Tekla Structures Users Group changes name

About 18 months ago the British Constructional Steelwork Association and Trimble formed the ‘Tekla Structures Users Group’ to provide a forum for BCSA’s steelwork contractor members to discuss the development of Tekla Structures and provide a platform for Trimble to inform customers about any new developments, any proposed changes and to listen to their customers’ needs and where necessary provide the appropriate training.

This is the first Tekla Structures group of its kind to be formed anywhere in the world. Since its inaugural meeting in September 2016 the group has been very successful in a relatively short period of time and has issued a comprehensive series of ‘Hints and Tips’ that can be found on the ‘Software – Hints and Tips’ web page in the Members only area of www.steelconstruction.org.

More recently the Group has been instrumental in achieving significant improvements to the standard fabrication drawings produced by Tekla Structures and these have been included in the Tekla Structures 2017i release.

The group is now looking towards the software needs of the steelwork construction industry in the next 5 to 10 years and the use of new technologies to improve the design, fabrication and erection of steel structures. To reflect this change in scope the ‘Tekla Structures Users Group’ has changed its name to the ‘Digital Technology Group’ and at future meetings the group will be reviewing the application of technologies such as:

• Augmented Reality. The use of ‘Hololens’ technology to improve fabrication and to provide the client with a 3D image of the steelwork and its relationship with the M&E and other parts of the building.
• Cloud point surveys/scanning. The use of Cloud point survey technology for scanning existing structures and how this data can be imported into Tekla Structures.
• Production records and ‘As built’ data feedback to the model. One vision of the future is that 3D models will contain all the information associated with each element of the building and will become its own Operation and Maintenance manual.

BCSA members who are interested in becoming a member of the ‘Digital Technology Group’ should contact David Moore (email: david.moore@steelconstruction.org) for further information.