News
OpenSpace 3D Scans to use iPhone/iPad LiDAR sensors
Esri bridges gap between GIS and BIM sri has released ArcGIS GeoBIM, a new web-based product designed to bridge the gap between GIS and BIM by linking systems and workflows. ArcGIS GeoBIM connects Esri’s ArcGIS with Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro, part of the Autodesk Construction Cloud, to provide a spatial context for BIM during the design, construction and operation of large AEC projects. “With many global initiatives underway to improve construction, design and planning practices it is critical that today’s AEC professionals can collaborate together with a common view of assets in a geospatial context,” said Craig Evenden, Head of AEC & BIM at Esri UK. “ArcGIS GeoBIM lets teams work on BIM and GIS data in one place, see all their BIM projects on one map, share information with stakeholders more easily and minimises costly data conversion, as they don’t need to keep switching between GIS and BIM systems.”
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penSpace has released the beta of OpenSpace 3D Scans, a new scanning capability for its construction site capture and mapping solution, which uses the LiDAR sensors on the iPad / iPhone Pro. Previously the company relied solely on data from 360 cameras, which was then processed using its AI-based OpenSpace Vision Engine. According to OpenSpace product manager Jessica Stewart, OpenSpace 3D Scans will mean users no longer need a 360 camera to use OpenSpace. Speaking at the recent Waypoint conference, she said, “Anyone on the
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construction project can take 3D scans with just the phone in their pocket and your data is that much richer. “It’s very fast and easy to do and when you’re done with your scan, it’s sent to our servers for processing and processing takes place in a matter of minutes. And once that scan is ready for viewing, you have sub two-inch measurement accuracy.” According to OpenSpace, the new 3D scan capability could be used for many different purposes, such as ensuring installation of materials or equipment is feasible, or to verify that proper equipment and material is installed. ■ openspace.ai
■ esriuk.com/aec
Varjo makes pro VR more accessible arjo has introduced the Varjo Aero, a new pro VR headset which bridges the gap between the high-end Varjo VR-3 and more entry-level pro VR headsets like the HTC Vive Pro 2 and HP Reverb G2. At €1,990, the Varjo Aero costs considerably less than the Varjo VR-3 €3,395 (which also requires an annual software subscription). However, it lacks the ‘bionic display’ system that gives the VR-3 its unique ‘retina resolution’. Instead of blending together two displays – a focus display with a very high pixel density to
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show immense detail wherever the user looks and a lower res display for peripheral vision – the Varjo Aero has a single 2,880 x 2,720 pixel display with a resolution of 35 pixels per degree. While this is only a touch more than high-end consumer headsets, users should see a big difference due to the Aero’s aspheric lens design, as Varjo’s founder and CTO Urho Konttori explains, “That allows us to increase the resolution in the central region, so that the things that matter the most are the most crisp in your field of view.” ■ aero.varjo.com
Workflow management for Atvero tvero has added two new capabilities to its project information management software. Atvero Workflow Management is an evidencebased workflow to track and monitor project progress. Atvero Checkpoint is a file transfer solution on SharePoint online that provides a ‘complete audit history’ of information going out and coming into projects.
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■ atvero.com
November / December 2021
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