Common Data Environment for Heritage

Posted by:

Sagal Rooble

Having a common data environment for the historical data is important when approaching HBIM project.  When we started the project there was missing areas that needed filling up with information

We created online account and made sure everyone posted anything relating to Springfield.  The most difficult part of the process was finding the information we had spent weeks speaking with architects, libraries around the west midlands and we had the first year Architecture students helps us also find information. Creating the common data environment was a useful tool to have as it helped me put together the missing parts. Having my class mate’s work on building adjacent to mine I would always find snippets of my building. This was crucial for me as everyone angle I needed some images to verify my building.

I would recommend for the future of heritage BIM projects to create a workflow which supports anyone who is working on a heritage BIM project as a step by step guide, as we didn’t have one and we found ways that we could go about it for the next heritage project I work on.  

 Post by Mike Loleke

Our recent meeting with the Springfield Brewery workers has been a blessing towards the first stage of our Heritage BIM (HBIM) urban modelling project. The site visit along with the brewery workers did not only allow the previous employees to reminisce but for us to also visually appreciate and envision their experiences.

They were able to specifically guide us regarding the functionality of the brewery.

Their insight played an effective role towards modelling the brewery back to its historic former glory.

For example, before our collaborative support, I recently blogged concerning an unknown building structure in Block B. Having met with the group of the brewery employees, it was pointed out that the building located at the corner in block B (which I was querying about) used to be an engineering workshop before its demolition.

Development of Engineering workshop model

The collaborative experience did not only end there. Few employees of the brewery were gracious enough to provide us with few photos captured in the times of their employment along with dates and functionalities processes. This enhanced our knowledge and understanding towards completing our stage 1 HBIM project.

Here are few examples of images that supported the first stage of the Springfield Brewery HBIM modelling process.

The reconstruction of Springfield Brewery - Block G

Posted by:

Sagal Rooble

Reconstructing Springfield in Revit wasn’t an easy process, working on block G I found myself looking at plans and elevations for guidance and support for the missing areas of the 3D model. Looking at pictures and scanning data had helped me some to some extent however still didn’t fill in the missing gaps that I really needed some guidance with.

Lucky a site visit with the pensioners was organised as part of the university engagement and I had the opportunity to meet some of the ex-employees of Springfield brewery. We walked around the site and shared some amazing memories information with me regarding a particular plot I was remodeling Block G.

Looking through some of the information I hard searched online wasn’t enough to help me fill in the missing sections of the building. Having looked at the scanning data that had been conducted previously I feel as it helped me model what is existing however the areas that I needed the most I had to look for in pictures and plans. 

I started modelling from this basic preliminary model for guidance which was created using scanning data, point cloud data. I believe from my experience point cloud data is very useful as it gives the designer a good place to start. Having the preliminary model was a good starting point and having the point cloud was a good tool to have to validate the model for me. I had learnt how to use the point cloud information and use a validation tool and going on site had helped me understand the model even more.

This section of model was difficult to construction as the pictures weren’t verifying what it used to be.

This aerial view was sent to me my Chris Smith who worked on Springfield many years ago I had met Chris on site when we all went to visit Springfield, I had shown her the 3d virtual model on my laptop and made her aware of the difficulties I was having modelling Springfield. We had exchanged information and she had found some amazing snaps of the site back in 1924 which had helped me model the rest of block G

Some of the difficulties I went through was modelling the right side of block G. These imagines was found my colleague Stas which then helped me model the rest of the block G.

 This snap was sent to Mike by one of the ex-employees of Springfield who had helped us with the photographs and project. 

Cambridge Street View

Overall the re-modelling of Springfield was a success having the planning drawings found by Katie Andrews had helped everyone put together the missing pieces and having architectural plans verify the missing elements within the building was a good starting point. 

Planning Drawings

Going on a site visit helped the re-modelling process too as it gave us the feel of what the site is and speaking with the pensioners had helped me fill in the gaps too. If the site visit wasn’t conducted then the pictures and additional information that had been given to us wouldn’t have been available to us to complete the model and this has made it really good experience that we have met up with the people who have the best knowledge of the site. 

Complete Block G Model