Microsoft to bring Immersive 3D to AEC Models with HoloLens and SketchUp

You’ve heard of the Oculus Rift, you’ve seen holodecks on sci-fi shows and you may have read about Reality Computing with us before. But have you heard of the HoloLens yet?

Microsoft’s answer to the Oculus Rift, the HoloLens is a holographic computer headset. It runs on Windows 10.

With the HoloLens, users can project all their favorite apps and social media into the world around them. Users interact through hand gestures and voice commands.

HoloLens in an AEC World

The technology is already finding real world applications in AEC industries thanks to integration with Trimble's SketchUp.

With SketchUp, AEC professionals can take 3D models from their computers and upload them into the HoloLens. Models can be presented in miniature in front of users both near and far, or you can build the model around you in full scale.

Alterations to 3D models can be made in real time with the HoloLens, making “what-if” scenarios and changes in plans easier to handle out in the field.

AEC professionals will see their models come to life around them through the HoloLens’ mixed-reality 3D display.

"Microsoft HoloLens is a revolutionary tool for people and businesses enabling professionals in industries like design and construction to do more and achieve more," said Yusuf Mehdi, corporate VP at Microsoft. "Trimble's deep knowledge of design and construction processes makes it a natural partner in bringing holographic computing to this industry." 

Microsoft, Trimble Partnership

Trimble’s team-up with Microsoft doesn’t end with SketchUp, though.

Trimble Connect, based on Gehry Technologies’ GTeam software acquired in 2014, will enable teams to access and manage project data via a cloud platform.

An integrated camera system, the Trimble V10 Imaging Rover, will capture 360-degree digital panoramas transform them into data-rich geospatial deliverables.

These HoloLens applications, including the integration of SketchUp, are still under development.

The HoloLens proof of concept was displayed earlier this week at Microsoft's Build Developer Conference.

What fantasies do you see coming to life with the HoloLens and SketchUp pairing? Let us know in the comments below.

For more information on the HoloLens watch this video, or visit Microsoft’s official page.

Learn more about Trimble here.

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New Materialise and SketchUp partnership brings nearly 3 million 3D models to users

Although many 3D printer manufacturers and service providers have found amazing success with launching their own independent products, it’s been just as interesting to see what happens when two companies have come together to create the best of what each company offers in a singular product.  Most recently, we’ve seen this with 3D Hubs and Thingiverse after the latter began integrating their on-demand 3D printing service directly into Thingiverse’s catalog of 3D print-ready digital models.  

Now, Materialise has teamed up with Trimble (owners of SketchUp) to streamline a new cloud-based service that improves the accessibility and printability of 3D models that are currently available inTrimble’s 3D Warehouse.  

Trimble, who purchased the popular SketchUp 3D modeling platform from Google in 2012 for an estimated $50-$100 million, has been busy since their purchase improving on the CAD program for their user base of over 30 million designers.  Their latest version of SketchUp, SketchUp 2015, was released in November of 2014.  The 3D Warehouse component of the company’s ecosystem contains nearly 3 million downloadable 3D models which are downloaded over 4 million times by nearly 1 million visitors every week.  

As a part of the collaboration, 3D Warehouse’s Printables feature will be powered by Materialise’s new cloud services to generate high-quality STL files, while also analyzing and fixing models as needed.

The new cloud services from Materialise, which are currently being used to operate their ownIdeasWorthMaking.com platform, were launched in 2014 in an effort to help drive meaningful applications to desktop fabrication and has helped provide a platform for educational and maker contests and challenges since its inception.  

“The belief that design tools should be as simple and intuitive as possible is deeply rooted in the philosophy behind SketchUp,” said Mike Tadros, Product Manager for 3D Warehouse.  

“Trimble’s collaboration with Materialise is aimed at eliminating the most common pitfalls and annoyances related to 3D Printing workflows.  There are a number exciting possibilities that can surely arise from our users being able to share and reliably access print-ready files directly from 3D Warehouse.”

The new offering from the companies was announced at the Materialise World Conference in Brussels in Brussels last week.   

Currently, Materialise and 3D Warehouse are testing the new features in beta, with a full launch planned sometime in the near future.

“For the past 25 years, we at Materialise have been developing software to empower useful applications of 3D Printing, both medical and industrial, and help users of 3D Printers to get the most out of their machines,” said Stefaan Motte, Director of Software for the Additive Manufacturing unit at Materialise.

“Through this collaboration, which links our new cloud service to 3D Warehouse, our goal is to now deliver an enhanced user experience to a much broader 3D printing community as well.  My hope is that the Printables feature enables this community of designers, artists, makers, and more, to focus even more on the design and creation of meaningful 3D Printing applications, while leaving the question of ‘Will it print?’ to our software.”

(3ders)

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