b'NEW TECHNEW TECH IN STRUCTURAL DESIGN AND ANALYSISSKY-HIGH POSSIBILITIES FOR ENGINEERS BY MATTHEW BRADFORDechnology plays a fundamentalexplains Blackman. RJC has beenwere once the subject of science T role in the safe and resilientusing BIM for more than a decade, butfiction. Now, the ability to create design of our built environment.we see places in our industry that arefully immersive and interactive 3D And beyond the structural design andnew to BIM and to the learning andsimulations is becoming commonplace analysis tools that the industry hascoordination that people must apply toand augmenting how structural relied on for decades, there are new andleverage BIM successfully. engineers visualize and test their evolving technologies helping engineersbuilding models.take their own role to the next level. Undoubtedly, the structural design process is a large benefactor of newFor the uninitiated, VR defines The use of technology by structuralor evolving technologies. Generativetechnologies (such as VR headsets engineers continues to be an evolution,design, for example, is the fast-growingor glasses) that immerse users in a offers Michael Blackman, Principal andpractice of combining artificialcomputer-generated environment. Here, Regional Manager at RJC Engineers.intelligence (AI) and computationalstructural engineers can walk through More powerful computing andalgorithms in a digital designand manipulate their designs in a virtual presentation tools help us dig deeper intoenvironment to create optimal buildingenvironment. AR is a similar technology the design and analysis aspects of projectmodels based on preset parameters andthat overlays computer-generated deliverythe aspects that our clientsrequirements (e.g., materials, designmodels and digital information onto dont directly see but do benefit from. goals, manufacturing methods and costthe real world through AR-enabled constraints). By using generative designglasses, smartphones and other devices. Naturally, when talk of technology comessystems, engineers can more quicklyIn practice, AR technologies allow up in the structural engineering field,and accurately test the viability ofengineers to access and inspect 3D building information modelling (BIM) isdifferent building materials, structuralmodels wherever they may be, or place never far behind. For decades, BIM hascompositions and construction methodsvirtual elements within a construction helped professionals like those at RJCin a virtual environment. This, insite to see how they may fit in a real-envision, analyze and present their worktheory, leads to more innovative,world environment.in a coordinated way. And while theresilient and sustainable structures. technology isnt new, per se, like manyVR and AR technologies are altering tools in the structural engineering trade,Generative design is one of severalthe landscape for structural design and it continues to both evolve and be put toways AI is changing the landscape foranalysis. As they mature, expect greater new and innovative uses. structural engineering and analysis.processing power and haptic interfacesElsewhere, AI is used to automate andwearables which help simulate physical When we talk about things like BIM,oversee manual or repetitive tasks insensesto bring virtual experiences its not so much about What is new?the structural design process, freeingcloser to real life.as it is about How are we better usingup time and headspace for human these tools in the first instance? Andteam members to tackle more creativeSKY-HIGH ANALYSISthen, How can we leverage the toolschallenges and mission-critical tasks. Look up, and youll find a growing better and integrate them with othernumber of construction stakeholders tools, such as parametric design tools, toSEE BEFORE YOU BUILD using drones to support the structural more effectively and efficiently achieveVirtual and augmented realitydesign and analysis processes. Drones the vision for our clients projects?technologies (VR and AR, respectively)(or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)) 24 SOUTHERN INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION'