The Wedtlenstedt lock was built in 1939 and needs to be modernized and expanded. Our 3D model of the existing lock and the environment, generated from terrestrial photographs, was used for early stakeholder engagement and communications. The same data was also exported in 3D CAD format for concept design and forms the basis of the BIM processes.
With the kind permission of the operator of Milan Central Station, we have modelled and semantified the beautiful entrance hall of the station. The player of this model, which was created purely for marketing purposes, can be downloaded here on our website. Discover the fascinating world of digital twins
The station at Linz am Rhein needs to be refurbished and the owner and operator wants to involve the public and other stakeholders at an early stage in the project. We provided the real-world 3D model, based on terrestrial photogrammetry, showing planning options for the station and adjacent buildings and streets. We also included one of the design options provided by the engineering consultants.
The Main bridge in Wertheim needs to be replaced by a modern, steel arched bridge. This project has raised concerns within the local community that views of the city's landmark, Wertheim Castle, may be negatively affected by the bridge. Our 3D model supports the policy mediation process by demonstrating the line of sight from any point in the model.
On Magdeburger Straße in Halle, tram tracks are in the center of the road, between the traffic lanes, causing high accident rates at intersections. As a remedial measure, it is proposed that the tracks should be re-laid on one side of the road. There was some concern from local people, so to assist the public engagement process, we provided 3D visualisations of several planning options embedded in the real-world model. In this way, the advantages and disadvantages of each option could be identified and discussed to achieve an outcome that meets the expectations and requirements of all stakeholders.
The Vöest Bridge, one of three road bridges over the Danube in Linz, is chronically congested. Additional lanes on two bypass bridges have been designed to improve the situation. Our 3D real-world model makes the design details accessible to interested parties in a comprehensible format. Films have been produced from the model for each phase of construction and are available on YouTube.
One of the most comprehensive projects in the field of digital twins is the modeling and semantisation of the "ICE 4". It is a 3D full train model of the 12-section ICE multiple unit train, which has been in regular service in Germany since the end of 2017. In the 3D model, all flaps and doors can be opened both inside and outside; the technical components, some of them highly complex, are then visible in detail. The entire 3D model is also provided with countless data and information, which the user can access by clicking on a component. The data includes general information on the components, technical documentation and work instructions. The digital twin of the ICE 4 also features numerous animations as well as several active and passive training scenarios. In the active scenarios, the person to be trained has to perform certain activities in a dedicated sequence to achieve a goal (examples: dismantling and grounding the train; full user-guided brake test). In the passive scenarios, the person to be trained watches automatically running sequences (example: lifting the pantograph with representation of the power flow, the force flow on the bogies).
"Faster through Hamburg" - with this slogan, HOCHBAHN is advertising the ongoing expansion of the underground railway network in Hamburg. In a small pilot project, the Hagenbecks Tierpark stop was modelled and visualised in the existing system. The model was exported in CAD formats. This is to test whether the data can be used as a basis for planning in BIM. Other use cases, such as public relations and communication, can also be tested using the model.
The energy sector is one of the industrial sectors that benefits in many ways from digital twins. The expansion of renewable energies requires early, transparent and comprehensible communication and stakeholder engagement. Real-time visualizations are ideal here, as they can simulate different scenarios, daylight and weather conditions. But also the operation and maintenance of substations, power plants up to the dismantling of nuclear facilities is efficiently supported by our digital models.
The aim of the pilot project of VERBUND, Austria's leading electricity company and one of the largest producers of electricity from hydropower in Europe, is to create an interactive VR model of Rabenstein hydropower plant, including the immediate power plant environment, on the basis of 3D survey data and photographs. In particular, the advantages that a digital twin can bring for the operation or maintenance of hydroelectric power plants are investigated. New possibilities are expected from VR models in the following areas, among others: safety instructions, training/education environments e.g. simulation of floods or of incidents, intuitive access to relevant information. In the meantime, technical documents and also live data from process control technology have been successfully integrated into the digital twin Rabenstein.
For a stakeholder engagement activity at an early stage of the project in the context of the B33 bypass at the city of Haslach, the project was visualized for better understanding and communication. In this visualisation, flood events were also simulated.
A tram from Alexanderplatz to Potsdamer Platz in Berlin through Leipziger Straße? This project finds both supporters and opponents. The arguments are exchanged objectively in several public meetings. The visualisation of the existing built environment as well as different design options helps people to communicate better and understand the impact of the proposed changes.
In the Berlin district of Treptow-Köpenick, a tram line is to be build. The new tramline connects, over a distance of 2.7km, two parts of the district: Schöneweide with Adlershof. For a better illustration of the measure, a 3D model was created, in which it is possible to switch between existing and planning. With this 3D model the acceptance of the measure in the population should be increased. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the planned residents' information event was carried out live and online – a novelty for the tramline operator BVG and residents alike. The positive feedback from the participants suggests that digital methods will be used more frequently in the future.
For the symposium "Digitalisation in Existing Contexts", organised by the Mittelstand 4.0-Kompetenzzentrum Planen und Bauen, we copied part of the Benediktbeuern monastery. Using the example of the historic roof truss, we demonstrated how to go from simple photographs to a digital 3D model. Using our method of image analysis using artificial intelligence, 3D objects were identified and linked to database-based information models. The as-built model was exported into various CAD formats.
The research project "3DGeMo" of the Federal Office for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG) investigates the possible uses of a nationwide data set of digital 3D models of public buildings. The Villa Mumm as a property of the BKG was georeferenced and digitally modelled to scale on the basis of building floor plans and photographs taken on site. An interactive desktop application enabled both the virtual accessibility of the Villa Mumm and the interaction with objects and furnishings. Individual objects are linked to data outside the model and can be used by clicking on them in the model. Furthermore, use cases such as indoor navigation and switching between the current situation and a situation generated from historical photos were tested.
In the hands of the Bädergesellschaft Düsseldorf as operator there are 19 indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The digital twin of the Rheinbad in Düsseldorf has completely convinced the operator: The data of a 3-D building model not only help operators and planners during the construction process, but can also be applied and further developed in the further life cycle of the building, thus forming a basic database for facility management. Everyday work processes are handled faster and thus more cost-saving. Bathroom operations become more familiar and understandable thanks to the playful way in which a three-dimensional building model is created. In this way, every employee involved in the daily operation of the bathroom, no matter how experienced, can be supported and relieved. Facility management and cost-effectiveness in bathroom maintenance also benefit, as the modelled facilities can be linked to other systems and programs. This minimizes the amount of work involved, because it saves many work steps. All this ultimately turns a building owner into a successful facility manager.
A high-resolution 3D model of an IABG test hall was created on the basis of image recordings and reference measurements. In the virtual hall several test benches and facilities are displayed in high resolution and close to reality and linked to metadata (data sheets, images). A further highlight is the HyMAS earthquake test rig, for which an additional motion animation with a correct course of motion was simulated. The provision of input data and the implementation of the high accuracy requirements resulted in a true-to-life representation of the IABG test hall, which can be used both as a standalone and as a basis for further applications (VR@IABG).
