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Cloud Adoption and AI to Power APAC’s Future Data Centre Market

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The mass adoption of cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) is driving exponential growth for the data centre sector, according to JLL’s new Global Data Centre Outlook. Accounting for 79% of overall demand, hyperscalers (predominantly the global cloud service providers) and edge data centres (smaller facilities located close to the populations and infrastructure they serve) are leading as the fastest-growing segments of the market.

 

According to JLL, the hyperscale market is expected to grow 20% from 2021 to 2026, as more tech companies look to meet surging demand for data processing and storage requirements. With more than 300 new hyperscale sites in development globally today, that number is expected to surpass 1,000 by the end of 2024 – up from around 500 sites just five years ago.

 

Data centre uptake in Asia will continue despite economic headwinds, supported by factors including sustained social media usage in China (938 million users) and India (467 million users). According to JLL, the regional hub status of Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sydney remain sound, with a combined 3000MW of total inventory and 765MW under construction. However, enterprises are increasingly considering other hubs and edge markets, including Jakarta and Mumbai, due to growing mobile phone usage.

 

Christopher Street, Managing Director, Head of Data Centres, Asia Pacific, JLL said: “Just five years ago, campus build sizes were commonly around 50MW. Today, it is not uncommon to see builds of 100MW or more. Asia Pacific currently makes up 26% share of global hyperscale data centre capacity in 2022. In mature markets like Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai and Sydney, we are witnessing a huge gap in capacity, and they are being bridged quickly with large new builds. Furthermore, emerging edge markets are receiving strong interest from cloud providers and hyperscalers. Given the region’s influence in the global economy, significant opportunity now exists in this market.”

 

However, the growth comes with its challenges. Globally, 53% of data centre operators struggle with finding qualified candidates, and 42% face challenges in retaining staff. Along with talent, sustainability is now a top priority for data centre developers, operators and investors, including addressing energy use and emissions. Legislation and self-regulatory initiatives, such as Singapore’s Data Centre Moratorium, are setting standards to mitigate the climate impact of the industry.

 

Glen Duncan, Data Centre Research Director, Asia Pacific, JLL added: “Sustainability has been a standout theme since the pandemic. Encouragingly, many Asia Pacific businesses have embarked on purpose-driven sustainability programmes to deliver impact on climate action for sustainable real estate. With more operators looking to use innovative solutions for energy efficiency, we are confident that the sector’s green ambitions would further advance. For data centre users, outsourcing all their operations or hiring a third-party specialist can help mitigate labour challenges. Those who react the fastest to respond to the twin challenges of talent and sustainability stand to benefit from cost and operational efficiencies perspectives.”

Procore technologies, inc

Procore Launches Digital Transformation Program with the Philippine Constructors Association to Upskill Local Construction Workforce

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Procore Technologies, Inc., a leading global provider of construction management software, and the Philippine Constructors Association Inc. (PCA), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to launch a PCA Digital Transformation Program in the Philippines. This partnership aims to extend the network of technically-skilled professionals in the construction industry and is expected to upskill up to 150 PCA members in using Procore’s construction management software in 2023.

 

“The construction industry is slow in keeping up with the advancement of technology – not for the lack of technology solutions, but rather a skills gap in using the technology. Providing the necessary tools and training is critical in moving the entire industry forward into a more productive, efficient and safe environment to work in. Procore is excited to be a key player in accelerating the digital transformation journey for the construction workforce in the Philippines,” said Bruce Wells, Vice President of Asia, Procore.

 

According to the Procore How We Build Now 2022 benchmark report, construction firms in the Philippines understand that digital transformation is vital to overcome challenges in the industry, ranging from the increasing cost of raw materials and equipment, and maintaining safety, to improved productivity and staff management. In fact, the survey found that Filipino construction professionals recognise the benefits of construction technology, in particular the reliance on human labour (55%), the ability to handle more projects (54%), and resource efficiency through less rework (53%).

 

To kickstart the PCA Digital Transformation Program, PCA identified nine individuals from its partners and member firms who will first be trained by a Procore strategic product consultant on the Procore platform.  Following the training, these selected PCA members will then be qualified to serve as trainers that will lead technical workshops for the rest of the PCA members. PCA members will receive complimentary access to the Procore account and will undergo technical workshops on project management, quality and safety and more. Upon concluding the workshops, the members will complete online certification courses which validate their knowledge and expertise in using the Procore construction management platform.

 

“Globally, the construction industry is facing a skilled workforce shortage that cannot be solved overnight.  The Philippines’ construction industry is therefore undergoing a rapid digital transformation push to address this challenge, by enhancing productivity and upskilling our current workforce to ensure they stay relevant and competitive in the global arena. We are thrilled to be partnering with Procore to help future-proof our local construction industry, and be a frontrunner in the digital era,” said Barry Paulino,  Executive Director, PCA.

 

Image credit: Procore Technologies, Inc.

Matterport Continues Global Expansion of its Capture Services’ On-Demand Online Service to Five Additional Countries

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Matterport adds five countries and 21 new cities as businesses worldwide move to adopt Matterport digital twins

Matterport, Inc., one of the leading spatial data companies driving the digital transformation of the built world, recently announced a sweeping global expansion of Matterport Capture Services™ On-Demand coverage. As companies pursue a fast, simple, and cost-effective solution to digitize their spaces, Matterport has expanded into five countries, adding 21 new cities with services now available in France, Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, and Singapore. With today’s announcement, Matterport Capture Services is now available in seven countries and 152 cities.

Capture Services On-Demand delivers a 3D digital twin of any space, produced by trained and certified Capture Technicians within supported cities. Using Matterport’s Capture app and Pro2 3D camera, spaces are transformed into an immersive, precise 3D digital twin and delivered to the customer to access, manage, and share the space more effectively. These digital twins are changing how buildings are designed, built, promoted, and managed online across a variety of industries, including allowing real estate teams to better optimize the workplace.

Canoa, the first scaling platform for sustainable design and deployment of commercial real estate assets, uses Matterport in the retrofit process to survey and document the as-built conditions, traditionally a laborious and error-prone process. With Matterport, Canoa can capture a space and convert it into a digital twin that has accurate spatial data and 3D imagery in 4K resolution. The company then generates accurate floor plans to help them redesign spaces and allocate assets for clients with ease and accuracy.

“Using Matterport Capture Services On-Demand costs 30 percent less than if we send someone to do it,” said Lance Amato, Head of Compliance at Canoa, “and it costs 70 percent less than sending someone long distance. At the end of the day, it makes sense to delegate this to people who capture spaces for a living so we can focus on what we do best—designing and managing spaces and inventory so our customers can thrive.”

“As demand for Capture Services On-Demand continues to grow we are rapidly expanding our reach for customers all over the globe like Canoa that are putting their trust in the Matterport Capture Services’ ecosystem,” said Brendan Dowdle, Vice President of Matterport Capture Services. “We constantly strive to surpass the expectations of our customers. We are thrilled to expand this exceptional service standard internationally to conveniently deliver a professionally scanned digital twin of any building or physical space at the touch of a button.”

Lead image from Matterport

Digital Blue Foam, A Global SaaS Building Design Platform, Has Launched

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Digital Blue Foam (DBF), a Singapore-headquartered global Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) building design platform has launched, having invested two million US dollars in development over the last couple of years.

The DBF platform is a web-based interactive generative design tool uniquely bringing together software, artificial intelligence (AI) and data. It replaces legacy technologies commonly used in the sector while adding geospatial data, sustainability validation, and city scoring, making design faster, better, and more cost-efficient. DBF is also in discussions on a funding round, with the new funds supporting expansion, recruitment, and platform enhancements. There are also expansion plans for Asia, Europe, and the Americas. On a mission to make sustainable building design accessible, they will double down on interactive AI “flavours”, unique to DBF and its Generative Design capabilities.

The DBF platform is a building design tool made for architects, planners, developers, and educators. It is the brainchild of architects Camiel Weijenberg and Sayjel Vijay Patel. Camiel has 10 years of experience running his architecture studio; he has also worked for Zaha Hadid Architects. Sayjel is a Founding Professor at the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) and an Alumni of MIT. The two co-founders are modernizing the archaic Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, by providing technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI). This industry-disrupting technology improves efficiencies and reduces project timelines, enabling higher quality design, creating better buildings and cities. AEC sector will be worth US$12.9 trillion in 2022. The AEC software sector is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% from 2021 to 2026. With rapid urbanization over the next three decades, this will grow exponentially.

According to McKinsey & Company, the construction industry is increasing its emphasis on R&D, with greater investment in construction technology. Global R&D spending by the top construction companies grew by 77% from 2013 to 2017. COVID-19 is accelerating this further, driving investments in digitalization. DBF Co-founder Camiel Weijenberg said, “Buildings are the fabric of cities, and sustainably designed buildings are a necessity today. The built environment is responsible for 40% of global Co2 emissions. Climate change is the existential challenge of this generation, and cities cannot continue to be designed as they still are. We need to adapt and change our ways, fast.”

“Our software integrates the core elements of the design process – data collection, 3D modelling, sustainability validation, city score, project comparison, and drawing production – within a single online tool. The tool syncs to various Building Information Modelling (BIM) software like Archicad, Revit, Rhino3D, SketchUp,” concluded Camiel.

The DBF platform is a web-based interactive generative design tool uniquely bringing together software, artificial intelligence (AI), and data. The platform incorporates geospatial data into the design process, including web-based APIs from maps, environmental services, 3D data sets of the context, etc. This data is carefully scrutinized, selected, and presented in an easy-to-use environment. The DBF AI includes – real-time Daylight Autonomy Score, Solar Radiation Simulation, Instant Shadow Study, Wind Score, and Sun Path Animation – inputs that allow a designer to validate a design in real-time without the use of expensive and complex software while designing a net-zero Co2 building.

DBF also created a proprietary neighborhood scoring system to automate descriptive spatial metrics of neighborhood quality based on geo-location. The technology supports the “15-minute city” planning strategy, which places amenities and services within a 15-minute walk of residents, a critical sustainability metric. The 15-minute-City concept includes residential, office, health, institutions, public facilities, commerce, markets, restaurants, transportation, and utilities. According to the United Nations, the built environment, mainly homes, and buildings are responsible for about 40% of global energy use and 30% of energy-related carbon emissions. 13,000 buildings need to be constructed every day until 2050 to support the earth’s largest migration to cities.

An early DBF user, Takenaka Corporation is one of Japan’s five largest and oldest construction companies. Using DBF, they have accelerated project design delivery by 750%. One large project that would traditionally take four years has been reduced to just one year. Takenaka now has over 20 teams and 500 users on the DBF platform, including their architects, BIM Managers, real-estate developers, and construction managers across Takenaka subsidiaries.

DBF is also working with the next generation of architects and planners to lead change within the industry. In Singapore, DBF is working with Professor Dr. Clayton Miller from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and in Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), DBF is working with multiple professors in the Architecture and Sustainable Design (ASD) Department.

The DBF name comes from the hot-wire cut blue foam models used by architecture and planning students in design schools. The platform, with 7000+ users, is priced similar to popular tools like Figma or Canva for individual users to enterprise teams, accessible through subscription. To find out more about the platform and pricing plans, visit www.digitalbluefoam.com.

Digital Blue Foam – A Global SaaS Building Design Platform – Has Launched

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Digital Blue Foam (DBF) – a Singapore-headquartered global Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) building design platform – has launched, having invested US$2 million in development over the last couple of years.

The DBF platform is a web-based interactive generative design tool uniquely bringing together software, artificial intelligence (AI) and data. It replaces legacy technologies commonly used in the sector while adding geospatial data, sustainability validation, and city scoring, making design faster, better, and more cost-efficient.

DBF is also in the final stages of Series-A fundraising, with the new funds supporting expansion, recruitment, and platform enhancements. There are also expansion plans for Asia, Europe, and the Americas. On a mission to make sustainable building design accessible, they will double down on interactive AI “flavours”, unique to DBF and its Generative Design capabilities. The DBF platform is a building design tool made for architects, planners, developers, and educators. It is the brainchild of architects Camiel Weijenberg and Sayjel Vijay Patel.

Camiel has 10 years of experience running his architecture studio; he has also worked for Zaha Hadid Architects. Sayjel is a Founding Professor at the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) and an Alumni of MIT. The two co-founders are modernizing the archaic Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, by providing technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI). This industry-disrupting technology improves efficiencies and reduces project timelines, enabling higher quality design, creating better buildings and cities. AEC sector will be worth US$12.9 trillion in 2022.1

The AEC software sector is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% from 2021 to 2026.2 With rapid urbanisation over the next three decades, this will grow exponentially. According to McKinsey & Company, the construction industry is increasing its emphasis on R&D, with greater investment in construction technology. Global R&D spending by the top construction companies grew by 77% from 2013 to 2017. COVID-19 is accelerating this further, driving investments in digitalisation.

LG One: A Quick, Innovative Communication Solution for a New Way Of Working

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Designed for all types of business usage scenarios, this unique display solution redefines work in the new era.

LG Electronics (LG) recently announced the launch of LG One:Quick, a display solution so revolutionary that its arrival brings with it a whole new category. Developed in response to the new ways people work, LG One:Quick has the potential to change and expand how individuals, coworkers and teams communicate in the new reality of remote working. LG One:Quick consists of One:Quick Works (model 55CT5WJ), One:Quick Flex (model 43HT3WJ) and One:Quick Share (model SC-00DA), a dedicated wireless screen sharing solution.

One:Quick Works is an advanced 55-inch 4K UHD video conferencing display and all-around productivity tool suitable for a variety of workplace environments such as a conference room. One:Quick Flex with its 43-inch 4K UHD touchscreen is designed with a movable stand to accommodate diverse usage scenarios across all types of businesses settings. Both models are based on the Windows platform and are compatible with a huge library of video conferencing applications and collaboration tools. Once paired with One:Quick Share, users can easily and quickly connect their laptops wirelessly to compatible LG digital signage products.

One:Quick Works For Maximum Productivity

A welcome addition to any conference space, LG One:Quick Works delivers seamless interactive communication for smooth, productive office meetings. A winner of Red Dot Award 2021 and iF Design Award 2021, this all-in-one solution features a built-in Windows PC, crisp 4K UHD camera, microphone, speaker and digital whiteboard. In addition to LG’s built-in video conferencing solution, One:Quick Remote Meeting, users can use shortcuts to effortlessly installation popular video conferencing and collaboration apps such as Teams, Webex and Zoom to instantly enhance productivity. The high-gain microphone is effective in clearly capturing voices up to six metres away with minimal background noise while the 3,840 x 2,160 resolution camera automatically tracks and focuses on the individual speaking. Both the camera and microphone can be easily disabled for maximum privacy and peace of mind.

One:Quick Works also offers easy-to-use management and control features. Ready out-of-the-box and free for the first six months, LG’s One:Quick Remote Meeting video-conferencing application works seamlessly with One:Quick Works to share documents in various formats, perform real-time interactive drawings and automatically detect who’s speaking on the other end.

One:Quick Flex For Ultimate Versatility

LG One:Quick Flex is designed for a wide variety of business use scenarios such as small group meetings, one-on-one discussions and group presentations but is also an excellent option for hospitals, schools and homes where people may be working, learning or talking to other parties remotely. With a video camera that captures a wide 88-degree field of view, the display rotates to work in both landscape and portrait modes and features a split-view mode for easier multitasking. A microphone and camera, intuitive interface, full touch pen support and whiteboard functionality complete the package. One:Quick Flex can be mounted to a movable stand for easy transport between the shared meeting space to the CEO’s corner office for an important video conference.

One:Quick Share For Wireless Screen Sharing

LG One:Quick Share allows users to effortlessly share their laptop screens with compatible LG digital signage models. After the simple connection process, users can share their PC screen by simply pressing the button on the One:Quick Share USB dongle. Switching the source device is just as easy, with up to four sources able to connect to LG digital signage products simultaneously. And with One:Quick Share, setting adjustments of connected LG signage products such as volume, picture mode and screen brightness can be performed without a remote control.

LG’s latest collection of advanced display solution products is designed to deliver an intuitive experience that enhances productivity and collaboration to take office communications to a whole new level of ease and convenience. LG’s One:Quick series will be available starting November in Singapore.

LG HVAC Virtual Experience Showcases Company’s Latest Solutions

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Utilizing the Latest Technology, Virtual Showroom Lets Visitors Get to Know LG’s  Wide Range of Residential and Commercial HVAC Solutions 

 

LG Electronics (LG) has launched the LG HVAC  Virtual Experience, a new, interactive online showroom that gives visitors the opportunity  to browse and learn all about its extensive portfolio of first-class heating, ventilation and  air-conditioning (HVAC) solutions, anywhere, anytime. Helping customers to make  better decisions for their families or valued employees, the intuitive, online space makes  it possible to view the company’s latest solutions in a variety of virtual environments and discover their many benefits, such as greater comfort, improved indoor air quality and seamless control. 

Upon entering the LG HVAC Virtual Experience, visitors can choose from several business and living space categories: Residential Apartment, Residential Villa, Office  General, Office High-Rise, Retail and Hotel. Visitors can then freely explore their  selected 3D environment using a mouse or touchscreen device, clicking on straightforward menus as they go to reach additional information like specifications,  features, product videos and case studies for each model. Simple to use and easy to  navigate, LG’s new virtual platform is a great tool for consumers, industry professionals and partners looking to create healthier and more comfortable indoor spaces. 

What’s more, the virtual showroom allows visitors to see the behind-the-scenes details and technologies. By pressing the on-screen Airflow and Piping buttons, visitors can uncover how air travels in an air conditioner or air purifier and how pipes direct water  and refrigerant through a system. They can even virtually switch operational modes and  observe how airflow changes from one air conditioner to another. Beyond the technology  and science, the showroom is a great place to check out all the products’ stylish designs  to see how they match various virtual interiors.

LG HVAC Virtual Experience is an engaging online resource that can give visitors a  thorough understanding of the company’s latest, optimized HVAC solutions for different  kinds of spaces, helping them figure out which products are best suited to their specific  needs. The showroom also demonstrates LG’s commitment to ensuring a sustainable  future, highlighting innovative LG technologies, such as the energy-efficient R1 Compressor, and the company’s early adoption of the eco-friendly R32 refrigerant. 

Discover the company’s latest indoor environmental comfort technologies at LG Virtual  HVAC Experience on a PC or smartphone.  

“The LG Virtual HVAC Experience delivers greater accessibility for anyone to  experience our latest solutions, whenever and wherever you are. The platform also offers  a compelling and informative way to engage users and establish a lasting impression,”  said Justin Seong, Product Director of LG Electronics (Singapore) Air Solutions. “We  will continue to work tirelessly to create HVAC products that not only make homes and  businesses more comfortable, but are better for users, the environment, and the future of  our planet.” 

Gearing Up for the Roaring 2020s

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After a pandemic that swept the world had abated, the world experienced a massive era of growth – the Roaring 2020s. Now, a century later, the global construction industry needs to gear up for a new roaring decade.

The industry needs to change to meet the new opportunities and challenges ahead. At least initially, manpower and raw materials availability will remain constrained; clashing into pent up demand and governments wanting to spend on infrastructure.

Despite current pandemic uncertainties, BCI Forecaster in April 2021, projected a 21% increase in new construction for the year ahead in Malaysia, and 47% for the Philippines. In Hong Kong, the report noted that “government spending has been approved [and as a result] the annual total construction output will increase to around HK$300 billion (US$38.6 billion) in the coming years”. In May, the Singapore government passed a bill to raise S$90 billion (US$67.9 billion) in bonds to fund new infrastructure. The solution isn’t to work harder; the solution, now more than ever, is to work smarter and with greater efficiency. 

A June 2020 McKinsey report, “The next normal in construction: How disruption is reshaping the world’s largest ecosystem”, saw that “digital technologies can enable better collaboration, greater control of the value chain, and a shift toward more data-driven decision making. These innovations will change the way companies approach operations, design, and construction as well as engage with partners. … Using digital tools can significantly improve on-site collaboration. And digital channels are spreading to construction, with the potential to transform interactions for buying and selling goods across the value chain.”

Nearly two-thirds of respondents for the report believe that the COVID-19 crisis will accelerate industry transformation, and half have already raised investment in line with the shifts. “The full transformation of the construction industry could take decades, but the process has already begun. Our survey shows that industry leaders largely agree that the shifts outlined in this report are likely to occur at scale within the next five to ten years and that the COVID-19 crisis will accelerate shifts.”

While these digital tools address specific needs well, they tend to operate as single-point solutions that silo their information within their own systems. This often results in disjointed systems which hinder collaboration and prevent companies from gaining a true, comprehensive picture of their projects and making the whole project management process more cumbersome.

What businesses need is a technology that is simple to use, scalable, and built for purpose – technology that operates more like a complete platform for project management. With centralised data, standardised processes and streamlined workflows, all-in-one solutions lead to enhanced communication and greater consistency between project teams and clients. Projects progress more efficiently, productivity dramatically improves, and costs are reduced.

Companies that have adopted such a solution include Ananda Development, based in Bangkok, Thailand. The company has been able to boost efficiency by 25% and has seen its market share surge from 5% in 2007 to 26% in 2019. “It’s little quality-of-life things that honestly make the difference. It’s an enhancement for our ecosystem and our partners. We provide this platform, and it enables them to work more effectively,” said Alan Landau, Head of Technology Innovation.

Visit https://proco.re/3oqKApf to find out more about how to digitise your construction projects, for the decade to come.

 

Epic Games launches Twinmotion 2021.1, now available for download

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Epic Games has released Twinmotion 2021.1, introducing new features and connectivity to create, develop, and present real-time visualizations, from first concept to advanced photorealistic experiences. With the addition of the seamless Bridge to Unreal Engine, shareable Presenter Cloud, and thousands of high-quality assets through the new Quixel Megascans integration, Twinmotion 2021.1 opens up powerful new storytelling possibilities to all creators as a fully connected member of the Epic Games ecosystem.

Watch the Twinmotion 2021 Trailer:

“Twinmotion 2021.1 has the capacity to transform the ability of AEC professionals to solve complex problems in real time by visualizing them in 3D, and to easily communicate their proposals to colleagues and stakeholders who may not have an understanding of traditional 2D drawings,” said Ken Pimentel, AEC Industry Manager at Epic Games. “Twinmotion is a vital, yet easy to master, tool for those building the future, whether you’re creating a photoreal digital twin of a city for urban planners to understand a new development or if you’re part of a construction team planning on-site logistics. Twinmotion is also an integral part of the iterative architectural design process and it’s also a tool for students to bring their ideas to life.”

Twinmotion’s easy-to-use interface enables architects, designers, and students at all levels to create high-quality 3D images themselves, without having to outsource the work to visualization specialists. Users can easily import their existing building models from most BIM and CAD programs — including Archicad, Revit, SketchUp Pro, RIKCAD, and Rhino — into Twinmotion, and rapidly supercharge them using the software’s sophisticated capabilities, resulting in pixel-perfect visualizations that can be created and edited in minutes rather than days.

Twinmotion is a storytelling tool that massively enhances the ability to express the narrative of a design, and therefore to reach audiences of all kinds – from the public to planners, from potential clients to design review panels. Twinmotion’s photorealistic output acts as an easy bridge between the architecture community and their audiences, breaking down barriers and capturing the imagination of everyone involved.

Twinmotion empowers users to create impactful, highly realistic visuals in real time throughout the design process, which can be easily updated with input from clients, colleagues, and stakeholders. This creates game-changing opportunities for professionals in the AEC industry to accurately communicate their work at every stage, facilitating better conversations, a more transparent process, and genuine collaboration.

New features in Twinmotion 2021.1 include:

 

  • Bridge to Unreal Engine: Acting a gateway to Unreal Engine, the Twinmotion Importer for Unreal Engine plugin enables users to bring Twinmotion projects into the Unreal Editor. With this extended pipeline, an architect can communicate preliminary concept ideas—such as visually indicating the type of materials, lighting, context, and other project elements—in Twinmotion, and then pass the project on to a visualization specialist for further refinement in Unreal Engine, including accurate lighting and material scenarios, higher-quality visualization outputs, animations, and other advanced behaviors.

  • Presenter Cloud (Early Access): The new Twinmotion Presenter Cloud service enables users to upload presentations to the cloud where they can be played over interactive pixel streaming and shared with stakeholders by email invitation. Using a Windows or macOS desktop computer and a web browser, anyone can view and interact with Presenter files running on a high-end GPU in the cloud, making the service ideal for sharing and interacting with works in progress over the web.
    *This feature is being rolled out progressively, and is currently exclusively available to full commercial licensees.

 

  • Megascans in Twinmotion library: Quixel Megascans 3D Assets and Surface categories are now integrated into the asset library for easy browsing and direct access within Twinmotion projects. 3D Assets include thousands of high-quality objects for populating scenes in categories such as buildings, food, industrial, and nature, while Surfaces offer a vast collection of high-fidelity materials covering everything from bark to bricks, and from marble to metal. Assets are hosted in the cloud until downloaded for use, reducing local storage requirements.

  • Datasmith Direct Link: Functionality for the popular Datasmith suite of plugins provides connections between multiple sources and destinations simultaneously. In this release, support has been added for Revit, enabling users to aggregate multiple Revit files representing different stages or aspects of the project—such as landscape plans, urban context, facades, and interiors—with Direct Link updates.

  • New trees, humans, and fitness equipment: Twinmotion now includes 140 new additions to the Twinmotion asset library, including 20 new Japanese and American trees, 60 new assets for populating gyms and street workout areas, and 60 new ready-posed humans, extending options for easily contextualizing projects.

 

  • Phasing in Twinmotion Presenter: It’s now possible to include phasing in Presenter files, enabling users to remotely present different stages of a project’s construction schedule sequentially. Phasing can be played from any camera position.

 

  • Nonrealistic rendering styles: Users can now quickly and easily switch between different nonrealistic rendering styles—hidden line, hidden line shaded, wood model, metal model, white model (clay render), and default material—in order to focus on particular aspects of designs, such as lighting or form, or to represent a more technical hand-drawn style.

 

Additional upgrades and learning resources can be found on the Twinmotion news feed.

Bentley Systems

New Bentley Education Program, Putting Students on the Path to Infrastructure Careers

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Bentley Systems, Incorporated, (Nasdaq: BSY), the infrastructure engineering software company, announced the Bentley Education program, which encourages the development of future infrastructure professionals for careers in engineering, design, and architecture. The Bentley Education program is initially available in the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Ireland, and Lithuania, with plans to expand to the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and India by mid-summer. The program’s student and educator entitlements allow no-cost learning licenses for Bentley infrastructure engineering applications and proven learnings through the new Bentley Education portal. Students and educators from around the globe can register on the Education portal and connect to infrastructure organizations and resources to prepare for and to recruit for infrastructure engineering careers. Bentley also announced the Future Infrastructure Star Challenge 2021.

The Bentley Education portal provides a single source for an on-demand, frictionless, and fun experience for students as they build and enhance their digital design skills. Students and educators have access to comprehensive resources, including:

  •       insights from leading AEC professionals, sharing what the industry has to offer students and what skills are in high demand;
  •       the latest news and emerging trends in architecture, engineering, and construction; and
  •       firsthand perspective of current engineering students, mentors, and women in infrastructure engineering.

The program offers full access to learning licenses of over 40 of Bentley’s most popular applications used by infrastructure professionals around the globe, including ContextCapture, MicroStation, OpenRoads Designer, STAAD.Pro, and SYNCHRO. The portal can be accessed via https://education.bentley.com.

The Bentley Education program is open to students and educators at community colleges, technical institutes, polytechnics, universities, secondary schools, and homeschooled students. The program is designed to create world-class talent that can rise to the challenge of improving quality of life and positively changing the world using Bentley infrastructure engineering software, applications, and proven learnings. The Bentley Education program will also help students develop digital skills, which are critical for a qualified talent pipeline to support infrastructure growth and resilience worldwide.

The Bentley Education program uses a role-based learning approach, allowing future infrastructure professionals to focus on specific capabilities needed for specific professions. Students can go beyond mere product proficiency and develop a comprehensive understanding of skillsets required to excel in various roles in infrastructure engineering.

“With many nations and institutions committing to infrastructure and digital education initiatives as top priorities for a post-pandemic world, we are excited to launch this much-requested and responsive program now,” said Katriona Lord-Levins, chief success officer, Bentley Systems. “We want to inspire and encourage students to learn about infrastructure engineering as a possible career path, and to introduce these young minds to the vast opportunities that lie ahead, with infrastructure going digital.”

The Bentley Education portal also serves as a gateway for individual students or teams of two to submit their innovative concepts for Bentley’s Future Infrastructure Star Challenge 2021. The global competition is open to students from community colleges, polytechnics institutes, and universities. Students advancing in the Challenge, based on their ideas that improve quality of life, will work on modeling, simulation, and visualization to develop a design model. The winner of the Future Infrastructure Star Challenge will be announced during the Going Digital Awards at the Year in Infrastructure 2021 Conference.

The inaugural Future Infrastructure Star Challenge is divided into Stage 1 (Conceptualization), and Stage 2 (Design and Visualization). In Stage 1 (Conceptualization), students are invited to submit their ideas for “a next big infrastructure project” in any of the following categories: road and rail, building and facilities, water and wastewater, cities and mapping, and power generation. While conceptualizing their idea, students should focus on an environmental challenge that affects or is affected by infrastructure development, consider applying the Internet of Things, and emphasize the project’s contribution to the world’s health and welfare.

The top 20 judged projects from Stage 1 (Conceptualization) will each win USD 500, with the top 10 projects moving on to Stage 2 (Design and Visualization). Here, each such entry may take advantage of opportunities to work with infrastructure professionals, and/or to attend masterclasses with Bentley experts, to bring their ideas to life using Bentley applications. In addition to being announced and introduced at the Year in Infrastructure 2021 Conference, the winner of the Future Infrastructure Star Challenge 2021 will receive a cash prize of USD 5,000 and recognition in Bentley’s 2021 Infrastructure Yearbook.

Vinayak Trivedi, vice president of Bentley Education, said, “We want to make the Bentley Education portal the place where students can go to learn about and become inspired to make infrastructure engineering their career choice. The goal of the program is to help students who are passionate about infrastructure to get a jump-start on a fulfilling career. The Future Infrastructure Star Challenge 2021 provides an opportunity for them to be creative and innovative in project designs for improving the quality of life and positively changing the world.”

For more information on the Bentley Education program, including how to register students and educational organizations, visit https://education.bentley.com.