A metaverse marathon promotes online diversity and inclusion
CategoriesSustainable News

A metaverse marathon promotes online diversity and inclusion

Spotted: Called the Degree Metathon, and billed as the world’s first marathon held in the metaverse, an online race has raised awareness of the need for digital inclusivity. Highlighting the potential of the metaverse to truly reflect the citizens of the world today, deodorant company Degree partnered with Decentraland to improve the range of avatars available and map a running route that worked for wheelchair users.

Held at the end of April 2022, the metathon was headlined by paralympic sprinter Blake Leeper and recording artist Fat Joe. The race was held in a Decentraland metaverse space, and participants had the option to choose from a range of adaptive wearables for their avatars, including running blades and a wheelchair, to more accurately emulate their true physical experience of taking part in a marathon.

The Metathon is part of Degree’s five-year Breaking Limits youth sports support programme, and the teams behind the Metathon plan to continue the work to increase the visibility of online diversity. Two goals are to expand the range of available avatars and provide additional accessibility options such as audio description.

From a platform that analyses the diversity of media content, to a zine for women surfers, innovators are working to create positive portrayals of minority groups in popular culture. The Metathon brings this cause into the emerging space of the metaverse.

Written by: Keely Khoury

Email: hello@decentraland.org

Website: degreedeodorant.com/us/metathon

Reference

“The Architecture of Motherhood”: A Guide to Success as an Architect and a Mom
CategoriesArchitecture

“The Architecture of Motherhood”: A Guide to Success as an Architect and a Mom

Send us a photo. Tell us a story. Win $2,500! Architizer’s 3rd Annual One Photo Challenge is underway with an Early Entry Deadline on May 27, 2022! Start your entry for architecture’s biggest photography competition here.

If you were to name the hardest occupations in the world, being an architect would undoubtedly be up there — but being a mother might the most challenging job of all! It is understandable, then, that the prospect of being both an architect and a mom simultaneously might feel like an insurmountable task. Juggling parental duties with professional responsibilities is undeniably daunting for many, no matter how great your support network may be.

Thankfully, it’s possible not only to cope with this challenge, but to thrive — and Gloria Kloter is here to tell us how. Now available for pre-order, her book The Architecture of Motherhood: Your Blueprint to Glow as a Business Woman and Mom details a multitude of ways in which women can be both a top professional and a stellar mother, without the need for compromise.

Gloria Kloter is the founder and CEO of Glow Architects, a successful architecture and interior design firm based in Florida. She has been working in the architecture field since 2004 and is an inspirational keynote speaker advocating for subjects like leadership, women in architecture, foreign architects, and motherhood. She’s a multi-award-winning architect who has been featured in major publications, news, and architecture magazines in the United States, the Dominican Republic, and worldwide.

In her preface, Kloter highlights a key disparity in numbers: “In its 2020 annual report, the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) revealed that 50% of the 26,977 students enrolled in NAAB-accredited architecture programs – B. Arch, M. Arch, and D. Arch– were female. This is a number that has been improving since the 1970s, yet the percentage of women who obtained their architect license, achieve upper management positions, become partners and own architectural firms have not increased at the same rate as men have. To date, data from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) 2021 NCARB by the Numbers report shows that only 24% of the 121,997 registered architects in the United States are female.”

Data like this risks planting seeds of doubt in the minds of women starting out in the profession, and Kloter was no different in this respect. “Based on these facts, I was worried that if I started to grow my family, then it would be the death of my career,” she writes. “On top of it – and like most women experience – I was continuously pressured with unsolicited advice and opinions on how I needed to start having kids early and how as a woman, I should have a family or a career, not both. Many conversations around me implied an unspoken shame and a sense of guilt in wanting to still have a professional career after having kids.”

“Why would you want to keep working?! Aren’t you planning to have kids?!” – Someone once asked me, horrified after hearing about my professional aspirations when I got married. I was also once told that if I would try to take these two roles at the same time, I was going to fail at one of the two, or at both. It was important to choose between one role and the other, and focus on being successful at that single one. Period. Yet, there was a part of me that couldn’t accept this theory entirely. There had to be a better way.”

Kloter’s book contains a wealth of practical advice to balance home and work life, as well as powerful motivational tools to instill belief in women, encouraging them to embrace their capabilities to be renowned architects and incredible mothers. The following quotes provide a teaser for the words of wisdom that you can find throughout the book:

1. “Architecture is an interdisciplinary, collaborative, and creative world. The same can be said for motherhood.”

2. “Your support system can make or break you. It’s an essential piece of the puzzle to find the balance between motherhood
and business.”

3. “When thinking of tools to ease your professional life and motherhood, the first thing that comes to my mind is delegate,
delegate, delegate.”

4. “A thriving environment is where your weaknesses are balanced out by others’ strengths. This can be said in business and motherhood as well.”

5. “Don’t let other people’s limitations limit you.”

For a complete guide to success as both an architect and a mother, pre-order Gloria’s book today by clicking here.

Send us a photo. Tell us a story. Win $2,500! Architizer’s 3rd Annual One Photo Challenge is underway with an Early Entry Deadline on May 27, 2022! Start your entry for architecture’s biggest photography competition here.

Reference

Software automatically analyses the diversity of media content
CategoriesSustainable News

Software automatically analyses the diversity of media content

Spotted: Ceretai is a diversity tech startup on a mission to make the world a more inclusive and tolerant place. It does this by helping media companies monitor and improve the diversity of their content.

At its core, Ceretai believes that the media we consume has a direct impact on our values and beliefs. That’s why the startup is on a mission to create a ‘more equal and tolerant world by promoting conscious production and consumption of media and entertainment.’ In other words, Ceretai believes that the media we consume should reflect the diversity of our world, and that by increasing diversity and equality in the media, we can create a more inclusive society.

Ceretai’s Diversity Dashboard allows media companies to track gender representation, age distribution, and different measures of portrayal in their content. It also offers customised diversity reports and workshops for media executives. In addition, the company offers tailor-made services that allow companies to closely follow developments over time and evaluate the outcome of diversity initiatives.

Since its foundation, Ceretai has strived to ‘enable audiences to choose movies or books based on their values and to create awareness around how people who don’t fit the norm—such as women, people of colour, and homosexuals—are actually portrayed in the culture we consume.”

Since then, the startup has partnered with some of the largest streaming platforms and media companies – among their partners and clients are the BBC, Forbes, NDR, and Tagesschau. And as the demand for diverse content continues to grow, Ceretai is positioned to play a crucial role in shaping the future of media.

At Springwise we have spotted several innovations that are focused on boosting the quality and reducing the divisiveness of the content we consume. These include a media analysis platform that rates bias and reliability, an app and Chrome extension that contextualises news articles, and a crowdsourced website that helps readers find evidence-based information.

Written By: Katrina Lane

Email: hello@ceretai.com

Website: ceretai.com

Reference

Avian Architecture: To Coexist, Architects Must Embrace Multi-Species Design
CategoriesArchitecture

Avian Architecture: To Coexist, Architects Must Embrace Multi-Species Design

Judging is now underway for the 10th Annual A+Awards Program! Want to earn global recognition for your projects? Sign up to be notified when the 11th Annual A+Awards program launches.  

In urban environments, one could argue that birds are typically viewed through two diametrically opposed lenses. On the one hand, they are idealized objects of desire, occupying central symbolic roles in language, literature, art and religion. The idea is ancient, visceral and undeniable; manifested through religious rituals and rites of passage across the world. At the same time, birds are viewed as a nuisance and, in many cases, are seen as “pests” that need to be managed within our cities. While urban city-dwellers might appreciate the presence of birds in their neighborhood park or nesting in a backyard tree, the notion of actively sharing buildings and structures with these animals is currently not widely accepted. 

Simultaneously, the climate crisis and the pandemic outbreak have collectively forced us to rethink how we interact with other forms of life within our urban environments, on both a micro and macro scale. As we have continued to rapidly urbanize areas all across the globe, animals that originally called these environments home have been displaced, forced to find other means of refuge, or have learned to coexist with humans in primarily antagonistic ways. In response to the status quo, how might architecture play a role in defining and mediating the varying shades of “middle ground” in between spectacle and maintenance that typically define animals like birds in the built environment? What can forms of inter-species architecture teach us about how to live more sustainably with all species?

Mosaic of Scene with Egyptian Columbarium for Breeding Pigeons, First Century B.C. Rome © WikiCommons

For centuries, birds such as pigeons played a significant role in the economies and culture of ancient civilizations like Persia, the historic region of southwestern Asia that is now modern day Iran. Pigeons have been part of the Middle East since the dawn of agriculture, as the world’s oldest domesticated bird, with research suggesting that they lived in captivity stretching back over 10,000 years ago. As agrarian practices began to evolve in ancient Persia, farmers realized that pigeon droppings made excellent fertilizer and subsequently began to build towers to breed and house these birds. Rich in phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, pigeon droppings provided much-needed fertilizer for melons, cucumbers, wheat and other nitrogen-demanding crops — all cornerstones of Persian cuisine

Once the value of these birds became clear, pigeon towers proliferated as the region’s agricultural output began to improve and humans worked to construct symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationships with these feathered creatures. Typically built from molded mud, lime, earth, or salt — depending on the material resources of the region — these towers could house up to as many as 15,000 birds at a time, subsequently generating 15 tons of annual fertilizer for a local region. 

Dovecotes (Pigeon Towers) are plentiful in the agricultural vicinities of Isfahan. © WikiCommons

Isfahan is famous for its rich tradition of pigeon towers. Most of the structures still in existence today date back to the 17th century. The architecture of these towers adapts the vernacular architecture of Iran to suit avian needs; majestic vaulted towers with an internal honeycomb structure rise up to six stories high and 50 to 75 feet in diameter. The birds can access their nests through small, narrow passages that protect them from predators such as snakes or larger birds. Once a year, farmers access these small sockets to extract their droppings, simultaneously providing safe refuge for these animals while benefiting the agricultural production of the local community.

The resilience of this bird-based architecture, which has been constructed by cultures across history and geographies demonstrates that urban infrastructure can utilize ecological materials, mostly salt and earth, to help sustain populations of up to 20,000 people at a time. While many of the pigeon towers that used to dot the landscapes of countries like Iran unfortunately lie in disrepair today, they stand as monuments to the enduring importance of low-tech cooperative architectural solutions to contemporary crises. 

Interior, Isfahan Pigeon Tower. ©WikiCommons

Today, due to the widespread use of chemical fertilizers, active pigeon towers are few and far between, as these unique buildings convey memories of a past long forgotten. Our architectural relationship with these animals primarily endures through various DIY forms, as birdhouses for aviary enthusiasts or rooftop pigeon coops. Recognizing the intelligence of pigeons, bird enthusiasts in cities like New York have taken to housing these animals in order to train them to become champion flyers and racers, periodically releasing their flocks in spectacular displays of choreographed flight. Pigeons also have an incredible biological sense called magneto-reception, allowing them to navigate vast terrains and find their way home or deliver messages from as far as 2,300 miles away, a skill that has periodically been exploited by humans throughout history. 

While few forms of architecture today truly embrace the potential of these animals, the desire to experiment with this architectural typology in an effort to provide safe refuge for avians was not lost on all contemporary architects, as birds have become an undeniable part of life in almost any urban environment. In Barcelona’s Parc Güell, Antoni Gaudí intentionally designed architectural elements that would allow for birds and pigeons to nest. He constructed long terraced walls and turrets that incorporated nests for pigeons and a variety of other avians to reside in, encouraging their interaction with the architecture as opposed to trying to prevent it. 

A walkway below and roadway above mirrors the organic shapes of trees and provides nests for park birds, Parc Güell (1914). ©WikiCommons

Oscar Niemeyer’s O Pombal Pigeon House (1960) in Brasília may be the most recognized pigeon tower in recent times. With mirrored oblong openings on either side, this giant concrete tower stands in the center of the Praça dos Três Poderes, at the heart of Brazil’s capital. Its interior is constructed with thin rows of horizontal concrete shelves that allow for hundreds of pigeons to perch and roost in. While the tower is purely sculptural and doesn’t engage in the beneficial agricultural practices that pigeons can help to implement, architectural symbols like this one are important in terms of shifting the collective sentiment that birds are a nuisance to be tolerated within urban environments. 

O Pombal, Oscar Niemeyer (1960). @WikiCommons

O Pombal, Oscar Niemeyer (1960). @WikiCommons

For the vast majority of urban spaces, current architectural practices make life extremely difficult and often deadly for birds all across countries like the United States. The astronomical increase in buildings that utilize fully glazed facades has resulted in the estimated deaths of at least a billion birds across the country each year. Shiny glass exteriors, interior plants near windows, and landscaping near buildings can all be deadly to birds as they are unable to distinguish reflections in the glass from open sky. Following habitat loss, this is the second largest man made threat that birds face each year. In response, urban areas like New York City have introduced Local Laws to update building codes to make new glass structures safer for birds, resulting in frit patterns and other designs that can be commonly be found on exterior glazing today. While these measures are an important step forward, architects should think bigger and not only opt for bird-friendly designs in their projects but work to help the avian community thrive.

As we continue to build at unprecedented rates in both urban and rural areas, we must take a harder look at whether we design with other species in mind. To be sure, solutions that may have worked throughout history in places like Isfahan — a rural community without the technical capabilities for large scale agriculture — may not be as replicable in large metropolitan areas like New York City. That being said, how can historic works of co-species architecture as a whole contribute to the re-examination of our relationship with nature, which is so sorely needed? Birds like pigeons have proven countless times throughout history that they are beneficial to our biosphere and can help us be more productive stewards of the planet, if only we would listen.

Judging is now underway for the 10th Annual A+Awards Program! Want to earn global recognition for your projects? Sign up to be notified when the 11th Annual A+Awards program launches.  

Reference

Digital technology and a floating museum bring contemporary art and culture to the people
CategoriesSustainable News

Digital technology and a floating museum bring contemporary art and culture to the people

Spotted: The impact of digital technologies on the world of art has been nothing short of transformative. From online platforms that make it easier for amateur artists to connect with their audience, to virtual tours that allow us to experience historical works up close, technology has completely redefined how we interact with, understand, and appreciate art in all its forms.

Perhaps no organisation embodies this shift better than Art Explora, a cutting-edge initiative that is shaking up the art world by making contemporary art accessible to everyone. The French foundation was created in November 2019 by entrepreneur Frédéric Jousset. Its mission is to reduce the cultural divide by bringing works of art to new, large, and diverse audiences.

Art Explora has developed a groundbreaking digital art history platform in collaboration with Sorbonne Université. This cutting-edge platform is designed to be accessible to users around the globe and offers intuitive interfaces that make it easy for anyone to explore art from all periods and styles. Through its unique journeys of discovery—which range from ancient Egyptian art to contemporary works—users of Art Explora are able to explore a wide variety of artistic styles and techniques in an engaging and interactive way. And by testing their knowledge through a series of quizzes and challenges, users can earn a valuable certificate that shows their level of expertise.

Another recent initiative from Art Explora is a new mobile museum, which has been christened the ‘MuMo’ and is a joint effort between Art Explora, the Centre Pompidou, and the MuMo Foundation. The truck will tour France in 2022 and Europe in 2023, bringing two themed annual exhibitions to each location. The exhibitions will be curated from the collections of the Centre Pompidou, as well as from other major European institutions. The MuMo will also host educational programs and workshops for children and adults alike. This unique opportunity to experience art from around the world will be an invaluable addition to the cultural landscape.

Art Explora also plans to bring art to the waves by converting one of the world’s largest catamarans into a mobile digital art museum. The floating museum is due to set sail from Marseille for various locations in the Mediterranean basin in September 2023.

Other Art Explora initiatives include the installation of ‘short story dispensers’ at the Armand Trousseau Children’s Hospital, and a residency programme enabling artists and researchers to carry out research and creation work in the heart of one of the most iconic and vibrant districts of Paris.

Other recent art and culture innovations spotted by Springwise include an online storytelling platform for female and under-represented filmmakers, an AR art exhibition embedded in the London landscape, and remote art tours via robots.

Written By: Katrina Lane

Website: artexplora.org

Contact: artexplora.org/en/contact

Reference

Disinfecting water with sunshine – Springwise
CategoriesSustainable News

Disinfecting water with sunshine – Springwise

Spotted: Around the world, 1.8 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. To avoid water-borne disease, these people must treat the water available to them before they can drink it. But existing treatment solutions are associated with additional costs – both monetary and environmental. Boiling water, in particular, causes carbon emissions and air pollution.

But there is one way to treat water that involves no emissions and uses a free resource found everywhere: sunlight. Solar water disinfection (SODIS) is a process where the sun’s natural UV rays eliminate pathogens—such as bacteria, viruses and protazoa—from contaminated water exposed to sunshine. The difficulty is knowing when contaminated water has been exposed for a sufficient length of time for the UV rays to have rendered it safe.

This is where Austrian social enterprise HELIOZ comes in. The organisation has developed the WADI – a World Health Organization approved device that visualises the process of SODIS in water containers such as plastic and glass bottles. The WADI device, which can measure UV light, is placed alongside bottles of contaminated water exposed to sunshine, so that it receives the same dosage of UV rays. It can then be used to measure when the bottles have received sufficient exposure to render them safe – defined as the removal of 99.99 per cent of pathogens. This is done using reference values stored in the device.

The device is easy-to-use and designed for water treatment at the household level. Device users can look at a progress bar to track the rate of disinfection, and when the process is finished, the device displays a smiley face.

HELIOZ used the WADI devices as part of a campaign launched to coincide with World Water Day 2021. The campaign was focused on communities in India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. These communities received WADI devices, as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) training. The results of the project were impressive: in the project areas, the rate of water-borne diseases was reduced by 80 per cent.

Access to clean drinking water is a key sustainability issue, and Springwise has spotted a number of innovations that rise to this challenge. These include a mobile filtration system, an app that helps communities to maintain water systems, and an off-grid desalination system. 

Written By: Matthew Hempstead

Email: office@helioz.org

Website: helioz.org/en/wadi

Reference

CategoriesArchitecture

Enter Architecture’s Biggest Photography Contest and Win $2,500

Architizer is thrilled to announce that the 2022 One Photo Challenge is open for entries!

One of our most popular annual competitions returns for its third edition, once again posing a simple yet provocative question: Can you tell a powerful story about architecture and the people that inhabit it with a single photo? With some of the world’s best architectural photographers on the jury and $5,000 in cash prizes on offer for the winners, architecture’s biggest photography competition is set to be more inspiring than ever.

Entering is easy: Simply submit one photograph, taken using any camera or phone, that captures an architectural structure, detail, space or built environment from a unique perspective. Multiple entries are allowed and can help to maximize your chances of success! The full competition brief can be viewed below.

Enter the competition before the Early Bird Deadline on May 27th, 2022, to secure your place in the running — hit the blue button below to get started:

Submit a Photo

“The Roofscape of the Obscure” by Venla Rautajoki, Non-Student Winner in the 2021 One Photo Challenge

Competition Prizes

The two top winners (one student and one non-student) will each receive: 

  • $2,500 cash prize
  • Top billing in the official Winners’ Announcement on Architizer.com, promoted on social media to Architizer’s 4.5M+ followers
  • An exclusive interview discussing your work published in Architizer.com
  • NEW this year: A place on next year’s prestigious One Photo Challenge Jury alongside some of the industry’s most renowned photographers!

10 additional Commended Entries will also feature in the Winners’ Announcement and receive extensive coverage across Architizer.com. Furthermore, 100 Finalists will be published in our special feature “100 Photographs That Tell Powerful Stories About Architecture”, to be distributed to thousands of architecture firms and millions more via Architizer’s social media channels.

Left: “Timkat” by James Brittain, James Brittain; Right: “Architecture and Nature Aligned” by Alex Nye, Commended Entries in the 2021 One Photo Challenge

Competition Brief

Your challenge is simple: Submit one photograph that powerfully communicates an architectural form or space, capturing the essence of the place and the experience of those that inhabit it.

Your image can be located anywhere in the world and be at any scale. It can be taken from a wide angle or close up, show a whole building or just a detail, and be located anywhere in the world. As long as your photo portrays part or all of a building or group of buildings, it is eligible. This should be accompanied by a short description of your photograph that explains what makes your image — and the architecture shown within it — special.

This year, special attention will be given to photographs depicting architecture that is intrinsically tied to our shared place and timethe world in 2022. Images that encapsulate the atmosphere and emotion of a particular place, through the lens of architecture, are most likely to be rewarded.

Start Submission

“Echo” by Philippe Sarfati, Philippe Sarfati, Commended Entry in the 2021 One Photo Challenge

The One Photo Challenge Jury

The 100 Finalists will be selected by Architizer’s team of in-house competition jurors. These finalists will then be scored by our expert jury, which includes practitioners and thought leaders from the worlds of architecture and photography.

Select jurors include:

  • Ema Peter, A+Award-winning architectural photographer.
  • Hufton + Crowworld-renowned photographers Nick Hufton and Al Crow, whose clients include Zaha Hadid Architects, BIG and Heatherwick Studio.
  • Ana Mello, renowned Brazlian architect and architecture photographer, featured in Architectural Digest’s “5 new latin architecture photographers“.
  • Yener Torun, Turkish architect and photographer otherwise known as cimkedi; creator of the world’s most colorful architectural photography series!
  • Krista Jahnke, one of Canada’s leading architectural photographers.
  • Sebastian Weiss, otherwise known as le_blancInstagram’s most popular photographer of minimalist architectural details.
  • Paul Clemence, renowned architectural photographer and founder of the huge Archi-Photo community, home to almost 1 million followers!
  • Aldo Amoretti, A+Award-winning architectural photographer who took the photo on the cover of 2018 “The World’s Best Architecture” compendium. Explore his Instagram @aldoamoretti.

“Poor Man’s Canvas” by Kavin Kumar La Sa, Anna University, Student Winner in the One Photo Challenge

Show Us Architecture Through a New Lens

The One Photo Challenge provides an opportunity to illuminate the communicative power of both architecture as a discipline, and photography as a medium. As mentioned earlier, this competition is not limited to professionals; everyone with a passion for photography is invited to apply. If you have an eye for composition, light and shade, and visual narrative, your images may well be contenders for the $2,500 Top Prizes.

For more information, check out the FAQs, the Jurors Page and the Judging Criteria. We can’t wait to see your photographs, and share them with the world!

Start Submission

Top Image: “Terlingua Night” by Peter Molick, Peter Molick Photography, Commended Entry in the 2021 One Photo Challenge



Reference

A new generation of self-powered carbon-neutral tiny homes
CategoriesSustainable News

A new generation of self-powered carbon-neutral tiny homes

Spotted: According to a recent report from the National Association of REALTORS, the housing shortage in the US is reaching critical levels. The report estimates that there is currently what the association calls an ‘underbuilding gap’ of 5.5 to 6.8 million housing units since 2001. This shortage is pushing house prices and rents higher. And it’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to find affordable places to live.   

One company that’s looking to address this problem is Cosmic, a San Francisco-based startup that is building tiny houses. The company’s founder, Sasha Jokic, believes that these houses can help fill the gap by creating new rentals. In addition, Cosmic’s houses are designed to be highly energy-efficient – helping to reduce carbon emissions from the housing sector.

Ultimately, Cosmic is working to tackle two challenges simultaneously: the housing shortage and climate change. First, by creating new rental units that can be placed in people’s backyards, Cosmic can help to ease the pressure on the rental market. And second, because tiny houses are much more energy-efficient than traditional homes, they have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions. It’s an ambitious goal, but if they can pull it off, it could have a huge impact.

Cosmic’s ultra-efficient homes start at just 350 square feet, but they come packed with high-tech features that allow them to function as both a primary residence and a secondary getaway. The secret to the tiny house’s success is its standardised frame, which includes built-in solar power and batteries. Each tiny house also includes a built-in roof and floor, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

The modular design means that the houses can be assembled quickly and easily, without the need for construction crews. And because the houses are optimised to be energy-efficient, they can be powered entirely by renewable energy sources. Lithium-ion batteries store energy from the solar panels, with the option to return any extra energy produced back to the grid. Alternatively,t, the excess energy can be used to power the main house, or an electric car.

Financial models for the houses are being arranged, with prices starting at $190,000 (around €176,000). There might also be a second option starting at $150,000 (around €139,000), where Cosmic would own the renewable energy infrastructure and the extra power generated in return for free power for the backyard and discounted power for the main house.

Other tiny home innovations spotted by Springwise include tiny houses for the homeless, an off-the-grid house on wheels, and a tiny home using passive design.

Written By: Katrina Lane

Email: info@cosmicbuildings.com

Website: cosmicbuildings.com

Reference

CategoriesArchitecture

SketchUp for iPad Will Change the Game for Architects on the Go

Trimble has taken a big leap forward in mobile technology for architects with SketchUp for iPad. It’s a transformative moment for one of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry’s most popular software. With SketchUp for iPad designers can bring their 3D models on the go, from cars to remote workspaces and construction sites.

Architects and designers are increasingly collaborating in 3D across multiple locations in any given week, and SketchUp for iPad fits seamlessly into this way of working. The latest version of SketchUp was explicitly designed with iPad’s touchscreen in mind, creating an intuitive user interface and tools that take advantage of this highly portable and powerful piece of hardware.

“It’s been liberating,” said Omar Calderon Santiago, design principal at Perkins Eastman, a global design firm. “I enjoy the mobile aspect of SketchUp for iPad because I can take my design work anywhere. The last couple of years have brought a new perspective to the way we work, fast-tracking our ability to work outside of the office. Today, our work needs to be easily transportable, and with SketchUp for iPad, it is.”

SketchUp files synchronize seamlessly across devices with the help of Trimble Connect, allowing users to start a project on iPad and pick it back up on web, desktop, or even mobile devices. The application supports Apple Pencil, multi-touch gestures, and mouse and keyboard, offering maximum mobility while maintaining compatibility with additional accessories for those that use them.

SketchUp’s arrival on iPad brings a new era of design and construction collaboration. Markup mode allows users to sketch, redline, and annotate on top of their 3D models using Apple Pencil, combining the fluidity of trace paper with the tools of a digital touchpad.

Redlining on iPad has traditionally been limited to 2D viewing and markup apps. With SketchUp for iPad, all stakeholders involved in a project can view the design in 3D, zooming in on construction details, taking measurements, and highlighting on-site issues, all while on the job site.

Collaboration between architects and clients is also made more manageable. Designers can share models easily and make changes during client meetings. The Autoshape tool makes this iterative process even more dynamic, instantly turning doodles into 3D geometry.

“With SketchUp for iPad, we’ve developed numerous capabilities that allow you to create in 3D, simpler and faster,” explained Mike Tadros, a Senior Product Manager at SketchUp. “For example, with Autoshape, you’re now able to use Apple Pencil to hand-draw a wide array of supported glyphs for objects like windows and doors that result in configurable, 3D components located in the model.”

SketchUp’s new home on the iPad brings a powerful suite of tools to connect the digital and physical worlds for a more comprehensive design process. Architects can import satellite imagery and 3D terrain data to provide accurate context and add real-world textures by uploading images of on-site materials from their camera roll and applying them directly to the surfaces of their model.

There is also the exciting prospect of augmented reality (AR) — SketchUp boasts a fully developed AR mode that enables users to view project models in situ at a 1:1 scale, for a fully immersive experience.

For years, designers have regarded SketchUp as one of the most accessible and intuitive 3D applications around. Its transition to iPad is a natural progression for the software, bringing accurate yet user-friendly architectural modeling to an even broader user base. Thanks to SketchUp’s robust, detailed-oriented approach to multi-platform development, architects, designers, contractors, and clients alike can look forward to a smooth, delightful experience on the platform.

Head this way to learn more about SketchUp for iPad and download your free trial.

Reference

IoT system tracks real-time energy consumption
CategoriesSustainable News

IoT system tracks real-time energy consumption

Spotted: It’s often easiest to understand something when it is made visible. Tunisian company Wattnow is using that premise to help businesses and individuals maximise the efficiency of their energy usage. The Wattnow platform provides a visual monitoring system for all energy points in a building. This system makes it easy to see where the most use is occurring. With hourly, daily, weekly, and annual comparisons, owners of a Wattnow system can see how a space’s consumption varies.

Available in either wired or wireless versions, the smart meters track energy use in both single and three-phase power systems. The algorithm-driven platform helps users save money and reduce pollution by identifying ways to consume energy more efficiently and by sending early alerts when maintenance is needed.

The plug-and-play system connects to an online dashboard accessible via both mobile and desktop, making it easier to respond to queries or alerts while on the go. And the AI puts together predictions for future use patterns, which owners can track against planned improvements to their systems and processes.

A variety of measurements can be recorded by the meters, allowing owners to get a full picture of the energy consumption of a building or space. Pricing for the service is available on request and based on a selection of case studies, including Tunisian Saoudi Bank and Carrefour.

Making resource use more efficient is the goal of many projects spotted by Springwise, from city-wide urban heat vulnerability assessments to a modular solar energy system that scales up and down as needed.  

Written by: Keely Khoury

Website: wattnow.io

Contact: wattnow.io/contact-us-2/

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