Harnessing the power of platform through BIM and GIS

JEREMY MOLS: Hello, and welcome everybody to this Autodesk University '22 class about harnessing the power of platforms through BIM and GIS. This class is presented today by Lionel Fabre, director at Egis, and myself, Jeremy Mols, Civil engineer and BIM manager, also at Egis. Unfortunately, Arnold Ledan cannot be here with us today.

So the learning goals that we'll focus on today are the following. The use of GeoBIM to organize and link GIS and BIM content on a single platform. The process to create a GeoBIM application for visualization and issues. To understand the concept of BIM and GIS combination on a web application. And finally, the analysis then can be done using GIS on spatial data from BIM.

So this class will begin by introducing to you the company Egis then the team involved in this class. And finally, we'll cover the main concepts behind GIS and BIM combination. So the project where this combination process was used, and a conclusion about the future of BIM and GIS.

So the team involved in this class is composed of Arnold Ledan. He's BIM Manager and responsible for the strategy, development, and adaptation of BIM and engineering software at Egis. And he's located in Limoges, France. Then Lionel Fabre is the Director of the Digital Engineering in Egis. And he's ensuring the consistency of the digital strategy in the group. He's located in Paris, France.

And finally, myself, Jeremy Mols. I am a BIM Manager and Civil Engineer in charge of improving the general skills in BIM and 3D modeling at Egis. And I'm also Egis Ambassador in North America for Twin and Digital Services to Operators. And I'm located in Montreal, Canada.

So I will let Lionel talk to you about our company and our vision.

LIONEL FABRE: Hello, everyone. So I'm going to start by using a definition of Egis done by an Egis employee, [INAUDIBLE], that I find perfect to define Egis. So we are human and responsible. And I think that's how we can be an engineering company in a sustainable growth with a sustainable path and with the ambitions that we have of the markets that we are reaching to.

We are going towards very mature markets. And that require to be 1,000% responsible. But beyond anything, to care about who works for us. So saying that, basically we are an engineering company which are active in constructing, construction, and mobility sector.

So our activities cover many different subject, such as sustainable cities, transport, water, and energy, and go through different fields and activities, such as our environment, mobility, complex structures, and digital engineering.

So basically, we develop our project through the entire lifecycle of the engineering project, so from the consulting to design and operations. So above that, we provide digital services for serving the population.

So we have some numbers, which demonstrate our strength. So as a group, which is based in France, last year we had a turnover of more than one billion euros. And although we are based in France, we are more than 62% of the activities are international. So we are positioned as the number one engineering company in France, the 10th in Europe. And we are more than 10,000 employees worldwide.

So with this slide, this slide illustrates our global reach. So as a people-first company, we understand that solution the global challenges that we face today, such as the climate emergency must also be global. So with our different offices all around the globe, we can work locally on those changes. And this is really important for us.

So we also have a project called Impact the Future, which is the group's new strategy. So this strategy is based on 10 main priorities which basically refers to bringing intelligence and digital alternatives in order to provide low carbon solutions.

So the objective is not to go too deep into this all priorities. But the global message is how we can positively influence the climate change by designing better projects.

And finally, within the group we have a digital strategy. I think it's the same in the different company. The plan is to make Egis a major player in digital engineering. So this plan started some years ago. And we have started evaluating the level of maturity of our solution with a specific focus on GIS and BIM solutions.

So during this journey that you can see in the slide, we won different awards for our commitments in the organization IFCBCF and for example. And for us, this is really in the [INAUDIBLE] of our DNA. So thank you. And now I hand over to Jeremy for the technical presentation.

JEREMY MOLS: Thank you, Lionel. So now that you have a better idea of our company vision, let's talk about the main concepts between BIM and GIS combination. So the first idea is that GIS provide information about the context, and BIM provide information about the content.

So the goal is to have a combination of these two fields in the same work in process where the GIS will fuel the BIM about it context and environment and the BIM will fuel the GIS about the details and data of the content of the project. So each field will grow stronger using the other one assets, a shared optimization for clever and more efficient project.

At the center of this process, you can see that there is a shared database that is held by the GIS and aims to be the common ground of all the data of the project. So this GIS database will combine information from various sources. It could be the collect of data from existing sources or the creation of new one, like on-site application or GIS software, the design of modeling with files in IFC format or DWG, for example.

Then there is a process of operating the data and having a spatial analysis. So this step is where the data talk. And we transform it into information for the project. So we'll put it in each environment with measures and relationship between them.

So the strengths of the GIS in this process is to capitalize on the power of this data due to the GIS spatial analysis and visualizing tool. So now, related to the BIM elements we can get all the power of this to facilitate the decision-making and the efficiency of the project by merging various sources into one database. And finally, thanks to its web services, it's a great communication tool to share knowledge on the project and with stakeholders.

So to finish with the concept, this iceberg represent the rendering and what we see in gray. So with the rendering, we have our dashboards and key point indicators, the reporting plans, everything that we can see. And in yellow, we have all of the methods behind it.

So we have, of course, our database that we talk about with the modeling and real time data. But we also have collaborative process with web portals and access and right management, the operating process of the data exchange and deliverable, and finally the skills with training and support to users. So all of these are necessary to produce the rendering.

So now that we've covered some main concepts, we can move on to the project. So the project where these concepts were applied is the Candaba Viaduct. To give you some context elements, Egis is operating this infrastructure and the highway of 100 kilometers since 20 years and until 2030.

So the Candaba Viaduct is a 5.3 kilometers-long bridge built in 1973. And the bridge serves as the main artery that connects the province in the Philippines through the Candaba Wetlands. So it has withstood severe storms and earthquake due to its location.

And we are noticing an early aging of the bridge and a lot of precarious residents are living under the bridge. So there's also a human risk at stake. So there's been a lot of studies and diagnostic of the bridge. And the client was lost with so many datas and information. He was in desperate need of an aggregator.

So Egis decided to offer a solution to facilitate the diagnostic of the pathology with an internal tool accessible for everyone at any time to gather all the pathology and visualize it through 3D and indicators. It has been called a digital twin because it combines the existing 3D with retro BIM and some real-time information uploaded from the field by operators with the goal to integrate predictive maintenance.

So the problematic that we are trying to solve here is the following. How can we monitor all of our data in a unique system that could be shared, regularly updated by different teams, and used to carry out detailed analysis.

So to answer this problematic, here is the application we developed. So it could identify the pathology in the field via an application on mobile, could visualize the result in a 3D Web GIS accessible with an internet navigator, could have reports as dynamic dashboards, and finally, access to all assets on a single unsecured platform.

So let's watch a short video of this project.

So in this video, you can see the platform used to gather all the data collected from the bridge site and accessible on one platform with element definition. On the first page, you can visualize the full project with the symbology and access attribute tables from elements by clicking on them on the map.

The second page is the 3D model created with the use of point clouds. It was modeled after the real existing viaduct. So the colors of objects means their state in the database. The state is in direct relationship with information collected on site with the mobile app.

So this process of coloring 3D objects is automatic and is the result of a lot of analysis work and automatism in the database. And you can see the result of all inspection and points of pathology inspected, for example.

And finally, the last page will be about indicators and dashboards used to provide the project operator a full overview of what's going on its bridge. So with various function in terms of short-term repair or short-term action.

And the data is still stored in the database and fueled with data collected from tools or external devices. So we can filter by on-site operators and see exactly where the operator did his inspection. The on-site operator is filling a form with a list system and cardinality criteria to reinforce the analysis of his results. So we can display his pictures of an event and the statistic of parts of the bridge in need of repair.

So now that you've seen the final product and the tip of the iceberg, how does it really work? So this slide shows you all the different products that were used. So on the Autodesk side, we have Revit as the desktop software and ACC for the servers. On Esri side we used ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online and Enterprise with some different application like dashboards or field maps.

So now for the concept. We connected our Revit model stored in ACC to ArcGIS Pro, and then into the database where each of the objects is physically written. Then it is published to the web with web scene-- with thin layers, and into map with web scene. And the feature layer contains all the data collected from site. And finally, we have the different application, like the dashboard and survey that you've seen.

So here is an insight of what's going on inside a database and its conceptual model. So we have an extract on the slide within yellow the geometry tables from Revit and other 3D object. And you can see on the right side the color of the centroid, for example, that we created for the 2D views. And in blue, you have all the attributes table, IDs, list for applications and rule.

And the language we used to do all these measures and automation and rules in the database is the Esri Arcade Expression. It was written in ArcGIS pro. So when we published it, the script can be used offline for survey purposes, for example, and mobile app.

So you may wonder, what about GeoBIM in this process? While all the previous projects and concept were done before GeoBIM was released, so how can GeoBIM be integrated in this?

Well, first of all, some definition. GeoBIM is partnering to bring together the BIM and the GIS on a single platform. It is born from the collaboration of Autodesk and Esri, and it's available since a few months.

With my colleagues at Egis, we had the opportunity to try it out and giving you our feedback. And since it's quite new, there's not a lot of feedback from companies themselves and user. It's mostly resources from either Autodesk or Esri at the moment. So we thought it could be useful to have some user reviews.

So this slide shows you the process of the data exchange and connectors before GeoBIM. So we could still connect both solutions through cloud connectors. But there was no direct link between both ArcGIS online and ACC. And now, with GeoBIM, there's this new platform in between those cloud that can provide both data sets and documents and tools on the same user interface.

So the following slides of this class will give you a feedback from using GeoBIM in the last few weeks and setting projects. We will give you the main practical steps to set up an application for yourself from our experience. And we'll get you through our understanding of GeoBIM. And we conclude by telling you about the future of GeoBIM for us in its actual states.

So let's watch a short clip of GeoBIM. So in this short demo, you can see what a dashboard application in GeoBIM looks like. So you have the viewer at the center with the 3D models and data layers. And on the left, you have the dashboard with issues. So the issue display their status. Is it open? Is it closed? Is it a clash? Is it a concept design problem, et cetera?

And now, you can see that when you select an object in your viewer, you can open your ACC, so Autodesk Construction Cloud viewer with the file that is linked to it. So it can be either a Revit model, an image, or any other file that can be read with ACC. And you have access to all the functionalities of ACC viewer like measures in 2D drawings, for example.

So here you can see the measures on your drawing. And you can also create issues in GeoBIM. So you can see on the screen there creating some issues with a lot of different information, like the status, who is it assigned to, et cetera.

And what's really interesting about it is that it can be synchronized to ACC and modified there. So it's really a full circle collaboration. So you see there that I've created my issue. I will then go to my ACC project. I will synchronize it. And you can see that the issue number four will appear. And I can open it and do some modification and then synchronize it again to GeoBIM.

So now that you've seen what it looks like, let's start our job process with the prerequisite. So since GeoBIM is the bridge between two worlds, Autodesk and Esri, you need various success on both sides.

So on the left, let's start with Autodesk. You need access to ACC or BIM 360. So you've seen the demo done with ACC. And in your ACC folder, you'll need, of course, some files to work with. So let's say a Revit model. But it can also be images, PDF, technical notes, any documents that can be read by the viewer.

And finally, it is optional. But you've seen that we could get issues. So we could access issues that were created in ACC to GeoBIM. Then on the right side for Esri you need access to ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS online, and also to GeoBIM app, of course.

But it's important to know that it doesn't need to be the same person that has access to all these platforms. The work can be shared between the GIS expert and the BIM manager, for example, and it can be shared later for full collaboration.

So now we need to prepare the web scene in ArcGIS Pro. So we connect our ACC that contains the Revit file to ArcGIS Pro. And in ArcGIS Pro, we set the spatial reference and the parameter called shared view URL is created.

That's really important. That is the parameter that will link our object to the model in ACC. And finally, we publish it to a web scene that we will later access in GeoBIM. And you can see in this process that a prj file is also created. We'll talk about it in a few minutes.

So here you can see what it looks like in ArcGIS Pro. So the model is loaded in it. And I have a blue line. It's the URL, the shared view URL that links directly to my model in ACC.

So now let's move on to the data preparation on Autodesk side. So the key element here is the georeferencing of our model. Since Esri is the science software, this is probably the most important step. So there are various methods with Geo reference and Revit model that are described in the GeoBIM documentation. So you have the link on this slide.

But we've decided to use the ArcGIS pro with the prj file method. So we connected ACC to ArcGIS Pro. We imported the rate model. We set the spatial reference, as I've said before. And then we generated the prj file that is stored in ACC. So you have an extract of this file at the bottom of the page.

And this file is used to define the WGS 84 and the UTM zone, so the world global system coordinates. Because we have some trouble to locate the Revit file only using the Revit internal location. So this is the method that gave us the best overall result. And that's the one we would recommend.

But if you have multiple models in your ACC folder, in the same special system, you can also name the prj file Esri_cad.prj. So it will be applied to all the models in this folder.

So now that, let's say, data is prepared, we can enter the GeoBIM platform and explore its tool. So the first one is used to load and locate the documents from your ACC and the issues. So in the green rectangle at the bottom of the screen, you have a few examples of PRG coordinate system using the WGS 1984 from the PNG file.

But other spatial reference in the red triangle are from Revit models that are not in relationship with the PRG file. So they're without global references. And meaning they appear at the wrong location.

But after checking if the project is on the right position, we can start to link our web scene to our ACC files. So we select the web scene that we prepared previously and that was published and shared with us by the GIS expert.

Then we can manually link each entities on the web scene to a file from ACC, like images or Revit files that you can see on the right.

But this process may seem a little time consuming. So you can create rules to automate it. So the web scene that you created previously contain a parameter called shared view URL. And it's directing directly to your ACC file loaded in ArcGIS Pro.

So GeoBIM is using ACC, API, to automatically link items in your web scene to items in your ICC server through their unique IDs. So it means that when you select an object in your GeoBIM web scene. And you want to preview it in your ACC viewer on a GeoBIM still, it instantly load on this specific item selected. And you can access all of its properties from your initial Revit model.

So once your models are linked together, you can enter the final phase of this process and create an application that can be shared. So at the moment, you have two options. You can create a viewer that can combine ArcGIS Pro web scene and ACC on the same page. And it will provide different level of information with the context for the GIS and the design details for the BIM with information.

Or you can create a dashboard application that is issues-oriented and provide indicators about them. All of the issues from ACC are synchronized in GeoBIM. And you can also create issues in GeoBIM on the web scene and synchronize them to ACC as you've seen in the demo. So it's really a full collaboration between this platform.

But about issues, it's really an efficient way to collaborate. But it was noting that the process is currently still in beta. So we've noticed some problems when synchronizing issues that appeared on the wrong location.

So that may be due to our Revit models and the system or some other issue. We've exchanged with the GeoBIM developer team. And they told us that this subject is a top priority. So it might already be solved when you watch this class.

So that's it for the various tools that GeoBIM has to offer at the moment. And to sum up what we've said, the platform is easy to implement for any BIM manager or engineer. And it requires a GIS expert to set an interesting web scene with insightful data. The automatic link rules is well designed and offers an easy access to ACC files. And the collaboration through issues is a great tool to have.

But the dashboard are not customizable at the moment. And there are still some improvements to do with the issue's location. But overall it's really positive and we could definitely see us using it on our upcoming project. And especially during earlier phase during the design process due to its great collaboration tool between teams.

So let's conclude and have a few words about the future. To conclude this presentation about harnessing the power of platform through BIM and GIS, we tried the third version of BIM available. And in our opinion, it looks really promising for the future. In its current state, it's already usable for projects.

Some beta tools are currently being corrected or upgraded. The interface of the platform is very user-friendly and easy to configure for anyone on the project. GeoBIM itself doesn't require any particular knowledge on Esri tools and GIS. But it requires a GIS expert to configure a web scene in the first place on ArcGIS Pro.

And for the future, we are hopeful that this partnership between Autodesk and Esri will lead to an even stronger relationship between both for all. And each field will grow stronger using the other one's strength.

So for the long-term, we trust GeoBIM to integrate more tools in its platform like customizable dashboards, or mobile tools from Esri, like field maps, or survey, to have a variety of different use cases.

And the last slide to give you some keys to make sense of the data for the BIM team where we have an important part to play in its definition and quality to obtain a structured data source for the GIS that can lead to the valuation of information.

And as a conclusion, we think it can be made easier by using this platform and the combination of BIM and GIS. So thank you all for your attention and have a nice day.