Imaging technology for building and design

University of Birmingham unleashes cutting edge imaging technology for West Midlands building and design industry

Some of the most advanced imaging and visualisation technologies in the world are being made available for the first time to small and medium sized architecture, design and construction businesses through a new initiative launched by the University of Birmingham.

VIN Technology Services has been designed as a business face for the wide range of technology and expertise that the University can offer as one of the UK's leading centres of industrial technology research.

The services have all been developed to help businesses involved in the built environment tackle a wide range of issues relating to building design, construction and civil engineering.

They include technologies that can visualise and interact with 2D and 3D data in life-size active stereo, or accurately capture data in 2D and 3D from the microscopic to a landscape scale.

Extensive software tools and expertise are available to model construction problems, and the analytical expertise is provided to interpret results and advise on potential solutions.

With funding support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Advantage West Midlands, these services can be made available to eligible small and medium sized (SME) manufacturers in the West Midlands region.

Head of VIN Gino Bellavia said: "The idea behind VIN Technology Services is to take advantage of the wide range of technology and research expertise at the University of Birmingham and create a way for businesses to access many of these for the first time".

"Many of the truly cutting edge technologies we are able to provide through VIN are not even available to the world's largest businesses.

These can provide businesses in the West Midlands with a real competitive advantage in many different ways".

Visualisation and imaging technologies are used by modern architects, designers and civil engineers in a wide variety of circumstances, from the visualisation of development plans or concept designs through to infrastructure mapping to evaluate concrete, detect subsurface voids or map foundations".

"VIN's advanced 3D data capture technologies are also available for the improved, accurate and rapid creation of as built plans especially suitable for heritage recording".

"Benefits over traditional methods include lower costs, reduction or elimination of return site visits, and improved accuracy - reducing construction reworks due to fit-up problems".

Mr Bellavia added: "The range of applications for today's visualisation and imaging technologies is almost endless, whether you are developing new buildings, re-developing or recording existing ones, or simply carrying out feasibility studies on new ideas.

The key is being able to harness this technology in the right ways to make your business better".

""We hope that by making these services easily and freely available to smaller businesses in the West Midlands they will be encouraged to get involved and discover how this enormous power can be unleashed to their benefit".

Any business interested in discussing how VIN's imaging and visualisation services might benefit their business should contact a member of the VIN team on 0121 414 5070 or go to www.vin.bham.ac.uk.

Back to top