One view is not enough: review of and encouragement for multiple and alternative representations in 3D and immersive visualisation

The opportunities for 3D visualisations are huge. People can be immersed inside their data, interface with it in natural ways, and see it in ways that are not possible on a traditional desktop screen. Indeed, 3D visualisations, especially those that are immersed inside head-mounted displays are becoming popular. Much of this growth is driven by the availability, popularity and falling cost of head-mounted displays and other immersive technologies. However, there are also challenges. For example, data visualisation objects can be obscured, important facets missed (perhaps behind the viewer), and the interfaces may be unfamiliar. Some of these challenges are not unique to 3D immersive technologies. Indeed, developers of traditional 2D exploratory visualisation tools would use alternative views, across a multiple coordinated view (MCV) system. Coordinated view interfaces help users explore the richness of the data. For instance, an alphabetical list of people in one view shows everyone in the database, while a map view depicts where they live. Each view provides a different task or purpose. While it is possible to translate some desktop interface techniques into the 3D immersive world, it is not always clear what equivalences would be. In this paper, using several case studies, we discuss the challenges and opportunities for using multiple views in immersive visualisation. Our aim is to provide a set of concepts that will enable developers to perform critical thinking, creative thinking and push the boundaries of what is possible with 3D and immersive visualisation. In summary developers should consider how to integrate many views, techniques and presentation styles, and one view is not enough when using 3D and immersive visualisations

Towards a National 3D Mapping Product for Great Britain

Knowing where something happens and where people are located can be critically important to understand issues ranging from climate change to road accidents, crime, schooling, transport and much more. To analyse these spatial problems, two-dimensional representations of the world, such as paper or digital maps, have traditionally been used. Geographic information systems (GIS) are the tools that enable capture, modelling, storage, retrieval, sharing, manipulation, analysis, and presentation of geographically referenced data. Three-dimensional geographic information (3D GI) is data that can represent real-world features as objects in 3D space. 3D GI offers additional functionality not possible in 2D, including analysing and querying volume, visibility, surface and sub-surface, and shadowing. This thesis contributes to the understanding of user requirements and other data related considerations in the production of 3D geographic information at a national level. The study promotes Ordnance Survey’s efforts in developing a 3D geographic product through: (1) identifying potential applications; (2) analysing existing 3D city modelling approaches; (3) eliciting and formalising user requirements; (4) developing metrics to describe the usefulness of 3D data and; (5) evaluating the commerciality of 3D GI. A review of current applications of 3D showed that visualisation dominated as the main use, allowing for better communication, and supporting decision-making processes. Reflecting this, an examination of existing 3D city models showed that, despite the varying modelling approaches, there was a general focus towards accurate and realistic geometric representation of the urban environment. Web-based questionnaires and semi-structured interviews revealed that while some applications (e.g. subsurface, photovoltaics, air and noise quality) lead the field with a high adoption of 3D, others were laggards due to organisational inertia (e.g. insurance, facilities management). Individuals expressed positive views on the use of 3D, but still struggled to justify the value and business case. Simple building geometry coupled with non-building thematic classes was perceived to be most useful by users. Several metrics were developed to quantify and compare the characteristics of thirty-three 3D datasets. Results showed that geometry-based metrics such as minimum feature length or Euler characteristic can be used to provide additional information as part of fitness-for-purpose evaluations. The metrics can also contribute to quality control during data production. An investigation into the commercial opportunities explored the economic value of 3D, the market size of 3D data in Great Britain, as well as proposed a number of opportunities within the wider business context of Ordnance Survey

Viability of Photogrammetry for As-built Surveys without Control Points in Building Renovation Projects

In recent years, it is becoming more and more common to utilize 3D modeling technology to reconstruct cultural heritages. The most common way to deliver the 3D model of an existing object is based on hands-on surveys and CAD tools which could be impractical for large or complex structure in term of time consumption and cost. Recently, laser scanning technology and more automated photogrammetric modeling methods become available, and making the 3D reconstruction process of real world objects easier. Photogrammetry is one of the most cost-effective approaches we could use to gather the physical information of an object, such as size, location, and appearance. Also, the operation of the equipment of photogrammetry, which is a camera, is very easy and cost-effective. However, it also has its drawback, which is mainly caused the outcome’s low accuracy level. Accurate drawings or models only have been achieved with other approaches, such as 3D laser scanning or total station. The 3D model of the Francis Hall at Texas A&M University, which will be renovated soon, was created in order to investigate whether the image-based 3D model produced using photogrammetry technology would be acceptable or not for the use in renovation projects. For this investigation, the elapsed time for data acquisition and 3D modeling was measured. The accuracy level of the image-based 3D model and the deficiencies of this approach were also recorded. Then, the image-based 3D model of Francis Hall was presented in the BIM CAVE to four industry professionals and one graduate student. The regular 3D model of the Francis Hall, which was created, using dimensions extracted from 2D drawings, was also presented to the interviewees in the BIM CAVE. After watching two different 3D models (image-based 3D model and regular 3D model) of the same Francis Hall, five interviewees were requested to describe the differences they noticed between image-based 3D model and regular 3D model presented in the BIM CAVE. By reviewing and analyzing the data from interviews. Following conclusions could be made. First, the image-based 3D model of Francis Hall gave people more feeling of reality than the traditional CAD drawings or BIM models. Second, the image-based 3D model could be used for saving travels, showing details, improving coordination, improving design, facilities management tool, and marketing tool. Third, in order to make it practical for the industry, the time consumption and cost of generating the image-based 3D model should be at least equivalent to time consumption and cost for architects to conduct survey and generate CAD drawings or BIM model

Conceptual design and feasibility evaluation model of a 10 to the 8th power bit oligatomic mass memory. Volume 1: Conceptual design

The oligatomic (mirror) thin film memory technology is a suitable candidate for general purpose spaceborne applications in the post-1975 time frame. Capacities of around 10 to the 8th power bits can be reliably implemented with systems designed around a 335 million bit module. The recommended mode was determined following an investigation of implementation sizes ranging from an 8,000,000 to 100,000,000 bits per module. Cost, power, weight, volume, reliability, maintainability and speed were investigated. The memory includes random access, NDRO, SEC-DED, nonvolatility, and dual interface characteristics. The applications most suitable for the technology are those involving a large capacity with high speed (no latency), nonvolatility, and random accessing

From Words to Action: The Impact and Legal Status of the 2006 National Wildlife Refuge System Management Policies

On June 26, 2006, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued three new final policies governing the conservation of the national wildlife refuge system. These new agency manual provisions nearly complete an implementation project that began shortly after Congress enacted an organic statute in 1997 for management of the refuges. This article briefly reviews the significance of the 1997 legislation and places the new policies in the context of the statutory framework. It then discusses the most important aspects of the policies in terms of both practical refuge management and broader trends in natural resources law. The article evaluates the legal status of the policies with a special focus on whether the judiciary would bind the FWS to follow them. The article concludes with suggestions for the next round of FWS policymaking for refuge conservation

Evaluating transformative innovation policy: towards an integrated framework

Past reviews show that the current practice of science, technology, and innovation policy evaluation lags behind the development of innovation theory. The emergence of the transformative innovation policy paradigm, which aims at addressing transformative change or ‘grand challenges’, implies new challenges for policy evaluation. These include, among other aspects, assessing (i) behavioural additionality, i.e., going beyond the traditional input–output analysis to address how policy changes the behaviour of actors involved in or affected by a policy measure and affects learning at the system level, and (ii) the directionality of change, i.e., how policy mixes are impacting the process and direction of socio-technical systems. The purpose of this licentiate thesis is to understand how evaluation can be made more transformative in order to assess policy interventions targeting system innovation, while also addressing the aforementioned challenges. Based on the literature on sustainability transitions, combined with insights from the literature on theory-based policy evaluation, I propose an integrated framework for evaluating such programmes. The integrated framework is composed of three main components: (i) a programme theory, which describes how the programme was conceptualized, including its goals, system boundaries, desired transition pathways, and theories of change; (ii) a system analysis, which focuses on a set of transformative processes that describe changes in socio-technical systems; and (iii) an assessment of the unfolding transition pathway(s). This licentiate thesis also includes a first attempt to apply the framework. In order to do this, I analyse the case of the BioInnovation Strategic Innovation Programme (SIP), a programme funded by Vinnova (the Swedish Innovation Agency), whose vision is that Sweden will have transformed into a bioeconomy by 2050. The programme focuses on system innovation in three main areas: chemical and energy, construction and design, and materials. Building on preliminary findings of this empirical application, I reflect upon the methodological and conceptual implications of such an approach and indicate opportunities for further research

Impact of BIM/LEAN on the interaction of construction project design teams

Tesis por compendio[ES] Los equipos de diseño de los proyectos de construcción están compuestos por diferentes interesados; esto podría dificultar las interacciones. Las metodologías BIM y Lean tienen un impacto positivo en los proyectos de construcción. Además, hay pruebas de la aplicación conjunta de BIM y Lean; sin embargo, se desconoce la relación empírica entre las prácticas Lean y los usos de BIM en la fase de diseño. Tampoco existe una comprensión más profunda de los fenómenos sociales que se generan entre los equipos de diseño cuando se aplican las metodologías de gestión BIM-Lean. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de esta investigación es entender el impacto de las prácticas de gestión de diseño Lean (LDM) y los usos BIM en la interacción de los equipos de diseño de los proyectos de construcción. El método de investigación tiene dos fases: 1) la creación de herramientas para evaluar el nivel de aplicación de las prácticas LDM y los usos BIM, y para comprender las interacciones en un equipo de diseño; y 2) el análisis de las relaciones entre BIM, Lean y la interacción, basado en información empírica de proyectos de construcción en fase de diseño. Los resultados presentan un instrumento de evaluación de usos del BIM y un cuestionario de prácticas de LDM para medir la gestión del diseño, y un método para comprender los diferentes tipos de interacción en un equipo de diseño. Basados en los datos de 64 proyectos, un análisis chi cuadrado reveló 33 relaciones empíricas entre los usos del BIM y las prácticas LDM; además, la aplicación de los usos del BIM implica una mayor aplicación de las prácticas LDM. El proyecto que aplica la gestión BIM-Lean logra numerosas interacciones en su equipo de diseño; flujos de información transparentes, ordenados y estandarizados; un entorno de colaboración, confianza y aprendizaje; y una gestión del compromiso. Todos estos elementos de interacción no son visibles en el proyecto, en el que no se aplicó la gestión BIM-lean.[CAT] Els equips de diseny dels projectes de construcción están compostos per diferents interesats; açó podría dificultar les interaccions. Les metodologies BIM i Lean tenen un impacte positiu en els projectes de construcció. A més, ni hi ha proves de l'aplicació conjunta de BIM i Lean; no obstant, es desconeix la relació empírica entre practiques Lean i els usos de BIM en fase de diseny. Tampoc existix una comprensió mes profunda dels fenómens socials que es generen entre els equips de diseny quan s'apliquen les metodologies de gestió BIM-Lean. Per tant, l'objectiu d'esta investigació es entendre l'impacte de les practiques de gestió de diseny Lean (LDM) i els usos BIM en l'interacció dels equips de diseny dels projectes de construcción. El métode de investigació te dos fases: 1) la creació de ferramentes per a evaluar el nivell d'aplicació de les practiques LDM i els usos BIM, i per a comprendre les interaccions en un equip de diseny; i 2) l'análisis de les relacions entre BIM, Lean i la interacció, basades en informació empírica de projectes de construcció en fase de diseny. Els resultats presenten un instrument d'evaluació d'usos del BIM i un questionari de practiques de LDM per a mesurar la gestió del diseny, i un método per a comprendre els diferents tipos d'interacció en un equip de diseny. Basades en les dades de 64 projectes, un análisis chi cuadrado va revelar 33 relacions empíricas entre els usos del BIM i les práctiques LDM; a més, l¿aplicació dels usos del BIM implica una major aplicació de les práctiques LDM. El projecte que aplica la gestió BIM-Lean obté nombroses interaccions en el seu equip de diseny; fluxes d'informació transparents, ordenats i estandarizats; un entorn de colaboració, confiança i aprenentatge; i una gestió del compromis. Tots estos elements d'interacció no son visibles en el projecte, en el que no es va aplicar la gestió BIM-lean.[EN] Design teams of construction projects are composed of different stakeholders; this fact could make the interactions difficult. BIM and Lean methodologies have a positive impact on construction projects. Besides, there is evidence of the combined implementation of BIM and Lean; however, it is not known the empirical relationship between Lean practices and BIM uses in the design phase. Also, there is not a deeper understanding of the social phenomena that are generated among design teams when BIM-Lean management methodologies are implemented. Therefore, the objective of this research is to understand the impact of Lean design management (LDM) practices, and BIM uses in the interaction of construction project design teams. The research method has two phases: (1) the creation of tools to assess the level of implementation of LDM practices and BIM uses and to understand the interactions in a design team; and (2) the relationship analyses between BIM, Lean, and interaction, based on empirical information from construction projects in the design phase. The results present a BIM uses assessment tool and an LDM practices questionnaire to measure the design management and a method to understand the different types of interaction in a design team. Based on data from 64 projects, a chi-square analysis revealed 33 empirical relationships between BIM uses and LDM practices; also, the application of BIM uses implies a greater application of LDM practices. The project that applies BIM-Lean management achieves many interactions among its design team; transparent, orderly, and standardized information flows; a collaborative, trust, and learning environment; and commitment management. All these interaction elements are not visible in the project, where BIM-lean management was not applied.Herrera Valencia, RF. (2020). Impact of BIM/LEAN on the interaction of construction project design teams [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/158718TESISCompendi