tekla news for building and construction summer 2012

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Tekla News for Building & ConstructionNews Summer 2012

For Building & Construction

A TRIMBLE COMPANY

a BIM, fun and games“BIM: a word that comes with a connotation of complexity, challenge, and massive projects”

T BIM: a word that comes with a connotation of complexity, challenge, and massive projects. This belief certainly has certain realism as BIM is often needed to tackle large and complicated construction projects that come with numerous project parties and sky-high budgets.

When finished, many of those complex, challenging, and iconic construction projects serve recreational purposes and provide good visitor experiences. In this issue of Tekla News, we visit the Blue Planet aquarium construction site in Denmark, Euro 2012 football venue in Gdansk, Poland, and the Orbit where sculpture meets a viewing platform in London’s Olympic Park.

So have fun with BIM and enjoy the creative results of BIM as you watch sports on TV and the places you might travel this summer!

Tekla News for Building & Construction editors

ps. BIM is not only for enormous challenges. Small projects with less than 2000 parts can benefit of 3D modeling too, as we show in Tekla’s new webpage about modeling miscellaneous steelwork introduced in this newsletter.

a BIM, fun, and games

a Join BIM workflow with your iPad or iPhone

a Complexity under control with Tekla BIMsight in Seattle’s massive tunnel

a We need to agree what goes in the BIM

a Offshore user case: Lamprell and Tekla BIM software

a Tekla for your business: New websites for offshore, bridges, PEB

a New videos online: learn about precast concrete and see successful BIM projects

a User meeting season is here

a Bad year for the software pirates

a Time to swap StruCad for Tekla

a Tekla Structures 18.0 SR 2 now available

a User Feedback Program collects feedback for development

a IMG addprinter

a Where would the fish go if there was no BIM?

a Goooooal! in Gdansk

a Orbit of the London Olympic Park

a New owner for a Nokia Lumia phone

In this issue:

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Tekla News for Building & Construction

a The brand new Tekla BIMsight Note is the first tool in the Apple App Store that allows you to contribute to openBIM workflow via your iOS mobile device. With Tekla BIMsight Note anyone can use an iPhone or iPad to receive and reply to notes created in Tekla BIMsight. Simply use the combination of note text and image and communicate your thoughts to other users of the model.

Tekla BIMsight Note is a free, purpose-built tool for instant communication on-site and on-the-move. The application is connected to the Tekla BIMsight model andleaves a traceable mark to the BIM workflow so information is not missed. The communication trail is maintained within the Tekla BIMsight project.

a Join BIM workflow with your iPad or iPhone

a The Orbit of the London Olympic Park

C The London Olympics are soon here, and what would be a better place to see the entire Olympic Park than the ArcelorMittal Orbit? In this 115 meter tall structure, a viewing tower meets sculpture - The Orbit is the largest piece of public art in the Great Britain. Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond designed the new attraction and TJ Hazels modeled the complex tubular structure with Tekla Structures.

The Orbit offered its builders some challenges. Watson Steel Structures Ltd cultivated a unique way of exporting parts from a Tekla BIM model to a jig assembly model, which the company has developed over

the past 5 years. In their workflow, component were isolated in the model and turned into manageable working planes. After this the jigs were modeled using Tekla software with internally developed custom components. The company took advantage of Tekla API to develop a macro that gave the Orbit the essential bolt positions, which were then surveyed in the fabrication shop.

Any picture of the ArcelorMittal Orbit tells about complicated geometry and so do the nicknames the construction team used to describe the geometry of the jigs, one being ‘star jigs’ and the other ‘intestine jigs’.

Photo: George Rex

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a Complexity under control with Tekla BIMsight in Seattle’s massive tunnel

W Then your construction project uses a boring machine 100 meters (328 ft) tall and 17 meter (55 ft) in diameter, you are likely to also need partners, collaboration, information sharing, and BIM to succeed. Just like in Seattle, where the Seattle Tunnel Partners design-build contractor team hired HNTB as the designer for the State Route 99 Tunnel project. The massive and extremely complex project combines civil engineering, structures, architectural elements, mechanical & electrical systems, and traffic management.

Infrastructure design services

“Infrastructure design services provider HNTB chose Tekla BIMsight to combine models of numerous disciplines, review those models and capture areas of interest.”

provider HNTB chose Tekla BIMsight to combine models of numerous disciplines, review those models and capture areas of interest. The benefits of 3D modeling and added detail are best realized when all project parties are able to view and utilize the available data. Tekla BIMsight

a We need to agree what goes in to BIMA At the moment, the construction industry agents have a variety of ideas of building information modeling. This reflects to different approaches to models, which may differ from each other uncomfortably much. BIM has become so widely used throughout the construction industry it needs standards.

The standardization work has started on national level. Finland was the very first to publish a set of national BIM standards in late March, the USA followed soon after, and discussion around the topic goes on in Great Britain.

The new National BIM Standard-United States™ (NBIMS-US™) is

designed to develop a state of consensus on BIM. The lifecycle of a building information model has become longer and the number of parties is increasing so there is more room for incompatibility and problems deriving from it. NBIMS-US™ aims to standardizing the way of treating, exchanging and even utilizing information: there is a strong will to enter the data just once, overcome the problems already with the as-built model, and deliver an electronic manual with the facility to its owner. National Institute of Building Sciences does not oblige of the NBIMS-US™ being used outside the US either.

In Finland, the current national BIM standards have their roots in the BIM requirements of Senate Properties, the state property owner company. Also buildingSMART Finland and several leading companies have contributed to creating the standards and they are committed to work according to the standards. The requirements are now clearer and encourage transparency, and aim to including the usage and maintenance of the structure into the BIM process.

Well, all this sounds very much like the spirit of BIM; let’s ease changing information.

allows HNTB to easily combine models from all disciplines, view models with smooth navigation features and capture areas of interest with ease.

The new tunnel will improve travelers’ safety as it is seismically safe unlike the previously damaged elevated road it replaces.

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T Tekla has published new web pages concerning modeling in different branches in steel structure construction. The products modeled with Tekla can range from an offshore platform to staircase, but some ways to take advantage of BIM may be reminiscent.

An offshore project often engages a wide group of parties: offshore contractors, structural engineers, steel detailers, and fabricators as well as concrete detailers and manufacturers

a Lamprell’s engineers in the United Arab Emirates have been using Tekla BIM software since 2007. Although Tekla software received resentment from numerous employees in the beginning, since most were comfortable with 2D;the change has turned out to be extremely beneficial for the offshore company.

Tekla support has been excellent throughout the time that we have been using this product, and feel assured”, says Suresh Ramadoss, Engineering Manager at Lamprell. Results show that the speed,accuracy, productivity and efficiency has highly increased.

One reason Lamprell chose Tekla is that the company can manage more extensive and intricate 3D projects compared to other modeling solutions. As Tekla BIM software has proven to be accurate, Lamprell is looking positively into the future regarding the forthcoming projects.

They obviously have reason to be confident. Lamprell introduced their topside modules for Tekla’s Middle East Model Competition and in 2010 won the Best Offshore Project category. They also had their Jasmine living quarters Platform chosen as the Best Industrial-Steel Industrial Project, which reached all the way to the Tekla Global BIM Awards in 2011.

who need to share the same environment. Working on a single model can ease the workflow also for the builders of transmission towers who can include foundation layout, tower components and connections, and then create production drawings

a Offshore user case: Lamprell and Tekla BIM software

a Tekla for your business: New websites for offshore, bridges, PEB… “Tekla has published new web pages concerning modeling in different branches in steel structure construction.”

from the same 3D model. Designers of Pre Engineered buildings can utilize the sales models as the basis for detailed engineering work.

Miscellaneous metal work typically includes small projects like stairs, handrails, balustrades, and

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sheet metal work. Here Tekla software is useful as a prototyping tool and presenting visual to the client as part of the bidding process and during the project is often an asset. Another group that regularly needs to present visualizations is bridge

What else is there? See the new Tekla sites at tek.la/6t

T Tekla’s user meeting season has started and will go on around the globe until October. User meetings receive attendees from all areas of the building and construction industry including steel and precast detailers and fabricators, steel erectors, structural engineers, contractors, and more. Generally, the user meetings share the agenda of workshops, keynote speakers, networking, and naturally BIM Awards modeling contests, the local qualifiers for the Tekla Global BIM Awards.

India was very early to start this year as Tekla India organized the user meeting already in April. Tekla’s Mumbai office reports that the event was a huge success, and the attending customers are to thank as they participated actively to the sessions and workshops. Many active

users participated to the Indian model competition, too. In Italy, Tekla’s reseller Harpaceas organized the user meeting in May. You can see the local BIM awards winners and refresh your Italian on their webpage.

North America is one of the many user meetings to come as it will be held in Florida from August 15 to 17. Keynote speaker of the event is Ray Napolitan, President, Vulcraft/Verco Group. The organizers of the event wish to help the participants by demonstrating how you can work better and more efficiently under current economic situation

Tekla France arranges two user days this year, one event in Paris and one in Toulouse. The events are only slightly different in program but well apart in time and distance as the Paris

event takes place on June 21st and Toulouse on October 4th.

In addition to France, also Tekla UK divided the user days into two. The User Workshop will take place on 26th September and the Managers Day on 25th September. The User Workshops are aimed at the end users of our products and are technical and learning oriented. The Managers Day focuses on how companies are using Tekla Structures innovatively and in a collaborative way to improve their business processes

To put it short: You are welcome! We would like to meet as many of our customers as possible - be it in Mumbai, Orlando, Toulouse or Tokyo.

a User meeting season is here

a New videos online: learn about precast concrete and see successful BIM projects

a Tekla has published a new set of videos for those who wish to learn the basics of using Tekla Structures for precast concrete. The

16 short demo videos with audio instructions lasts 40 minutes. The videos show how to create models and use concrete modeling tools, add foundations, columns, beams, panels, reinforcements, and manual rebar. As projects do not stop in the end of modeling, so the videos also teach how to create general arrangement and cast unit drawings from the models, cut sections and export data.

Everybody needs a bit of extra inspiration now and then. For those moments, the Tekla Global BIM Awards winners videos have now been published online.

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a Time to swap StruCad for Tekla

C The first half of 2012 has already brought good results in Tekla’s fight against the software pirates who disregard the Tekla Structures license agreement and weaken the competitive strength of legitimately licensed customers.

Tekla has widened its reach in the fight and made successful anti-piracy actions in 23 countries this year alone. We are pursuing pirate users in Europe, Asia, and the Americas through several court cases. The increased activity and enthusiasm of regional Tekla offices and resellers are to thank for encouraging results in anti-piracy actions. We also work in close co-operation with our global partner ITCA that acts as a trusted third party to facilitate software vendors and their clients to tackle the issues around software licensing.

- “It’s has been a good year for our legitimate customers and we are dedicated to continue and evolve the fight against software piracy,” comments André Corniere, Steel Segment Director at Tekla.

“It’s has been a good year for our legitimate customers and we are dedicated to continue and evolve the fight against software piracy,” comments André Corniere, Steel Segment Director at Tekla.

T Trimble Navigation and Tekla’s acquisition of StruCad earlier this year puts the companies in position to lead the technology development of BIM software for steel detailing and fabrication. Nearly 2000 users have decided to swap their StruCad licenses for Tekla Structures.

The number of swapped licenses tells that the StruCad users see the benefits of Tekla Stuctures and value of the swapping deal. If you have a valid maintenance contract with Strucad and swap it for Tekla before the first of July, you only pay for maintenance until the end of year 2012 at the time of the swap. And those who move to Tekla during this year get the Tekla license on the price of the maintenance fee for 2012 and 2013.

a Bad year for the software pirates

a AceCad switched Strucad to Tekla

T One of the customers who swapped StruCad to Tekla is AceCad Software Group, former developer of StruCad software, who also runs successful drawing and design office. Richard Brotherton, Executive Director to AceCad Software Group, talks about AceCad’s experiences on Tekla software after switching to Tekla on video at www.tekla.com

a User Feedback Program aims at development

T -“We got really valuable feedback, obviously the functions were easy to relate to. It feels good to see that sometimes even a small improvement can make big impact”, says Carlos Vasquez, the project manager of the Tekla user feedback program. The development of the functions will continue based on the feedback.

The next round of user feedback program will follow later this year. If you got interested and want to participate to the next round, please

contact your local Tekla team.

Genuine user feedback is truly valuable information when Tekla develops its products further. To collect feedback, Tekla periodically carries out user feedback program.

User feedback program lasts from one to two months and is organized a few times a year. Tekla Structures users on maintenance can sign up for the user feedback program to give their opinion on the development.

The program uses various methods to collect users’ opinions: questionnaires, interviews, test assignments on test software, or simply exchanging ideas about a certain topic without sticking to a strict agenda. The participants

communicate mainly through the dedicated Tekla Extranet discussion forum where they can see each others’ comments and take the discussion further.

The user feedback program on the early summer 2012 focused on collecting development feedback on basic functions that are used frequently.

“The participants communicate mainly through the dedicated Tekla Extranet discussion forum where they can see each others’ comments and take the discussion further.”

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T Tekla Structures 18.0 Service Release 2 and updates for most environments packages have been released in early June for all customers on maintenance. Service releases contain lots of useful fixes, and Tekla recommends the latest service pack for all TS 18.0 users.

Some highlights of fixes:• Youcannowaddmultiple

printers into the printer catalog in separate batches.

• Theobjecthistoryisnowcollected correctly in the multi-user mode.

a Tekla Structures 18.0 SR 2 now available

• Theviewselectionisnowreleasedautomatically when moving views to another drawing, and you will no longer need to reopen the drawing to refresh it.

a BIM for the fish

T The Blue Planet, the forthcoming home to Denmark’s Aquarium, will be the largest and most advanced aquarium in Northern Europe. The structurally challenging building is currently under construction near Copenhagen. The idea behind the architecture is a whirlpool which is reminiscent of the oceans with fish, birds, and currents, and that requires a lot from the designers and contractors.

Project engineer Moe & Brødsgaard chose Tekla BIM software to tackle the complicated geometry of the steel construction and surface. As the surface is double curved, all elements of the steel structure and model are unique. Tekla Structures could manage the complicated project and help to clarify the geometry.

The Blue Planet is far from a domestic aquarium. J. Langkjær Stålbyg A/S supplies a total of 700 tons of bearing steel during the construction and uses ca. 9,700 drawings for cutting and sawing the materials. BIM makes manufacturing the steel components more precise and simultaneously saves time as adjustments at the construction site can be avoided.

At Moe & Brødsgaard’s, 3D modeling has changed the way of working with

both internal and external partners. 3D modeling makes all parties involved in creating the design of the project in a new way, and has led to a deeper understanding of the project and thus improved quality. The project team of the Blue Planet has spent more time on the geometry and solved problems in engineering phase instead of construction site.

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a Goooooal! in Gdansk

T Euro 2012 football is going on strong. In architectural sense, one of the most interesting venues to host the championships is the PGE Arena Gdansk which Martifer Polska modeled with Tekla BIM software.

The structure…

The PGE Arena can accommodate over 40,000 spectators. Essentially, the Arena is a football venue but it also includes a hotel and roller skating circuit. The structure, which is likely

to get diminutive attention from the Euro 2012 spectators and players, has curved 45,000m2 exterior consisting of 18,000 plates that resemble amber which has long been extracted along the Baltic coast. A steelwork structure made of 82 girders, totaling 6,440

tons of metallic elements, supports the 45 meters high venue.

…and how to build it

Martifer Polska created a 3D model which functioned as information source for fabrication and assembly of the metallic structure,

and the construction team used it to simulate temporary constructions and assembly process. During the critical stages of heavy lifting, the model let the team to compare the coordinates to

actual positions. Although the timetable was tight,

BIM helped Martifer Polska through the challenges in assembly already before they entered the construction site. The team collaborated using the same model, and utilized BIM to get detailed information about material calculations, leading to reduction of errors and waste.

“The PGE Arena can accommodate over 40,000 spectators. Essentially, the Arena is a football venue but it also includes a hotel and roller skating circuit”

tekla news for building and construction summer 2012

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