Event review
Imagina 2012 by Stephen Holmes
T
he annual Imagina event has a positively continental approach to the uses of digital design tools, which provides attendees from the UK and US with thought provoking ideas. Despite battling an impromptu strike by Air France that affected travel to the event, and the key absence of Dassault Systèmes’ due to a company-wide reorganisation, Imagina managed to muster enough software companies and interesting speakers to make the trip worthwhile for those who could get there. Key themes to this year’s event revolved around the attitude of the French State, along with neighbours Switzerland and Benelux, and its promotion to local governments and cities to create detailed 3D models for future planning, including detailed streets and individual buildings. A lot of the technology on show revolved around the use of GIS data to build whole settlements in 3D, while using the cloud for storing and sharing design data.
Mapping Archividéo, Bionatics, Eternix, and Virtuel City displayed 3D territory modelling and visualisation software that use geographic source data — usually high resolution aerial photography. The software has advanced rapidly, with higher resolution images now transferring improved quality into more accurate detail for virtual maps. While each software package differed in detail levels for the planning and management of cities, landscape preservation, military simulation and civil security, their takeup in Europe proved how enthusiastic local authorities on the continent are about the use of GIS and visualisation. On the boundaries of this technology was CityEngine. Previously featured in AEC Magazine for its ability to quickly build a virtual city, for concept design or in-context visualisation off a few inputted parameters. ESRI, the US-based GIS software specialist, has recently acquired the product and was keen to promote its enhanced ability to work with more rigid, imported GIS data. Bionatics is currently expanding into the UK market, so it will be interesting to see over the coming year what effect this will have on the domestic AEC market.
One of the standout presentations at Imagina was given by architect and projects manager Ralf Levedag on the planned Stade de Nice, and the work Cabinet Wilmotte & Associés is doing to make the public structure as sustainable as possible The project boasts the world’s largest wooden structure (pictured) thanks to its complex interlinked roof supports. Mr Levedag also spoke about the project’s trials and tribulations, ultimately solved by using modern design tools
that has been built from GIS data. Spaceyes specialises in transforming 3D models into real-time 3D fly-throughs and visualisations, while offering ‘build’ capabilities that allow for comparison and analysis to be carried out. Elsewhere it was about sharing the information as easily as possible, often through use of the cloud. Agency9 is a software proGetting inside vider for web-based visualisation of largeSeveral software companies had products scale 3D models. Agency9 was one of the few companies we dedicated to getting the most from a 3D model www.AECmag.com
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found that could support all common browsers without requiring installation of a software plug-in; its cloud-hosted CityPlanner allows the model owner to get feedback and update the project as it goes along.
Conclusion Imagina firmly promotes the European idea of what can be achieved through innovative use of architectural visualisation and GIS software, however it continues to expand to encompass other uses for 3D technology. For example, 3D technology is being used more and more to improve the realism of virtual reality and training simulators, and is something we expect to see more of in future. Despite some key players being absent, and a lack of new products, the show enabled established companies to reveal the advancements that GIS software has made in the past 12 months, with a greater level of detail now available to users. ■ imagina.mc
March / April 2012
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