Reality Computing

Reality Computing goes underground

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-destructive method for locating and mapping underground objects by transmitting high-frequency radio signals into the ground that bounce back when they hit a buried object or a boundary between different material types. GPR surveys were first used in 1929 to measure the depth of a glacier in Austria and, in the following decades, likewise used to map the thickness of ice sheets and glaciers. In the 1970s, people started to use GPR for applications not involving ice.

Today, GPR is used for a wide variety of underground applications. These include studying groundwater, bedrock, and soils. Mapping remediation sites, archaeological features, and cemeteries. Detecting mines and unexploded ordnance. Locating buried evidence. Even prospecting for gold and diamonds! For all of these applications, Reality Computing plays a part—helping teams using GPR to capture existing conditions underground and developing a digital map of that underground area.

Reality Computing using GPR technology is frequently used for subsurface utility engineering.
Image courtesy of GEL Geophysics.

Another very common use of GPR today is the location of underground utilities. Unlike less expensive electromagnetic (EM) tools that can only detect metallic utilities, GPR can detect commonly used, non-metallic materials such as plastic conduits and concrete storm & sanitary sewers.

For example, South Carolina-based GEL Geophysics used GPR and Reality Computing last year to carry out underground utility surveys in preparation for two separate construction projects planned for the downtown Charleston area: the expansion of the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium and drainage improvements adjacent to the central energy plant for Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

Construction in historic Charleston is always challenging due to underground infrastructure congestion, and the fact that some utilities in this area were developed over 200 years ago. GEL’s subsurface utility engineering investigation for these projects provided reliable data on the exact location of underground utilities—helping its clients coordinate new designs with existing infrastructure and avoid unexpected issues during construction. Final deliverables included detailed 2D drawings and 3D project visualizations of all detectable buried infrastructure and obstructions in the area.

Gaillard Municipal Auditorium: The city is improving this auditorium complex by renovating the existing exhibition hall, adding a new banquet hall and performance hall, and constructing a new building for municipal offices. The project site encompasses an entire city block and requires infrastructure upgrades to and around the site, including the underground utilities beneath Alexander Street, one of the streets bounding the project.

MUSC plant: Greater Charleston’s water utility is planning some drainage improvements adjacent to the MUSC’s central energy plant (on Bee Street), including the design of a drop shaft for storm water distribution to the utility’s storm water drainage tunnel.

To support design efforts on both of these projects, GEL used GPR technology, Reality Computing, and Autodesk software to map the buried infrastructure.

During the investigations, the firm used GPR systems as well as EM pipe and cable locators to capture and record depths along the utilities at specific intervals. This reality-captured data was imported into Civil 3D software to create 3D models of the underground features, as well as conventional 2D drawings. In addition, the firm used InfraWorks to create 3D visualizations and animations exposing all the utilities buried under the streets in the context of the surrounding cityscape, complete with correct depths and pipe sizes. These visualizations helped some project stakeholders, who may have found it difficult to get a complete visual picture of the situation from 2D plans and sections, get a better understanding of expected construction challenges posed by the existing infrastructure.

GEL’s underground surveys help its utility clients and their contractors better plan trenching and construction efforts. By virtually exposing previously unknown utility conflicts, Reality Computing and GPR help projects to be completed without costly relocation of existing utilities or unexpected field delays.

For more information on both of these projects, click here (page 36-39). And check out these YouTube videos for the Alexander Street and Bee Street 3D InfraWorks animations!

Giving sports a complex with Reality Computing

A Norwegian sports complex is getting a makeover with the help of Reality Computing. Located on the outskirts of Oslo in Langhus, the 250-acre Langhus AIL sports club plans to upgrade and expand several existing facilities, and also build a new 3,000-seat outdoor soccer stadium, a 40,000 square-meter clubhouse and activity center with a pool and water park, and 4 outdoor soccer training fields. The project also includes 2 kilometers of new roads including a new 350-meter highway bridge, 3.5 kilometers of new pedestrian and bike paths with culverts and bridges, a parking garage, and three outdoor parking lots.

 

Sweco—a Scandinavian engineering, architectural, and environmental consulting firm—used model-based processes, Reality Computing, and Autodesk software to develop the conceptual plans for the expansion project.

Capture -- The firm used scanning and photogrammetry techniques to capture existing conditions of the site and the buildings, and ReCap software to process data from a terrestrial laser scanner and digital images from a camera mounted on a drone. This reality-captured data served as a reference and backdrop for Sweco’s conceptual design.

Compute -- The firm also imported survey, terrain, and GIS data into AutoCAD Civil 3D to determine suitable building sites, estimate earthworks, and develop preliminary site plans. Revit was used to model some of the existing structures and planned structures, and cloud-based tools in Autodesk A360 were used for project collaboration and data sharing.

Create -- Project visualizations were particularly important during the early phase of the design process for client reviews, public outreach, and fundraising. For example, the team used InfraWorks software in meetings with the client and local officials, enabling them to easily navigate the model, zoom into areas of interest, and quickly try out design alternatives based on feedback during the course of the meetings.

In addition, InfraWorks was used to create an animated movie file of the project that accurately reflected the real world with the conceptual design proposal visually layered on top of it. This file is being used to help local politicians, the media, cultural organizations, and local residents better understand the project. It is also being used by the sport club to attract potential investors, as well as new members and member organizations such as the Football Association of Norway and the Norwegian Swimming Federation.

Click here to view the animation. 

Building a new 140-year-old bridge

A railroad bridge in York, England dating from the mid 1800’s was recently renovated with the help of Reality Computing. Network Rail (the UK authority responsible for the Britain’s railway network) needed to make major repairs to the Scarborough Rail Bridge. The project involved the design and reconstruction of the cast iron structure that crosses the River Ouse—replacing the ornate but aging bridge with an aesthetically similar structure that can also accommodate today’s heavier steam engines.

The bridge is in the middle of a residential area with narrow streets as well as being close to several important rail lines. Network Rail used a model-based workflow, Autodesk software, and Reality Computing to design and build the replacement bridge, and coordinate the new structure with the existing sub-structures and its surroundings.

Laser scanning and ReCap was used to capture the existing conditions of the bridge and the surrounding environment. Cloud-based processing was essential for this reality capture step, as the point cloud was over 30-gigabytes and Network Rail's IT assets could not handle such large data sizes.

Designers used this existing conditions data in Revit as a reference for their design efforts. Navisworks was used to capture the work of all the disciplines and for virtual clash detection to coordinate the project. In addition, Reality Computing and the visualization capabilities it offered gave the extended project team and other stakeholders a better visual understanding of the design and the proposed construction techniques. As a result, project stakeholders had confidence that the complex structure was going to fit the existing environment and was buildable. And since the bridge is located in a prominent part of ancient York, accurate visual representations of the project also supported planning approval and public outreach efforts.

Click here for more project images, or here (page 54) for more information about the project.