EE-News
News and announcements from EE PublishersIssue 275, September 2014
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Technology: Data visualisation
3D modelling - seeing the full picture

With the general public being exposed to 3D imagery on an ever increasing scale, it is not surprising that this has now become the standard for representing engineering data.


With the imagery, simply being a representation of data stored within a formal database, extended use of this data has dramatically increased. The power to capture, represent and then analyse this data on an ad hoc basis is rapidly cementing the 3D model as the preferred workflow norm. The image shown of a petrochemical plant (see Fig. 1) is typically how a contracting company will present a proposed design of a new plant to their client.
Composite scanned model of the facility
A South African engineering company, has over the years kept abreast with the latest technological developments in hardware and software. The innovative engineering tools available e.g. laser scanning, intelligent 3D modelling and remarkable analysis software, allow powerful data manipulation and accurate representation tools, which support the execution of various engineering processes in the petrochemical and power generation industries. The products available, not only allow the capturing of geometric data and the display thereof in graphical formats with which the user is comfortable, but also usually supports the analysis of the data by means of various engineering software packages. The innovative, yet simplistic user operating procedures of these tools make them essential components in the modern day execution of as-built and new design projects.

Looking at the various stages in detail, capturing the data is where it all starts. Existing plants are laser scanned, and the scanned images (see Fig. 2), are then stitched together, a process known as registration. This results in a composite scanned model of the facility (see Fig. 3).

The data acquired in this manner (millions of points with specific 3D co-ordinate values), allows draftsmen using various data handling tools to create 3D objects superimposed over the data points... (more)

 

 
 
Industry announcement
Invitation: Data Centre Central
Exhibition, Networking and Conference

You are cordially invited to Data Centre Central, a new 1-day conference and exhibition for everyone involved in South African data centres.

DATE: Thursday 30 October 2014
TIME: 08h00 to 16h30
VENUE: Hyatt Regency Hotel, 191 Oxford Road, Rosebank, Johannesburg
COST: No cost, free-of-charge

Click here to register to attend 
Click here for a PDF brochure 
Click here for the seminar programme 
Click here to visit the event website 

Background

Data Centre Central has been developed by leading experts in South Africa. It specifically addresses the country's unique economic, engineering and regulatory imperatives. Data Centre Central combines an informative seminar programme with a dedicated exhibition.

Data Centre Central will update you on the latest trends impacting South Africa's mature infrastructure, as well as the hardware and software solutions which will be essential to its modernisation.

Data Centre Central addresses the unique aspects of the South African data centre landscape, from the cost and reliability of utility power to meteorological and location concerns, answering questions such as:
  • How will global mega-trends as well as new technologies and service demands impact upon its established and mature infrastructure?
  • How can companies navigate a complex and regulated market to solve its engineering and commercial challenges?
Data Centre Central fills the need for an independent exhibition and seminar event, and has the support of key manufacturers, consultants and service providers looking to collaborate and forge a closer working partnership with local data centre owner/operators and decision-makers.

Who Should Attend?

Major data centre decisions bring together an ecosystem of professionals to ensure the best solution and fastest ROI from invested capital. The programme for Data Centre Central reflects this reality and is designed to meet the needs of:
  • System integrators
  • Value-added resellers
  • Data centre managers and engineers
  • Financial managers
  • IT managers
  • Property and facility managers
  • Business leaders, CEOs, CFOs and CIOs
Programme

The seminar programme is divided into four streams:
  • Stream 1: "Metrics and standards", by Lee Smith, Dee Smith & Associates
  • Stream 2: "New technologies driving infrastructure", Baxolile Mabinya, Dimension Data
  • Stream 3: "Global megatrends", by Gareth Mellon, Frost & Sullivan
  • Stream 4: "South Africa's power base", by Trevor Naiker, Eskom

Further information

For further information, contact Jacqui Gradwell, 
Tel: +27 83 268-0442, Email: [email protected]

 
 
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