Archive for category: Technology & Softwares

You are here: / / Technology & Softwares

Rugged Fluke Laser Levels Deliver Simplicity and Accuracy to Perform Layout Tasks Fast

/in , , /by
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Screen Shot 2016-12-11 at 9.11.31 pmFluke laser distance meters are fast and easy to use, improving accuracy and reducing measurement error. The simple one-button operation utilises advanced laser technology to instantly measure distance between two objects. As such, Fluke laser distance meters are well received in the market, attracting users from construction and electrical industries.

However, Fluke does not stop here. Fluke introduces Fluke® Laser Levels, a new range of professional-grade, precision tools that are designed to survive a one-metre drop and keep working. The Laser Levels feature a fast settling, self-levelling gimbal that quickly delivers accurate reference points, expediting electrical and HVAC layouts.

Fluke Laser Levels come in three-point laser levels for fast accurate layout of reference points, horizontal and vertical cross line laser level for rapid accurate levelling, and layout as well as laser line detectors with visual and audible indicators for ease of use in high ambient light settings.

The three-point laser levels are accurate to 6 mm at 30 metres (1/4 inch at 100 feet) and the line laser levels are accurate to 3 mm at 10 metres (1/8 inch at 30 feet). For long-range applications, green lasers, which provide up to three times brightness for improved visibility, are also available (Fluke-3PG and Fluke-180LG).

The Fluke Laser Levels are also built with a rugged case design to withstand rough handling on the job site. With such ruggedness and accuracy in Fluke Laser levels, long and tedious layouts will become a thing of the past. For more information, please click HERE.

New Technology Venture Launched to Facilitate Green Building Projects

/in , , , /by
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Arc allows any project to measure improvements and benchmark against itself and projects around it.

Arc allows any project to measure improvements and benchmark against itself and projects around it.

A new technology company, Arc Skoru Inc., was officially launched today by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). This new venture will be the official host for Arc, a state-of-the-art digital platform available at arcskoru.com.

Arc allows any project – whether a single building, a community or an entire city – to measure improvements and benchmark against itself and projects around it. Scot Horst, who has overseen and led the development of LEED since 2005, has been appointed as the CEO of Arc.

“GBCI developed Arc as a way to provide new and more transparent ways to share information,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI. “Scot Horst brings many years of leadership and expertise to Arc, and we celebrate him in his new role as the CEO. For the past 11 years, Scot has led the evolution of LEED through LEED 2009 and LEED v4. He was also the chief inventor of the LEED Dynamic Plaque, a system designed to tie ongoing building performance to initial certification.”

The goal of Arc is to support the missions of USGBC and GBCI. LEED-certified buildings can use Arc to improve and benchmark against other certified buildings around them. Existing buildings that have not certified can use Arc to make incremental sustainability improvements to eventually achieve LEED certification.

“Arc allows buildings, communities and cities to compare their performance against their peers and also connect to vetted green building strategies,” said Scot Horst, CEO, Arc. “Over the last two decades LEED certification has become a symbol of leadership, signifying that a project is saving energy, resources and water, and is healthier for occupants and the community. A LEED building has become the mark of a high quality building. Now through the Arc platform, all buildings can improve and work toward LEED certification.”

Today more than ever before, the green building movement relies on technology and data, and the future of green buildings is focused on performance. Arc represents a new era for green building; the platform takes LEED to the next level through the shared use of technology, feedback and recognition of excellence.

About the Arc platform:

  • Arc is a simple digital platform for all projects pursuing LEED certification and will eventually include other green building rating systems, standards protocols and guidelines.
  • Arc is inclusive of all projects, even those not pursuing certification, so that all buildings can measure performance and make incremental improvements.
  • Arc facilitates connections to people and projects globally. It encourages innovation, enabling informed decisions on building design, operations and maintenance.

Features of the current Arc platform include:

  • Existing buildings can use Arc to earn LEED Operations + Maintenance certification and precertification using the O+M performance path.
  • Projects that are currently pursuing and planning to register for the LEED for Existing Buildings standard path can also use Arc for performance data reporting.
  • Cities, communities and districts can use Arc to start tracking data and earn LEED pre-certification.
  • All registered and previously certified LEED projects have access to Arc to keep their LEED certification up to date. Project leads can also use Arc for performance data tracking and reporting as per the initial requirements in LEED for data sharing. Projects previously using the LEED Dynamic Plaque will be included in Arc.

The O+M performance path was approved by the LEED Steering Committee in January 2016 and the LEED for Cities Pilot was approved by the LEED steering committee in October 2016. LEED for Cities will be submitted for USGBC member approval following input from pilot users.

Over time, Arc will continue to add rating systems into the platform. The platform provides an entry point for all buildings with the goal of eventually certifying them to LEED or to other GBCI rating systems such as GRESB, WELL, PEER, SITES, Parksmart, etc. As GBCI adds new rating systems, the introduction of Arc makes the certification process as streamlined as possible for the end user. Projects pursuing certification under more than one rating system will realize efficiencies in places where the rating systems share the same or similar requirements.

Johnson Controls Releases Metasys® 8.0

/in , , /by
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Metasys® 8.0 comes with additional IT features to increase productivity, reduce energy costs and enhance security.

Metasys® 8.0 comes with additional IT features to increase productivity, reduce energy costs and enhance security.

Johnson Controls recently introduced Metasys® 8.0 with new system configurations, programming capabilities, and additional Information Technology (IT) features to increase productivity, reduce energy costs and enhance security. This is one of the first building automation systems (BAS) in the industry to be optimised for any mobile device.

This latest advancement in BAS improves ease of use, speeds up troubleshooting, shortens time on task, reduces risk, and supports easier integrations. Metasys 8.0 key enhancements include:

  • Intuitive graphics optimised for multiple mobile devices
  • Alarm management enabling alarm prioritisation (the features roll up to the tasks)
  • Improved scheduling and customised trend viewing
  • New reporting features making it easier to access trends, alarms, audits and scheduling data
  • Space authorisation, which allows users to access the system and see only the data they need
  • Added IT security with secure password management and dormant user account reporting

“The improvements are the result of over 1,000 hours of observational research with building owners and operators. Facility operators can now identify and correct problems more quickly with this new intuitive interface, as information is displayed according to the way they work. Now, the potential problem areas view provides a single interactive report to see all alarms, system overrides and offlines as well as other critical equipment information in chronological order,” said Derrick Kho, director of product and channels for controls, Building Efficiency Asia, Johnson Controls.

Metasys 8.0 builds on Metasys’ ability to maximise building owners’ investments through flexibility and scalability. The system preserves and enhances previous investments in building infrastructure, and its technology and is scalable for facilities of any size and complexity. It enables integration to a wide variety of mechanical and electrical systems, and allows for a progressive replacement of existing field controllers that are becoming obsolete.

Click HERE to learn more or click HERE to take a tour of Metasys 8.0.

FINALCAD Secures $20 Million Series B

/in , /by
Reading Time: 3 minutes
The construction industry, currently a $9.5 trillion market expected to nearly double by 2030, is among the least digitised industries

The construction industry, currently a $9.5 trillion market expected to nearly double by 2030, is among the least digitised industries

FINALCAD, a global leader in mobile construction apps and predictive analytics for the field, today announced that it has raised $20 million in Series B round led by Serena Capital, Caphorn Invest and Aster Capital. Investment will fuel international business growth, expansion into new sectors and advanced research and development.

 

The construction industry, currently a $9.5 trillion market expected to nearly double by 2030*, is among the least digitised industries**. “In five years, FINALCAD has responded to tremendous demand for mobile apps for the field, in Europe, Asia and Americas.” said Jimmy Louchart, co-founder and CEO of FINALCAD. “With this new round of funding, FINALCAD is poised to scale for this growing demand happening within a growing global market.”

 

FINALCAD is planning to use the funding for international business development, as well as expanding new sectors such as civil infrastructures and energy.

 

New funding will also fuel research and development for furthering advanced fields: smart data analytics, artificial intelligence for objects recognition, augmented reality linked to BIM models, digitisation of lean construction processes, and open API interoperability.

 

Launched 5 years ago, FINALCAD has seen rapid growth*** globally with more than 10,000 projects delivered to date in 30 countries, totalling more than 20 million jobsite observations and nearly 10 million photos. FINALCAD is used by global contractors such as Bouygues, Daewoo Engineering & Construction, Eiffage, Fujita Corporation, Shimizu Corporation, Takenaka Corporation, VINCI, infrastructure operators like RATP Group, as well as architects, and owners, such as Capitaland and Swire Properties. FINALCAD’s customers improve quality on their projects, save time and budget costs.

 

FINALCAD was built upon five founding pillars that are driving its design and worldwide, massive adoption:

 

  • #GLOBAL: available in 30 languages, FINALCAD is by far the mobile construction app that has the largest global footprint.
  • #MOBILE: FINALCAD is a mobile-first app developed natively on all major platforms (iOS, Android and Windows) for tablets and smartphones.
  • #BIM: FINALCAD is the only context-based mobile app enabling BIM on the field, integrated with BIM leading solution Autodesk Revit, and Open BIM standards.
  • #SMARTDATA: FINALCAD stands out with its data-driven features, from in-app suggestions of corrective actions to on-demand analytics reports.
  • #CONSTRUCTION: FINALCAD is designed by construction professionals for construction professionals. The team is composed of former site managers, engineers and architects that are dedicated to the digital transformation of the industry.

 

“Since our initial investment in FINALCAD, the company’s performance and ability to execute has exceeded our expectations” said Nicolas Louvet, Partner at Serena Capital. “Over the past two years, FINALCAD has delivered product innovation, field adoption, and significantly expanded the share of its international clients. This is why we decided to lead this second round of funding.”

 

“We reckon the construction industry is lagging behind in digitisation, with tremendous needs lying ahead. FINALCAD clearly embodies this huge opportunity. CapHorn Invest is committed to helping the company accelerate its growth taking advantage of the CapHorn Network of subscribers.” said Laurent Dumas-Crouzillac, Partner at Caphorn Invest.

 

“We were particularly impressed with the global mindset and international business development demonstrated by FINALCAD, especially in Europe and Asia. It will be a natural fit with the global coverage of Aster Capital’s team and investment portfolio,” said Jean-Marc Bally, Managing Partner at Aster Capital.

_________

 

 

*Global Construction 2030 Report, by Global Construction Perspectives and Oxford Economics.

**McKinsey Global Institute Industry Digitization Index

***FINALCAD has been ranked in the top tier of Deloitte’s Fast 500 EMEA and Fast 50 France rankings with a cumulated growth of 827 percent over four years.

CDL’S Forest Woods Receives Strong Interest Ahead of Launch

/in , , , /by
Reading Time: 3 minutes
There were large crowds at the Forest Woods show flat preview that started on 24 September.

There were large crowds at the Forest Woods show flat preview that started on 24 September.

Forest Woods by City Developments Limited (CDL) and joint venture partners, Hong Leong Holdings Limited and TID Pte Ltd, has received keen interest since its show flat preview began on 24 September. There were strong enquiries for this highly anticipated new condominium in Serangoon Central which is expected to be launched next week.

Forest Woods comprises seven 12-storey blocks, most of which are within the one-kilometre radius of Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary) and Yangzheng Primary School, making it a major draw for families with children. Other schools in the vicinity include: Cedar Primary School, CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel, Maris Stella High School, St. Gabriel’s Primary School, St. Gabriel’s Secondary School, Stamford American International School, Xinghua Primary School, Zhonghua Primary School and Zhonghua Secondary School.

The project offers one-bedroom with study to four-bedroom apartments, and single-storey five- bedroom penthouses. Unit sizes range from 506 square feet (sq ft) for a one-bedroom with study to 2,185 square feet for the largest penthouse unit. Apartments are attractively priced from S$688,000 for a one-bedroom with study unit, S$838,000 for a two-bedroom, S$1.1 million for a three-bedroom, and S$1.65 million for a four-bedroom.

Flexible Layout and Finishes for Different Lifestyles

An illustration of a 3-bedroom unit at Forest Woods.

An illustration of a 3-bedroom unit at Forest Woods.

Catering to varied lifestyle requirements, select units offer the option to customise rooms with flexible layout and configurations. For example, the Open Study concept is suitable for parents who wish to supervise their children from any part of the home. The Ensuite Study concept is ideal for working professionals who prefer to work in the comfort and privacy of his or her expanded bedroom. For fashionistas who need space for their trove of beloved items, they may opt for the Walk-in Wardrobe concept.

Home owners of all units are given a choice of either a warm or cool colour scheme for the finishes, accompanied with the finest in branded kitchen appliances from Bosch and bathroom fittings from Grohe.

Making Life Better With Smart Home Technology
Forest Woods leverages smart home technology to make life better in tangible yet subtle ways. All units will be equipped with:

  • Smart Home Center Lite to easily control smart devices and sensors installed
  • Smart Door Sensor to monitor the opening of doors for added security
  • Smart IP Camera to monitor what is happening at home when residents are away
  • Smart Lighting Control and Air Conditioner Control to automate lights and air-conditioning remotely.

When Forest Woods is completed, residents can also add on the Smart Digital Lock, Smart Wall Plug, Smart Smoke Sensor, Smart Multimedia, Smart Roller Blind, and Smart Motion Sensor, for an additional cost.

Mr Chia Ngiang Hong, CDL Group General Manager said, “For a few years, no project of this size was launched in the much sought-after Serangoon Central area. We have received strong interest for this highly-anticipated launch as Forest Woods comes across as a compelling purchase for new home buyers, upgraders and investors. It has an extremely prime location in a mature estate, very near the Serangoon MRT Interchange, bus interchange and Nex Shopping Mall, with easy access to amenities, expressways and many schools. Forest Woods also offers great value at attractive pricing, and several unique facilities. We expect a good take-up when sales commence.”

thyssenkrupp Unveils Latest Technology to Transform Global Elevator Service Industry

/in , , /by
Reading Time: 3 minutes
MAX is already on track to be connected with 180,000 units by the end of 2017.

MAX is already on track to be connected with 180,000 units by the end of 2017.

thyssenkrupp recently announced its use of Microsoft HoloLens technology in its elevator service operations worldwide. The special mixed reality device is set to empower more than 24,000 of the company’s service technicians to do their jobs more safely and efficiently, and keep people and cities moving better than ever before. Currently, the global elevator service industry is valued at over $US 44 billion per year and more than 12 million elevators transport over 1 billion people each day.

Using HoloLens, service technicians will be able to visualize and identify problems with elevators ahead of a job, and have remote, hands-free access to technical and expert information when on site – all resulting in significant savings in time and stress. Initial field trials have already shown that a service maintenance intervention can be done up to four times faster than before by using the device.

Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO of thyssenkrupp Elevator said: “With elevators transporting over one billion people each day, the service industry has a critical role to play in keeping cities moving. We remain focused on leading the transformation in this industry; introducing the latest technologies, processes and training to enable technicians to do a better job with less stress and more fun. Our goal is to dramatically increase efficiency, raise elevator uptimes and speed up service interventions to ensure mobility equipment is always running as it should, providing each passenger with the safest and most comfortable travel experience possible.”

Commenting on Microsoft Corp., he added, “This application of HoloLens in our service operations was made possible through our collaboration with Microsoft, and the close integration with their software experts has even allowed us to explore dedicated HoloLens apps to meet thyssenkrupp’s specific requirements.”

Sam George, Partner Director, Microsoft Azure IoT, added, “The successful launch of IoT- enabled MAX was the first step in thyssenkrupp’s journey to not only transform their business but also its 100-year-old industry. Predictive maintenance, powered by Microsoft Azure IoT, enabled thyssenkrupp to offer time savings to worldwide elevator passengers equivalent to 95 million hours of new availability per year of operation. Today, we are proud to have once again collaborated with thyssenkrupp to bring another game-changing solution to market together.”

Scott Erickson, General Manager for Microsoft HoloLens, commented: “As the first fully self- contained holographic computer running Windows 10, Microsoft HoloLens has been helping companies and industries innovate in entirely new ways. By utilising the out-of-the-box Skype experience without any additional development required, thyssenkrupp’s 24,000 service engineers can now do their jobs safer and more efficiently. Triaging service requests ahead of the visit and getting hands-free remote holographic guidance when on site has reduced the average length of thyssenkrupp’s service calls by up to 4 times.”

The launch of HoloLens and MAX is timely given that global revenues from elevator-related services are forecast to rise 4.9 percent per annum through 2019 to $US 56.3 billion.

In this regard, Andreas Schierenbeck noted: “Rapid urbanisation across the globe means that our cities are getting bigger and taller, making it essential to tap into the power of technology to reduce overcrowding and move people in the most efficient way possible. By harnessing the power of IoT with solutions like MAX and HoloLens, thyssenkrupp is able to step further into the digital era and transform the way the elevator industry offers maintenance services.”

Launched by thyssenkrupp in 2015 as the industry’s first predictive maintenance solution, MAX is already connected with thousands of units in the pilot countries of US, Germany and Spain, and is on track to be connected with 180,000 units by the end of 2017. The successful implementation in the pilot countries has also set the stage for rollouts in additional countries by the end of 2016.

Iconic buildings whose elevators are already cloud-connected through MAX include the One World Trade Center. The building has elevators that travel faster than Usain Bolt, capable of moving from the ground floor to the 102nd floor in just 60 seconds, and regenerative drives that convert energy produced when elevators decelerate into electricity that can be used to significantly reduce the building’s energy consumption. Now equipped with MAX and HoloLens, the tower is setting new standards for sustainability and building efficiency.

Technologies that are Shaping the Future of the Construction Site

/in , , /by
Reading Time: 3 minutes
autodesk info graphic Article and infographic contributed by Autodesk.

Technology is dramatically transforming the construction industry, with professional-grade wearables and new survey methodologies, making construction sites safer and even accessible from remote locations.

Here’s a quick look at three technological breakthroughs that you may see on construction sites in the near future.

1. A smart badge that provides a real time view of the construction site

Workers can use the call button on the B3 Badge to request for help in emergency situations. (Image Credit: Redpoint Smart Badge and Asset Tags)

Workers can use the call button on the B3 Badge to request for help in emergency situations. (Image Credit: Redpoint Smart Badge and Asset Tags)

Imagine sitting a few hundred kilometres away from the construction site and having detailed visibility into workforce activity. Innovations like Redpoint Positioning’s compact and wearable B3 Workforce Safety Badge makes this possible.

This badge is equipped with an Indoor GPS platform that allows contractors to view and record workforce activities from remote locations. As an early Autodesk Forge partner, Redpoint Positioning leverages the Forge Platform’s APIs to monitor and record real time job site activities directly within BIM 360. Contractors can use this real time data to alert workers with a loud alarm if they enter danger zones or areas with electrical hazards.

Screen Shot 2016-09-27 at 6.26.20 pm

The DAQRI smart helmet’s anti-reflective, scratch resistant face shield replaces safety glasses, and workers can use in-built USB ports to power additional equipment like flashlights. (Image Credit: DAQRI Products)

2. Smart helmets that provide in-depth information on construction sites
Hard hats and safety glasses are essential on construction sites, but they aren’t exactly high-tech. DAQRI, an LA based AR company has designed an “Industrial Augmented Reality (AR) Helmet” that features thermal imaging, head tracking, motion sensing, pattern recognition and much more. In contrast to an ordinary hard hat, the DAQRI helmet does much more than just protecting your head. Its in-built cameras and sensors provide workers with detailed real-time information about their surroundings. For instance, when a worker glances at a pressure gauge, the helmet can alert him if it displays a reading outside the expected range. Overheated panels and instruments can also be easily detected by thermal imaging tools and sensors, thus helping prevent accidents on the construction site.

3. Getting a bird’s eye view of projects with drones

Some contractors are already piloting drones to conduct site surveys, but what’s even more exciting is the potential to turn the footage captured by these unmanned aerial vehicles into actionable and relevant intelligence for businesses.

Contractors can use this Dashboard to view real time updates captured by the EVO3, hence getting a glimpse of work that’s ahead, on time or behind schedule. (Image Credit: Skycatch)

Contractors can use this Dashboard to view real time updates captured by the EVO3, hence getting a glimpse of work that’s ahead, on time or behind schedule. (Image Credit: Skycatch)

Skycatch’s EVO3, for example, not only takes off and lands on its own, but also provides workers with a Dashboard interface to overlay aerial footage over construction plans and detect changes in progress, all from the sky and in real-time. Don’t want to invest in buying your own fleet? SkyCatch is also bringing the “sharing economy” ethos to drones with a new service called Workmode that helps companies find and hire unmanned aerial vehicles for mapping jobs, surveying, and other work.

Less Dust, More Data
From drones to sensors and every gadget in between, it’s plain to see why construction sites across the world are focusing on technology. While contractors are unlikely to go hi-tech overnight, the benefits of capturing data and leveraging it for greater planning and worker safety are simply undeniable.

 

SUEZ launches AQUADVANCED(R) Urban Drainage, an innovative waste and storm water solution

/in , , , /by
Reading Time: 2 minutes
spring-rain-2-1427535-640x960

Stormwater is responsible for 50% of the pollution flowing into rivers and beaches in urban areas.

Faced with urban population growth, global warming and changing regulations, optimising the performance of sewer and stormwater networks is a priority for local authorities. Responding to this challenge, SUEZ is launching AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage[1], a digital solution that allows local authorities to monitor in real time their sewer and stormwater networks to mitigate the risk of flooding and to control the quality of discharges into the natural environment.

Optimising The Performance Of Sewer And Stormwater Networks: A Challenge For Local Authorities

Rising urbanisation and the increase of impermeable surfaces in urban areas have reduced the natural infiltration of stormwater into the soil to 15%. The remaining 85% flows on the surface, collecting the residues deposited on roofs and roads (fuel, heavy metals, plastics, etc.). Local authorities are faced with the challenge of collecting these polluted waters in the sewerage networks, and of treating them later into wastewater treatment plants to reduce the risks of severe flooding, human and material damage and pollution of the natural ecosystem. Stormwater is responsible for 50% of the pollution flowing into rivers and beaches in urban areas.

AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage To Better Manage Sewer And Stormwater Systems, Prevent Flooding And Preserve The Quality Of The Receiving Water Bodies

In response to these challenges, SUEZ is launching AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage, a digital solution that helps local authorities to manage their sewer and stormwater systems. The tool allows to choose the solution that best meets their needs, from the monitoring of an environment (rivers, the sea, sewerage networks), to the anticipation of flooding events and pollution of the natural environment, and the predictive and dynamic management of the complete sewerage system.

AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage provides a global, real-time vision of the complete system, based on data from sensors installed both in the network and in the environment (rivers, watercourses, etc.) and on short-term weather forecasts. By centralising and analysing all these data, the software solution can anticipate the hydraulic performance of the network (saturated storage capacities, volumes to be treated, etc.) or of the natural ecosystem (risk of pollution or overflowing watercourses). For certain sewerage systems, the tool can also calculate the best control strategy, and automatically and remotely monitor the system’s facilities (storage reservoirs, pumping stations, etc.).

AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage anticipates the risk of untreated wastewater overflowing into the natural ecosystem, monitors the quality of discharge on a daily basis and helps to protect the environment. Deploying this system can cut the volumes of stormwater that flow into rivers or the sea by up to 45%.

Presented at the Singapore International Water Week (10-14 July), where it is currently being deployed, AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage has been already introduced in eight European cities, including Bordeaux, the Paris conurbation, Marseille and Barcelona.

Leader on the Smart Water market in Europe, SUEZ is complementing its offer to support local authorities in the sustainable management of resources with this management software dedicated to optimise sewer and stormwater networks’ performance. AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage completes the existing software offer for the drinking water networks, named AQUADVANCED® Water Networks.

—

[1] AQUADVANCED® is a registered trademark or a trademark under pending application.

Autodesk and Trimble Sign Agreement to Increase Interoperability

/in , /by
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Autodesk and Trimble will take steps to accelerate interoperability by exchanging (APIs) and developer tools. Image courtesy of Autodesk.

Autodesk and Trimble will take steps to accelerate interoperability by exchanging (APIs) and developer tools. Image courtesy of Autodesk.

Trimble and Autodesk, Inc. have entered into an interoperability agreement aimed at saving customers time and reducing project costs typically associated with workflow inefficiency across different suppliers’ technologies. This will benefit architects, engineers and contractors, and importantly, project owners by enabling more freedom to optimise technology workflows needed to meet the complex requirements of today’s construction projects

Autodesk and Trimble have a shared goal of meeting the evolving needs of the building and infrastructure industries. Reliable, fluent exchange of information among multiple stakeholders and platforms is essential to this end. The Trimble and Autodesk collaboration demonstrates their ongoing commitment to support open industry standards such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie), and can enable current and prospective Autodesk and Trimble customers working on the same projects to work together seamlessly through optimized file compatibility across applications.

Under the terms of agreement, Autodesk and Trimble will take steps to accelerate interoperability by exchanging Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and developer tools to build and market interoperable products. This allows the two companies to improve upon existing data exchanges, as well as open up new workflows between their products.

Tighter product-to-product integration can enable design and construction professionals to share models, project files and other data between select Autodesk and Trimble solutions both in the office and the field, and allow for the reuse of information during design and construction throughout all phases of the project.

“The strength of a company is best measured by its willingness to do what is right for its customers and the industry at large. This interoperability agreement, like others we’ve signed, speaks to Autodesk’s commitment to openness,” said Amar Hanspal, senior vice president, Autodesk. “This collaboration with Trimble speaks to our shared dedication to making the building process more efficient and productive for all involved.”

“This collaboration demonstrates our mutual commitment to provide design and construction professionals with a seamless experience from both Autodesk and Trimble design-build-operate solutions,” said Bryn Fosburgh, vice president at Trimble. “As a result all stakeholders across the construction lifecycle can optimize their workflow efficiency.”

Tuas Power Aids Businesses in Reducing Energy Expenses With Tuas Power Integrated Energy Management Solution

/in , , /by
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Dr. John Keung, Chief Executive Officer, BCA, was the Guest of Honour at the launch.

Dr. John Keung, Chief Executive Officer, BCA, was the Guest of Honour at the launch.

Tuas Power Generation Pte Ltd (Tuas Power), an energy solutions provider in the liberalised Singapore electricity market, recently announced the launch of Tuas Power Integrated Energy Management Solution (IEMS) for buildings and businesses.

The first of its kind launched by an electricity retailer, Tuas Power Supply (a subsidiary of Tuas Power Generation), Tuas Power IEMS provides an integrated suite of solutions tailored for building owners and tenants to better manage their energy consumption. With Tuas Power IEMS, building owners and businesses get an overview of their energy statistics, cost savings, and at the same time ensure that the building remains green and sustainable for the future.

In line with Building and Construction Authority’s 3rd Green Building Masterplan, Tuas Power IEMS will pave the way for businesses to monitor their energy consumption online, allowing for better control over energy usage. Tuas Power IEMS will ensure that both building owners and tenants are accountable for their energy use, which will promote change in consumption habits and increase in energy efficiency. Usage patterns containing real-time data will easily be available and will help both parties understand their usage patterns and identify possible cost savings areas. Many renowned buildings and developers had embarked on this solution as part of ensuring their building remains green and sustainable for the future.

Dr. John Keung, Chief Executive Officer, Building and Construction Authority, was present at the launch as the Guest of Honour, and felt that Tuas Power’s latest initiative is a good step towards helping building owners manage costs and improve energy efficiency.

“The third Green Building Masterplan was developed to engage building tenants and occupants more actively to drive energy consumption behavioural change,” Dr. Keung said. “Tuas Power’s Integrated Energy Management Solution for buildings and businesses facilitates tenants to better understand their energy usage pattern, thereby empowering them to make better decisions and adopt greener practices.”

Automated Meter Reading (AMR) Solution, Building Management Solution and CusCare App

The CusCare app condenses data into simple charts and statistics.

The CusCare app condenses data into simple charts and statistics.

Together with Tuas Power’s consultation expertise, the IEMS will consist of three main areas: Automated Meter Reading (AMR) Solution, Building Management Solution and CusCare App. With the AMR solution, businesses will be able to monitor their energy consumption through real-time, half- hourly data, allowing for better control over electricity usage.

Jointly developed with NEC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Tuas Power’s AMR solution automatically collects energy consumption data from electricity meters, and simultaneously transmits this data for accessing through the TPS AMR Portal. This enables building owners to identify areas to increase energy efficiency, which in turn works to achieve a smaller carbon footprint.

The Building Management Solution in Tuas Power IEMS is a way of ensuring good energy management. With proven track records of handling more than 630 buildings since 2003, Tuas Power has professional and in-house capabilities to handle the management of tenants’ electricity accounts, meters, billing and collection, electricity management duties, on behalf of landlords. The solution helps building owners manage and integrate their tenant’s electricity accounts in an organised and systematic approach.

Rounding up these solutions in a convenient way is the mobile CusCare App – designed to give users a quick overview of their energy spend on a digital platform. Using this app, data is condensed into simple charts and statistics, yielding insightful information about energy consumption patterns, and leaving room for building owners and tenants to make informed business decisions on conserving energy.

“In keeping with the Building and Construction Authority’s vision to establish a future-ready built environment for Singapore, Tuas Power is committed to energy sustainability and continually strives to develop solutions and adopt technologies to aid building owners, along with their respective tenants to manage electricity consumption. Our goal is to help all involved monitor their energy usage, and provide solutions to make sustainable energy a reality,” said Mr. Michael Wong, General Manager, Tuas Power Supply.