Drag-and-drop orthos are here with Infrakit 3.8.6!   

I bet hearing these stellar news will make even chief journalists of Times, Wired, and other of the world’s largest Magazines envy my position as a notorious Infrakit blog writer since I am the one that gets to first tell them… 😉 

Okay, are you ready to hear it… Infrakit eats now orthos itself!  

Now that it’s said and done, let’s take a bit deeper look into what this means for your work! 

Stoop stop stop! I want to steal your attention still for a second before getting into the text -> Our Thesis worker Jetro has worked super hard for this feature to become captured reality (you see the pun intended 😉), thus, I would love to see you giving him a minute or two of your opinions regarding this feature. Link for a Master’s Thesis questionnaire at the bottom of the text, Let us help Jeti!!

Getting orthos into Infrakit has never been easier… 

Would be cool to demonstrate my newly learned skills among orthophotos by explaining to you technical buzz-words to make you break a sweat “Oh this guy knows what he is doing”. But honestly, the feature is so simple that a chimpanzee could use it, so I guess my days of acting cool are over… I mean basically, just by dropping the files into Infrakit you can get access to your orthos in Infrakit Map, Now think about that! 

Let me rephrase this from your point of view. Your work life will get a ton easier by having the relevant and up-to-date information in the form of orthophotos readily chewed up on Infrakit because this feature lets the drone gurus do that so quickly! 

Currently, supported file formats are .tif, .tiff, and .jp2, and all the necessary knowledge and information on using this feature can be found in our KnowledgeBase. 

Check the easiness of this from this video!

… and they can be opened in third-party as well! 

Until Matrix comes alive there is not a single system that can perform everything needed everywhere in one place. Not even Infrakit can solve everything on its own and we quite humbly recognize that. Thus, as always, we want to be as flexible as possible with other awesome software out there, making your life easier when jumping from one software to another! 

For this, we pursue making the opening of uploaded orthophotos in third-party systems superbly smooth! Go check how this is done with Civil 3D from the video below, and other cases from our Knowledge Base!

And a special announcement for integrators and customers having their own pipelines for orthomosaic processing! Please contact us for guidance on super simple APIs that make sharing your content with Infrakit users a true delight.

Super Sharp DWGs!  

You tell us and we hear you! DWGs are essential data to be visualized for you on the Infrakit platform and that is precisely why we have been going the extra mile to make them super sharp and functional for you.

Now we dare to say the version 3.8.6. starts to have them in a fashion that is ultra crisp and clear, take a look at yourself!

For all Autodesk users out there! Now you can also download as-built as a DXF file, data nicely organized to layers by codes.

Pssst… If you are a hardcore Infrakit user, here is a little easter egg for you -> go check what is new on the Infrakit Admin page… or rather, what has made its return 😉 

AND HERE IS THE LINK TO JETRO’S QUESTIONNAIRE! JA TÄSSÄ LINKKI SUOMEKSI!

Check the more in-depth list of new features and improvements of this version from our Knowledge Base

Three awesome highlights of the Infrakit 3.8.5 version, that will make your day!  

Aaand welcome to the notorious release blog session of the month once again my dear fellow user!  

This is the place where we take our work uniforms off, grab a nice fresh ice cream cone from the close-up supermarket, and leave up the “strict” talk of business. Instead, let’s talk to fellow users, and enjoy the new features our superpowered R&D team has prepared for us!  

Though jumping into highlights of “the new stuff” could be cool, let’s spend a second considering “How is the summer until now going on so smoothly and nicely…?”. Well, though the weather has been great “at least here”, it is not a coincidence that everything feels smooth because we have spent more time than ever on improving features by fixing bugs in there! And now let me guide you to the highlights!!! 

Batch edit properties like a Flash! 

Not sure if there are a lot of superhero movie fans out there, but if you have even crossed some ads promoting the movie “The Flash” you surely know that guy is fast! 

And so is the editing of properties of photos! Instead of one by one opening the property and editing for photos, you can be the Flash of your organization to whom everyone asks, “How are you so fast with everything”. You don’t have to reveal your superpower of editing photo properties in batches or you can, either way, your speed will be undebatable! 

Enrich your mass haul freight reports with photos 

Remember when the e-scooter rental companies like Tier decided to add a photo-taking feature for showing how the e-scooter has been parked? For users that was kind of a small thing, though an easy one, but imagine how much help it provided for the ones who had to check how those e-scooters are parked? As an e-scooter company worker, your life just got so much better that day! 

And we did something like that for you! The Infrakit TRUCK app is an awesome and simple approach to controlling mass hauls and freight reports on your site, and now when being able to take pictures of your scale receipts and other additional documents of the trips, it will become so much more useful! And boy are they useful for supervisor when reviewing the trips and freight reports from Infrakit OFFICE! This feature will be brought to you in TRUCK app 2.2.0 version, behold! 

Check the way from the video below. 

Drastically improved design data support 

When using Infrakit as your Go-To tool for managing a project in construction, having all the design data nicely flowing in and getting visible correctly on the map is a day maker. It’s annoying and frustrating when a DWG file is missing objects, landXML Stringline models are messed up or the Tekla IFC models have their weird circus-like colors. Luckily, for this release, we got them in a much much better shape since we fixed over 30 issues on DWG, LandXML, and IFC parsing! 

Also, checking the brand new IFC 2D presentation and support of IFC 4×3 will show how much the design data support has enhanced! And finally, measurements in the map can now be edited as well, which ought to make your life a ton easier! 

With this video presenting all these awesome improvements, have a nice and awesome summer, hope you did not forget to eat your ice-cream you had alongside reading this 😀  

Check the more in-depth list of new features and improvements of this version from our Knowledge Base

Unveiling Infrakit OFFICE 3.8.4: IFC Property Sets, Flexible As-Built Exports, and Smooth Adding Of Properties!

Summer is officially here (even in the Nordic countries, here over 15 Celsius is equivalent to summer), and we all know what that means for infrastructure construction -> prime time to build!

In the summer months when the projects are operating at full steam, it is undeniably crucial to have all the supporting elements in place. As our stake in the construction of infrastructure is to provide you with our software to function as the project information management platform to support your project’s path to success, we cannot afford to be the weak link, but rather the source of strength.

To be the so-called “source of strength” for you, we are eager to showcase the improvements our R&D team has made for version 3.8.4, which we can confidently state making your everyday project life easier than ever! So, time to grab your beloved coffee (or tea) mug and have a 5-minute break watching our new highlights!

IFC Property sets are here!

01001100 01101111 01101111 01101011 00100000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01110011 01101101 01100001 01110010 01110100 01111001 00100000 01110000 01100001 01101110 01110100 01110011 00100000 00111011 00101001

Imagine trying to read everything on the internet via binary code. Correct me if I am wrong, but I can’t believe anyone on the planet using any software if it was such! *Awkward silence* Well… Now we have truly taken a far-fetched bridge to justify why our IFC property sets improvement is awesome. This perhaps is the point where you consider why are you reading these blog posts…

But to be frank, I mean that just shows how important it is to have the information in a well-condensed and sorted format to be used! Does it matter that the IFC file has all the property information if it is burdensome to access that information? Now that IFC property sets in Infrakit are in a well-organized form, you can access the relevant information with ease and speed, such as volumes and sizes, or information for the installation crew! 

By the way, just look at how magnificently the Sobstad AS utilizes these! No need to be jealous, but come on, these guys know what they are doing! (Okay, a bit of jealousy is fine until you achieve their level 😉)

Looks at their project in Norway! Søbstad AS: Tanem-Tulluan

Flexible As-Built Export to fulfill the CDE 

Wait, did we just have the same headline on the 3.8.3 release blog? Nope! Last time it was about flexible as-built IMPORT, now it is time for praising flexible as-built EXPORT! The narrative has now beautifully come a full circle, as Infrakit construction CDE features regarding as-built data have wholesome flexibility.

The as-built data can be now exported in a format that directly suits your further use for example in data prep tools when more accurate deviation reports are needed or data is needed for creating mesh models for volume calculation use case.

File and photo properties on the go

Properties are an awesome thing to have for files and photos, that’s for sure. But we know it’s frustrating to add those after the uploading, cause it just could have been done already… Well, not anymore, because we made it now possible to add the properties while uploading! Now that saves a minute or two a day, workdays in the long run!

Check the more in-depth list of new features and improvements of this version from our Knowledge Base

Welcome the new Infrakit version with configurable as-built imports! 

Have you noticed these release blogs are appearing more often… Hats off to our R&D team! Even more impressive is that regardless of the speedy release intervals, our developers have still carried out remarkable new features and improvements for you in the new version once again. I bet you agree, it is a good to give a moment of appreciation to where it belongs, but who less often gets the credit! *Clapping hands together* Without further ado, let us have a quick glance on what are the highlights in Infrakit 3.8.3!   

Configured as-builts in the heart of the Construction CDE 

Commonly in construction projects, there can be tens or hundreds of data sources for as-built measurements. From machine operators on their grade control systems, surveyors measuring with RTK GNSS and total stations, foremen and supervisors with their grade checking tools to name a few… the amount of data sources and its distributed fashion across many sub-contractors may be overwhelming for quality engineers trying to aggregate the big picture. Not to mention how important this data is for quality assurance of the project and conducting handover to owner. 

That is precisely why we focused on developing our as-built importing function, to support configurable import where you can drop your local ASCII data sets from any imaginable shape. This way, you can collect all as-built data into Infrakit, having it as a single source of truth. The collecting process of as-built data made seamless!

Check out how to use it via the video!

Seamlessly enjoyable photo preview in the map page

Isn’t it just lovely when something functions so smoothly, it feels connected to your mind… Well, the photo integration on our map page is approaching that state certainly. Floating and movable photo preview, edit button in the palm of your hand, interactive map when changing the photo -> The map centers right where the photo location is! 

Milk cartons with caps, screen unlocking with facial recognition, Infrakit map with interactive photo previews… These kinds of “minor-looking” improvements are often underrated, as they at the first glance do not seem important, but you will find them soon enough making your life so much easier, one improvement at a time!  

3D BIM viewer improvements… again!

3D improvements again?? Déjà vu... Did we forget to edit this chapter from the last couple of release blogs? No, we did not! We just improved the 3D view so much once again, that it must be highlighted, as you can now filter as-builts in the view just as in the 2D. Also, you can check surface elevations and coordinates from the 3D models, so no need to run to 2D side anymore for that either.  

Thought buzzing around 3D BIM Viewer improvements, it is worth mentioning that we also improved viewing of 2D models drastically, especially IFC’s, so check them as well!

 Check the more in-depth list of new features and improvements of this version from our Knowledge Base

Destia’s Marja-Terttu Sikiö: Environmental issues and sustainability are increasingly important themes in the planning of infrastructure projects

The infrastructure sector is one of the most-polluting industries worldwide. The majority of emissions occur after commissioning, but the construction itself also has an impact on the environment.

Regardless of the sector, environmental issues and sustainability targets are becoming increasingly important topics in conversations, and the bar has been set high. In infrastructure construction, achieving these targets and reducing emissions means new technological and materials options need to be explored, and that procedures need to be changed to a certain extent. Digitalization is also expected to help mitigate the environmental impact of construction. Finland has a good starting point for this, as much effort has been put into digitizing infrastructure over the past 10 years.

To achieve sustainability in infrastructure construction, we need to think holistically. Destia, for example, has a long tradition of caring for social sustainability, including occupational safety and employee well-being. However, sustainability is becoming a more widespread topic across the sector, and there is ever-growing talk about emissions and the environmental impact as a whole.

We interviewed Destia’s Marja-Terttu Sikiö to see how she sees the conversation around the topic and what could be done to promote change.

How do you see the present situation in the construction sector?

I see it as very positive in the sense that environmental issues and sustainability, such as climate work, are increasingly accounted for in projects, including in municipal development projects. For Destia, social sustainability issues, such as occupational safety and employee well-being, have long been important themes.

Do you see something in the present situation that prevents or hinders progress?

I think the main obstacle is lack of knowledge and bold experiments on a practical level. Of course, when it comes to large projects and long-lasting structures, we’re bound to practice some caution. To make progress in the sector, more examples of successful projects, as well as challenges and areas for improvement, are needed. We also need more companies, municipalities, and people who are willing to embrace change and act as pioneers.

How do you think the situation will develop in the future?

I believe there will be an even wider selection of requirements and perspectives of sustainability that need to be taken into account in new projects. New practices will first be introduced in larger pioneering projects, such as alliance projects. They offer a good opportunity to do things in a new way, with close cooperation between the different actors. Best practices will then spread to other projects as a result of the pioneers’ success.

What do you think are the key factors in bringing about change and controlling emissions?

The key is developing and deploying skills, competences, and new practices through pilot projects. Furthermore, with digitalization, we have the potential to significantly expand the knowledge base. Considering transport emissions, most of the emissions of transport infrastructure occur during use. This also applies to light rail projects. These emissions will be reduced by advances in vehicle technology and electricity generation methods.

Apart from the operational phase, the majority of emissions are generated by a few materials, such as steel, concrete, and asphalt. These emissions can be reduced by using recycled raw materials. The choice of worksite machinery and transport equipment also matters. More integration of data collection across the entire production chain and the use of this data for planning and implementing emission reductions is still needed on worksites.

Marja-Terttu Sikiö has been working for Destia’s Design and Expert Services for 14 years. Currently, she works as a Project and Team Leader in the Environmental Assessment Department.

Destia

Destia is Finland’s largest operator in the infrastructure sector and part of the international Colas Group. The company designs, builds, and maintains infrastructure necessary for a well-functioning society. This includes electricity grids, bridges, roads, and railways. Destia improves cities by developing telematics and lighting solutions, and by offering a wide range of services for transport and infrastructure asset management.

Changing from guessing to controlling emissions

Soon, we’ll be able to improve how we control emissions by making sure we know what has been emitted. To do this, we need to measure them, which will help us meet the carbon net zero aims for building infrastructure.

We’re working harder to create ways to reach our carbon neutrality goals. A big part of this effort is creating systems that track emissions using information from the production process.

Read more

Master Infrakit OFFICE and Mobile browser version with our comprehensive manual

We’re excited to announce that, as requested by our loyal users, we’ve published a comprehensive manual for Infrakit OFFICE and Mobile browser version! These resources have been designed to help you get the most out of your Infrakit experience, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned user. With this manual, you can learn everything there is to know about our platform, from logging in to utilizing the more advanced features. Let’s dive into what you can expect from the manual.

Getting started: logging in and settings

Infrakit is all about ease of use, and our manual reflects that. The first sections of the manual walks you through the simple process of logging in and adjusting your settings. This ensures that you can start using Infrakit as quickly as possible, tailoring the platform to your specific needs.

Exploring functions and features

The manual is organized by topic, making it easy to find the information you’re looking for. It delves into the functions and features of various pages and tabs within the Infrakit platform, helping you navigate the interface with confidence. You’ll learn how to control models, documents, and photos, as well as how to work with as-builts, equipment, and section views.

Saved views: a powerful tool

One particularly useful feature that the manual covers is the concept of saved views. This powerful tool allows you to store customized views of your project data, enabling you to quickly access the information that’s most relevant to you. The manual provides step-by-step instructions on how to create, manage, and share these saved views, streamlining your workflow and making collaboration a breeze.

Boost your productivity with Infrakit

Infrakit is designed to help you work faster and more productively, no matter your role in the infrastructure construction project. Our platform opens up new avenues for collaboration, ensuring that everyone on your team is on the same page. With our comprehensive manual, you’ll be able to make the most of Infrakit’s features and become a true champion of modern infra construction.

Training opportunities and support

While our manual is a fantastic starting point, we understand that you may still have questions or require additional training. Our team is here to help! For further information and training opportunities, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Conclusion

Infrakit’s new manual for OFFICE and Mobile browser version is designed to help you maximize your use of our platform, whether you’re a new user or an experienced pro. By familiarizing yourself with the features and functions outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an expert in modern infrastructure construction. So, give yourself that extra boost and get started today!

Please note that this manual is subject to regular updates, as we continuously improve and expand Infrakit’s features. Be sure to keep an eye out for the latest edition to stay up-to-date with all that our platform has to offer.

Manual is available on our Knowledge Base »  

For further information and training opportunities, please contact our support team at support@infrakit.com