by Francis Vanderbruggen on 4 May 2010
One of the most recent buildings of the price winning architects is the Rolex Learning Centre of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale in Lausanne (Switzerland). This remarkable shell type structure was engineered by BG Ingénieurs Conseils (Lausanne), the winner of the Nemetschek Engineering User Contest 2009 (category 5).
The jury quoted:” the structure is an assembly of complex thin concrete shells providing a visually impressive functional arrangement requiring careful analysis at all stages during the construction. Scia Engineer was used both for non-linear and dynamic analysis and to simulate the removal of formwork stuts. The result is a facility that blends into the landscape.”
We express our congratulations to BG Ingénieurs Conseils for their success in supporting the prestigious Pritzker Price
by Francis Vanderbruggen on 9 February 2010
by Francis Vanderbruggen on 11 June 2009
by Francis Vanderbruggen on 17 February 2009
To use a professional software program a minimum of investment in training is required. Even if the user-interface is as much as possible self-explanatory, the availability of teaching tools helps reducing the learning time. For Scia Engineer there are a number of tools at one’s disposal: tutorials, manuals, movies, online forum, FAQ’s and of course a direct help desk. Yet we wanted to lower further the entry barrier.
As of today Scia is launching a new interactive eLearning tool through which distant learning of the basic functions of Scia Engineer becomes reality. The new application explains interactively how an engineer will enter a structural model, how the boundary conditions and the loadings are entered, and how to generate finite element meshes. It also explains the access to design modules for steel & concrete sections. And the handling of the software is explained until the generation of a full engineering report. The self-training treats 3D steel frames, as well as 2D and 3D concrete structures.
The Scia eLearning software is available in the English language and is completely free!
http://www.scia-online.com/eLearning
Enjoy !
by JPR on 24 November 2008
Sister Emmanuelle – a modern icon of reliogiosity – passed away on 20th oct. a few days before her 100th anniversary
Thanks to my spouse I had the chance to meet several times Sister Emmanuelle, a catholic sister born in Brussels, but living most of her life in Middle East as a school teacher. At 63 instead of going into retreat, she decided to live in the slums of Cairo amidst the poor who collected the rubbish of Cairo. She was a tough fighter against poverty and did not shy controversial statements. She travelled regularly to Europe to collect funds to finance her projects of schools, youth clubs and finally a compost factory. During her tour in Belgium she regularly stayed at our home; she posed direct questions to all family members on what where our concrete plans and in how it would help humanity. She was really charismatic and lived extremely soberly. Never in my life have I been more touched than when we have visited her when she was living in a small “cabane” on the slumps in Cairo, surrounded by pigs and rats.
She often exclaimed the word “Yalla”, the arabic version of Avanti, Go, Vorwerts …. Do not look into the past but concentrate on what you will do in the future. And smile! In her own prayers she asked God to have the same smile of the poor around her. She teached us, rich westerns, about the happiness of poverty.
For those interested in reading books about & by Sister Emmanuelle, see http://www.speedylook.com/Emmanuelle_sister.html
by Francis Vanderbruggen on 22 September 2008
Together with the Nemetschek Engineering Group, Scia has recently given the starting shot for the sixth edition of its International User Contest.
Over the years, this User Contest has become a famous event which users look forward to and that gets a lot of credit from the international press.
What are the novelties of this edition?
This sixth edition will be more international than ever and has a wider-ranging scoop this year: the user contest is open to all customers projects that make use of the software programs from the larger Nemetschek Engineering Group, especially Scia, Allplan, Frilo and Glaser. That is also why this contest has a new name: the “Nemetschek Engineering User Contest 2009″. This year there are also other novelties such as the new contest categories in CAE and CAD, but also the increased prize money.
What are your advantages when participating?
[click to continue…]
In the UAE nobody has heart about a credit crisis for properties. Thousands of high-rise buildings are being finished and put on the market for sale. There is a variety of prices going from 500 EUR/m² up to 2000 EUR/m² and up, depending on the location in this desert city.
It is understandable that upscale apartments are found in the neighborhood of the thirst-quenching waterfront and on the future palm islands (Jebel Ali or Jumeirah). With min. 400.000 EUR in hands you will be able to join the many buyers from all over the world and enjoy the traffic jams of today. However a new metroline will be opened in september 2009 and a water canal is under study to turn Dubai into the future middle east touristic centre. Happily the neighbouring cities and states (Abu Dhabi, Qatar) are taking over the lead with more impressive architectural projects. Will an exodus from Europe start towards this region?
In the meantime Dubai and UAE are a MUST for students in architecture & engineering. Nowhere in the world one can testify the incredible speed of construction on so many sites at the same time. Be it concrete in situ, precast, posttensioning, steel, composite, it is all there and one can see it getting shape.
Scia is convinced of the importance of UAE and is setting up its office …. (to be continued)
Offering software to engineers is a tough profession. Engineers are eager to understand all functionalities of a comprehensive software product adapted to their needs. Engineers to engineers, it is the most direct way for succesfull business operations. It is true that a complete software product needs competent explanation. And who is more competent in engineering software than engineers themselves ? And it is very true that innovative concepts deserve attention of the future users.
The shortage of engineers in Europe may not lead to a regression for adopting innovative software by engineers. As a software supplier we strive to understand the issues to which our future users are confronted. Interoperability between programs? Complex engineering tasks? Productivity increases through new design & fabrication processes? Fully integrated company specific engineering work? New building codes? Automated drawings? Optimisation in design? Etc. etc.
E2E is our way to market. It differentiates us from other software suppliers. Our competent centres take care of sales, of training, of after-sales support, of consultancy. The success of the Nemetschek Engineering Group is precisely its deployment of E2E, in many countries of this world.
