Infraworks Web Zoom Issues

Post by: Katie Andrews

Infraworks 360 allows you to upload your model to the internet, where it can be easily viewed from any browser. Whilst this worked in the initial stages of the project, as the model has become more complex, issues with zooming has become apparent.

Initially I thought it was the browser I was using but having tested Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge with the same results, I assumed this was not the source of the problem. To check that other people were having the same problem, Stas checked the model using Opera and Firefox, and still were not able to yield any results. He also found that the pins to which I had linked photographs to didn’t open the links, but the 3D scenario did show.

I posted my issue to the Infraworks forum and the only solutions provided were to try a different browser, or to reupload the model. 

Having tried both again with no improvement, I looked to Youtube for assistance.

I watched an Autodesk webcast from 2015, named “Best Practices for InfraWorks 360 Web and Mobile Viewing”. Interestingly they mentioned that although the concept behind Infraworks was to allow people to easily create concept designs, they had many enquiries with people using Infraworks to visualise existing assets, much like our project.

They suggested trying the steps below to optimise your scenarios.

• Simplifying the models during import to reduce the complexity and detail shown, in turn reducing the file size. The video suggested changing to 10%, but too much detail was lost, so  I changed this to 50%.
• Reduce the number of 3D models. Unfortunately to create the true representation of the site, this number could not be reduced. Instead I trimmed the west of the model, to remove some of the railway tracks.
• Use simple 3D models, especially trees. The brewery buildings themselves all required Revit modelling, but the housing surrounding the site were all created using the ‘Building’ tool in Infraworks, and were given minimal detail, so this step was complete.
• Reduce site extents. As previously mentioned, I removed some of the railway tracks to the west of the site.

As I created the model using Infraworks’ Model Builder function, there were imported objects which I did not require, so I removed the remainder of these from the Data Sources too.

After trying all these and not getting any improvements, I had a response to my forum post from Karsten at Autodesk, who asked for me to share the model so that he could test the issue. Unfortunately, he encountered the same problem, and is currently looking into the issue. All is not lost however, with the scenario web viewer working (albeit rather clunkily) which allows the site to be viewed from the extents I have specified, but with minimal interactive features.

Boiler Buildings

Post by: Stas Steikunas

As part of the project I was allocated reconstruction of Boiler Buildings. Unfortunately both boiler buildings were damaged during the fire of 2005 and have been demolished in 2008.

Current state of the site with demolished boiler buildings (2017)

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While no information was available from the  3D Laser Scan of the site, carried out by Scantech International Ltd. model had to be created solely based on the available information in pictures and drawings. Information varied depending on the source, sometimes contradicting each other, especially regarding exact location in relation to other buildings and floor levels.

During research in preparation to modelling following information was located:

Boiler building no. 1 (building with clock on the roof, as shown in the picture below) has been built in 1920's  in Neo-Georgian Style1, matching existing brewery buildings, with exception of grey colour.

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Second boiler building built in 1953 was lower, made of steel frame and brick infills with corrugated sheet cladding, with large chimney built at the back, as shown in the drawings below.

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To recreate buildings with correct levels, heights and detail, Howl Associates Ltd. elevation drawings from 2005, have been used.

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By applying various measuring methods and comparing the results, 3D model of the buildings has been created in Autodesk Revit software and prepared for inclusion into main Infraworks 360 model, incorporating other brewery buildings and surrounding area.

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1 Pearson, L. (1999). British Breweries: An Architectural History. The Hamble Press London.

Springfield Brewery - Videos

We had the opportunity for the ex-employees Chris Smith and Jane, come and visit us at the University of Wolverhampton and explain to us in detail with photos about the internal and external views of the Springfield brewery. 

Recreating Block 'B'....

Post by: Joe Groves

My part of the project was to look at ‘Block B’ – as it was such a large section it was split between myself and another student. My remit was to look at the roofs, walls and windows – seeing how they could be remodelled back into their original state.

As you can see from the picture below, this section of the building suffered extensive fire damage. Therefore, when the building survey was carried out, none of the existing roofs are present.

 

This meant that when the survey was modelled from the point cloud data, it looked like the picture below.

Consequently, I gained a picture of what the roof structure and externals used to look like from the information gathered our group. Using the images found I was able to model the roof with relative accuracy by ‘tracing’ over the images within different views in Revit. This workflow can be seen in the images below.

Once the roofs were modelled, I continued to look at the windows. Most of the existing window opening remained, however some needed to be altered and a few removed all together.

Finally, as shown below, the model begins to resemble how it once stood. There are still a few sections that will require work however, before bringing all models together within Infraworks.

Site Visit - 04/05/17

Posted by Ailish Whittington

As part of the heritage and cultural investigations, the university arranged a site visit for the project members, inviting former employees of the brewery; the people at the heart of its community. The attendance of employees proved successful, with around 20 present. As we walked around the site, we learnt that many of the former employees were married or related and they confirmed that the brewery was a part of everyone’s life, people met there, families evolved and it was passed on over generations. One gentleman said that him and both his grandfather and father all worked at the brewery and confirmed that the entire staff force was enlisted on the basis of family relations or recommendations. This information indicates that the site was not just a working brewery but a social place; a community where people grew up and grew old in.

Also present was the last working managing director of the brewery who attended with his wife. He explained that his family had managed the brewery for as long as he could remember, including his grandfather and father. He was able to confirm a small extrusion to block B was the manager’s office, which was built elevated from the exterior of the building to allow for more light. This, along with other information given about the brewery, are valuable facts and data that can only be uncovered from these first hand sources. This first hand data highlights the importance of HBIM, as uncovering, collating and permanently recording this data will ensure that it does not diminish with each source. HBIM is a way to capture history and culture that would otherwise fade away over time.

The site visit also provided us with a first-hand visual of the site, highlighting information that was not entirely clear from the scan data and photos. There was some uncertainty surrounding the façade of Block C, particularly the placement of the windows and an area which had no external walls. However, once on site, it was easy to identify where previous windows were and it indicated that the area in question appeared to be a walk-through between the block from the railway to the courtyard. One of the employees explained that Block C was used to house the barrels and then further used to store machines and equipment. This highlights the versatility of the site and shows how it transformed and adapted overtime; again, information that would remain unknown without these first-hand sources.

 

All the information gathered from the site visit and meeting the former employees will aid the modelling of the site and all data, whether building or cultural, will play a significant role in enriching the HBIM and resulting in a visually accurate representation of the brewery.