Michael Schwind

Michael Schwind is a geospatial engineer for Fulton Construction in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA, and CEO of Osprey Geospatial Solutions LLC. He holds a BSc in Geography and GIS from Texas A&M University and a MSc in Geospatial Surveying Engineering from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. (read more)

2017-09-28 10:37:25

Ordnance Survey Demonstrates BIM Potential with Pioneering Project in Singapore

By combining building information modelling (BIM) with geospatial technologies, Ordnance Survey (OS) is breaking down barriers in Singapore. OS has spent two years in the Southeast-Asian nation championing the use of BIM data and its potential to transform urban planning. Britain’s mapping agency lent its expertise to a project with the University of Singapore and the Singaporean government that aims to make Singapore a world leader in smart technology. OS’s role was to develop data processing and 3D data modelling to help Singapore plan its future city more effectively. It contributed knowledge about the CityGML data model, an exchange compatible with... (read more)

2019-11-06 10:46:45

Coronavirus Outbreak Causes Shocks in Canadian Construction Industry

Respondents to the Q1 2020 RICS/CIQS Canada Construction and Infrastructure Survey are reflecting on the impact of the spread of the pandemic, as fears about implications for economic activity have deepened. Despite a huge array of government fiscal interventions (worth in the region of 14% of GDP), the recovery process is likely to prove quite protracted. “It is clear that professionals expect governments to boost infrastructure spending on the road to economic recovery,” said Sean Ellison, senior economist at RICS. “This will provide a ray of light amid the gloomier outlook for the sector, perhaps pointing to a way out... (read more)

2020-05-26 09:39:26

Nearmap Unveils Streaming 3D Online Platform and AI Technology

Nearmap, an aerial imagery company, has launched a 3D product in a move that could potentially change the way industries such as urban planning, architecture, construction, government and councils view and shape cities across Australia and the USA. More than 400,000 km2 have already been covered. Nearmap 3D allows customers to stream and export 3D imagery on demand on a massive scale, through its proprietary MapBrowser web application. Additionally, because the imagery is updated frequently, businesses can work with the most current information to make better-informed decisions. Nearmap has developed AI technology that is turning millions of aerial images, captured over a... (read more)

2019-06-14 10:49:47

Technical Advances Bring Digital Twin of Underground Infrastructure Closer

Mapping the underground is one of the major challenges in creating an infrastructure map at the municipal, regional, and national level, which is a key foundation for a national digital twin. Recent technical developments include: the ability to collect data at highway speeds that can be used to create a 3D model of underground infrastructure, software that can extract relevant 3D underground information from consumer digital photography, and video capture. Meanwhile, novel ways to share information about underground infrastructure, and progress on standards for sharing information about the subsurface are making mapping the underground increasingly feasible. The uncertainty in the... (read more)

2018-10-08 04:46:21

Bridging the Gap between Geospatial and Construction

There is certainly a gap in information exchange between the geospatial and construction domains. This is a serious issue, mainly because geospatial systems and engineering surveys are not yet aligned and integrated with building information modelling (BIM). The BIM method is expected to move construction activities from plan-based individual work to model-based collaboration. Such a paradigm shift will bring huge opportunities regarding planning, building and management of the built environment in a more productive, open and sustainable way. Although it is still difficult to entirely close the gap between these two fields, this article shows how that gap can at... (read more)

2020-02-14 09:44:12