This article describes how the Dublin City Council, which governs the city of Dublin in Ireland, is leveraging digital twin technology to enhance city management and operational efficiency. It is based on a recent SmartCitiesWorld webinar in which Dr Mani Dhingra, Digital Twin Ecosystem Manager of Dublin City Council, provided an overview of Dublin’s digital twin work and presented the …
Autodesk Revit 2026 officially lands today, and with it comes a blend of foundational upgrades and future-forward experiments. As a longtime author of this annual review for AECbytes, Dan Stine of Lake|Flato always looks forward to seeing how Autodesk pushes Revit forward—sometimes subtly, sometimes radically. The 2026 release brings a bit of both. From dramatic performance gains to enhanced modeling …
The construction industry, while vital, remains a high-risk occupation. Workers face dangers from heights, heavy machinery, dynamic site conditions, and hazardous materials. Falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in/between hazards, and electrocutions are leading causes of fatalities. Improving safety is both a moral imperative and crucial for project success. Traditional safety relies on manual inspections and training, but human observation has limitations due …
The AEC/O industry stands on the cusp of a transformative era, driven by the rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Beyond the familiar applications of smart assistants, the emergence of large foundation models is unlocking unprecedented capabilities. Imagine AI not just generating designs, but understanding complex project requirements, reasoning through intricate structural challenges, and even anticipating the emotional needs of …
The goal of this book is to provide a general understanding of the engineering principles that govern the seven infrastructure systems that power modern society: water, wastewater, transport, electricity, gas, solid waste, and telecommunication. The focus is on the planning and operation of specific infrastructure, whether physical (e.g., water conduits) or an offered service (e.g., public transport). Along the way, …
The Nemetschek brand, Solibri, developer of the leading and longest-standing model-checking application in the AEC industry, Solibri Model Checker (which was renamed “Solibri Office” in 2019), started the new year by expanding its product family with a new cloud-based model checking solution called Solibri CheckPoint. This new solution is based on Solibri’s acquisition of Xinaps and its Verifi3D product, and …
In addition to being much less expensive than BIM applications like Revit and ArchiCAD, having a familiar AutoCAD-like interface, and being built on open-source ODA and ITC libraries, IDEA Architecture also benefits enormously by being part of the extensive 4M multi-disciplinary BIM suite, greatly expanding its capabilities. It integrates with 4M’s FineGREEN application for sustainability and energy analysis, the FineMEP …
As the architecture, engineering, and construction industry undergoes significant transformation, innovation has become not just a buzzword but an increasingly critical factor. Being “innovative” can no longer be merely a talking point; it’s a necessity to succeed in the market. This article by KP Reddy, Founder and CEO of Shadow Ventures affirms that every AEC firm has the potential to …
ALLPLAN, one of the leading AEC technology brands used globally, launched the 2025 versions of its comprehensive suite of tools for building and infrastructure design, engineering, and construction at an online launch event a few weeks ago. In addition to its flagship BIM application, ALLPLAN’s portfolio includes the dedicated structural engineering applications, FRILO and SCIA, that merged with ALLPLAN earlier …
By enabling predictive maintenance, enhancing decision-making, and ensuring operational efficiency, digital twins are not just tools — they are processes that support sustainable, data-driven facility management. This article by Kristijan Vilibić explores how digital twins revolutionize asset management, their lifecycle applications, practical use cases, and the challenges and opportunities in their adoption. URL: https://www.aecbytes.com/viewpoint/2024/issue_119.html
