believe in the virtual: how dassault systemes builds opportunities for the AEC industry

‘there are not many things more complicated to manufacture than buildings,’ states jerry jackson, construction, city & territories cloud worldwide director at dassault systemes, as he discusses the future of the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry with designboom. jackson gives an inside view into how dassault systemes, world leaders of 3D design and engineering software, are helping to shape our future. their 3DEXPERIENCE platform is the digital DNA of design for manufacturing & assembly (DfMA) as well as virtual twin experiences (VTE).

realize new project potentials by switching to designing virtually – here.

diagram of the virtual twin experience

DfMA is the method to clearly align concurrent design and engineering efforts for the built environment. it can reduce projects’ risks and increase productivity while maintaining design quality. virtual twin experiences provide the online collaborative playing field for designers and fabricators to digitally manufacture. ideas and scenarios can be rapidly tested in the virtual world before anything enters the ground. the 3DEXPERIENCE platform from dassault systemes extends our capabilities far beyond what has been possible before by bringing together DfMA and virtual twin experiences in a symbiotic fusion of competencies sharpened over decades.

cadmakers used dassault systemes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, including building design engineer and assembly simulation engineer to virtually model and simulate construction of the university of british columbia’s residence hall (read more about their project, here)

‘I see opportunities more than challenges, and that is a core belief at dassault systemes,’ begins jerry jackson when talking to designboom about the future of the AEC industry. ‘the biggest opportunity in the AEC market is for each and every firm to believe in the notion of the virtual world to extend and improve the real world.’

the work jerry and his colleagues strive to do is to encourage existing businesses to look for new opportunities as they think about developing their services and products. the biggest benefit, they see, is in the synergistic impact of DfMA and virtual twin experiences. this is not just about the creation nor the evolution of new design typologies. DfMA virtual twin experience is concerned with the collective intelligence of its project teams and stakeholders being able to communicate all they know. their mission is to help practitioners experience a DfMA dualism in which the virtual extends far beyond what is possible physically.

for tallwood house all data was brought together in one place on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud (read more here)

‘the curiosity towards DfMA virtual twin experiences has really accelerated as manufacturing processes have been pushed to the foreground of people’s minds. I would attribute this to the results our customers and consumers have witnessed — the university of british columbia’s tallwood house is an ideal example,‘ explains jerry.

DfMA virtual twin experiences on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform provide novel ways to preserve and reproduce expert knowledge and processes at a manufacturing level of detail. the world class geometry of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is powered by the convergence geometric modeler kernel (or CGM for short). it establishes the highest standard for DfMA information exchange. the enterprise knowledge language (EKL) is the way to embed expertise and processes into templates for widespread reuse.

eyebrow window dormer supply makes custom eyebrow window dormers for houses with dassault systemes tools (read about the project, here)

dassault systemes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform has been central in the move towards DfMA virtual twin experiences. its inimitable convergence geometric modeler kernel and enterprise knowledge language can be seen today in the next-generation 3DEXPERIENCE web-based software products 3D pattern shape creator, 3D creator, product document creator, 3D sculptor, project planner, product release engineer, manufacturing items engineer and the complementary building design engineer.

DfMA virtual twin experiences are a human experience. they are accessible to everyone, so anyone can unify people through collaborative tools with a modest investment in computing services. they give direct access to a superior process to prevail over known issues we have already encountered. ‘it is amazing to watch what people can accomplish with a chromebook and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform,‘ jerry adds.

‘users can login wherever and whenever they want as long as they have an internet connection. this accelerates the efficiency of DfMA teams so they can design or modify from anywhere on any device. access is the integral element to believing, by first-hand experience, that the virtual world extends and improves the real world,‘ confirms jerry.

their BOXXCRAFT app not only powers the design process at eyebrow window dormer supply but aims to help other craftspeople modernize and scale their businesses (read here)

taking architecture as the example, the future of the AEC industry will only become more complex. more options – from typologies and forms to sizes and materials – coupled with new legislation add even more scope to design for manufacture and assembly. dassault systemes’ focus on the virtual extending and improving the physical eases this complexity. their next generation of web-based applications ensure that all DfMA practitioners can work collaboratively from anywhere, anytime and on any device, and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is constantly evolving to help them realize new possibilities presented by DfMA dualism.

the platform carries out all the 3D virtual modeling and calculations for eyebrow window dormer supply so they can focus on fabrication (read here)

‘knowledge needs to be reusable so changes can be made whenever and wherever. the entire complexity of that built item can replicate itself. it allows creators to design, manufacture, and assemble virtually. this shortens the time-span of physical activities and extends the virtual,‘ concludes jerry jackson to designboom.

realize new project potentials by switching to designing virtually – here.

MG mcgrath leverages the power and flexibility of design for fabrication to create complex metal panels and façade systems to precision (read more here)