account training facility: “I know just how important that extra
this level of detail the eventual value of the building hundredth of a second can be and these facilities will For further information:
will be higher since the additional comfort that it enable athletes to develop and hone their technique Dassault Systemes – www.3ds.com
proves will make it more desirable and popular. allowing them to be at the top of their game.” Desktop Engineering – www.dte.co.uk.
The team at Allies and Morrison found that design Great athletes need great stadia. Sports Zaha Hadid – www.zaha-hadid.com
intent is captured in the 3D model as a series of rules Psychologist Bogdan Woolf of Institute Lacan claimed: Allies and Morrison — www.alliesandmorrison.co.uk
that the software maintains and applies throughout “The psychological effect of new stadia on the sports Newtecnic — www.newtecnic.com
the design process. This means that conceptual person is profound. For example, a recent study found Arup Sport — www.arup.com
frameworks stay intact throughout the many changes that referees award 15 percent favouritism to home

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE CASE STUDY 25

AEC Stadium x.indd 25 19/6/08 12:23:57

 Virtual construction
John Robertson Architects has been committed to Building Information Modelling
(BIM) for the last 11 years. It recently took the next step, moving beyond model-
based architecture towards full building lifecycle management.

J
ohn Robertson Architects (JRA) is a 50-strong For the Parmiter JRA built the 3D model using ArchiCAD — details; constructability models identify the sequence
London-based practice and one of only a small Street Project JRA Graphisoft’s BIM software — which also provides the of construction; precise costing assists the quantity
number of companies in the UK using BIM on built a 3D model foundation for the Virtual Construction products from surveyor; and, the software’s planning and scheduling
all its projects. However, it wanted to take the next using ArchiCAD, Vico Software. By being able to flow the design model capabilities are indispensable to the project
step, moving beyond model-based architecture and then used into Virtual Construction, it is now possible to prepare management team. The software does this by utilising
towards full building lifecycle management, where Vico’s Software’s very accurate cost schedules, which can be quickly the intelligence in the BIM database and extending
design, construction and facilities management utilise Virtual Construction revised if required, combined with highly visual and this with how materials, labour and plant are applied
the same, continually evolving, building model. products to prepare flexible on-site planning and control. The on-site to the construction of this particular design — from
Technology advances have made extending 3D design accurate cost planning and control uses a technique especially initial ground works to final fit-out.
into 5D construction a practical reality and with a schedules and utilise designed for construction projects – Line of Balance This construction information, or ‘recipe’, is
visionary developer client in TEAM Ltd, JRA has now highly visual on-site – which has been proved to be far more effective than added to the BIM database as each new build process
started to work in a 5D environment. planning and control. traditional Gantt charts. Virtual Construction is entirely is planned. Then, as Virtual Construction is used on
This may sound unlikely but the fourth and fifth dependent upon an initial design being prepared subsequent projects, the recipes can be re-used and
dimensions on a building project are real, and show using BIM and JRA’s experience in model-based adjustments can be made, for instance to provide
the cost and time to build. Put simply, imagine a architecture was pivotal to the success of the 5D pilot more precise costs or construction times and so
3D animation simulating what will be the on site project. the information refinement goes on. The 3D design
construction process for this building. This simulation
also includes a timeline to show precisely the state of
construction at any point and also a cost accumulator
How 5D works
that registers the corresponding cash requirements at Virtual Construction helps ensure that the data that
any point. architects produce is useable by everyone, from
Using TEAM’s Parmiter Street development as structural and building services engineers to the
a pilot project, JRA created a 3D virtual model of project manager, cost consultants, the client, and
the extensive £25 million residential/commercial ultimately the building operator. The virtual models
development that includes 105 three-, four- and are viewed in 3D but any 2D representation can be
five-bed homes, as well as accommodation for easily created.
55 students in medium rise blocks around two Clash detection saves large amounts of time
courtyards. by checking the accuracy and correct alignment of

26 CASE STUDY AEC MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2008

AEC Graphisoft.indd 26 19/6/08 11:04:22

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

implements TEAM’s newest project, a regeneration Parmiter Street the construction industry. We will provide a complete
scheme in the East End of London. This mixed use is a £25 million solution for the client, where projects are more
development with over 600 residential units uses residential/commercial accurately designed and tighter controlled throughout.
many of the lessons learned and data input from the development that If you can offer that you have a real edge over your
previous project. Wallbank says, “Initially there was includes 105 three-, competitors.”
quite a lot of work to input the ‘recipe’ data at the four- and five-bed TEAM will also benefit from the use of 5D
start of the Parmiter Street project but that has now homes, as well as design in multiple ways. Its design and construction
fed through for use on this next development. Work accommodation team is able to keep constant track of project costs
that took one and a half months for the Parmiter Street for 55 students and programme implications. Problems are being
project is instantaneous on the new scheme because in medium rise designed out before work starts on site and the whole
the software has remembered what we need and can blocks around two pre-construction process is running more smoothly
apply it straight away.” courtyards. and more efficiently. In the long run, TEAM also plans
becomes quicker to manage into a 5D environment For the architect, 5D design represents a real to use the BIM model as a facilities management tool,
with every ‘recipe’ refinement and this enables the 5D chance to claw back some of the control lost to to check and update the environmental operation of
software to produce extremely accurate costing and design and build contracts, panelised system the building. www.graphisoft.co.uk
highly effective project planning and management. manufacturers, and even Ikea with its flat-pack
Virtual Construction enables everyone to work
in the same virtual environment. By providing a
homes. Virtual Construction gives the surety of cost
and quality that these less design-friendly solutions
“With 5D, we are looking at a new era in
platform in which all disciplines can operate it brings offer, while allowing architects the freedom to design the construction industry. We will provide
a level of transparency to the construction process inspiring buildings. It also automates some of the time
not previously seen. Designs can be checked and consuming elements of the design process, such as
a complete solution for the client, where
changed in the model; potential problems with cross checking consultants’ drawings, bringing more projects are more accurately designed and
materials or resources can be highlighted and speed and efficiency to the architect’s work.
attended to before work has started on site; and cost “We now 3D model all of our new projects,” says tighter controlled throughout.”
implications are apparent long before it is too late to Wallbank. “With 5D, we are looking at a new era in Ben Wallbank, JRA Director
make amendments.
“Three and now five dimensional modelling is
bringing about a change in the working methodology
of the architect,” says JRA Director Ben Wallbank.
“We have to move away from 2D design and become
proficient in these new techniques because clients and
main contractors want to use them. They see that these
advances can make the construction process more
efficient and if architects don’t grasp this opportunity to
control the design process someone else will.”
JRA’s Parmiter Street project has received
planning permission and now the model will be
developed further to produce a detailed design for
construction. The ‘recipes’ have been applied to
the design model and these will be re-used as JRA

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE CASE STUDY 27

AEC Graphisoft.indd 27 19/6/08 11:04:23

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

Staying on track
The East London Line is part of the London Underground Network and has been operating in
various guises since 1869. The line features the world’s first underwater tunnel, which was
relined and refurbished in the mid-1990s in anticipation of the East London Line upgrade.

T
he $2.75 billion East London Line Project will London Line tunnels. designs,” explains Mark Eaden, principal engineer at
connect Highbury and Islington Station on The track and the rest of the railway infrastructure, Mott MacDonald.
the North London Line with the Network Rail however, will be replaced throughout the length of the Mike Stubbs, head of engineering on the East
infrastructure in South London. The eight mile project central section, and the stations will be remodelled. London Line Project adds, “Signal sighting ensures
is expected to trigger economic revitalisation in areas A new facility at New Cross Gate will handle storage, physical obstructions cannot impede the sight lines
that are now poorly served by rail. Mott MacDonald, maintenance and cleaning for the fleet of trains. The to railway signals, and this can normally only be done
technical advisor to Transport for London on the facility will provide room to house 20 four-car units
East London Line Project, conducted the preliminary and service four units at a time from either of the East
design for the project. or North London Lines.
Like the trains that will eventually run along its Four stations will be built on the northern
tracks, a railway improvement project is governed extension to supplement the six at the central section
by exacting timetables. Phase 1 of the project and the two at the end of the southern extension. All
encompasses the infrastructure to extend the railway told, the project requires 10 new major structures
north to Dalston Junction Station along with a and two dozen minor structures. The central section
connection to the Network Rail infrastructure at New includes 36 new point ends along the route with 16
Cross Gate. This phase is scheduled for completion in more within the storage facility. Additionally, more
2010, in time for the 2012 Olympics in London. than 140 signals will be installed along the length of
Phase 1 is divided into three sections: northern, the railway.
central, and southern. Each section presents distinct
engineering challenges. For instance, the northern
extension runs 2.5 miles; 2 miles of which will use
Getting more from the model
structures abandoned in the 1980s. The central In the past, signal positioning on a new railway was
section is 2.3 miles in length, using the tunnels of the a matter of experience on the part of the designers
existing East London Line, and the southern extension involved. Today, there are solutions available that
is 2.2 miles in length. enable designers to build on that experience and
The northern extension route from Dalston eliminate possible risks.
south to Shoreditch will use the Victorian brick arch “Because roughly half of the infrastructure for
Kingsland Viaduct, which was abandoned in the the East London Line Project does not yet exist, Mott
1980s. From there, the new line will pass over the MacDonald used visualisation to resolve design issues
former Bishopsgate Goods Yard on a new concrete and move forward into detail design with increased
viaduct before ramping down to connect into the confidence in the validity of the designs. The firm built
existing East London Line at Valance Road. From the a 3D model of the railway using MicroStation based
Valance Road portal, the railway will use existing East on topographical surveys and current infrastructure

Mott MacDonald used visualisation to resolve design issues and move forward
into detail design with increased confidence in the validity of the designs.

28 CASE STUDY AEC MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2008

AEC Bentley Rail.indd 28 19/6/08 14:01:58

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

effectively on site. signal sighting, which was the total time allocated to a 21st century railway through 19th century infra­
“The use of virtual reality simulations has enabled design the signaling system. structure,” said Mark Eaden. “The alignment design
the signal sighting committee, as required by Network Over the six-month period, however, Mott broke many of the rules in the book, and the signaling
Rail standards, to assess the physical constraints and MacDonald spent only £135,000 on the 3D modelling scheme now employs some decidedly inventive
obstructions well before the railway infrastructure has process and sighting committee meetings. The solutions.”
been constructed, thus significantly reducing the risk eight miles of railway required more than 260 The New Cross Gate facility, for example,
of having to change things when on site,” he says. discrete models, including all aspects of the railway underwent several revisions during the project design.
About 80 signals will be positioned on existing infrastructure that affects the signal sighting process. Initially, the plan was to house 10 to 12 four-car
infrastructure. Conservative estimates assigned a cost Visualisations were initially based on designs in units. But when preliminary design started, that
of £7,000 to £8,300 per shift spent on signal sighting, 3D simulations have development and then modified as the design requirement had increased to 20 units, and included
for a total project cost of £0.6 million. enabled the signal progressed, which, of course, had to be completed light maintenance and heavy cleaning facilities. Further
Mott MacDonald estimated that, as with most sighting committee quickly to confirm design decisions. project enhancements required Mott MacDonald to
urban railways, the sighting committee could go out to assess physical The firm used an assortment of Bentley products, include a heavy maintenance facility for four train units,
only at night and resolve signal sighting issues at a constraints and including ProjectWise, ProjectWise Navigator, Bentley and a wheel-lathe and heavy-cleaning building as well.
rate of one signal per shift on average, meaning that obstructions well Rail Track, and Bentley CloudWorx. “The modelling Bentley solutions enabled the team to make these
it would take as long as six months to complete the before construction. process highlighted the complexities of threading changes quickly, and helped guide design decisions.
The signal sighting process highlighted a critical flaw
in the operability of the storage facility, which the Mott
MacDonald team resolved quickly and efficiently. “The
use of Bentley software in the signal sighting activity
has enabled the project team to significantly reduce
any chance that the design would need to be changed
during construction,” said Mike Stubbs.
The original request for an initial signal sighting
assessment resulted in 18 months of continuous
work for the Mott MacDonald modelling team, which
included three engineering technicians, an operations
professional, and an engineering project manager. The
firm is developing proposals to continue the process
through the detailed design phase of the East London
Line Project.
“The initial phases of signal sighting yielded
a measurable savings in time and costs, but these
direct savings pale in comparison with the potential
financial and schedule savings associated with the
risks of errors at the detail design and implementation
stages,” said Mark Eaden.
During detail design, for example, a change in
position of a single signal could result in rework
ranging from £21,000 to £53,000, not to mention
several weeks of delay in the schedule. But if that
same error arose in the procurement stage of the
project, the costs and schedule implications would
increase by a factor of 10.
From the start Mott MacDonald intended the 3D
model to deliver more value than simply assessing
signal sighting. In fact, the model is now used to
inform design decisions ranging from passenger
evacuation analysis to interdisciplinary checks. The
modeling process is designed to leave as many
avenues as possible open to exploration. For instance,
the savings from using the 3D models to train drivers
is estimated to be over £3 million.
www.bentley.com

Project details
East London Line Project
Mott MacDonald Ltd
Project Objective
Develop a 3D model to accelerate the threading
of a 21st century railway through 19th century
infrastructure.

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE CASE STUDY 29

AEC Bentley Rail.indd 29 19/6/08 14:02:02

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

Visualising the project plan

With the help of Autodesk’s NavisWorks, project contractor Skanska took on major modernisation at two
London hospitals and was able to simulate how architecture, structure and building services would come together on site.

R
ebuilding and refurbishing any major building Top: Skanska used
is always a complex task with many contractors NavisWorks to ‘walk
and services to be managed. But when the the delvery route for
building is a hospital, built in Victorian times and bulky equipment such
now ready to be brought into the 21st century, the as this MRI scanner
complexities multiply. and identify any
That is the task facing Skanska, the main potential problems .
contractor to Barts and The London NHS Trust as they
modernise both their major sites: Barts in the City and Bottom: NavisWorks
the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. The trust is helped ensure there
committing around one billion pounds to the project, was clear and safe
due for completion by 2015. With stakes that high, access for future
Skanska needs to keep the project firmly on track. maintenance and
The company has an excellent record in delivering operation.
major building works. It was responsible for 30 St
Mary Axe in the City of London, better known as the
Swiss Re Building or The Gherkin. To help co-ordinate
sub-contractors and the installation of plant and
building modules, Skanska turned to the JetStream
software package from NavisWorks, now part of the
Autodesk family. much of the standard building plant, though, they can
“The software combines designs from different 3D only be delivered to a finished, clean and dust-free
packages into a single model,” explains David Grieve environment.
of Autodesk. “With support for around 50 different file “An MRI scanner is a big piece of machinery
formats we can bring virtually any project together into that needs to be delivered late in the construction
one 3D model which the project management team process, preferably after the walls have gone up,” says
can use to review the design and progress on site. Skanska’s David Throssell. “Demolishing walls on site
“You can review the design without the need to to get machinery around corners represents a cost and
understand CAD, and use that to see how elements a time over-run, which we need to avoid.
fit together,” he continues. “It is a four-dimensional “With the complete 3D model in NavisWorks we
package, with main contractors using it to build a can quickly create the MRI scanner in its packaging
timeline of processes. Some will even put up a time and move it through the virtual world to its final
lapse camera and compare it with the timeline in sub-stations – and partly because of the time it would position. In turn that means we can make changes to
NavisWorks.” take on site. the design – raising doors or widening corridors – to
David Throssell, co-ordination specialist at “Using NavisWorks we could ‘walk’ the delivery make it work.”
Skanska for the Barts and The London project, route for each unit, and identify where there were MRI scanners and the various other large items
concurs. “We are now established users of the problems,” he continues. “It allows us to specify larger of specialist equipment required in a state-of-the-art
software to animate how architecture, structure and doorways where these would be a problem, and delay hospital are expensive as well as highly functional,
services will fit together on a project plan. We are finishing some corridor walls, which would otherwise and so the Trust had a separate procurement process
now finding new uses for it, and it is clear that we have been too narrow. Thanks to the NavisWorks model for each to ensure they got the best deal in terms
can demonstrate real savings in cost and improve the we can identify every installation problem and plan of performance and cost. Different manufacturers’
robustness of our timescales.” them out, making for a smoother job.” offerings for each application would, of course, be
Throssell quotes a simple example for the Royal The same planning benefits are being applied in their own housings, sometimes differing widely in
London site. The refurbished building needed twelve to large pieces of plant, service modules and other size. David Throssell and his team at Skanska needed
electrical sub-stations, installed in different places equipment. Using the timeline functionality allows to be sure that the delivery route was clear whichever
within the building. As project managers, Skanska Skanska to make the best use of resources, for supplier of machine was selected.
needed to know that each could be physically instance planning to build partition walls as soon as “We use NavisWorks for spatial co-ordination
delivered to its plant room as well as installed safely all the large modules have been installed. between disciplines, but we are taking it much
when it got there. But what marks a hospital out as an even more further,” he says. “We use it to see what we can
“One option would be to run factory tests then demanding case is the requirement to install highly build before we move plant in, and we use it to see
disassemble the sub-stations, move them into place sophisticated diagnostic systems such as MRI that there is good, clear and safe access for future
in parts, then re-assemble and retest them,” Throssell scanners and linear accelerators. These, too, are large maintenance and operation. That is what NavisWorks
explains. “We did not want to do that, partly because pieces of equipment which need to be delivered to is good at – giving us a complete view of our project
of the cost – around £10,000 for each of the 12 their final locations as finished assemblies. Unlike in a virtual world.” www.autodesk.com

30 CASE STUDY AEC MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2008

AEC Skanska.indd 30 19/6/08 17:22:07

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

AutoCAD Map 3D helps bridge the data

divide at Rushmoor Borough Council
Good decision-making depends on everyone working with the best data possible. Rushmoor Borough Council, south-west
of London, has done just that by using AutoCAD Map to bring together its design and geographic information.

A
ccess to spatial information is one of the most exactly the same system they were before, but with
powerful tools available to town planners, added functionality.”
utilities and government. In Rushmoor it is a
vital, day to day part of the working of the authority,
from those responsible for the upkeep of the council’s
Simple rollout
public buildings, to traffic planners and building This massive benefit to users was delivered without
control. With around 250 users requiring access to any major upheaval. “It was simply a matter of
spatial data from several different mapping systems, establishing the correct connection to the main GIS
the call was for a simple, fast way of bringing them datastore, then rolling them out across all the CAD
together on a single set of information without limiting workstations in the council,” Richard explained. “We
their ability to carry out their individual roles. took the opportunity to upgrade to AutoCAD Map 3D
Because of the way that geographical systems 2008 at the same time, and the whole rollout went
had grown within the authority there were a number surprisingly smoothly. To access the new, unified data
of different, discrete systems. ESRI ArcSDE was a key set it is just like opening a folder.”
part of the authority’s strategy, but other parts of the How each officer uses the data depends, of
organisation used other software, including AutoCAD AutoCAD Map 3D is course, on the task at hand. The underlying OS
Civil. It meant that data could not readily be swapped a powerful mapping MasterMap can be combined with aerial photography,
between departments, and developments in one area solution and provides and then the appropriate GIS data added on further
need not necessarily be updated in the data sets of a bridge between layers. That data might be noise contours or
other departments CAD and geographic monitoring data for environmental health, or it could
“We hold around 400 active spatial data sets,” information. be road markings or planned new building access for
explained Richard Greaney, GIS officer for Rushmoor the highways department. CAD and ESRI data work
Borough Council. “We wanted to move to a position seamlessly together.
where every user could connect to this data, confident How each officer uses the data depends, of “The really key point is that everyone is looking
they were working with the most accurate, up to date course, on the task at hand. at the same information,” said Richard Greaney. “This
spatial information we possess.” goes a long way to eliminating errors. It is also a
It was Autodesk that delivered the solution. data set. Each user maintains access to their preferred big efficiency saving in GIS management: keeping
AutoCAD Map 3D is a powerful mapping solution in tools and way of working, but now they are all working multiple systems up to date meant multiple data
its own right, but it also provides a bridge between with the same single map information, based on the loads. Now we just update once – everyone looks at
CAD and geographic information. By conforming AutoCAD and ESRI OS MasterMap for the area. the same central data.
where possible to the evolving Open Geospatial users at Rushmoor “It was important that we added the new “It has also boosted collaboration,” he said.
Consortium (OGC) standards it provides a simple Borough Council now functionality and data into the existing way each user “Previously CAD users – building control, estates
and efficient way to share information dynamically, share a common worked,” Richard emphasised. “The great success and traffic – were isolated from GIS users. Now they
allowing each user to work with the tools that suit data set. of the Autodesk route is that everyone is now using are part of the same user group, and we are actively
them best. encouraging them to promote the data they are
In practice, it means that AutoCAD and ESRI users creating to other users, particularly as they get used to
at Rushmoor Borough Council now share a common the powerful way that GIS can help them.”
Implementing this new connectivity, using Autodesk
“It was a lot easier than AutoCAD Map as the unifying element to bridge
systems, has proved to be a simple yet immensely
we expected to achieve valuable step for Rushmoor Borough Council. “It was

connectivity, and already generally a trouble-free process – it felt like a natural

progression from where we were,” Richard said. “It was a
we are seeing increased lot easier than we expected to achieve connectivity, and
already we are seeing increased efficiency for our users
efficiency for our users and savings in data management time.
andsavings in data “This really is just the start for our potential
spatial/CAD usage. And most important of all, the
management time.” users are happy with the set-up – they see this new
Richard Greaney, GIS officer for approach as a positive step.”
Rushmoor Borough Council. www.autodesk.com

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE CASE STUDY 31

AEC AutoCAD x.indd 31 19/6/08 11:06:33

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

Kicking goals
iKix was India’s first service bureau chain for architectural 3D printing. By encouraging model making at all stages of the
design process, is helping take rapid prototyping technology to the next level and using it as a project management tool.

I
n his two decades in the computer-aided design
industry, R. ‘Partha’ Parthasarathy’s first question
to clients has always been: “What problems can
we solve for you?”
“Getting our projects to market more quickly,” is
the inevitable answer.
In the AEC world, Partha has discovered that
projects are often delayed due to two main reasons
– inappropriate communication and lack of scientific
project management.

Discovering 3D printing
Just two years ago, however, Partha discovered
a technology that offered an entirely fresh way to
compress time to market for architects and everyone
involved in building projects: 3D printing.
3D printing could provide on-demand identical
sets of three-dimensional physical models of
buildings and communities at every stage of a project
to every stakeholder. Partha instantly realised that this
would dramatically improve communication, increase
efficiency and eliminate costly errors. Thus was born
iKix, India’s first service bureau chain for architectural
3D printing.
Based in Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu, Above and above fact, we can print a model of a community of 1,000 “The architecture community communicates in
iKix serves top Indian architects and construction right: 3D printing acres – including homes, schools, churches, temples, two dimensions only because there hasn’t been a
companies like Hiranandani, ETA Star and L & T South helped highlight golf courses and more – in six weeks versus five viable technology for readily communicating in three
City. Though based in India, iKix is a global company. concerns about months for handcrafting the model,” he says. “The dimensions until now. 3D printing is a breakthrough
It accepts orders online and delivers models in the over-crowding time and cost advantage is even more pronounced that I believe will redefine technical communication
United States through its partner IDEAL Scanners & in this urban when plans change and models need to be modified for the next 200 years. Every design should be
Systems. iKix has created about 200 architectural residential project. on the fly.” represented in 3D, and soon will be. It is my sincere
models for US customers alone. As a result, and 3D printing’s value stems from its breakthrough desire that all architects move to 3D soon. Every
much earlier on in ability to print three-dimensional physical objects customer of iKix has come back repeatedly for

Rising to the challenge the design process,

the architect
from 3D data. It operates in much the same way as
a traditional office printer produces documents from
subsequent projects. They have found the benefits
irresistible.”
The traditional method for creating an architectural moved a pool and word-processing data. iKix uses the Spectrum Z510 Consider a typical large residential community.
model is handcrafting in cardboard or Styrofoam. fitness club into the full-color 3D printing system from Z Corporation It takes perhaps three months to design and 15
Because of the long lead time and expense required centre of the site to of Burlington, Massachusetts, maker of the world’s months to build. Two months into construction, with
to produce such a creation, architects usually ease congestion. fastest 3D printers and the only ones capable of all trades working from 2D blueprints, the architect
commission these models only when it’s time to printing in multiple colors. sees something amiss due to a misinterpretation of
reveal final plans to the public. The Z510’s agility enables architects and project the plans: a misplaced wall or a staircase headed for a
iKix, however, can ‘3D print’ a typical project managers to quickly obtain multiple physical models of support column. The choices are 1) tearing everything
in six to ten days, far less than the month that a project – one for the architect, the client, the general down after 20 percent of the project is built, incurring
handcrafting a model requires, according to Partha. “In contractor, the subcontractors and the civil authorities. major loss of time, labour and material; or 2)
“A 3D printer is more than a prototyper,” says Partha. accepting the mistake and continuing construction.

“What is intended in plans is often starkly “It has become a project management tool.” Neither option works. Handcrafted models don’t solve
the problem. They are approximations of the plan
different from what is executed. That’s why
The way we think while a 3D printed model essentially is the plan.
“What is intended in plans is often starkly different
iKix clients are commissioning 3D printed Architects and contractors have traditionally worked from what is executed,” observes Partha. “That’s why
physical models from the earliest stages of from 2D plans. While seemingly precise, 2D plans iKix clients are commissioning 3D printed physical
in fact lend themselves to interpretation – and thus models from the earliest stages of the design and
the design and avoiding these catastrophes.” misinterpretation. “The human mind thinks in three avoiding these catastrophes. Clients bring us in early
R. ‘Partha’ Parthasarathy, owner and founder of iKix dimensions, not two,” explains Partha. and start making models from the concept stage,

32 CASE STUDY AEC MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2008

AEC ZCorps x.indd 32 19/6/08 11:25:20

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

which is yielding project management savings in the prospective occupants to view.

three to eight percent range, which is huge given the Because 3D prints emerge directly from CAD data,
size of their construction budgets.” they are more accurate than handcrafted models, and
Chander Seetaraman, CEO of CS Designs, a top it’s easy to make multiple copies – almost unheard of
design firm in India and an early iKix user confirms in hand modelling. It’s also easy to scale models up
the cost benefits of 3D printing: “The value of the or down without losing data.
iKix models are really in the time and money saved iKix chose the Spectrum Z510 because of Z
due to cost and time overruns avoided. They pay for Corporation printers’ unique ability to print in multiple
themselves right at the early stages of the project.” colours. This is an essential capability for non-
Partha offers the example of a recent urban technical audiences as well as painting contractors,
residential project with hundreds of clustered units. decorators and exterior contractors. Colour is also
The client was happy with the plans, but when he saw essential for applying labels and texture to models for
the iKix model, he immediately worried the units were maximum impact.
too crowded together. The architect moved a pool “Full-colour, 3D printing offers so many
and fitness club into the center of the site to ease the advantages,” says Partha. “It communicates
congestion. This is a solution that all parties would stages. “If you present a client with four design The modular nature information directly in the way humans think so they
have otherwise missed – until the buildings were options,” Partha says, “a client is likely to choose of iKix models, such can fully, deeply understand what the project will
halfway to completion. a fifth by requesting elements of the first four.” Not as this freeway, look like and what the project will be like. How can
Civil engineering projects need physical models, only can iKix print that fifth option on demand, clients makes them simple an architect not take advantage of 3D printing when
too, according to Partha. When officials are planning can move 3D printed models of buildings, pools and to pack, transport it will save money and save time? I ask customers
to build a highway overpass, for example, they must parking lots around at will so they can reconfigure a and reassemble. to just try it once. When they do, the benefits are
plan temporary traffic flows over the various phases design on the spot. That’s because iKix purposefully overwhelmingly obvious, and they call us in from the
of the job. Having 3D physical models for every stage builds its models in a modular fashion. Handcrafted beginning of the next project – not as a vendor but
eliminates confusion and improves construction models, by contrast, are fragile and glued in place, more as a partner. Like the architect.”
efficiency. often with an off-putting ‘do not touch’ warning. Remember, says Partha: “Project efficiency
The modular nature of iKix models also makes decreases quite rapidly as the number of stakeholders

Options and changes are easy them simple to pack, transport and reassemble at
different venues for different audiences. A model used
increases. Proper communication is therefore key to
managing projects well. iKix 3D prints are a great way
Unlike hand modellers, iKix is able to present clients for obtaining building permits, for example, can be to increase project execution efficiencies.”
with multiple options for projects at the earliest packed up and reassembled in the sales office for www.zcorp.com

MAY/JUNE 2008 AEC MAGAZINE CASE STUDY 33

AEC ZCorps x.indd 33 19/6/08 11:25:24

 WWW.AECMAG.COM

Océ CrystalPoint
It’s not often a new print technology comes along and certainly not one that promises so much.
CrystalPoint from Océ is being seen by many as the future of wide format colour printing, a bold
statement for a technology that distributes its ink by rolling balls down a chute. By Greg Corke.

O
ce’s new CrystalPoint technology is designed Left: With six media rolls, four 500g
to bridge the gap between LED and inkjet, CMYK cartridges and a top delivery tray
offering full colour output at speeds never for 100 prints, the ColorWave 600 has
seen before. It has been in development for ‘production-level colour printer’ written
over 10 years at an estimated cost of €150 all over it.
million. With that kind of money behind it
and with a company the size of Océ at the
reins, CrystalPoint’s unveiling last month in
Print quality
Venlo sent ripples through the wide format print When compared with a typical inkjet, the ColorWave
industry. 600 does not offer the same level of print quality, but
CrystalPoint technology is not dissimilar to inkjet it is still good. While linework is excellent, the output
insofar as it jets tiny droplets of ink (gel) on to paper. colours on renderings or photographs lack a little
But unlike the de-facto wide format colour standard, vibrancy.
which needs specialist coated paper, it does this onto However, inkjet technology sets incredibly high
plain paper. standards and to achieve best results you need to
Instead of ink or powder-based toner, CrystalPoint print on photo quality paper. It shouldn’t be forgotten
uses solid colour toner balls made out of resin. Each that the ColorWave 600 uses plain paper and the silk
TonerPearl is about the size of a small marble and finish, which means there are no reflections under
is delivered to the imaging device by rolling down bright office lighting, will also appeal to many users.
a delivery chute. When each TonerPearl reaches the For the past decade and beyond, the technical
imaging device it is heated and turns into a toner
gel, which is then jetted onto the plain paper in tiny
Océ ColorWave 600 wide format printing market has been served by two
core technologies, inkjet and LED. Colour inkjet
droplets much like an inkjet. However, unlike standard CrystalPoint is the technology, but the first product is great for producing photo quality prints but it is
inkjet ink, Océ’s TonerPearls include a special agent, to come to market is the ColorWave 600, a 42-inch relatively slow so not ideally suited to a production
which crystallises once it has adhered itself to the (A0+) capable wide format printer with a price tag environment. It also requires special coated paper
media. The result is an instant dry print with a stronger from £30,000. It delivers a single colour linework A0 for best results. LED, on the other hand, delivers
bond and a semi gloss silk finish. Prints are also drawing in a breathtaking 31 seconds, which is about incredibly sharp prints on plain paper. It is also
waterfast, which makes them ideal for use on site. twice as fast as a top-end inkjet, though Océ says it extremely quick with some machines churning out
really comes into its own in terms of throughput when over ten A0s per minute. The downside is that it does
delivering full colour prints. this in monochrome only.
Below: The Océ ColorWave 600’s CMYK Backing up this raw print speed, the ColorWave Oce’s CrystalPoint looks to offer the best of both
cartridges are packed full of resin-based 600 is all about production level printing. It has worlds – production level printing in full colour. It
TonerPearls. These are delivered to the capacity for six media rolls, each containing is not up there with LED in terms of speed, but the
imaging device by gravity up to 200 metres of plain paper and four benefits of full colour shouldn’t be underestimated in
as and when required. 500g TonerPearl cartridges (CMYK), terms of its ability to communicate designs.
which sit in clear cartridges on For years engineers and designers have sacrificed
the top of the machine. A top colour for throughput. With Oce’s CrystalPoint there’s
mounted delivery tray has capacity now a platform on which to find the middle ground
for 100 prints and an optional folder and and while the first generation product doesn’t quite
stacker are borrowed from Oce’s volume tick all the boxes when it comes to speed and quality,
monochrome devices. it’s certainly a groundbreaking technology and one
In terms of job delivery, Océ’s which will be extremely interesting to track in the
new Print Assistant software helps coming years. www.oce.com/colorwave
choose the correct print mode by
analysing each job as it is sent
and adjusting the settings for draft, Hardware review
production, or presentation. In terms
of quality, there is very little between
Product: ColorWave 600
linework prints in draft and presentation Supplier: Océ
mode, so this is a useful way to enforce Price: From £30,000
ink savings.

AEC MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2008

34 AEC Oce x.indd 1 19/6/08 11:29:47

 cadventure_a6_ad 19/6/08 16:39 Page 1

cadventure
integrated solutions

3D Solutions for a
3D World
> 3D Printers > Support
> Modelling > Software
> Training > Visualisation

the building centre

26 store street, london wc1e 7bt
tel: 0870 811 0141

w w w. c a d v e n t u r e . c o . u k

When�you�need STRONG parts,�you

need�the Elite�3D printer.

The�Elite�includes�all�the�features�of�the�hugely�popular�Dimension�but�also�offers�ABS�Plus
which�is�40%�stronger�than�the�Standard�material.

Call�Laser�Lines�on�01295�672500�for�further�information,�or�visit�our�website:

www.3dprinting.co.uk

p35 AEC Ads.indd 1 20/06/2008 10:04:38

HP Ad.indd 1 3/6/08 11:55:50