14 January 2009

Software tools are pushing stadium design to the limit with outstanding results, as seen with the Bird’s Nest Stadium

ArupSport is defining the geometry of the world’s leading sports buildings with Dassault Systèmes and Microsoft technology. Mark Webb reports on an IT methodology that enables better component fabrication, more efficient use of resources and faster design iteration.

Arup is a global firm of designers, engineers, planners and business consultants producing outstanding solutions in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, characterised by innovation and value. With nearly 9,000 employees and 92 offices in 37 countries, Arup has a vast pool of technical expertise across the world enabling it to achieve the best possible results for clients.

Arup exerts a significant influence on the AEC sector and is the creative force behind many of the world’s most innovative and sustainable designs. At any one time, it has over 10,000 projects running concurrently.

This impact is exemplified by ArupSport, which is at the leading edge of worldwide venue design. The company continues to deliver award-winning spaces for the world’s top sporting events including the Olympic Games in Beijing, the Asian and Commonwealth Games and the FIFA World Cup. It has also worked on the Zeppelin-like colour-changing chameleon that is the Allianz Arena in Munich, and stadiums in Valencia, Manchester, Qatar, Ukraine (for Shakhtar Donetsk) and beyond.

The ‘plastic’ nature of many modern buildings requires not only more flexible and lighter construction materials, but also more agile IT systems that can rapidly model and remodel the designs. Arup uses Dassault Systèmes’ Catia and Gehry Technologies’ Digital Project (DP) solutions, including modules such as Real Time Rendering, Assembly Design, and IGES interface. It couples Catia and DP with Microsoft Office 2007.

Arup with ArupSport is at the forefront of design, development and delivery of AEC projects

Martin Simpson, Arup Using the Beijing Bird’s Nest Stadium as an example, Martin Simpson, associate director of Arup and lead structural engineer at ArupSport, explains how his company uses the power of technology from Dassault Systèmes and Microsoft: “We defined the geometry of the stadium and its roof using Catia V5. The distinctive 1.2 metre twisted box sections were developed using Catia in conjunction with Microsoft Excel 2007, which is used to input critical dimensions and rotational symmetry for the geometry of the twists and curves.”

“Catia 3D models can be driven using data contained within Excel and vice versa. This allows designers to very quickly modify designs based on numerous inputs from structural and other consultants whose calculations need to be considered and incorporated. Because the design iterates so frequently, this technique of updating the 3D model means that we can incorporate multiple modifications and progress the project rapidly with all relevant information available.”

Kate McDougall, senior structural engineer at ArupSport adds: “The capability of Catia and Gehry Technologies Digital Project to operate parametrically means that changes to the design modulus are automatically represented in other parts of the design. Scripts that define the rules by which these elements are linked are written in Microsoft’s Visual Basic programming language. The ease with which these scripts are written, coupled with their power to take hours out of the design process, is a real bonus.”

The consortium members involved with the Bird’s Nest Stadium included architects Herzog and de Meuron and China’s Architectural Design Group. Each deployed Catia and Digital Project, which enabled direct model communication throughout. Thousands of components were modelled and iterated using Dassault Systèmes and Microsoft methodology which allowed ArupSport to create families of similar parts, each of which was related to the stadium as a whole. This produced great timesavings and also enabled better accuracy of component manufacture, fabrication and construction.

“Each of our projects is unique so statistical comparison on efficiencies using this technology are not available,” says Simpson. “However, this advanced working methodology is very much quicker than any other technique and allows us to make better decisions because we have all the information to hand available from the 3D model. Design intent is maintained throughout the development process because a single data source is used. Subcontractors who do not have the same software can be provided with production data in the format that best suits their needs. For example, the steelwork for the Bird’s Nest was issued in cloud point format to the ship builders who fabricated the complex twisted components.”

The IT solution supports adventurous design but also vital construction requirements. Very complex analysis that can affect the design is easy to integrate. Simpson explains: “Seismic analysis affects several of our projects and is a major consideration for a stadium holding up to 90,000 people. By incorporating the results of this analysis via Microsoft Excel into Catia and Digital Project we are able to consider more options and develop a better understanding of what is buildable.”

“We are pushing stadium design to the limit with these software tools and finding it quicker and easier with better end results,” he continues. “Each project that we undertake presents very different challenges and is always an improvement on the last. Using this software in combination we can achieve better performance in our own business, for our clients, for the spectators and for the sportspeople who they come to see.”

“We are able to bring new ideas into play based on our experience and the capabilities of using software as we do. While Beijing is the largest stadium that we have undertaken, the challenges offered by other projects are equally significant. Re-use of stadiums after major events and sustainability are key needs which we meet using Dassault Systèmes and Microsoft methodology. Lean manufacturing is enhanced with this technology and building techniques that reduce waste, producing lean construction, are now possible.”

In addition to Catia and DP, Arup is now considering Dassault Systèmes Enovia SmarTeam technology to enhance the data management aspects of its work. The company is also looking into introducing Microsoft SQL Server relational database technology to improve data access and retrieval across the enterprise.

“Arup with ArupSport is at the forefront of design, development and delivery of AEC projects,” concludes Simpson. “Dassault Systèmes’ Catia, Gehry Technologies’ Digital Project with Microsoft Office 2007 and Visual Basic form the technical backbone of our ability to produce buildings that would otherwise prove impossible to deliver. This software has enabled us to produce ever more complex and iconic structures that are completed on time, on budget with greater efficiency using fewer resources for better sustainability.”

This article first appeared in issue 15 of Prime magazine.

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