Geotechnical gone Matrix

Strah Antoljak50th Annual

Geotechnical Engineering Conference

Lawrence, Kansas

https://ceae.ku.edu/geotechnical-conference

November 8, 2018

The Matrix

• The Matrix is a science fiction action media

franchise created by The Wachowski Brothers

• “The Matrix is a shared simulation of the world”

• Story alters between analog (real) world and digital (simulated) world

Why Matrix?

Source [1]

Simulation (in general)

“A simulation is an imitation of the operation of a real-world process or

system. The act of simulating something first requires that a model be

developed; this model represents the key characteristics, behaviors and

functions of the selected physical or abstract system or process. The model

represents the system itself, whereas the simulation represents the

operation of the system over time.”Source [2]

Source[3]

Simulation (engineering angle)

“Simulation is a great way to understand how designs will perform under

real-world conditions before they go into production. Because simulation

can be done early in the design process, the cost of change is low and

opportunities for innovation are high.”Source [4]

Source[5]

Simulation Software

“Simulation software is based on the process of modeling a real

phenomenon [e.g. construction, operation, maintenance]…. It

is, essentially, a program that allows the user to observe an

operation through simulation without actually [or before]

performing that operation. Simulation software is used widely

to design equipment [or other engineering structure] … without

expensive in process modification. Simulation software with

real-time response is often used in gaming ….

In theory, any phenomena that can be reduced to mathematical

data and equations can be simulated on a computer.”

Source [6]

Simulation in AEC industry

Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC)

industry is getting intertwined heavily in

simulation technologies. These technologies

are increasingly being known under an

umbrella terminology of BIM.

BIM stands for Building Information Modeling.

Remember – Geotechnical engineering is part

of AEC industry!

Building Information Modeling - BIM

The National BIM Standard-United States (NBIMS-US)

“Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital representation of

physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a shared

knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable

basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest

conception to demolition.

A basic premise of BIM is collaboration by different stakeholders at

different phases of the life cycle of a facility to insert, extract, update or

modify information in the BIM to support and reflect the roles of that

stakeholder.” Source [7]

Building Information Modeling - BIM

The National BIM Standard-United States (NBIMS-US)

“Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital representation of

physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a shared

knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable

basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest

conception to demolition.

A basic premise of BIM is collaboration by different stakeholders at

different phases of the life cycle of a facility to insert, extract, update or

modify information in the BIM to support and reflect the roles of that

stakeholder.”

Building Information Modeling - BIM

The National BIM Standard-United States (NBIMS-US)

“Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital representation of

physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a shared

knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable

basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest

conception to demolition.

A basic premise of BIM is collaboration by different stakeholders at

different phases of the life cycle of a facility to insert, extract, update or

modify information in the BIM to support and reflect the roles of that

stakeholder.”

Simulation

Building Information Modeling - BIM

The National BIM Standard-United States (NBIMS-US)

“Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital representation of

physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a shared

knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable

basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest

conception to demolition.

A basic premise of BIM is collaboration by different stakeholders at

different phases of the life cycle of a facility to insert, extract, update or

modify information in the BIM to support and reflect the roles of that

stakeholder.”

“The Matrix is a shared simulationof the world”

Simulation

BIM life-cycle visualized

A BIM model as knowledge

resource for information

about a facility (asset)

forming is shared among all

stakeholders for decision-

making during its life-cycle;

from earliest conception to

demolition.

Source [8]

Why BIM and Simulation in AEC industry 1/3

“In the United States, when all manmade, immovable

structures are included – things such as [buildings],

bridges, roads, dams, and ports – the raw material

consumed by construction exceeds 75 percent of total.”

“Or to put it another way, construction in the United

States consumes three times more raw material than all

other economic and industrial activity combined.”

AEC – Architecture/Engineering/Construction – 75% Raw Material Consumption in US

Buildings - 40%

Other manmade, immovable structures (facilities): bridges, roads, dams, ports – 35%

Others 25%

AEC: Buildings 40%

AEC: Other Facilities 35%

Raw Material Consumption in US

Source [9]

Source [10, pg. 2]

Why BIM and Simulation in AEC industry 2/3

“In 2004, the Construction Industry Institute (CII) estimated

that up to 57 percent of construction spending in our current

business model is non-value-added effort or waste.”

($600 Billion waste.)

In comparison, “Autos are the most recycled consumer

product with 95% of retired passenger vehicles processed for

recycling every year.” (5 percent waste).

AEC professionals started noticing. This is a business

opportunity. Waste 57%

ValueAdding 10%

Support Activity 33 %

(AEC) Construction Spending

Source [11]

Source [12]

Why BIM and Simulation in AEC industry 3/3

Not quite fair comparison because “The building

industry, by comparison, is highly fragmented” and

“construction remains largely a craft process.”

“A lack of reliable statistical productivity data about

the construction industry is a factor.”

“If the quantity and location of materials and

packaging could be tracked efficiently and accurately

in BIM, it would be much easier to plan strategically

for their eventual reuse or disposal.” – resulting in

minimal waste.

Source: design-altruism-project.org is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Source [10, pgs. 4,5,11]

BIM evolution, quick overview 1/3

The first AEC professionals to start noticing a business opportunity in BIM were

architects and structural engineers.

SCIA was founded in 1974 in Belgium. It develops software for structural design

focusing on Building information modeling. Early days of structural BIM in 1997.

GRAPHISOFT® ignited the BIM revolution in 1984 with ARCHICAD®, the industry

first BIM software for architects.

By 2010 BIM was well established in architecture and structural engineering.

Source [13]

Source [11, 12]

BIM evolution, quick overview 2/3

The next in line in AEC industry to start delving into BIM were civil engineers

in road design and land development fields.

“We got our first glimpse of Civil 3D with its 2004”

“With Civil 3D the true BIM components lie in: 1) moving data through the

various phases of the infrastructure project procurement process; and 2)

sharing data during individual project phases.”

As of 2018, Civil BIM is still on its evolving path but significantly

accelerated pace of adoption.

Source [15]

Source [14]

• Offshore and marine architecture

• Rail and metro transportation engineering

• Tunneling and subway architecture

• Urban master-planning and smart city design”

• Geotechnical Design

BIM evolution, quick overview 3/3

Because BIM first picked up in building design by architects and structural

engineers B in BIM stands for Building, but it has outgrown its original

meaning of building. The acronym remained unchanged – BIM, but building

in it, has become any AEC facility or asset.

“BIM is for everyone. It can be used for just about anything in the built

environment, including:

• Architecture and building design

• Civil and structural engineering

• Energy and utilities

• Highway and road engineering

• Landscape and land surveying

Source [16]

BIM – Geotechnical is step 1

“What is important that anyone involved in any part of the lifecycle of a building – from the geotechnical engineer analyzing [or characterizing] a building site to the renovation or demolition contractor – recognize that the tasks they perform and the information they create are a small part of a very long sequence or cycle of tasks” [or part of ecosystem]. Source [10, pg. 34 ]

Information is a Tangible Asset

[Eco]System-minded [or collaboration-minded] building industry professionals [or stakeholder], regard the information they create (data collection, report production, information providing, modeling) with an attitude of stewardship rather than ownership. They organize, compile, and maintain information in the most structured, integrated, and accessible manner possible. They view information as a tangible asset and a living resource.” Source [10, pg. 34 ]

Fostering a Culture of Information Stewardship

“Cultivating a business environment of information stewardship is possible without disrupting any existing business processes or operations, assuming any new risks, or changing any existing business relationships. … It is fundamentally about getting one’s own house in order.

An attitude of information stewardship manifests itself in effective information management, a necessary prerequisite for information modeling.

As more industry professionals gain a greater understanding [of ecosystem] – and learn to manage their own information accordingly [they] will be more able and willing to engage in value-added information exchange” - BIM

Source [10, pg. 35 ]

BIM standing on the shoulders of CAD

“BIM is utilizing Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology in a way that ultimately will tie all the components of a building together as objects imbedded with information. A simple graphics turns into an object pregnant with information that tracks its manufacture, cost, delivery, installation methods and labor cost, and maintenance all the way through to its replacement value.”

Source [17]

Source [10, pg. xi]

BIM – The Capability Maturity IndexAs BIM is evolving through disciplines and organizations, the Capability Maturity Index diagram has been developed, so one can evaluate where their organization currently stands concerning BIM.

Source [18]

BIM – AEC’s assembly line

“BIM makes possible the erection of the building [or any facility] in computer model form before putting a shovel in the ground. This goes a long way to identifying and solving the typical errors that occur during construction because drawings were not coordinated properly during their creation. Fixing the problem on the computer model is a fraction of what it would cost to fix the mistake in the field.“

As stated, in comparison to car industry, AEC industry does not have a factory controlled conditions (to easy increase efficiency and minimize waste). However, for AEC industry, BIM is the next best thing to simulate and control the whole process of construction, operation and maintenance eliminating errors and resulting waste that otherwise occur.

So in essence BIM enables AEC professionals to measure twice and cut once on a great scale, accounting for the entire lifecycle of a facility.

Source [10, pg. xi]

BIM – becoming a mandate

Because BIM allows AEC firms to collaborate in order to design and analyze building systems quickly and effectively, reduce cost, and add value to their projects, some governments in order to manage taxpayers money more wisely and frugally started to mandate BIM. Here are some examples:

• “Norway has been using IFC file formats and BIM in their projects since 2010”

• “In 2010, Wisconsin was the first US state to require BIM on all public projects with a total budget of $5 million or more and on all new construction within a budget of $2.5 million or more”

• [Since 2016] “Any government projects in the UK must have BIM level 2 as part of their process”

• “As of 2017, BIM was mandated for France.”

• “BIM will be mandatory for all transportation projects in Germany by the end of 2020.”

Source [19]

What about geotechnical information?

Arguably, in comparison to engineers in other AEC disciplines, geotechnical engineers tend to put much great emphasis on information ownership than on information stewardship.

Additionally, it is not uncommon that geotechnical information management, reusability and exchange is at significantly lower level than that of architectural, structural or civil (road design, land development).

This is to a significant extend because geotechnical software applications were until very recently detached from the collaborative AEC software in other disciplines. There was no easy way of exchanging or incorporating geotechnical data with other AEC disciplines and their applications.

Generating Geotechnical Information

We could identify the following main groups of geotechnical information:

1. Subsurface Exploration Information:• Field information

• Lab information

2. Geotechnical Design Information

The geotechnical investigation commonlystarts with exploring legacy data (if available),exploring existing maps, and collecting fielddata (e.g. soil samples). Some samples endup in a lab.

1. Subsurface Exploration Information

Field and lab forms are commonly exposed to:

• Dirty hands (from handling soil samples)

• Moist

• Dust

• Illegible handwriting

In such shape they cannot be included in a geotechnical reports. Some lab data also require additional analysis and processing.

To make forms and reports more presentable, the reports are turned into a digital form.

However, to a notable extent geotechnical information is still managed as (electronic) paper (e.g. PDF files, Excel files, drafting tools), lacking a structure and easy way of data exchange and collaboration with other AEC disciplines.

Forming subsurface information stewardship

Some geotechnical organizations made a significant improvement by storing geotechnical exploration data in databases, that is in a structured form.

This enabled much easier data exchange and interoperability with other applications and AEC disciplines.

Structuring subsurface exploration information

Database(Structured Data)

Structured data is easy to exchange, share, and publish. Publishing geotech data in GIS is intuitive step to do and became increasingly easy.When data is structured, it is tempting to think of collecting data in digital, structured form, allowing that (digital) paper reports be a byproduct rather than means or focus.

Automating Geotechnical Workflows

Database(Structured Data)

2. Geotechnical Design Information Once subsurface exploration data is collected, analyzed and resulting reports published, a geotechnical design is performed.

Some of geotechnical analysis and design is still performed in Excel, but most companies that appreciate information stewardship use specialized geotechnical software of their choice. Using specialized software makes data structured, and opens the door to interoperability. However many geotechnical software applications and their input and output are still divorced from a collaborative AEC approach and BIM, basically requiring manual data entry.

Where is subsurface information in BIM?If you were exposed to BIM, have you noticed how infrastructure facilities levitate?

This is because soil data and models are absent.

Source [20] Source [21]

Source [22]

What about Geotechnical BIM?Many engineers would benefit of having direct access to soil characteristics and stratigraphy models … structural, civil, water, utilities. Or in other words – how many AEC facilities are not build on ground and do not require subsurface information?

Source [24] Source [23]

Rise of Geotechnical BIM

The early traces of software to allow geotechnical BIM only showed in 2016 and made some notable improvements since, but it emerged to a practical level and interoperability with AEC industry software only in 2018.

Geotechnical AssetsAs ‘Building’ in BIM assumes more generic and broad meaning such as facility or asset, let’s consider what are geotechnical assets.

Sample -> Data -> Information (report, fence) -> Model

Let’s sort them in categories (loosely):

• Raw data (science domain: measured data for soil samples)

• Measured and calculated data (lab reports)

• Interpreted 1D data (log reports)

• Interpreted 2D data (profiles, fences)

• Interpreted 3D boreholes (BIM entity candidate)

• Interpreted 3D fences (BIM entity candidate)

• Interpolated and extrapolated 3D stratigraphy surface models (BIM entity candidate)

• Geotechnical analytical models (BIM entity candidate)(retaining walls, slope stability, foundations, tunnels …)

Soil samples data are science based data because it is measured (length, weight, temperature, moisture, etc.). Based on this measured data and directed by standards (codes, norms) other data can be derived (calculated) from the measured data. Some data are interpreted. The result is soil properties –> Geotechnical (subsurface) BIM attributes.

Geotechnical Assets – samples and lab reports

Field logs – e.g. borehole logs, CPT logs, well logs are derived from soil samples (science) where applicable, and partially interpretation (art) – e.g. interpreting stratigraphy strata between discrete samples collected down the borehole.

Geotechnical Assets – field logs

Subsurface profiles are often interpreted data based on discrete boreholes.

Geotechnical Assets – 2D profiles

Visualization itself is not new. But making it part of BIM takes ability to turn graphics into “an object pregnant with information that tracks its [drilling method], cost, delivery, installation [e.g. wells] methods and labor cost”, etc. Most of all though, the novelty is making Geotech BIM asset/model interact

with other AEC BIM objects.

Geotechnical Assets – 3D boreholes

3D subsurface fences – interpreted data that only geotechnical engineers or engineering geologists can provide, to be augmented in BIM.

Geotechnical Assets – 3D fences

3D subsurface meshes to establish stratigraphy and used as a prerequisite for 3D fences and volume calculations.

Geotechnical Assets – 3D meshes

Examples Volume calculations:

- Foundation excavation

- Cut/fill calcs in road design or land development

- (contaminated) soil replacement volume

- Sinkhole (void) volume

Subsurface stratigraphy models can be provided only by subsurface exploration professionals. Byproduct of which are contours, isopach contours, thematic (heat) maps, orbiting objects, flythrough to name a few.

Geotechnical Assets – 3D subsurface models

Having a (true geotech) BIM model allows for directly performing geotechnical analysis and design from the model and with geometry and soil characteristics already in place (already in a structured form ready to be used - no manual data re-entry).

Geotechnical Assets – Analysis/Design Models

Slope Stability

Retaining WallFoundation

Settlement

Augmented Reality as byproduct

Source [25]

Structural professionals can ‘see-through’ beams and columns in BIM

HVAC professionals can ‘see-through’ ducts in BIM

Utility professionals can ‘see-through’ utilities in BIM

Why Geotechnical BIM should not allow for ‘see-through’ 3D boreholes, fences and stratigraphy?

Clash detection!

3D Printing as a byproduct

Source [26]

Source [27]

Collecting Samples -> Generating Data -> Turning Data into Information (report, fence) -> Model –> Analysis & Design

Prospective Geotechnical Workflow

Don’t tell me Geotechs don’t have sense of irony

BIM is conceived on the idea of interoperability and collaboration among all stakeholders in the building/facility/asset lifecycle. This collaboration is increasingly being achieved via data stored and shared in the cloud.

Consequently, down to earth data now needs to be looked up in, and downloaded from the cloud.

Digital Twin – food for thought

“… AEC digital twin combines BIM, CAD and more”

“Digital twins [weren’t] as much of a hot topic in the AEC world as they are in discrete manufacturing.”

Source [30]

“The digital twin is the virtual representation of a physical object or system across its life-cycle. It uses real-time data and other sources to enable learning, reasoning, and dynamically recalibrating for improved decision making.”

Source [28]

Source [29] Think about interconnected built-in sensor systems (Internet of things), Big data (Point clouds), AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Thank you

11. Nemetschek. Last edited on October 25, 2018, from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemetschek

12. SCIA, Retrieved in October 2018 from: https://www.scia.net/en/company/innovation-scia

13. About GRAPHISOFT, Retrieved in October 2018 from : https://www.graphisoft.com/info/about_graphisoft/

14. Donnie Gladfelter, “Civil 3D 2008 – First Impressions”, February 26, 2007, The CAD Geek

15. Andrew Walther, “BIM and Civil 3D - Fact or Fiction?”, March 4, 2013, AUGI

16. Erin Green, “BIM 101: What is Building Information Modeling?”, posted on February 03, 2016, at engineering.com

17. John Hill, “BIM in 10 Lessons”, February 25, 2014. Retrieved from https://www.world-architects.com/ca/pages/insight/bim-10-lessons

18. TBH Admin, “UK construction sector could be ‘world leader’ on building information modelling”, July 5, 2014, The BIM Hub

19. Sarah Lorek, “Global BIM Standards: Is Your Country Next?”, April 5, 2018, Constructible by Trimble

20. BIM (Building Information Modeling), by Journey Construction, Retrieved in October 2018 from: https://journeyconstruction.com/about/bim-building-information-modeling

21. Erin Green, “Denmark Puts BIM to the Test”, February 23, 2016, engineering.com

22. Autodesk, “About Corridor Modeling”, February 10, 2016, Autodesk Knowledge Network

23. Aaron Hopkins, Maraliese Beveridge, Image: Emerson Melin, “More than meets the eye”, October 1, 2018,, Civil + Structural Engineer

24. Strahimir Antoljak, “Subsurface Modeling and BIM“, September 2015, GEOQuebec, 2015

References

1. The Matrix. Last edited on October 7, 2018, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrix

2. Simulation. Last edited on September 28, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulation

3. Daniel Tal, edited by Daniel Jost, “Learning to model terrain in SketchUp”, Originally published in the October 2012, Retrieved from: http://www.sketchup-ur-space.com/2012/sept/learning-to-model-terrain-in-SketchUp.html

4. Simulation, Retrieved in October 2018 from: https://www.imaginit.com/software/products-by-industry/simulation

5. Kate Morrical, “BIM Interoperability Dreams Can Come True: Creating a Unified Model for Documentation and Design”, Retrieved in October 2018 from: https://www.autodesk.com/redshift/bim-interoperability-unified-model-documentation-and-design

6. Simulation software, Last edited on May 19, 2018 from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulation_software

7. What is a BIM by the National BIM Standard-United States® (NBIMS-US™), Retrieved in October 2018 from: http://www.nationalbimstandard.org/faqs#faq1

8. Orbis Research, “Building Information Modeling (BIM) Market 2018: Global Demand, Sales, Production, Supply, Manufacturers, Competitive Development & Strategies Analysis and 2023 Forecast”, Retrieved in October 2018 from: https://www.reuters.com/brandfeatures/venture-capital/article?id=34655

9. Grecia Matos and Lorie Wagner, “Consumption of Materials in the United States, 1900 – 1995.” Annual Review of Energy and Environment, no. 23 (1998). (Link)

10. Dana K. Smith, Michael Tardif, “Building Information Modeling: A Strategic Implementation Guide for Architects, Engineers, Constructors, and Real Estate Asset Managers”, Wiley; 1 edition, April 13, 2009, ISBN-10: 9780470250037

References

25. David Barista, “Augmented reality goes mainstream: 12 applications for design and construction firms”, September 4, 2013, Building Design & Construction Magazine

26. Lisa Bievenue, “From 3-D hydrostratigraphic model to 3-D printed aquifer model” Illinois Informatics Institute / Champaign-Urbana Community Fab Lab

27. Kyriakos, “3D Printing Topography: The Alps”, Retrieved in October 2018 from: https://blenderartists.org/t/3d-printing-topography-the-alps/562036

28. Bentley’s AEC digital twin combines BIM, CAD and more, Oct 29, 2018, Retrieved in October 2018, from: http://schnitgercorp.com/2018/10/29/bentleys-aec-digital-twin-combines-bim-cad-and-more/

29. Matthew Mikell and Jen Clark, “Cheat sheet: What is Digital Twin?”, January 4, 2018, Retrieved in October 2018 from IBM: https://www.ibm.com/blogs/internet-of-things/iot-cheat-sheet-digital-twin/

30. Jos Voskuil, “Model-Based – The Digital Twin”, Jos Voskuil's Weblog with (Image courtesy of Loginworks.com), Retrieved in October 2018 from https://virtualdutchman.com/2018/07/02/model-based-the-digital-twin/