Jan 21 - Georgia Tech to Include Tekla Structures in BIM Curriculum

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Georgia Tech to Include Tekla Structures in BIM Curriculum

See also
·	Tekla website
·	Structural Analysis - list by TenLinks.com
·	related news

ATLANTA, Jan 21, 2009 - Tekla, Inc announced today that Georgia Tech has implemented the use of Tekla Structures in their civil engineering classrooms and research laboratories. During fall semester 2008, the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering jumpstarted their use of Tekla Structures by integrating the software into its civil engineering degree program. Students learned about several topics related to BIM including:

Detailed case studies of projects implementing design, detailing, fabrication and site construction using the Tekla Structures BIM platform.
Various team player perspectives on the benefits and barriers of utilizing BIM between design and construction.
Hands-on, practical tools use in their field for creating, analyzing and sharing data-rich information provided by Building Information Models among project stakeholders.

Learning about real-world best practices in utilizing BIM and applying the practices in class offers a practical approach to educating future construction management professionals.

"Using the visualization tools of Tekla Structures BIM offered a great real-world experience in evaluating constructability of building systems and monitoring project costs and schedule; tools that will be very useful in my career as an engineer."

Ben Allread - Civil engineering student, Georgia Tech

Future use of Tekla Structures in the construction classes as well in the school's Real-Time Automated Project Information and Decision System (RAPIDS) laboratory will offer several benefits to GT's graduating seniors and soon-to-be construction management and structural engineering professionals.

"There is a need in our industry for construction professionals to have a balanced perspective in engineering, fabrication, and construction management. Learning the concept of a connected and intelligent construction process which includes the use of BIM and other emerging technology makes our students very attractive in the job market and prepares them for career opportunities after graduation." Jochen Teizer, Assistant Professor and Director of the RAPIDS Laboratory - Georgia Tech School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

"A well rounded knowledge of Building Information Modeling technologies is no longer a plus in the marketplace, it's a must," says Andy Dickey - Business and Product Development Manager for Tekla, Inc's Contractor Business Unit. "Georgia Tech will be delivering a curriculum including Design, Construction, Detailing, and Fabrication on a technology platform that supports the work processes of each. Tekla is proud to have Georgia Tech as part of its education network and we look forward to many more collaborative endeavors," says Dickey.

Tekla Structures is also in use at other universities including University of California Berkley, Stanford University, California State University, Chico as well as Carnegie Melon and Polytechnic Institute of NYU.

Tekla Corporation

Tekla's model-based software products make customers' core processes more effective in building and construction as well as infrastructure management. Tekla Corporation has area offices and partner organizations worldwide. International operations account for nearly 85% of net sales. Founded in 1966, Tekla is one of the longest operating software companies in Finland.

For more information, www.tekla.com.

Tekla Structures

Tekla's technology creates new business opportunities for the construction industry. The most advanced BIM solution on the market includes an accurate, dynamic, and data-rich, 3-dimensional environment. Tekla Structures software generates highly detailed 'as built' digital structural models that enable effective visualization and management of the project. Integrating model and non-model-based software solutions allows the building information model to be used in collaborative workflows. As a result, Tekla Structures users can streamline the design, fabrication, and construction processes, ultimately ensuring the highest level of constructability in project delivery. Tekla Structures encompasses specialized configurations for structural engineers, steel detailers and fabricators, concrete detailers and manufacturers, and construction companies. http://www.tekla.com/international/solutions/building-construction/Pages/Default.aspx.

Georgia Institute of Technology - School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Georgia Institute of Technology is one of the nation's top research universities, distinguished by its commitment to improving the human condition through advanced science and technology. Founded in 1885, Georgia Tech is located in the heart of the city of Atlanta. Its campus occupies 400 acres where more than 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students receive a focused, technologically based education from more than 900 full-time instructional faculty.

The university is a national and international leader in scientific and technological research and education with more than $3.5M in research expenditures. Georgia Tech is a public university and part of the University System of Georgia. The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech is consistently ranked among the top 5 civil engineering programs in the United States. Established in 1896, the School has graduated more than 10,000 students and is one of ten schools within the Institute's College of Engineering. Its faculty members are leaders in their respective fields and provide an exceptional range of opportunities for students. The School houses 26 laboratories on two campuses, offering courses and conducting research across five disciplines of civil engineering including environmental engineering; geo-systems engineering; structural engineering; mechanics, and materials; transportation systems engineering; and environmental fluid mechanics and water resources.

Dr. Jochen Teizer heads the Real-time Automated Project Information and Decision Systems (RAPIDS) laboratory located in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech. The RAPIDS laboratory is supported by various funding sources. Presently, Dr. Teizer's research group concentrates on an inference management framework in the areas of real-time 4D construction site management, a fully automated approach to convert 3D point clouds into object models, real-time detection and tracking of construction resources (workforce, equipment, and materials), and real-time pro-active work zone safety. The RAPIDS laboratory includes several of the latest remote sensing technology, such as laser scanning, radio frequency identification, visualization and virtual reality software.

For more information about the RAPIDS laboratory at Georgia Tech, visit http://www.rapids.gatech.edu/.

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