When we practice BIM, we create, model and manage information about the things we build.  Critical information is created and stored in useful formats that remain accessible throughout the lifespan of the infrastructure asset – a lifespan very likely to exceed that of its designers and builders.

 

Consistently and reliably producing such information is an investment that continues to bear fruit.  In the present, it enables better coordination among the various stakeholders involved in infrastructure development; it allows us to visualise the things we are building and create a more tangible conversation around this shared understanding.   What is more, through BIM, current and future generations of people who manage, maintain, or change infrastructure assets are empowered – to work efficiently, to make informed decisions, to harness the full potential for impact inherent in their assets.

 

As an example, imagine designing a new airport terminal.  BIM would allow all stakeholders to work together in real-time on the same 3-dimensional design, improving coordination and efficiency within and among the various teams.  BIM would be just as useful after construction…  A digital model of the terminal, enriched with information about everything from tile specifications to load bearing capacities, would empower those running, maintaining or transforming the facility.  Not only would it place the current information about the physical aspects of the terminal at their fingertips, but it would also help them keep this information updated.

Innovative designs become possible when we are empowered to safely test ideas – not only against the limits of physical reality, but within the context of a complex web of stakeholders.  Digital engineering design tools, such as three-dimensional modelling and simulations, do just this.

 

Digital models and simulations allow engineers to test and prove innovative and unusual designs and processes against the physics of the material world.  Because of their 3-dimensional and visual nature, these models can also be intuitively understood by a wider audience of non-technical stakeholders, such as the people who use and operate infrastructure.  By responding to a visual model, instead of a 2-dimensional drawing, these practical people are empowered to give their valuable input.

 

Engineers can then change their designs in a series of low-stakes digital iterations that would not be possible with physical infrastructure.  These changes inevitably lead to better, more human-centred design.

In engineering, the Internet of Things refers to a network of smart, connected gizmos and gadgets embedded in infrastructure assets, as well as the computer systems, algorithms and interfaces used to store, filter and present related data.  These objects are enabled with sensors, software and other technology that allow them to collect real-time data, to communicate with other objects or systems, and be used to automate various responses. 

Through digital systems and applications, Zutari now captures site management records in highly structured, paperless ways.  This is more efficient, and significantly reduces risk of accidental loss of data.  It also allows for a seamless flow of updated information among stakeholders and, when all stakeholders are on the same (digital) page, collaboration improves, and delays are prevented.  What’s more, bringing site management data in the digital realm allow us to analyse and use it in new and innovative ways.  With digital data, it becomes easier to anticipate risks, predict trends and respond in ways that add value to construction projects.

Computational design is an engineering design method that uses a combination of designer inputs, design parameters, and algorithms to solves design problems using advanced computer processing.

Because these designs are quickly and digitally produced, they not only increase productivity, but allow engineers to explore a larger number of design options.  Computational design allows engineers to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex world by making creative experimentation not only possible, but cost effective and accurate.

When considering a design challenge, an engineer no longer needs to stick to the tried-and-tested; he can now try and test radically innovative solutions, within reasonable timeframes.  Because of the power of computational design technology to model, analyse and compare – the options for designs, fabrication, materials and processes are expanded.

What is more, computational designs allow engineers to design plans and models with built-in responsiveness.  These plans and models can be easily and effectively updated when engineers encounter unanticipated challenges during the construction phase.  This eliminates the need to redraw changed plans, saves time and money, and allows engineers to create more robust designs.

The insights that can be derived from mathematics and statistics, when paired with today’s supercomputers, make it possible to analyse large data sets and uncover hidden patterns. This information can be used to create predictive models – able to answer various “what if” questions that empower people to make better design decisions.

For example, one might want to investigate the impact of weather, time of day and occupancy levels on the energy usage of an air-conditioning system at a green-rated building. Firstly, various sensors would be used to capture data over time. Through the power of numerical modelling, this data could be used to create predictive models – able to test several scenarios under simulated conditions. What if it was a cold day? What if it was a hot day? What if the building was full? What if it was empty? These outputs empower the people who design, operate and manage the facility to ensure the comfort of the buildings while using as little energy as possible – under all conditions.

Technologies like BIM, Reality Capture and GIS create critical information about the real world in digital format; whether a digital “scan” of an airport’s floorplan, a 3D model of a bridge, or a smart map of roads and border posts in a region. Visualisation take these representations of reality to the next level – creating beautiful, realistic, immersive, and interactive digital experiences.  These visualisations create intuitive visual understanding of spaces and ideas; clarity which is tremendously useful when engaging and communicating with a variety of stakeholders along the entire project lifecycle.

Visualisations come in many forms. We can visualise technical processes, the way sun and shadow move across a solar plant, or the sequence of an interchange’s construction. Virtual reality can even help us experience, in an immersive way, what an existing site would look like once a project has been completed.

Visualisations have many additional applications in the training and education space. Much like flight simulators, they allow the people who operate infrastructure to practice on a digital replica. This dramatically reduces the time new facilities take to become fully operational. When it comes to operating high-risk facilities, such as power- and water purification plants, the benefits are multiplied.

At Zutari, we believe infrastructure has unparalleled potential to create enduring impact. Our clients manage a variety of infrastructure assets, including transport, water, energy, resources and built-environment infrastructure. By supporting these organisations to plan, design, deliver, manage and transform infrastructure assets in ways that maximise current and future value, we make sustainability real.

In all of this, we draw on the power of digital engineering to support clients to identify and verify their physical assets; to create updated data registers; to create and manage information around physical assets; and to analyse asset information in order to mitigate risks and identify opportunities for impact.

Before data, there is always a question. Zutari works with clients to develop a deep understanding of their needs, and to carefully determine the kind, frequency, and sources of the data most likely to answer their questions. Once we understand data needs, we can ensure that the right data is generated and collected.

This is just the beginning, however. The overwhelming amount of data being generated today require sophisticated storage, server- and network solutions. What’s more, in its raw form, this data is virtually impossible to comprehend or use.  Data must first be cleaned of errors and inconsistencies and must then be organised into formats fit for analysis.

Without a doubt – this long and complicated data journey is worth the trouble.  Modern analytics are exceedingly powerful, allowing us to read a sea of data and to translate unprecedented amounts of information into powerful, actionable insights.  Through modern data analytics, we can better understand the past and present, in all its complexity, while reliably predicting the probability of future scenarios.

Zutari’s geospatial engineering professionals use cutting-edge technologies to offer geospatial data capture and analytics, information management and data visualisation services to clients in the built environment, energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure space.

 

GIS can layer information from a rich variety of sources over geospatial maps; plotting data such as population density, transport networks, or data from the Internet of Things (IoT), over maps of cities and regions.  In this way, GIS helps humans to order information visually, make connections and spot patterns. Because GIS is built on a database, the data associated with the map can also be analysed to answer critical questions.

 

Zutari frequently uses GIS technology to support countries and cities in the development of master plans. These plans guide infrastructure rehabilitation and development, critical for economic growth. By layering data such as the neighbourhood poverty index, traffic- and road conditions data alongside the location of business and farming districts, GIS can help determine areas for high-impact investment. These insights can then be layered onto the same map, which becomes a powerful tool when communicating with investors and stakeholders alike.

Much of the Africa’s critical utility network – power cables, water pipes, and sewage networks, are not effectively documented.  Yet, effectively managing these hidden networks is critical.

 

Spatial utility modelling creates digital models and maps of power-, water-, and sewage-infrastructure networks. These digital representations of reality empower people who manage, repair and plan utility networks with real-time information and powerful data analytics. Combined with the Internet of Things (IoT) and Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), the applications of these digital models are endless.

 

With spatial utility modelling, municipalities can answer a wide variety of critical questions.  Can we dig there, or are there pipes we might damage? Where is the faulty transformer that is causing these outages?  How can we reroute the water, so that fewer customers are inconvenienced? Where exactly is the cable that we need to repair? Knowing the answers to these and other questions allow municipalities to provide better services to people and run more effective and environmentally sustainable operations.

In a hyper-connected world, human beings have access to incredible technological advances, unprecedented information and a global community of diverse human minds and perspectives.  These connections hold tremendous potential. They also present risks, as the many strands of connection might just as easily become a knot impossible to unravel. In fact, the only thing that separates a trap of entanglement from a web of connection is the interface between humans and the technology, processes or data with which they engage.

 

Zutari specialises in creating a wide range of interface experiences, such as dashboards, maps, contextual Augmented Reality, 3-D models and mobile apps. Uniquely tailored to meet the needs of our clients, these interfaces enable sense-making, collaboration and communication; unlocking new ways of seeing, thinking and acting.

Clients in the business of infrastructure face many challenges not directly related to their physical assets. These challenges can be complex and multi-faced, arising at the interface between infrastructure and the people, processes and systems that use and animate these assets.

At Zutari we draw on the power of digital technology to better understand these challenges, and to test, evaluate and design relevant and human-centered solutions. These solutions help clients work better by reducing friction and improving the efficiency of their processes and systems.

We are also keenly aware of the human component of business and process challenges.  We draw on the rich perspectives of our clients, partners and infrastructure end-users to explore problems more deeply and to co-create in bolder, more human-centred ways.

In a digital age, infrastructure assets are increasingly linked to multiple computer systems. Buildings host security as well as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. Transport- and utility infrastructure are linked to digital maps and databases.  Smart sensors on toll gates send traffic data to mobile applications…

When viewed in isolation, each system is relatively simple. When an asset is associated with multiple systems, however, things get very messy rather quickly. What’s more, these systems are not necessarily implemented simultaneously.  Often, shiny new systems must coexist, unhappily, with legacy systems from decades earlier.

If humans are to make sense of infrastructure data, it is critical that these diverse systems speak the same language. Figuring out how to translate the incomprehensible babble of multiple systems into a single intelligible language, is a complex and technical challenge our engineers relish.

The result of all this geekery, however, is elegant and useful; a single interface that draws from various systems to present data in a human-friendly format.