BIMonRails - Gamification all the way to AEC Excellent Award finalist!

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: I'm going to start with a showing a video just as an introduction.

PRESENTER: The existing railway tunnel between Arna and [INAUDIBLE] is from 1964. Due to the very high load factor of passenger traffic and goods traffic on the single track line, Norwegian transport ministry decided in 2009 to upgrade the line to two tracks, including the construction of a second tier for the Ulriken Tunnel.

The biggest part of the section passes through a tunnel under Mount Ulriken. The new tunnel is approximately 7,800 meters in total and represents a milestone in Norwegian tunneling.

The first 800 meters will be a traditional drill and blast, while the final 7,000 meters will use a tunnel boring machine, TBN, the first time such a machine will be used in Norway to bore a railway tunnel.

Breakthrough is expected by Autumn 2017. The tunnel contains 16 cross-sections and 10 technical routes.

With innovative use of new technology, the project is developed again used to check sight distance to signals. Train drivers also use this to test drive the new track before it's complete. The game is compatible with keyboard input, as well as virtual reality headsets.

Pushing this even further, that [INAUDIBLE] time interaction could allow the early involvement of maintenance and emergency departments.

The 1.3 kilometer section of [INAUDIBLE] between [INAUDIBLE] station and [INAUDIBLE] presents particular challenges due to the proximity to the city center. There is limited space and old infrastructure in the area.

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: So you don't need any more details. About me, I'm Thomas, working in Norconsult as a BIM Discipline Leader in our rail projects, at least some of them. I'm a Civil Engineer with a master's degree in Rail Engineering.

Today I'm going to talk about two things. It's about a collaboration and the information flow in large infrastructure projects. And I'm going to cover Infraworks and a bit about virtual design and construction. And the last thing I'm going to talk about is the game technology. A bit how and why we are doing things and a bit about possibilities and benefits. And then I have a lot of examples to show you. And in the end, it's a quick summary.

And the reason why we're doing this is to extend the use of our models. We are consultants and we work on a basis of hours, we get paid every hour we work. And since things are getting automated, we are trying to figure out how we can deliver a better design, a better product to our clients, as well as we need to keep up the innovative to figure out how we can create new products to sell.

So the virtual design and construction, it's invented by Stanford University. It's going to show a bit how we are working now in our projects.

Thing is, we take everything, every task, and we divide them into work packages. And then we have a session where we try to figure out how we can solve the different tasks like this. And then we invite the project team, the project members, and we have sessions. We gather all of the people with information that that could make the decisions and we're trying to solve the problems and make decisions inside the meeting.

So this is the way it works. So the virtual design and construction. As I said, it's invented by Stanford. I've included some more information in the handout, so you can read through it more there. And we are using something called ICE, integrated concurrent engineering.

It's about just getting together all the people with information in the same room to make a efficient plan process and design process. And another thing we are looking into is how we can use the model as a information carrier in our projects. We want our project team to seek the information inside the model instead of reading through emails.

To be able to do that, we are trying to use BIM as our project management tool. Not only BIM as a model, but BIM is a project management tool. So we move BIM in the organization chart. We are moving BIM up.

We are using Infraworks a lot. I think many people are using Infraworks now, especially in the infrastructure business. In the earlier phase, we are using Infraworks to dynamically adjust the tracks to see which possibilities we have.

But with Infraworks, we have some tools that I don't think many people know about, at least don't use it as we do. Because we have bookmarks and we can tie the bookmarks together with our sessions so we can have focus areas and the session numbers in the bookmarks.

And when we send an invitation to the project team, we can just refer to the bookmarks in the model. And it helps the team to prepare. In our project, we are 150 people working, so that's a nice tool to just keep the focus.

And we have watermarks. We are using watermark to inform our team. So this one is saying this is group 1. This is [INAUDIBLE]. And here we are displaying things like the goals of the meetings. And we also have a thing in the lower right corner, and that's how the teams are supposed to use the design feed in Infraworks.

So with the bookmark and the watermark, we are able to spread information to the whole team. And it's easier for them to know what's happening in the project. The design feed. We're using it a lot. And before every iSession, we will have the team to prepare. And they will write their comments, their concerns, or something in the design feed. And we will go through the design feed in the meeting and export it to Excel.

And then we have documentation. And we will also be able to assign tasks to different people. And that's since we're using a defined structure, which is special letters and symbols you're supposed to use, it's easy to get it out of Excel.

One thing we're doing to spread information is that we have a status on objects. This is a rail. And we will have OKed the name. This is [INAUDIBLE] and the date. And we can have a right status. Why or when did the last update happen? And if you want to tell the project team anything else, we can just type it there. And you can also type all this information inside the Excel spreadsheet and import the model.

So that was just quick things about the information flow in the projects. I'm going to move on to the game technology. I think that's the most exciting part here.

I'm going to start for a bit about the beginning. How we started. We had two questions. What are able to deliver with use of new technology? And are able to make a better design using new technology? That's the two questions everything started with.

And we were just saying, OK, we want to use game technology, but we didn't know how, or why, and how do we use it. We wanted to challenge the status quo. We wanted to do different things. And the sentence that we hear a lot is, we've always done it this way. So we wanted to like, OK, we have to try something else.

So we went through our clients and we asked, if we could spend some time exploring opportunities with game technology, and we are. And they said, of course we can do that. And we can have 30 hours to do that.

So we spent 150 hours. This is the connecting tunnel between a new and existing tunnel. So we made that in the Unreal engine. And just had the why not? Why shouldn't we be able to open this? Why shouldn't we be able to switch off the lights? So we just played with thoughts and the possibilities. We added the map. And we showed this to our clients.

And when we're doing this, their minds started to grind. They think the models were nice, but they were asking maybe we can use this to check the site isn't sustainable and we can use the technology to do something else. So we just made a budget. And we made a game.

And the thing is, when we have new things and we're showing it to clients, it's always good to just add this. But is it possible to come to the light? Flash? Could you add this? Could you add this? So it's just a process going and going.

So we started a year ago and we were done now a month ago. So it was the detail. In the end, it was just so many details.

So the opportunity is now [INAUDIBLE]. And again, just keep in mind the two questions.

So this is something we are trying to or are exploring at the moment. Just read through. I'm not going to cover everything today.

Obviously some of them, like illustrations, it's quite easy. But the reason why we're doing this is not because we get nice illustrations or something, but that's a bonus. But the bonus is good because this is a new track. And this is 22 kilometers. Everything inside the model. And it works really simply. So this is something we can now send to the train drivers and they can have a look before this is open next year. And the virtual quality, it's just amazing.

So the thing is, it's all about we try to identify problems and tasks we normally haven't been able to solve. So that's the reason why we're doing this. We extended the use of the models and we're trying to make a better design by identifying the problems and tasks we can't solve today.

And it's trendy these days. Everyone is trying to be recognized. We'd like the digitalization, innovation, BIM, and all these buzzwords. So it's the right time to do this because now we get budget and we get funding from our clients to do these things.

And I saw something on YouTube. I think this is inspiring. They're saying that we are always thinking from the outside in like this. So we have what, how, and why. What are we making? OK, we can say we are making a video. And how? Game technology. And why are we doing this? Because the client asks. So that's the normal way we're thinking.

But the thing we are doing now is we're trying to turn things around. So we are saying that we are challenging the status quo. We are trying to be innovative. We are trying to make a better product, a better design. And that's the why.

And how we're doing that? Now, in this case, it's because we're trying to use the game technology to [INAUDIBLE] our why. And what we're making? That's kind of random. In this case, it's a video.

But the thing is when our client now thinks about us, they are thinking about us as an innovative company, so they want to buy our why. And it happens sometimes that they need a video, so they would come to us. So just try to turn things around a bit.

So we have the game technology and we're using it in several projects. This is our earlier phase or a preliminary phase. We have our Infraworks model to the left. And it's a station. And when we're trying to present this to the public, and to the authorities, and the governments, it's better to use a model than a drawing. But still, it's not always that easy to present the idea behind the concept.

We are normally making out photomontages to present the new stations or whatever together in the real world. But with the game technology now, we have just created a dynamic photomontage. And by using this now for communication and public hearings, it's a powerful tool.

And our clients, [INAUDIBLE] Rail Administration, they have a goal to be able to include the young generation in the public hearings. Because now when we have public hearings, we only get feedback from people like 50, 60 or plus. And as we are seeing now, this is the way. This is the solution to how we should be able to include the younger generation in Norway. By using games we can present this at schools. So just presenting something at their level.

And as I said, just to be able now to present the concepts behind a station. We were just adding some people walking, some cars driving around. So people really understand the design that they see. Because when you're adding a station, we block a lot of roads and we have to make something new. But now we can just show things and they can try to walk the new roads and they can try to drive if they want.

And it's also the neighbors. A lot of people are affected by infrastructure project, especially in the cities. So we are now just using the cheap VR, the card boards, and QR codes, and just exporting the 360 renders.

So this is the view from a guy's house. This is from his window. So he will have this new rail bridge really, really close. So of course, he's interested in knowing how this will be when it's completed. So this is just a way to be able to inform people, inform the neighbors, inform the affected people.

And this is just a screenshot from my computer. You see the red and white dots. When you have a cardboard and you look into them, you will jump through so you can jump to next spot. And the screen you're seeing it's just when you look behind you, you will see the screen, so you can just jump around.

So our client can use this to present the project using just cardboard. So it's a bit hard to show here. So sorry for that. But it's the concept. So it's just a lot of opportunities. Just present things with cheap VR as well.

So here is our game. And you have two possibilities. You can either drive a train or be a drone. And we have some settings. That demo mode. In this setting, you can just lower the quality or something if you have a cheap computer.

So when you enter the train mode, we have find train path. That this is defined by the signal and rail switches. So we can just choose whatever we want.

And then you enter a train. So this is our laser scanned cockpit. So this is now just moving with your mouse. So we can using some keyboard. And again, have a view without the cockpit. And using all the arrows, you're driving. So this model has been used now to approve the signaling system.

So now we are driving out from the station called Burgin. And you can see now in front here now, this is the name of the next signal we're coming to. Pop up in the lower left corner. And you can pause. And you can zoom. So is the train driver able to misunderstanding something? That's the things we are going to try to figure out now in this before we build this. So this is 150 meter until the signal.

But there can also be a drone, and that's just a bonus thing here in this model. And we added some different location you can start in. And with the keyboard you can just drive around.

So I said something about just keep adding details. So this is one example. So you can see now, you see a dwarf signal. And the client asks, are we able to make the signal to flash? Of course we are. Of course that's possible.

And this is just a menu. Of course, we added some other functionality as well. So this is the schematic drawing. When we had our meetings with the signaling people, we often had to have a drawing as well. So we had to use drawing and then look in the model. So we just thought that, OK, why not include the drawing inside the model instead? So we did that.

So here you can just jump around. And it's really nice for the client to just take screenshots to illustrate things. So this is the other station.

So this is our solutions. Our solution to approve the signaling system. But then we can also push things further. So we just made our own train simulator.

And this is the thing about the VR. We are thinking that VR is cool, but we should be able to interact with things. So that's why we're trying to just to be able to interact and get information from the model. And we are also thinking about involving all of the maintenance so they should be able to check if they are able to do their maintenance.

And it's about [INAUDIBLE]. I think we have a lot of opportunities here to try to test out the sign in the design space.

So now we just have seen some things. The train illustrations, communication needs, simulations. And the thing about the young generation, I think that's quite interesting thing. This technology will allow us to do that in a better way.

And the other things. This is things we're looking into now. I think that's a huge potential. Not in the infrastructure industry, but this is something for all the industries.

Extend the use of our models and create new problems. I like to say problems, but it's more about identifying things we haven't been able to do before. And we are now creating new products to solve this. And we will have a happy client and then we are happy as well.

And the opportunities we have. It's just a lot. But we must focus on the usefulness and the customer value. VR and AR mixed throughout everything. It's just really fun. But it's not the solution for everything. It's something we have to balance. We have to balance the cool things and the useful things.

So that's what we are trying to do. We are making things our client can just run with a computer. They don't need to buy expensive VR things or have Alienware to open a model. But we need to have VR things as well. So it's just a balance between things.

So just to try to summarize a bit. Covered a bit about the collaboration and information flow. The virtual design and construction and the ICE sessions. Just a bit about the BIM focus in organizations. We need to lift BIM up in an organization and use BIM as a tool, not only as a model. And we something with Infraworks tools we have in Infraworks and how we are using design feed.

Game technology. It's just about how we can extend the use of our models. We spend so much time now detailing and making our 3D models. And the other thing we are doing is to deliver them to our contractor and they will build it. So we can have more use out of the models and make a better design.

And the last thing is I think everything is possible. We just have to use our imagination. Because technology is there. We just have to figure out how we can use it. So I'm going to just show the movie that we just got translated into English.

So the thing is, since I had a learning objective about innovation, we just had a presentation in Norway for the young generation. We were trying to say what do we think the future will be. And we made this. And our conclusion is, if we want to see into the future and try to figure out how the future will be, we should look to our kids and see what they are doing. That will be the future. How they are adopting technology. How they're using technology.

So that's the conclusion. Look to our children and then they will have the answer. So that's the end. So if anyone had any questions. I'm going to just show a bit live from the model as well. Just to show how things are. Just a [INAUDIBLE] power up like that.

So this is drone. Just fly around. And you can just add trains driving or sounds and everything. So again about the details. Are never done with the details. We have some dwarf singles everywhere. And to be able to check if we are able to see the dwarf signals, you just add the button here.

So this is putting us in the height of a driver. And we have this virtual wall, 150 meters, in front of us. So now we have a feeling of the distance. Because to the main signals, we covered the main signals through the train driving. But the dwarf signals, it's harder to cover.

And we also added this. This is just since we are constructing this in different phases. You can just toggle this and it will display the different signals.

So here's the drawing. So this is just a normal drawing. Just [INAUDIBLE] in the model. And we have the old drawing here. So this is kind of cool to just add drawings inside the game.

[INAUDIBLE] show you. This is the train. And we can start right here. So you can have different views. Look around. And then you drive.

We can switch off the lights and everything. And by clicking you can-- I think we have 40, 60, 80, 130 kilometers per hour. But this is the way we approved the signaling system. By driving through this like this. And we have [INAUDIBLE]. And we are able to assume and check if they can see the signal.

So this is now-- now we're driving through the existing tunnel. So this is just laser scans. So we can see the [INAUDIBLE]. But this is just laser scans [INAUDIBLE].

We also added a functionality. I can show that later. But we also add the comment tool. After we logged in, then you can add comments inside the model. And you can reach them through a browser as well. So that has been a nice way to communicate during the game.

So if we just see and look in here. And we can now turn on the drains. so This is to be able to check from the platforms because you have like this. And we have signals here as well. So if the trains are-- trains will make it that you now have sight to something.

So this is just examples of what we're able to do. And everything is just because it solves something. And you just have to show this and start a conversation with your client or the user of the model. And you have to figure out what they need. And you have to present new ways. And you have to convince them that everything is possible. Because if you don't say that, they will just ask for the same old drawings as they always had before. So it's about trying to convince our client that now everything's possible.

Everyone have any questions? Yeah.

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]

Yeah, we have one from a game company. And we're also using some other companies. So we are buying some services as well. So it's a combination.

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: No, that's not modeled. Not inside. The manholes, that's modeled. But inside the cabinets that's just pictures.

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: Yeah, it could be. Yeah, it's possible. It could be.

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: Yeah, this is [INAUDIBLE], yeah.

AUDIENCE: Where did you get the trains from?

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: This train is bought from, I think, it's Schneider.

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: Yeah, we bought it from the ones that are creating the trains. They have their train models, so we can buy them. It's like $100 or something. Or maybe more. I don't remember. But we bought the model. And then we just added this is [INAUDIBLE] logo and everything. So we just added that. But the model was bought. And then the same goes with the signaling and a lot of things are from just bought models.

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: The thing is the first project, this project, we used a lot of time. But we used a lot of time just getting the framework and everything going. All the programming, and the blueprints, and everything. Let me open the model. Because we now made the 22 kilometers in another model, and it was like one fifth of the time. Because now we're just swapping models. And all the programming, all the framework, or everything else is just the same. So if you open like this.

So this is just another project again. So is this as much as 22 kilometers. The other is I think it's like 9 or something. So this is bigger. But as I said, we spent one fifth of the time doing this. So I think by just having a framework we know and optimization of models and everything, that's something we can do automatic now.

So we just have to figure out a lot of our software. We can do things different ways and we have never thought about using the game engine before. So now when we think about it, we can just do things slightly different from the start, and it will run smoothly. So just small adjustments in our older softwares and we will have this up and running. And not that much time

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]

No, this is under construction, this project. And the other projects, as I showed in the presentation, that's a preliminary plan. So I think it might be like 10 years if it will be built. And then we just export FBX from Infraworks. Then we have pictures and everything will be embedded inside them all. So then we just export, import into Unreal, and we add cars moving and maybe some birds flying just to make things even more real.

So we are using this now from the early phase to the construction phase. We see benefits and usefulness everywhere actually.

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: Yeah. In Infraworks we are in the earlier phase. We are just importing alignments. And we have styles. We're making bridges, and towers and, everything. So that's something that's done in one minute because Infraworks is doing it for us. And then we might just sketch things. Sketch some roads some things. And then just export everything inside Unreal.

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: We have our models and we're delivering the models to the contractor. So we just use exactly the same models as we delivered to the contractor. We're using in Unreal. So in this project, it's the DWG. So everything works. Plain DWG.

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: So we are using microstation, [INAUDIBLE], Revit everything. But as I said, it's about just making small adjustments in the way we are using the tools. And then we are able to just import, export whatever to Unreal engine. And then sometimes we have to go in 3D Studio Max to do something.

But the thing is, just when you think about how we should be able to-- what we think about Unreal when we're designing things in other softwares, the import and export will run smoothly.

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: Yeah. If I understand your question, now since we have set this framework and it's not that much work to just swap models, so we can now use Unreal as a decision tool as well. And if something updated or something, we just swap the models.

As we did with the other model to approve the signaling system, we had a lot a lot of adjustments to be able to get the final signaling system approved. So then we just swapped the models. If we had to move a signal, we just swapped it in Unreal.

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]

THOMAS ANGELTVEIT: Yeah, yeah. And that's actually why we invented the comment tool in Unreal as well. So when we had feedback from our clients or we had a meeting and they are saying, OK, this signal has to be moved because something, we'd just write it down inside the model. And then we have that available in the browser as well. So then we can just send it to the team. And the signaling guy will move the signal. And then it will type back that OK, it's moved. And then we will update it in Unreal.

So just about invent or try to make functionality that we need. So our plan now as we are using this in early phase is to use that type of comment tool in public hearings so we can present in a school or something, and they will be able to try to design with some VR and stuff, and they can also type comments and feedback in the email so they can get the answers.