BIM CUBE Uses Scalable Display Technologies for Distanced Collaboration During Pandemic
Technological capabilities are ever-increasing in the architectural, engineering and construction industry. Collaborative Ultimate Building Environment (CUBE) is known for pioneering a mobile stand-alone room that creates an immersive experience of the built environment before construction commences. In 2018, CUBE created the BIM CUBE (or Building Information Modeling CUBE) so users could seamlessly collaborate between the design and construction process in a physical pop-up space. By utilizing innovative technologies in design, management and construction, tradespeople can improve infrastructure development, simplify the construction process and increase service quality.
“Before introducing the BIM CUBE, many architecture, engineering and construction companies utilized a 3D environment with stereoscopic glasses and virtual reality headsets,” said Cody Nowak, founder of CUBE. “BIM CUBE eliminates the need for glasses and headsets. It also creates an immersive experience on a near one-to-one human scale.”
BIM CUBE enables the architectural, engineering and construction industry to utilize existing tools of the trade (such as third-party applications and software) to create a collaborative environment — allowing participants to have a face-to-face conversation while reviewing the content being displayed. The BIM CUBE is large enough to enable a sizable group to access the technology simultaneously. Even throughout COVID-19 restrictions, the BIM CUBE has allowed groups to collaborate while socially distanced.
“We’ve worked with Scalable to…allow anyone utilizing the BIM CUBE to calibrate the system with a single button,” said Nowak. “It works well for our clients because it allows them to utilize the baseline from the initial calibration anytime they need to recalibrate their system. Ultimately, our end users connect with the technology.”
With the BIM CUBE, users can display the 3D design on one wall and the BIM model on the other wall. BIM CUBE’s simultaneous display enables participants to compare the job site to different models through the 360-degree image. They can align the models with the BIM to determine if there are any discrepancies in the design. BIM CUBE can seamlessly blend edges of multiple projectors, and the Scalable software eliminates dark points and allows for multiple people to view content.
“The BIM CUBE is designed as a 40-foot by 10-foot projection that’s separated into two walls and data points,” said Nowak. “The BIM CUBE incorporates an interactive 3D design so that, as changes are made to the design, it’s updated and reflected in real-time on the human scale…This enables [users] to collaborate on a much larger scale.”