Category: Features
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Planora is on a Mission to Liberate Digital Communication
The way we transfer data between organizations and systems has remained the same since the early days of the Internet. Planora, a Finnish company, has developed a radically new concept that simplifies communication, makes it safer, and saves IT costs considerably. I talked with Esa Teppo, the Managing Director, to learn more about the solution.…
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Revolutionizing Buildings with Hybrid Energy Systems and Demand Response
A recent study conducted by the Finnish Building Services 2030 group explores the potential technologies and business prospects for adaptable energy systems within buildings. Building Services 2030 is a Finnish consortium of Aalto University, Tampere University, and 14 industry partners. The consortium has defined a shared vision for the Finnish building service sector and researches…
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AI for AEC in Practice
I gave a presentation titled “AI in practice: the different promising fields for the construction sector” at the High Level Construction Forum of the European Commission on November 23, 2023. Here are my notes and slides for the presentation. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are also on the construction technologists’ agenda. Amazingly, some of the…
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Revamping the Construction Value Chain for Better Results
Industrialized construction is crucial in meeting housing needs affordably. There are many ways to industrialize construction. Fira, a Finnish contractor, has developed its model with excellent results. Finnish contractors have used precast concrete panels and slabs to build apartments since the 1960s. That speeds up the construction of the structural frame, facades, and stairways. However,…
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My 30-Minute AI-Powered 3D Visualization Workflow
Creating stunning visualizations of buildings and environments requires knowledge and skills, regardless of the fantastic tools designers have. How about using generative AI to do the same without much special training or experience? I stumbled upon Veras®, an AI tool from Evolve Lab. Veras is an AI-powered visualization add-in for SketchUp®, Revit® & Rhinoceros® that uses your 3D model…
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Affordable Robots Could Reshape Reality Capture in Construction
Drones are now in the mainstream of reality capture on construction sites. In interior construction, hard hat cameras and human-operated laser scanners are still the best way to collect accurate data. Quadrupled robots could be an alternative, but in many cases, they are considered too expensive. That may change soon, as both robots with upgraded…
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Massive Danish Hospital Project Avoids Fire Protection Failures with Imerso Construction AI
Ensuring regulatory compliance of firewall constructions is getting a high-tech boost. Over the past 16 months, the construction team responsible for the iconic new Nyt Hospital Nordsjælland near Copenhagen used Imerso construction AI technology to achieve remarkable results. By using Imerso, the team enhanced work productivity while preventing costs and delays worth €5.2 million during…
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I Saw the Future of Tower Crane Operation
The mobile tower crane was the brainchild of Hans Liebherr, a German inventor and entrepreneur who patented the design in 1949. The main technological advancement since then was the change to electric operation instead of hydraulic power in the 1970s. Now, we’re experiencing another change: teleoperation. Last week, Zachi Flatto, the CEO and co-founder of…
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Decarbonizing High-Rise Construction with Christoph Timm of SOM
The High-Rise Northern Exposure seminar in Helsinki on June 13, 2023, offered an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest high-rise glass design and construction innovations. I had the pleasure of interviewing Christoph Timm, Principal at SOM New York, after he’d given his keynote titled How SOM is decarbonizing the built environment – A holistic approach to…
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Testing Veras, an AI Visualization Tool
Creating stunning visualizations of buildings and environments requires knowledge and skills, regardless of the fantastic tools designers have at their disposal. How about using generative AI to do the same without much special training or experience? I stumbled upon Veras®, an AI tool from Evolve Lab. Veras is an AI-powered visualization add-in for SketchUp®, Revit® & Rhinoceros® that…