Chaos Bridge

Chaos Bridge enables easy exchanges of complex graphical data between Enscape and V-Ray. It correspondingly connects two of architectural visualization’s most trusted products, Enscape and V-Ray, into a single pipeline. Consequently, this enables an easy collaboration from the initial concept to right through to the final render.

Vice President of Product Management at Chaos, Phillip Miller. Image: screen capture from Total Chaos presentation video.

As a result of the new Chaos Bridge, design teams are now one step closer to fluidly turning Revit designs into high-end visualizations, preserving key decisions from the initial concept through to the final render. VP of Product Management at Chaos, Phillip Miller explains:

Real-Time to Photoreal

Today, what starts its life in a CAD program can now be fine-tuned and rendered in V-Ray 6. Consequently, Chaos Bridge creates a continuous path from CAD to DCC (digital content creation). It additionally offers complete support for Enscape environments, materials, and nearly all Enscape assets.

As a result, architects can now deliver visualization teams a version of their design in a form that makes further visualization much easier. Moreover, Chaos is actively refining its Enscape compatibility. Consequently, this will enable easier data exchanges between applications, thus reducing or eliminating compatibility issues.

New MaterialX and latest USD support for 3ds Max

With new support for MaterialX, artists can now complete their USD (universal scene description) pipeline. As a result, this enables smooth rendering and shader exchanges across design teams and software tools. Moreover, Chaos has also added support for the latest USD for 3ds Max version. Consequently, this will enable users to make extensive use of the tool’s full capabilities.

Other new features

In addition to Chaos Bridge, there are also many other interesting new features and improvements.

VRay 6.2 Lister – this can manage all lights and cameras from a single location. Image: Chaos.

These include faster workflow, better lighting control, more realistic scattering, and various improvements to V-Ray itself.

Faster workflow

• Chaos Cloud One-Click Submit. Users can now access Chaos Cloud rendering in a click, all without leaving 3ds Max or waiting for a scene to export.
• Faster .vrscene Exports. Achieves up to twenty times faster exports and significantly smaller file sizes on scenes with large scattering data. This improvement also accelerates V-Ray GPU’s time to the first pixel.
• Unified V-Ray Lister for 3ds Max. This new update can manage all lights and cameras from a single location. An enhanced user interface also helps users explore new features for bulk adjustments, filtering, and searching.

Lighting

• IES Light Models in Chaos Cosmos. Chaos’ ever-expanding library of ready-to-render assets now helps artists import 3D light models, including IES profiles, in a few clicks. Furthermore, interiors can now be illuminated faster than ever before.

More Realistic Scattering

• Altitude Variance. Users can now control object distribution based on surface height, helping them achieve natural altitude variances for their vegetation.
• Groups Hierarchy. In Chaos Scatter, users can now distribute multiple objects in a group or hierarchy with just a couple of clicks.
• Scatter Orientation. The orientation of scattered items can be adjusted by rotating away or toward a selected object. As a result, this provides users with added control and realism.

V-Ray Frame Buffer (VFB) Improvements

• Chromatic Aberration. This new post-effect helps artists explore distinctive looks and color fringing directly within the VFB, without requiring a third-party application.
• Custom Background Color. Color corrections now include a solid background option, removing the need to load an image.

V-Ray GPU Updates

• Faster Animation Rendering. Image sequences can now be rendered up to four times more quickly. This accelerates everything from AEC marketing to high-end visual effects. This is because V-Ray GPU now caches bitmaps between frames.
• V-Ray Enmesh. Complex geometric patterns can be quickly created over object surfaces to make detailed fabrics, fences, and panels in an automated and memory-efficient way.

To learn more about Chaos Bridge, together with a more exhaustive list of the other new features in V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max, please visit the What’s New page.

Availability

V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max, update 2 is available for 3ds Max versions from 2019 to 2024. Similarly, all V-Ray subscription plans work for all supported host applications, including 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, Houdini, Maya, Nuke, Revit, Rhino, SketchUp and Unreal.

In order to experience the new benefits of the unified workflow that Chaos Bridge can offer, you need Enscape 3.5.6 or above and V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max, update 2 or above. For more information concerning Chaos products, please click here.

About Chaos

Chaos develops 3D visualization technology for architecture, engineering, construction, and media, as well as entertainment, product design, and manufacturing. Its software creates intuitive and powerful workflows for designers of all types. In 2022, Chaos merged with Enscape and acquired Cylindo. Then in 2023, Chaos also acquired AXYZ design.

Today, the company’s product portfolio includes Anima, Corona, Cylindo, Enscape, and V-Ray. In fact, Chaos is now one of the world’s largest global 3D visualization companies, with more than 700 employees. Its head office is in Karlsruhe, Germany, with offices around the globe. Please click here for more information.

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New M3 Chips

The new M3 will offer excellent performance, particularly for artists working with Redshift, Maxon’s powerful GPU-accelerated rendering engine.

Maxon CEO, David McGavran. Image: Maxon.

Moreover, the optimization of Maxon Cinebench 2024 will allow creators to evaluate the performance capabilities of these new M3 chips. Maxon CEO, David McGavran explains:

Artists will undoubtedly experience outstanding performance when generating photorealistic imagery using Maxon’s industry-leading Redshift render engine. This is thanks to the increased GPU power of the M3 family of chips.  Moreover, features such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing significantly improve performance in Redshift rendering.

What is Cinebench?

Maxon’s Cinebench 2024 is a sophisticated benchmarking tool, built on Maxon’s Redshift and Cinema 4D. Essentially, Cinebench allows any computer owner to test and evaluate their computer system for use with high-end graphics applications.

Maxon Cinebench on an M3-powered laptop. Image: Maxon.

Cinebench offers a real-world benchmark for graphics performance. It incorporates a user’s commonly performed tasks when using Cinema 4D and Redshift to measure a system’s performance.

It has many practical uses; for example, IT administrators can use Cinebench to help make purchase decisions. Journalists can also use the results in reviewing hardware. Additionally, manufacturers can utilize the feedback Cinebench provides in order to optimize their latest products.

Availability

Maxon Cinebench 2024.1 is available immediately for anyone to download. This enables users to test and benchmark performance on both macOS and Windows hardware. Moreover, optimizations will be available as part of regular Redshift updates for Maxon One and Redshift subscribers in the coming months.

• For more information about Cinebench, please click here.
• Users may use the Maxon App to install, use, or try its products. The App is available here.

Please note that in order to download the Maxon App, users need to create a Maxon account and sign in.

About Maxon

Based in Bad Homburg, Germany, Maxon creates powerful yet easy-to-use software for content creators working in 2D and 3D design, motion graphics, visual effects, and visualization. Consequently, Maxon’s innovative product portfolio helps artists supercharge their creative workflows.

Maxon’s team is composed of fun, enthusiastic people. It believes in building and empowering a successful artistic community. Maxon recognizes the importance of developing strong connections with creatives. This includes its popular events and its free Cineversity educational resources.

Maxon is part of the Nemetschek Group.

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The Future of ArchViz

The report suggests that real-time rendering is key to many architects’ workflows.

Roderick Bates. Image: Chaos.

In fact, according to the report, more than 75% of design firms use real-time rendering at least twice per week. Chaos Director of Corporate Development, Roderick Bates, explains the significance:

Key takeaways

• 77% of design professionals say their firm is using real-time rendering at least twice per week, with 27% using it daily.
• More than half of firms are already using AI for architectural visualizations.
• 43% of firms have one or more dedicated in-house visualization experts.

Real-time rendering speeds up architectural workflows

As technology advances, clients are expecting more from architects and designers, which leads to heavier workloads. Design professionals are reinventing their workflows so that design processes are more dynamic. A polished effect – achieved during an over-the-shoulder review – is now a realized dream for many.

• 46% of respondents cited that real-time rendering allows them to save time and speed up the design process.
• 1 in 2 respondents report that real-time rendering software will be used to review the project in a real-time viewer during design.

When asked about the main uses of real-time rendering software, respondents indicated that this new approach is helping design professionals to handle hesitant clients.

Charts from Future of Architectural Visualization report. Image: Chaos.

Consequently, it can inform and speed up a client’s decision-making process:

• Quickly applying and reviewing different material options (54.3%).
• Walking through a model with clients or collaborators (50.1%).
• Reviewing daylighting instantly in 3D (47.9%).

Architectural visualization in-house

The report also indicates a preference for architectural visualization to take place in-house. This includes real-time rendering. It also highlights a new requirement for architects to have an understanding of visualization techniques. This marks a shift towards greater autonomy and expertise within firms, regardless of size.

• 43% of firms have one or more dedicated in-house visualization experts.
• 32% of firms have their architects or designers produce their own visualizations.
• Freelancers or small companies (1-5 employees) are more likely than large firms to have designers create their own visualizations.

Greater technical innovation is needed to keep up with demand

As client demands increase, architectural firms are expecting greater performance and functionality from their visualization software. Many firms still face technical challenges and frustrating limitations with their chosen software. The biggest issues with real-time rendering cited were:

• “We are unable to integrate real-time software with our design modelling software.” (48%)
• “Current real-time software does not produce the quality of renderings we need.” (42%)
• “Current real-time software does not have sufficient functionality to meet our needs.” (21%)

More than half of firms are already using AI for architectural visualizations

Designers are also exploring the potential of AI to improve their visualization and overcome rendering challenges. Larger firms are embracing AI faster than smaller firms, but firms of all sizes are planning for future AI investment.

• 55% of design professionals are already using AI in relation to architectural visualization.
• 19% indicated they utilize AI to create AI-assisted or AI-generated visualizations.
• 2 in 5 design professionals see AI as an area for investment over the next year.

Report background

Chaos conducted its survey in collaboration with an online information-sharing platform for architects, Architizer. Moreover, the average participant works in a design firm of twenty to over a hundred employees. A total of 2,139 design professionals were surveyed overall.

Participating firms had a range of specialties, including architecture, interior design, engineering, master planning, landscape architecture, and product design. Respondents’ firms were overwhelmingly headquartered in the United States. However, just over a third were from other countries spread around the world.

• To download and study the report yourself, please click here. Download is free, but it also requires registration with your email address.

About Chaos

Chaos develops 3D visualization technology for architecture, construction, engineering, and media, as well as entertainment, manufacturing, and product design. Its software creates intuitive and powerful workflows for designers of all types.

Chaos is now one of the world’s largest global 3D visualization companies, with more than 700 employees. Its head office is in Karlsruhe, Germany, with offices around the globe. Please click here for more information.

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Matterport CAD add-on

Until recently, Matterport has only delivered CAD files as part of its BIM (building information modeling) file add-on. However, for projects that do not need the level of detail that BIM provides, this requirement adds unnecessary time and cost to a project.

Screenshot from a Matterport 3D model. Original 3D model: Matterport.

With the new CAD file add-on, users can produce editable CAD drawings directly from Matterport point clouds. Thus allowing customers to reduce their design and documentation time.

Matterport’s Senior Director of Business Strategy, Stephanie Lin explains:

Today, most design processes begin with CAD drawings. However, producing accurate drawings is complex and time-consuming. It also requires specially trained professionals with expertise in surveying and modeling.

Moreover, design changes, errors, or omissions at the design stage cause many of the reworks undertaken by the construction industry. Consequently, making adequate documentation an intrinsic component of any new project is essential to maintaining its quality and reducing its costs.

Fortunately, this new add-on builds on Matterport’s existing add-ons and integrations for construction and design professionals. These include Matterport BIM files, the MatterPak Bundle, and the recent integrations with Procore Technologies and the Autodesk Construction Cloud.

The new CAD file add-on package will include support for the following formats:

• AutoCAD (.dxf ) exported from (.dwg).
• CAD format of floor plans and reflected ceiling plans (.dwg AutoCAD 2020 version).
• Floor plans and reflected ceiling plans (.pdf).
• Point Cloud File (.rcs).
• Plot styles for CAD (.ctb).

Matterport hopes to make its new CAD file add-on available in all regions globally within the next few months. For more information, please click here.

About Matterport

Matterport Incorporated specializes in the digital transformation of the construction industry. Its groundbreaking spatial data platform turns physical buildings into easily accessible computer visualizations. Consequently, Matterport digital twins have transformed millions of buildings in more than 177 countries into detailed, realistic 3D models.  Its products can assist with every stage of a building’s lifecycle. This starts with planning, construction, operations and documentation, right through to appraisal and marketing.

To learn more about Matterport, please click here.

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What is Konekt?

Newforma Konekt is web-based, cloud-hosted PIM (project information management) platform.

Newforma Project Center. Image: Newforma.

It provides a central location for all project records and data—a “single source of truth” or SSOT for the project team. The cloud nature of this offering means it provides AEC/O project teams with worldwide access to their complete project data.

Accordingly, it unifies conversations, project files, action items, and contractual workflows into a single cloud-hosted platform. It also provides a complete history of the project from conception through to completion.

Newforma Chief Product Officer, Carl Veillette, summarizes Newforma’s new Konekt platform:

With Newforma Konekt, all stakeholders in a project, including architects, engineers, contractors, and owners, can collaborate and make informed decisions. Meanwhile, Konekt compiles a comprehensive, intuitive, and easily searchable project record. Newforma Konekt also synchronizes with existing software tools.

Consequently, it can eliminate communication gridlocks, orphaned data, and tedious document tasks. This means that firms save valuable time and money.

Konekt key features

Philosophy

The idea behind Konekt is to make collaboration between all project stakeholders reliable and straightforward. Basically, Konekt bridges collaboration workflows through its various add-ins and integrations. 

Newforma Konekt main projects screen.

Konekt combines information management, project management, and simple BIM coordination by those using BIM in their projects. Chiefly, it integrates intricate design collaboration and issue management, essential during design and building phases, with overarching processes. These generally include file and document handling, email coordination, as well as various other routine project completion tasks.

Newforma believes that a centralized hub as the best way to manage project information effectively. Indeed, this ethos is embodied in its new “contained web” logomark.

• For more information regarding Newforma and its products, please click here.

About Newforma

Based in Manchester, New Hampshire, Newforma provides information management and collaboration software for the AEC/O industry. Consequently, it empowers AEC/O firms by delivering technology solutions that drive better project outcomes at every stage of the construction project lifecycle.

Over 500,000 users in more than 1,500 firms worldwide have streamlined their communication, simplified their administration, and enabled real-time collaboration using Newforma’s platforms.

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Connecting

As a result, Vectorworks customers around the world will have the opportunity to connect with fellow industry leaders and design enthusiasts. They will also receive a first-hand look at what’s new in Vectorworks 2024.

Vectorworks Chief Technology Officer, Steve Johnson. Image: Vectorworks.

Vectorworks Chief Technology Officer, Steve Johnson explains the rationale behind these Design Days:

Features

Vectorworks is keen to demonstrate its product’s array of new and improved features. For example, the new Vectorworks 2024 offers its users an updated and modernized user interface. Consequently, this means Vectorworks is more efficient and easier to customize.

It also offers BIM (building information modelling) tools that cater to the specific needs of architects. Users will additionally find improved geometry for thresholds and sills, so they fit better with wall closures. Furthermore, customers see more options to control interior and exterior environmental conditions.

Consequently, gaps around doors and windows can be controlled for each side of the opening. Moreover, door handing has been standardized to allow for more detailed geometry. Additionally, materials can now be assigned to doors and windows, guaranteeing accuracy and consistency in visual representation and reporting.

Insights

In addition to exploring the technical details concerning the upcoming software release, attendees will gain valuable insights from customer success stories. They can also network with like-minded designers and the Vectorworks senior leadership team as they present the Future of Vectorworks roadmap.

Venues

The worldwide Design Day series begins October 2023 and continues through to March 2024 at the following locations:

• Design Day London – 3 October 2023
  Venue: 30 Euston Square, London, England.
  Industries: architecture, interiors, and landscapes.

• Design Day Los Angeles – 17 October 2023
  Venue: 2520 W Olive Avenue, Los Angeles, USA.
  Industries: entertainment.

• Design Day Vancouver – 25 October 2023
  Venue: 515 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, Canada.
  Industries: architecture, interiors, and landscapes.

• Design Day New York City – 1 November 2023
  Venue: 536 La Guardia Place, New York City, USA.
  Industries: architecture, interiors, and landscapes.

• Design Day Brooklyn – 2 November 2023
  Venue 230 Bogart Street, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
  Industries: entertainment.

• Design Day Sydney – 19 March 2024
  Venue: 12 – Micron, Barangaroo, Sydney, Australia.
  Industries: architecture, interiors, and landscapes.

Registration is free for all events. Moreover, prospective attendees can easily secure their places online right now. Please click here for more information.

About Vectorworks, Inc.

Vectorworks is an award-winning BIM and design software provider serving architecture, landscape architecture, and entertainment industries in 85 countries. Consequently, it now has more than 685,000 users who are creating, connecting, and influencing the next generation of design.

Vectorworks’ head office is in Columbia, Maryland, with offices in Australia, Canada, and the UK. Vectorworks dates back to 1985 and is now part of the Nemetschek Group.

• To learn more about Vectorworks, please click here.

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Acelab Platform

Investors also include Alpaca, Branagh Construction, Erik Jarnryd (Former CEO of Harvey Building Products), Ken Lang, Klingenstein Fields, Steve Kaufer (Founder and former CEO of TripAdvisor), Transcend Partners, and Westview PE Fund.

Product selection process, screen-grabbed from Acelab website.

This newly raised capital will support the growth of Acelab’s building product selection platform. More than 7,000 architecture practices currently use it to find the best available products for their construction projects. Recently appointed executive chairman Dave Lemont explains its attraction:

“Acelab has emerged as one of the most widely used product specification platforms in the construction industry, with thousands of design and build firms now using Acelab monthly,” adds Vardhan Mehta, Acelab CEO and co-founder. “With this new funding, Acelab is well-positioned to become the industry standard for how all architects research and select building products.”

Big business

Architects in the United States specify over USD 100 billion worth of construction products every year. However, many architecture firms lack a standard specification workflow or access to a comprehensive library. Therefore, this results in lost information, multiple revisions, and scattered communication across emails, telephone calls, and sticky notes. Consequently, it ultimately leads to errors, higher costs, and decreased productivity.

MORE: Tect—A Promising Platform Can Provide Key Gains for Architects and Manufacturers Alike

Acelab’s platform is currently being used by over 7,000 architecture practices around the country. These include project teams at well-known firms such as AECOM, Gensler, and SOM. Acelab’s product database has also grown to over 39,000 products across categories such as windows, doors, cladding, roofing, and insulation.

“Acelab has built the most sophisticated and comprehensive solution for architects to collaborate internally and externally on their product selection workflows,” said Tim Draper, founder of Draper Associates. “In the coming years, we look forward to working with Acelab as the company continues to build impactful products that support the construction industry to bring projects from vision into reality.”

Previously, in spring 2023, Acelab had already introduced a range of new capabilities for its machine learning-based platform.

• Collaboration Portal for connecting users with an Acelab product expert or a manufacturer’s specialist for critical product information, lead times, and price quotations.
• Project Workspace for organizing product shortlists in a personalized Project Workspace and sharing it with colleagues.
• Proprietary search engine ProductAdvisor visually guides its users through the building product ecosystem.

“Acelab possesses uniquely powerful network effects in that architects, building product manufacturers, and contractors all get huge value from one another using the platform,” said Parker McKee, principal at Pillar VC. “We expect this dynamic will only compound as the company continues on its current growth trajectory.”

About Acelab

Acelab is a single-source product discovery and selection platform for architects. It enables architects to select from thousands of options and make informed decisions. Several prestigious venture capital funds are backing it. These include Alpaca, Draper Associates, Pillar VC, Transcend Partners, and MIT’s MET Fund.

• To learn more about Acelab and to sign up for a free account, please click here.
• A brief video outlining what the service has to offer is located here.

The post Acelab announces $5.3M for building product selection platform appeared first on Architosh.

Archibus

These updates expand on the Eptura Archibus release that Architosh covered earlier this year. That version strengthened integrations with Autodesk and added the ability to acquire occupancy data from VergeSense sensors. Eptura CTO, Paul Phillips, tells us:

Demanding tasks

The demands on building operators have increased as they look to determine the right mix of spaces to support flexible work while controlling costs. Enhancements to the Eptura Archibus platform offer new ways to visualize space utilization. Consequently, this allows teams to better understand current needs and inform future real estate decisions.

Laptop computer displaying Eptura Archibus Space and Portfolio Planning Console. Image Eptura.

With the introduction of flexible work policies, today’s workplaces are bustling with various combinations of employees, maintenance personnel, and building guests flowing in and out of office spaces at various times. As revealed in Eptura’s Q1 2023 Workplace Index Report earlier this year, visitor check-ins are up 35% year-over-year. Moreover, room booking check-in rates are rising 76%.

This influx of traffic, paired with evolving floorplans to accommodate new ways of working, makes wayfinding more critical. This is especially true for visitors unfamiliar with the layout of a given workspace or multi-building campus.

Now offering integration with Mapsted’s indoor navigation, Eptura Archibus enables users to easily find their way around the office. Consequently, this ensures guests can quickly locate bookings and the people they are visiting.

The demands on building operators have also increased as they look to determine the right mix of spaces to support flexible work while controlling costs. Enhancements to the Archibus platform offer new ways to visualize space utilization. Consequently, this allows teams to better understand current needs and inform future real estate decisions.

Maintenance

For maintenance teams, office attendance correlates strongly with work orders and equipment inspection volumes. Updates to Archibus provide a more comprehensive view of pending requests and schedule availability. This is because it enables technicians to self-assign work orders and collect vital maintenance information. As a result, it expedites task completion and enhances worker safety.

As part of this series of updates, Eptura Archibus users can now:

• Access and display DWG files, IFC models, and PDF files. This enables maintenance operatives to use architectural, building, and construction industry data within the Archibus BIM Viewer.
• Allow technicians to self-assign work orders directly from the OnSite mobile app.
• Enable users to find their way around offices or campuses by leveraging Mapsted’s indoor navigation from Archibus.
• See which assets have the most or least remaining years of service by filtering on remaining service life.
• Use fewer mouse clicks in order to take action on assets. These include reporting issues, updating asset descriptions, and editing related data directly within BIM Viewer.
• Track when technicians are approaching their labor hours limit and send alerts from within OnSite.
• Visualize space utilization trends to see averages and peaks.

“Technicians can input all the necessary information on their mobile devices instead of waiting to get back to their desktops,” explains Yuki Sawamoto, senior managing director of Eptura partner iSquared. “These users have growing responsibilities amid the resurgence we’re seeing across workspaces, and these enhancements enable them to tackle those responsibilities more efficiently.”

To learn more about how businesses use Archibus IWMS to optimize their assets and workplaces, please click here.

About Eptura

Eptura is a global work technology company that develops software to manage workplaces and assets. Eptura has 16.3 million users across 115 countries. More than 16,000 of the world’s leading companies use its products. Eptura is also an Autodesk Strategic Alliance Partner, working together to deliver integrated software packages. Please click here for more information.

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Split automation tasks

The launch of a new hybrid option for IMAGINiT Clarity Cloud enables users to split the automation of tasks for Autodesk Revit and Autodesk AutoCAD projects between cloud and on-site hardware.

President and chief operating officer, IMAGINiT Technologies, Bill Zavadil. Screenshot from IMAGINiT promotional video.

President and chief operating officer, IMAGINiT Technologies, Bill Zavadil explains:

On its own, IMAGINiT Clarity Cloud is a fully hosted BIM automation platform that handles repetitive Revit, AutoCAD and BIM 360 tasks. As a result, the Clarity platform extends the user’s capabilities at relatively low cost. It also saves time and energy on projects with task automation because it runs in the cloud with no on-site hardware requirement.

IMAGINIT Clarity Cloud can automating manual processes and repetitive tasks, such as publishing Revit files to BIM 360. Other uses include.

• Coordinating Federated Files with Model Coordination.
• Automatically export views and sheets to multiple file formats.
• Perform eTransmit to prepare files for transmission from BIM360.
• Publish and move files in BIM360.
• Schedule tasks to run automatically.

Hybrid option

Basically the new IMAGINiT hybrid option enables small and mid-sized AEC firms to split the automation of tasks for Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD projects between the Clarity cloud, and firms’ own on-site workstations and servers.

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Workstation GPU’s

AMD has designed its new Radeon graphics cards to handle mainstream professional workloads across a wide range of industries and businesses. These include architecture, construction, design, engineering, entertainment, manufacturing, and media.

AMD Radeon PRO 7000 series graphics cards. Screenshot from AMD promotional video.

Senior vice president and general manager of AMD’s Graphics Business Unit, Scott Herkelman outlines their capabilities:

The new Radeon graphics cards also feature breakthrough AMD RDNA 3 technology. As a result, they are optimized to deliver exceptional performance, outstanding stability, and remarkable efficiency. They also feature 8GB of high-speed GDDR6 memory to support data-intensive tasks and enable ray-traced renderings with incredible detail and realism.

Key features

• AMD Radiance Display Engine with DisplayPort 2.1. With 12-bit HDR color support and over 68 billion colors, it supports next-generation displays and multi-monitor configuration options. This also creates ultra-immersive visual environments.
• AMD RDNA 3 architecture. This features redesigned compute units, unifying ray-tracing, and AI accelerators. Also includes second-generation AMD Infinity Cache technology and second-generation ray-tracing technology. It additionally offers optimizations for AEC, D&M, and M&E workflows for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, video editing, and general multitasking.
• Dedicated AI acceleration. New artificial intelligence instructions and increased AI throughput deliver over twice the performance of the previous generation RDNA 2 architecture.
• Optimized driver performance and application certification. AMD continues to work with leading professional software application vendors on a comprehensive application certification program. This is to ensure that AMD Radeon PRO graphics cards can survive demanding 24/7 environments and meet the required technical standards.

Pricing and Availability

The AMD Radeon PRO W7600 and AMD Radeon PRO W7500 will be available in the third quarter of 2023. They will retail for around USD 599 and USD 429, respectively. These new Radeon graphics cards are also expected to appear in OEM workstations and SI systems later this year. Please click here for further details.

About Advanced Micro Devices

AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics, and visualization technologies for more than half a century. As a result, billions of people, leading Fortune 500 businesses, and cutting-edge scientific research institutions around the world use AMD technology. AMD employees are focused on building leadership, high-performance and adaptive products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about AMD, please click here.

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Omniverse and OpenUSD

Designed to meet the needs of large-scale film and visual effects production, OpenUSD is Universal Scene Description. This is a high-performance extensible software platform for collaboratively constructing animated 3D scenes. News of a recently formed alliance around OpenUSD brings tech giants Apple, Adobe, and Autodesk into the fold with Pixar and NVIDIA to advance this critical new format.

NVIDIA’s vice president of Omniverse and simulation technology, Rev Lebaredian. Image: NVIDIA.

NVIDIA’s vice president of Omniverse and simulation technology, Rev Lebaredian, explains the significance of OpenUSD:

This latest NVIDIA Omniverse enhances interoperability between software tools and data types for the building of virtual worlds. It offers a new portfolio of technologies and cloud application programming interfaces (APIs), including ChatUSD and RunUSD, along with a new NVIDIA OpenUSD Developer Program. The latest NVIDIA Omniverse updates also include enhancements to Omniverse Kit. This is the engine used for developing native OpenUSD applications and extensions.

Other enhancements

• Boosted efficiency and user experience. — New rendering optimizations take full advantage of the NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture enhancements in NVIDIA RTX™ GPUs.
• Native RTX-powered spatial integration. — New extended-reality (XR) developer tools let users build spatial-computing options natively into their Omniverse-based applications, giving users the flexibility to experience their 3D projects and virtual worlds however they please.
• New developer templates and resources. — New application and experience templates provide developers getting started with OpenUSD and Omniverse a significant head-start with minimal coding.
• New modular app building. — A new Omniverse Kit Extension Registry, a central repository for accessing, sharing, and managing Omniverse extensions, lets developers easily turn functionality on-and-off in their application. This makes it easy to build custom apps from over 600 core Omniverse extensions provided by NVIDIA.

Platform updates showcased in Omniverse Foundation applications

• Omniverse USD Composer. — This enables 3D users to collect and curate lots of OpenUSD-based scenes.
• Omniverse Audio2Face. — This provides access to generative AI application programming interfaces. These create realistic facial animations and gestures from an audio file. Moreover, it now includes multilingual support and a new female base model.

OpenUSD expands Omniverse ecosystem

NVIDIA also announced a broad range of frameworks, resources, and services for developers and companies to accelerate their adoption of  OpenUSD. It also announced its new Omniverse Cloud APIs. NVIDIA built these specifically for developers to implement and deploy OpenUSD pipelines and applications. For example, ChatUSD is a large language model copilot for developers that can answer OpenUSD knowledge questions or generate Python-USD code scripts.

Expanding their collaboration across Adobe Substance 3D, generative AI and OpenUSD initiatives, Adobe and NVIDIA announced plans to make Adobe Firefly available as APIs in Omniverse. This will enable developers and creators to enhance their design processes.

Wonder Dynamics is connected to Omniverse with new OpenUSD export support through its AI platform Wonder Studio. This automatically animates, lights, and composes computer-generated characters into live-action scenes. New OpenUSD export support also enables artists to generate and export a complete 3D scene, all from a single-camera video.

Import / Export

The main purpose of OpenUSD is to allow a wide variety of design software to share data easily. Consequently, Omniverse users can now build content, experiences, and applications that are compatible with other OpenUSD spatial computing platforms.

OpenUSD in action: housing development and car composite. Screengrab: NVIDIA.

For example, the latest NVIDIA Omniverse readily imports Luma AI’s reality-capture models in USDZ format. Tools from avatar company Convai and character-engine company Inworld AI are also connected to Omniverse.

ARKit and RealityKit.

The latest NVIDIA Omniverse also supports the Khronos Group’s OpenXR open standard. Consequently, allowing Omniverse to use more headsets from manufacturers such as HTC VIVE, Magic Leap, and Varjo.

With AI tools like Convai, creators can add characters to their digital twin environments. As a result, these characters can provide relevant information about the environment and objects, like a tour guide or a virtual robot.

Move AI enables single-camera motion capture with the Move One app, which can generate 3D character animations. It can then export these via OpenUSD and deploy them in Omniverse.

Users of SideFX Houdini can also now load Houdini Digital Assets directly into the Omniverse viewport. Moreover, the Cesium extension for Omniverse enables 3D Tiles, an open standard for streaming massive geospatial datasets in virtual worlds, including those supported by OpenUSD.

Cadence DataCenter Design Software is also now available via Omniverse. As a result, users can see computational fluid dynamics simulations in the complete context of their digital twin. The Blackshark.AI world digital twin platform also connects to Omniverse now.

NVIDIA’s customers using Omniverse for digitalization

• Boston Dynamics AI Institute is using Omniverse to simulate robots and their interactions. This is to enable the design of new robotics and control systems.
• Continental, is using Omniverse in its mobile robots business. As a result, it can generate physically accurate synthetic data at scale to train computer-vision AI models and perform system-integration testing.
• Marks Design, a brand design and experience agency, is using Omniverse. Together with OpenUSD, it streamlines collaboration and improves its animation, rendering, and visualization workflows.
• Volvo Cars has transitioned its digital twin to OpenUSD, using Omniverse to create immersive visualizations. Consequently, this helps customers make better-informed online purchasing decisions.

New Omniverse partners and systems

NVIDIA is collaborating with global systems manufacturers to bring RTX workstations optimally configured for Omniverse to millions of users. These new workstations feature up to four NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation GPUs. These are also bundled with NVIDIA Omniverse Enterprise software.

MORE: BOXX Upgrades AI Workstation Module with new NVIDIA L40S GPUs

As a result, this accelerates OpenUSD world-building, generative AI-enhanced collaborative design. Omniverse users can also take advantage of the new NVIDIA L40S GPU. This is a powerful, universal data center GPU that speeds up the most graphics-intensive workloads.

Availability

• This latest NVIDIA Omniverse release is now available in beta as a free download, from here.
• Latest NVIDIA Omniverse release will also be available shortly in Omniverse Enterprise, which you can learn more about here.
• To learn more about the latest NVIDIA Omniverse and watch NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s SIGGRAPH keynote address, please click here.
• To learn more about SIGGRAPH 2023, please click here.

The post SIG23: Latest NVIDIA Omniverse announced at SIGGRAPH appeared first on Architosh.

Capsules

Capsules is Maxon’s collection of tailor-made assets, specifically designed to enhance the realism of artists’ projects. Hence the latest additions to Capsules include a collection of Redshift materials created by visualization experts Fuchs & Vogel. It also includes a new set of Laubwerk plants.

Updates to Maxon One. Redshift Capsules materials demonstration. Image: Maxon.

Redshift now has twenty-six new glass materials. These are ideal for architectural visualization, motion graphics, and product shots. These new materials also include a collection of condensation materials that make it easy to add rain on windows or moisture droplets on cans of cold drinks.

In addition to basic “perfect” glass, Maxon has included a collection of smoked, distorted, dirty and smudged variations perfect for visualizing downtown lofts or creating VFX shots. Half of these materials are available to customers with active Cinema 4D subscriptions while the other half are an exclusive benefit for Maxon One subscribers.

In addition, Maxon releases the second pack of Laubwerk plants, featuring fifty-one high-quality plant models perfect for architectural visualization, visual effects shots and illustration. Designers can also add a natural touch to any scene by scattering lifelike Birch, Pine, and Willow trees, Rosemary plants. These offer a variety of ages, seasons, and shape variants to make renders appear more realistic.

Forger

The latest update to Forger comes with a very useful new set of tools.

• Lighting toolset. This includes Area and IES lights, which enable designers to place sources of light with great accuracy. Area and IES Lights also complement the existing types of lights.
• Set Flow. This is a useful tool for rounding out harsh bevels by adjusting the curvature on a selection of edges based on surrounding geometry.
• Fit Circle tool allows designers to model rounded details easily. Simply select a group of polygons and use interactive handles to adjust the size of the circle. Thanks to the flatten option, the surface can be averaged at the same time.
• Sketch Sculpt brush. This allows designers to create new shapes easily.
• Action Point camera navigation makes it more intuitive to rotate your camera around the area of interest.
• Sweep and Lathe tools add new modeling capabilities to Forget. The Sweep tool can create pipes or horns. Designers can also use the Lathe tool to create complex profiles.

Forger also offers complete hierarchy support, making it easy to organize your creations, group elements, and manipulate groups together.

Redshift

One of the most significant updates for Maxon is the a new Jitter Node for Redshift 3.5.17. This can accordingly apply a variation in color across a large number of objects with the same material texture. This is particularly useful for for creating foliage, rocks, or a fruit of varying degrees of ripeness. In the same way, authentic colors can be applied to a collection of battered old tools, as shown below.

Updates to Maxon One. A box of battered old tools – a Redshift Jitter example render. Image: Maxon.

The new Jitter Node is currently available for a variety of visual effects software. This includes 3ds, Cinema 4D, Houdini, Katana, Max, Maya, and ZBrush. Redshift additionally allows for easier randomization of materials. It also improves performance when using Redshift in CPU mode.

The new MatCap Shader Node designers quickly to create simple stylized materials by mapping an image onto a mesh relative to the render camera. This lays the foundation for non-photo-real materials in Redshift.

Redshift CPU rendering performance now scales better with additional CPU cores or even multiple CPUs in one system. Consequently, this results in faster render times for users of Redshift CPU. Similarly, Texture Memory Optimizations provide overall performance improvements when handling textures in Redshift.

Trapcode

Maxon has paid particular attention to ease of work flow in its latest release of Trapcode particle simulations and 3D effects.

The new built-in Bounce Ground Plane serves as an additional bounce surface with its own height and rotation controls. It allows VFX and motion graphics artists to easily set up an infinite bounce plane. The new Bounce Ground Plane comes with several pre-designed setups and allows you to create and save your own Bounce presets.

Child systems can now inherit the Particle Type, Size, and Opacity values from their parent system at the time of their creation. Consequently, this expands the creative possibilities of parent-child setups. It also allows designers to create stunning effects with each child particle exactly matching the attributes of its parent particle.

Trapcode additionally features three new gradient interpolation models in addition to the existing RGB model. This allows for a wider array of creative choices and possibilities for crafting captivating transitions.

A new Curve Mirror Mode enables designers to create perfectly symmetrical curves. Simply click “Mirror” in the menu and perfectly mirrored curves will appear along the horizontal axis.

Maxon is trying to offer a more consistent user experience across various systems and software packages. Consequently, Particular Designer now calls the After Effects color picker instead of the operating system’s default color picker.

Availability

To enjoy all these new features, Maxon One users are encouraged to update immediately through the Maxon App. This requires either

• Microsoft Windows 10 or 11,
• Apple macOS 10.14, 10.15, 11.x, 12.x or 13.x, or
• A GNU/Linux x86_64 OS with glibc 2.17 or later, and systemd support.

The app is available here. Please note app download requires users to sign in.

About Maxon

Based in Bad Homburg, Germany, Maxon creates powerful yet easy-to-use software for content creators working in 2D and 3D design, motion graphics, visual effects, and visualization. Maxon’s innovative product portfolio helps artists supercharge their creative workflows. Maxon is part of the Nemetschek Group.

The post Maxon Delivers Massive updates for Maxon One appeared first on Architosh.

Ramboll is a global architecture, engineering, and construction firm that uses Autodesk software extensively. Amongst its many construction and infrastructure projects, Ramboll is working on Britain’s new HS2 high speed railway.

Autodesk Executive Vice President, Architecture, Engineering and Construction Design Solutions, Amy Bunszel. Image: Autodesk.

Amy Bunszel is executive Vice President of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Design Solutions at Autodesk. She is also an enthusiastic sustainability protagonist:

In this interview, Amy hopes to learn from Peter how Ramboll is achieving greater sustainability, with the help of Autodesk design software.

Climate change

Peter explains how humankind needs to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in order to keep global warming below 1.5 °C. Consequently, Ramboll is determined to embed sustainability into the core of its project portfolio. Moreover, it is focusing on some of the biggest environmental challenges, including decarbonization, resilience, resource management, and biodiversity.

In doing so, it highlighted gaps in Ramboll’s knowledge sharing. Ramboll’s various teams were not using common information management processes. Consequently, these gaps adversely affected how Ramboll’s staff collaborated with each other. Therefore, Ramboll’s aim was to fast-track its digital transformation. To achieve this, Ramboll established an initiative with Autodesk to transform its working practices.

As a result, Ramboll became a cloud-based company, where everyone works with a common dataset, mitigating mistakes and reworks, while optimizing performance and speed. This digital-first approach enables Ramboll to deliver high quality and prompt service to its clients. It also gives its employees new opportunities to develop their careers.

Marmormolen

At the start of the new millennium, Copenhagen’s Nordhavn district was still a scruffy industrial zone. It was very different from the waterfront neighborhood it is today. The waterfront area has also become a testing ground for prototypical projects, from self-driving buses to buildings made of recycled bricks.

Ramboll Marmormolen project, Denmark. Image: Autodesk.

Amongst Nordhaven’s many interesting new projects, there is Marmormolen building. Henning Larsen, the architecture, landscape, and urbanism studio, that designed the Marmormolen building is part of Ramboll Group. When completed, the forthcoming multiuser office building it will combine office, retail, and public space on the popular waterfront of Nordhavn. It will also be one of the largest modern timber structures in Denmark.

As the case against concrete construction gains more evidence, solid timber is emerging as top of the list of sustainable alternatives. Unlike concrete, timber actually stores embodied carbon. So, by replacing the structural concrete with timber, the structure will embed tonnes of carbon instead of emitting it.

Every stage of the Marmormolen project used Autodesk software.

• To learn more about the Marmormolen building, please click here.

Ramboll’s choice of Autodesk software

In creating the Marmormolen building, Ramboll’s main software tool was Autodesk Revit, which it used from schematic design through to final construction. It also used it for lifecycle analysis calculations and documentation. Autodesk Construction Cloud hosted models that were shared between different disciplines. It also provided a model viewer for project managers.

Ramboll used Autodesk’s Dynamo to automate project tasks. Though it should be noted that Autodesk discontinued Dynamo as a standalone in 2021. Instead Dynamo functionality is available in other Autodesk tools, such as Revit, Civil 3D, and open-source Dynamo Sandbox.

HS2 crossing the M42 motorway, near Birmingham, England. Image: Autodesk.

Peter tells Amy that Ramboll is involved constructing approximately 10 million square metres of new buildings every year. Collaborating with Autodesk helps it to reduce the carbon footprint of these buildings quite significantly.

Benefits for Autodesk too

Ramboll’s partnership with Autodesk brings together some of the best minds in the industry to deliver solutions that transform the client experience. Additionally, an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 Ramboll employees use Autodesk software on a regular basis.

The partnership also offers the opportunity to share business insights and collaborate on emerging technology. Ramboll helps Autodesk to refine its final product by testing its features and functionality before it becomes public.

How Ramboll plans to use Autodesk over the next five years

Peter explains that Ramboll intends to develop solutions that utilize the latest Autodesk technology in order to provide better value to the clients of both companies. By combining engineering expertise and advanced technology capabilities, Ramboll hopes to improve sustainability in its development projects all around the world. Its target is to reduce embodied carbon emissions from new buildings projects globally by 2030.

Conclusion

To summarize, Amy concludes that by working alongside customers such Ramboll to solve complex challenges is the best way to support positive changes within the construction industry.

• Amy Bunszel has a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and an MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Amy is also a member of the President’s Council for Cornell Women, the Entrepreneurship Program at Cornell, and The Athena Alliance. To learn mote about Amy, please click here.
• You can read her full interview with Peter Heymann Andersen, if you click here.

Partner in sustainability: A conversation with Ramboll

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Having achieved both import and export certification, Vectorworks software now fully meets international standards for openBIM.

IFC4 Import Certified. Image: Vectorworks.

Vectorworks Director of Product Marketing, Martyn Horne briefly outlines the significance of IFC4 certification:

The buildingSMART Software Certification program helps software vendors certify their applications against industry benchmarks. Consequently, it ensures that software complies with international standards. Certifications provide validation for Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) data exchanges.

In this instance, its Software Certification Program verifies that Vectorworks IFC4 import function has been quality-tested against bSI’s robust benchmarks. This ensures that users are consistently sharing the highest quality IFC models with other BIM software products. This helps to instill confidence in the accuracy and credibility of designers’ work.

IFC import and export in Vectorworks

Vectorworks is one of the industry’s leading BIM software programs. Its design-oriented BIM focus allows architects to conceptualize and edit a project, while generating drawings and schedules in real time. Vectorworks was also the first architectural software developer to achieve IFC4 export certification, back in 2019. Please click here for more information.

With its recently awarded import certification, Vectorworks now fully meets international standards for openBIM. Vectorworks can import and export its project files in (.ifc), (.ifczip), and (.ifcxml) formats. Consequently it allows users to exchange their designs accurately and reliably with other BIM software.

• To learn more about how IFC import and export works within Vectorworks, please click here.

About Vectorworks, Inc.

Vectorworks is an award-winning design and BIM software provider, serving architecture, landscape architecture, and entertainment industries, in 85 countries. Consequently, it has more than 685,000 users who are creating, connecting, and influencing the next generation of design.

Vectorworks head office is in Columbia, Maryland, with offices in Australia, Canada, and the UK. Vectorworks dates back to 1985, and is now part of the Nemetschek Group.

• To learn more about Vectorworks, please click here.

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Realistic animated people

Featuring over 2,500 scanned characters, anima helps designers add high-fidelity digital humans that walk, run, laugh, and move to their scenes. This gives projects a realistic quality that immerses viewers in a design. With onboard tools for tailoring loops and AI crowds, it brings realistic human movement into a visual project.

Street scene, a screen grab from anima demo reel. Image by @wearenarrativ.

Chaos CEO, Christian Lang explains:

Architecture and design firms such as Gensler and HOK use AXYZ design anima 5 software. It is one of the quickest ways to add dynamic 3D/4D people to a visualization.

Collaboration

Chaos and AXYZ design were collaborating even before this acquisition. This acquisition expands a growing ecosystem of real-time visualization tools, photorealistic renderers, and 3D asset libraries.

Increasing the range of digital people has been a top customer request, particularly in architectural visualizations. As a result of its acquisition of anima, Chaos can meet the needs of its customers, while creating new ways to make high-fidelity 3D/4D human character assets more accessible than ever.

Consequently, Chaos is currently working out how to integrate anima software with existing products such as Chaos V-Ray and Chaos Corona, whose users already use anima on a daily basis.

In recent years, architects have tried to create biophilic urbanism, effectively trying to put city dwellers in closer touch with nature. They have also introduced new ways to explore sustainability and diversity. Thus giving stakeholders a sense of how different people might use the buildings and spaces that architects design.

Street scene, aerial view, another screen grab from demo reel. Image by @wearenarrativ.

In the last few years, AXYZ design has also paid special attention to increasing character diversity, so architects can match designs to the demographics of a city.

“When it comes to visualization, the Chaos products are unmatched,” CEO and founder of AXYZ design, Diego Gadler added. “By combining forces, we can move fast and create the type of products that make designers excited to go to work. The best is yet to come!”

Availability

Access to anima will remain unchanged for all new and existing customers. Meanwhile, Chaos will continue collaborating with AXYZ design, as it continues to build on its recent support of anima characters in Chaos Vantage 2.

To see a video show reel of AXYZ design anima 5 in action, please click here.

About Chaos

Chaos develops 3D visualization technology for architecture, engineering, construction, and media, as well as entertainment, product design, and manufacturing. Its software creates intuitive and powerful workflows for designers of all types. In 2022, Chaos merged with Enscape and acquired Cylindo.

Chaos is now one of the world’s largest global 3D visualization companies, with more than 700 employees. Its head office is in Karlsruhe, Germany, with offices around the globe. Please click here for more information.

About AXYZ design

AXYZ design is an Italian company that specializes in creating high-quality 3D models of people and characters for use in a variety of industries, including architecture, gaming and animation. AXYZ design has an extensive library of 3D models, used by design professionals all over the world. For more information please click here.

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Share with sketchfab.com

Users can then export their models to Sketchfab and share them with the rest of the world. Moreover, the models also work in other applications such as Unreal Engine and Twinmotion.

3D sample bread roll scanned with RealityScan. Image: Epic Games.

Epic Games originally released RealityScan for iOS devices back in 2022. So far it has seen over 200,000 downloads and thousands of models created and uploaded to Sketchfab. Now that RealityScan is available for Android too, it puts this free-to-download photogrammetry application into the hands of almost anyone with a modern smartphone or tablet.

Sketchfab is a 3D modeling platform website. Consequently, its users can publish, share, discover, buy, and sell 3D, VR and AR content. Additionally, Sketchfab has a viewer that uses WebGL and WebXR technologies that enables its users to display 3D models on the web. These models can be viewed on any mobile browser, desktop browser or on a Virtual Reality headset.

Exporting your models from RealityScan to Sketchfab is free. The number of models you can upload to your Sketchfab account per month depends on your Sketchfab plan. However, new users are automatically be upgraded to Sketchfab Pro for free for one year on their first uploads.

New and improved

The latest release of this RealityScan also offers a streamlined user interface and more intuitive workflows. These are a few of the improvements:

• Add and edit a name and description for the project. RealityScan can automatically synchronize this information with Sketchfab.
• Directly open a preview of the final model as it will look in Sketchfab from within the Project Library, using RealityScan embedded Sketchfab viewer.
• Find and delete unconnected images from the Project Library, and optionally add new ones to replace them.
• New step-based workflow takes users  through the scanning process, and you can always back up through the steps if you need to make changes.

Availability

• RealityScan is available now, free from the Google PlayStore. However it requires an Epic Games account in order to use it.
• For more information concerning RealityScan and to see its show reel video, please click here.

Please note that RealityScan for Android requires an Android smartphone or tablet, running Android 7 or above, that supports ARCore. Alternatively, if you are an iPhone user, then you require an iPhone or iPad running iOS 16 and later.

The post RealityScan for Android appeared first on Architosh.

How it works

These iTwin carbon assessment tools leverage Bentley’s iTwin Experience, a relatively new cloud product that allows owner-operators to visualize and navigate digital twins  online. This is combined with EC3, an embodied carbon-in-construction calculator tool, developed by the nonprofit Building Transparency.

Embodied carbon impact calculation from EC3 visualized in iTwin Experience. Color codes represent the severity of realized embodied carbon. Image: Bentley Systems.

Consequently, this combination enables engineers to explore multiple design choices more quickly, whilst eliminating manual data exports. As a result, these new iTwin carbon assessment tools, enable infrastructure professionals fully to automate embodied carbon calculation reports and impact analyses. Bentley Systems Director of Product Management, Kaustubh Page explains:

History

In 2022, Bentley developed an integration service within the iTwin Platform. As a result it enabled the automation of generating embodied carbon reports for infrastructure projects via One Click LCA (a life cycle assessment application) and EC3. Now iTwin Experience provides a ready-to-go, bi-directional integration with EC3. This enables users to visualize carbon assessments in a digital twin, without the need to write code.

Moreover, iTwin Experience exports a data model to EC3, a free tool for which users need to register separately. This performs the embodied carbon calculations and returns results that iTwin Experience seamlessly reads and visualizes.

Testing

Employee-owned architecture and engineering firm Burns & MacDonnell is currently testing Bentley’s iTwin-powered carbon reporting capabilities. Its Design Technology Director, Mark Tablante, outlines its progress so far, “Electrification is a critical component to meeting the world’s decarbonization goals.”

Tablante continued, “There is a tremendous amount of capital investment needed in electric T&D infrastructure and a carbon-efficient design makes the most of every dollar spent to further decarbonization. Tracking and reporting on progress toward utilities’ net zero goals is important to not only their shareholders, but for the future of our world. Burns & McDonnell is working with Bentley to test their new iTwin-powered carbon reporting capabilities for the electric utility industry.”

Rodrigo Fernandes, Director of ES(D)G (empowering sustainable development goals) within Bentley Systems added, “We want to enable users to implement carbon analysis and optimization as a natural, repeatable, and standardized procedure, as part of managing every type of infrastructure project, anywhere in the world. The sooner that carbon assessment is integrated into an infrastructure project, the bigger the carbon reduction opportunities will be.”

Consequently, digital twins are becoming crucial for carbon assessment and decarbonizing infrastructure. They do so by ensuring accurate carbon assessment and optimization throughout a project’s lifecycle. Consequently this has to start in the early design stages.

Bentley’s new iTwin Experience combined with EC3 and One Click LCA provides excellent iTwin carbon assessment tools. Consequently, these will enable owner-operators and their supply chains to visualize, analyze, manage, and share infrastructure digital twin data, sourced from various systems.

Availability

The aforementioned capabilities are only currently only available in Preview. Moreover, for the time being, they will only be available for a restricted number of partners and early adopters.

About Bentley Systems (Nasdaq: BSY)

Headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, USA, Bentley Systems Incorporated is a software company. It develops, manufactures, licenses, sells, and supports computer software and services for the design, construction, and operation of infrastructure. Meanwhile, it generates annual revenue of approximately USD 1 billion in 194 countries. Currently, it employs more than 5,000 people.

Moreover, users deploy Bentley software for the design, construction, and operations of roads and bridges, rail and transit, water and wastewater. Engineers also use it for public works and utilities, buildings and campuses, mining, industrial facilities, and of course carbon assessment. Its product range includes:-

• AssetWise for asset and network performance.
• iTwin Platform for infrastructure digital twins.
• MicroStation-based applications for modeling and simulation.
• ProjectWise for project delivery.
• Seequent’s leading geo professional software portfolio.
• SYNCHRO for construction management.

The trademarks listed above all belong to Bentley Systems Incorporated or one of its subsidiaries. Meanwhile, all other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

• For more information concerning Bentley Systems, please click here.
• To learn more about Bentley’s iTwin embodied carbon assessment, please click here.
• And an interesting video of iTwin embodied carbon reporting in action is available here.

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Unbelievable speed

Boasting nearly 20 major new features, Vantage 2 has become as powerful for VFX as it is for architectural visualization. As a result, it provides fast and easy access to photorealistic animations and scene explorations.

Chaos Vantage 2 image created by BrickVisual. Image:Chaos/BrickVisual.

BOC Studio founder, Dương Thanh Nguyên, tells us:

Vantage original concept

The original Vantage was designed to help users to explore large-scale 3D scenes in a fully ray-traced, real-time environment. Unlike traditional real-time methods, the import process was relatively simple. Consequently, there is no geometry to optimize, UVs to unwrap, or lighting to bake. Essentially, Vantage 2 builds on the simplicity Vantage 1.

Basically, Vantage 2 adds new features that make it more powerful and easier to use. For example users simply drag and drop a V-Ray scene or Live-Link into Vantage 2, while working within their favorite 3D creation tool.

“In 3D, you tend to wait for quality and people accept this, even when it disrupts their whole flow,” explained Chaos Senior Product Manager, Simeon Balabanov, “With Vantage 2, we are giving them quality, speed and flexibility in one place, so they can respond to any creative idea or client request.”

Vantage 2 features

With Scene States, artists can use non-destructive scene variations to explore different styles, moods, and camera angles. Each state can easily be saved and cycled through with a click, making it easier for teams to determine which lighting, materials, or post-processing effects will appeal most to their intended audience.

To enhance realism, Vantage 2 now features a variety of new animation capabilities. These include support for deforming meshes, AXYZ’s Anima 4D People, and eye-catching VRay vrscene file effects. Until now, these effects were only available in V-Ray itself.

Deforming Meshes will be particularly striking for artists, as they can create the type of natural movements you often see in human bodies. They bend and contort realistically as different bodyparts move. VFX artists will also enjoy access to real-time Playblasts. These are packed with detailed lighting and shader information.

Additionally, the inclusion of Render Elements has prepared Vantage 2 for the world of production rendering. This requires careful composites to achieve the best look. Therefore, rendered output can now be split into their back-to-beauty components for real-time editing, in post. Consequently, this allows more artistic effects and quick integration with live-action footage.

Another handy feature that Vantage 2 offers is Scattering Fog. Basically, this sets the mood for your scenes with realistic environmental effects, including god rays and light shafts through windows. It also emulates streetlights and volumetric fog, including realistic light scattering.

Other new features in Vantage 2 include:

• AMD GPU Support. Vantage 2 can run on DXR-compatible AMD graphics cards, providing more hardware flexibility.
• Camera Grouping with States Override. For over-the-shoulder discussions with clients, Vantage 2 offers better and more structured grouping cameras and assigned states.
• Chaos Scatter. Users can distribute millions of 3D objects in just a few clicks. Consequently users can create forests, fields, and crowds without weighing down the scene.
• HDR Monitor Support. Pick up every color and detail of a project thanks to new HDR monitor support.
• Light Creation and Placement. Users can create different light types directly within Vantage 2.
• Mesh Lights. Full and efficient support for Mesh Lights has been added to VRay vrscene files, thus enhancing the artistic lighting possibilities authored with V-Ray.
• Multiple UV Channel Support. Sophisticated materials, such as stacking labels and decals, are now supported via multiple UV channels.
• Nested Scenes. VRay vrscene files referenced within other vrscene files are now supported in Vantage 2. This enables more scene assembly scenarios between various 3D creation tools.
• New Animation Effects. All animated materials, textures, and lights within vrscene files work seamlessly in Vantage 2, from flickering and fading lights to moving tiling offsets.
• NVIDIA AI Denoiser with Upscaling. Quickly denoise high-quality images or take them from HD to 4K without adding more rendering time.
• NVIDIA RTXDI. Pack scenes with dynamic lights without worrying about performance or resource constraints.
• Orthographic Cameras. Easily create plan, elevation, and axonometric renderings with orthographic camera projection.
• Quality Presets. Users can now set the quality and interaction speed of their visualization with a single slider.
• Refined user interface. Vantage 2 UI now has a more modern look and feel. This makes it easier to access key tools and features.

Pricing and Availability

To sum up, Vantage 2 is available now for Windows 10 (version 2004 or newer). Moreover, Chaos designed Vantage 2 for DXR-compatible NVIDIA and AMD GPUs. Current V-Ray users that already have a Premium or Enterprise subscription will have full access to Vantage 2. This lasts until their current subscription expires. New Vantage licenses will include both Vantage 1 and Vantage 2.

• For Vantage 2 pricing information, please click here.
• Chaos is offering a thirty day free trial of Vantage 2 here.

About Chaos

Chaos develops 3D visualization technology for architecture, engineering, construction, and media, as well as entertainment, product design, and manufacturing. Its software creates intuitive and powerful workflows for designers of all types. In 2022, Chaos merged with Enscape and acquired Cylindo. The company’s product portfolio now includes:

• V-Ray, a physically based renderer honored with an Academy Award and an Engineering Emmy.
• Enscape, a high-quality real-time rendering and virtual reality plugin.
• Corona, a high-performance photorealistic rendering engine.
• Cylindo, a 3D furniture product visualization platform for commerce.

Chaos is now the largest global 3D visualization company with more than 700 employees. Its head office is in Karlsruhe, Germany, with offices around the globe. Please click here for more information.

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Lemont joins Acelab at a time of particularly rapid growth.

Dave Lemont. (Image: Acelab.)

Lemont’s prime objective is to scale and grow the Acelab platform. He briefly outlined his vision for the company:

Growing Acelab

Lemont is joining Acelab during a time of significant growth. Architecture practices currently using its platform include well-known firms such as AECOM, Gensler, and SOM. Acelab’s product database boasts over 39,000 products across categories such as windows, doors, cladding, roofing, and insulation.

“Architects spend countless hours on Google searches, navigating manufacturer websites, and keeping track of this information in stickies and spreadsheets,” said Vardhan Mehta, co-founder and CEO of Acelab. “As a team of architects, we’ve built a platform that helps architects discover, compare and collaborate on product specs all in one place — saving valuable design time and maximizing project success. We’re thrilled to have Dave join Acelab as the company enters its next phase of expansion.”

Years of experience

Dave Lemont brings to Acelab more than three decades of experience in scaling software companies across various industries. He has held five CEO roles and ten board member positions. Throughout his career, Lemont  has launched, grown, and guided numerous software companies from inception through dramatic growth and success. He is an expert in identifying industry-changing ideas and building winning go-to-market strategies.

Additionally, Lemont has held numerous leadership roles at some of the world’s most successful B2B (business to business) software companies. He was also CEO at Kuebix, a leading transportation management system. Ultimately Trimble acquired Kuebix in 2020.

Prior to that, Lemont was CEO of AppIQ, a leader in Storage Management Software. AppIQ was acquired by HP, creating over six times the returns for its investors. Immediately prior to joining AppIQ, he was also CEO of Revit Technology. It is this experience that is likely to be of most value to Acelab. Lemont led the company through its successful 2002 acquisition by Autodesk.

Lemont also was also CEO of Currensee. This was the foreign exchange software company that Oanda took over back in 2013. Today, Oanda is one of the world’s largest foreign exchange brokers.

Earlier, Lemont was Chief Operating Officer at Concentra Corporation, a leading provider of CRM (customer relationship management) solutions for product configuration. Lemont led the company an IPO (Initial Public Offering) in 1996, and ultimately the sale of the company to Oracle Corporation.

Dave is also the founder of Lemont Consulting. Through this work, he has guided hundreds of entrepreneurs and been a member of eight different start-up boards. Prior to his business career, Lemont earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Bucknell University.

About Acelab

Acelab is a single source product discovery and selection platform for architects. It enables architects to select from thousands of options and make informed decisions. Several prestigious venture funds are backing Acelab. These include Pillar VC, Alpaca, Draper Associates, Transcend Partners, and MIT’s MET Fund.

• To learn more Acelab and sign up for free, please click here.

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Design Scholarship

Subjects include architecture, landscape architecture, landscape design, entertainment, and interior design.

Winner of last year’s Richard Diehl Award. (image: Vectorworks.)

Moreover, students can submit a new design or past project from any of their previous classes for the chance to win up to USD 10,000. Indeed, Vectorworks Academic Marketing Programs Specialist Jen Hart explains its aims:

Competition judge Cristina Murphy also offered some words of encouragement to potential 2023 Vectorworks Design Scholarship competitors. She said, “Share your distinctive abilities with fellow designers, creatives, and the world as you step out into your next chapter. You are the future of the design profession and can make a difference! We can’t wait to see what you have in store.”

In addition to being one of the 2023 Vectorworks judges, Cristina Murphy is co-founder of XCOOP and adjunct professor at Virginia Tech, Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center. She is also an assistant professor at the School of Architecture and Planning at Morgan State University.

2023 Vectorworks Design Scholarship prizes

2023 Vectorworks competition entries will be evaluated by an expert panel of international judges in two rounds. Firstly, winners of round 1 can each win up to $3,000 USD. They will also automatically enjoy the chance to win the grand prize Richard Diehl Award. This is worth up to an additional USD 7,000.

Winners’ schools will also receive free Vectorworks Design Suite software and free virtual or in-person workshop training for faculty and students.

Round 1: 2023 Vectorworks Design Scholarship

• USD 2,000 for tuition, fees, housing, textbooks, study abroad, conference registration, and other educational purposes.
• Free Vectorworks design software for winners’ schools.
• Free virtual or in-person training for faculty and students.

Round 2: The Richard Diehl Award

• USD 7,000 for tuition, fees, housing, textbooks, study abroad, conference registration, and other educational purposes.
• Benefits for applicants and their schools include Vectorworks lab licenses and virtual or in-person training provided by a Vectorworks expert.

How to enter 2023 Vectorworks Design Scholarship

Submission deadlines and prize award amounts depend on the applicant’s country or region. After that, Vectorworks will announce the winners on 8 December 2023.

• To study the rules and enter the 2023 Vectorworks competition, please click here.

About Vectorworks, Inc.

Vectorworks is an award-winning design and BIM software provider serving the architecture, landscape architecture, and entertainment industries, in 85 countries. Consequently, it has more than 685,000 users who are creating, connecting, and influencing the next generation of design using Vectorworks.

Its head office is in Columbia, Maryland, with offices in Australia, Canada, and the UK. Vectorworks dates back to 1985, and is now part of the Nemetschek Group.

• To learn more about Vectorworks, please click here.

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