uGRIDD – A Big Data Platform to Visualize Infrastructure Assets by Geolocation

Date and Time: Friday: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: NAS 120

 

Todd Fagen, uGRIDD

PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION

uGRIDD is a unique platform to host, organize and visualize 3D data over the internet. We know of no other platform on the market with these unique combined capabilities.
Digital twin data is organized and user accessed intuitively - by geolocation - on web-based maps. Using uGRIDD’s visualization tool (uPANO), users view two- and three-dimensional object data and data attributes, without the native software or expertise that was used to create the original digital data files. As an infrastructure big data platform, uGRIDD is not tied to any particular common hardware or software systems. It is a freestanding platform that stores, organizes and provides 3D visualization for any type of 3D digital twin data that is created by these software systems. Training on uGRIDD takes about one hour, allowing users to view their 3D data in both panoramic and orbital visualizations, a task that typically takes significant knowledge and training on common CAD software systems.

Visualization is a cornerstone of the uGRIDD user experience. Step one is to open up uGRIDD web-based maps of the world. uGRIDD organizes all digital twin data by location and a user defines their search by clicking on a map Location of Interest (LOI). At this LOI, users choose the type of digital information they desire to consume. uGRIDD’s uPANO viewer provides users the ability to:
• visualize two-dimensional data over an interactive map,
• visualize three-dimensional data in a panoramic and orbital viewer, and
• visualize photo, video, CAD, BIM and other digital data files on a browser from their chosen device.

WMATA Use Case
WMATA is designing and constructing new radio and cellular communication systems on its rail system. For eight years the uGRIDD infrastructure big data platform has provided a centralized repository for digital data related to the project and the WMATA transit system.
Users immerse themselves into the subway tunnel system by visualizing the integration of LiDAR point cloud data, CAD and photography data on the uGRIDD Platform. This integration reveals existing conditions, helps analyze future design concepts and assists in resolving potential maintenance, operations and safety concerns.
The project involves multiple public and private sector stakeholders such as federal, state, and local governments, telecommunications providers, and a variety of subconsultant engineering firms.
Visualized access to this data is explained in this graphical sequence:
Step 1
Open the WMATA Data Portal and choose a location of interest on the transit line (i.e., Engineering Stationing or Passenger Station Location).


 
Step 2
Drill down by choosing a vantage point on the map for viewing the digital data at this location.


Step 3
Using uGRIDD’s uPANO viewer, users can visualize the digital information at this location.



 
Step 4
One uGRIDD function is the ability to quickly and automatically check for rail car clearances using digital as-built data or overlay CAD or BIM design files for further analysis.



 
Step 5
Users can quickly and easily cut horizontal & vertical cross sections along with other similar CAD functionality.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Todd Fagen has been working in the transportation engineering industry for 34 years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Planning from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and a Master of Science degree in Transportation Engineering from the University of California at Irvine. Todd has had leadership roles at Land Strategies, Inc. as Co-Founder and President from 1999 to 2008 and Sam Schwartz Engineering as Vice President and Chicago General Manager from 2008 to 2010. He has testified as a transportation engineering expert witness on behalf of the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Todd has also testified before the Illinois Commerce Commission regarding railroad crossing safety issues. As part of larger project teams, Todd has received awards from The American Council of Engineering Companies, The American Planning Association and The Congress for the New Urbanism. Todd took a leadership role at uGRIDD Corporation in 2019 due to its unique capability as a web-based infrastructure big data platform to provide integrated 2D and 3D visualization for LiDAR, CAD and other digital data for the full infrastructure lifecycle.

PRESENTATION FILE