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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PANOPLIA
PANOPLIA is an integrated management system for the creation, implementation and management of the detailed design of reinforced concrete buildings, as well as the ordering of the required materials such as steel reinforcement. With PANOPLIA, π-SYSTEMS uses the latest technology to simplify the entire process of building design and construction, thus bringing significant advantages to engineers, construction companies, contractors and suppliers.
The detailed designer inputs the frame of the building and its reinforcement only once in order to generate a variety of detailed design outputs including: floor plans with annotated reinforcement details and dimensions, cross sections with elevation and dimensions, detailed 2D reinforcement sketches showing the exact geometry and dimensions of each RC bar and stirrup, visualization of the building frame and its reinforcement in a stereoscopic 3D Virtual Reality environment, accurate bill of materials, etc.
PANOPLIA also supports the import of building frames and their analysis from widely-used analysis packages, such as ETABS and StereoSTATIKA. It then automatically generates the detailed design of the building imported. (The generic architecture of PANOPLIA allows us to expand the list of supported analysis packages in the future). |
PANOPLIA offers user-friendly tools for editing of the detailed design by engineers, foremen, suppliers or contractors, thus enabling the effective and unambiguous communication of technical information among them.
It also manages reliably the workflow between the aforementioned parties. For example, it manages the online order of steel reinforcement from a list of suppliers offering unique benefits to both construction companies and rebar manufacturers.
With the use of cutting-edge technology, PANOPLIA is able to provide the following nine (9) unique features and benefits:
1. Single Input – Multiple outputs
A once-off input of the building frame and its reinforcement results in the production of all necessary detailed design drawings, RC sketches, 3D models, tabular data etc. All detailed design outputs are merely representations of the same project and design data, thus ensuring the consistency of all generated drawings, reports etc.
2. Automatic 2D detailed drawings
PANOPLIA generates automatically several 2D drawings including:
• floor plans with annotated reinforcement details and dimensions
• cross section drawings with elevations and dimensions.
• diagrams showing the exact reinforcement of each column
All drawings are updated automatically when the structural elements or their reinforcement are altered by the user.
3. Accurate and detailed reinforcement catalogues
PANOPLIA generates text-based reinforcement tables and catalogues of reinforcement sketches. The catalogues are based on the exact placement of each individual piece of reinforcement in a virtual 3D building frame. The fact that the catalogues are not merely the result of measurement but the true placement of the reinforcement in a 3D model of the building results in an unprecedented level of detail and accuracy.
4. Μonoscopic or stereoscopic 3D representation of the building frame and all its reinforcement
PANOPLIA generates automatically a 3D model of the building and its reinforcement down to the finest detail of each individual bar or stirrup. The model is presented in an innovative virtual reality environment that allows the user to walk through the building in different modes and interact with it. Any scene may be captured in a photorealistic picture. Viewing and photos may be monoscopic or stereoscopic (including stereoscopic menus).
5. Dynamic Updates of drawings, sketches etc.
Using the user-friendly editing tools included in PANOPLIA, detailed designers, contractors and suppliers may alter the building frame or the details of their reinforcement in a snap. Drawings, reinforcement catalogues, 3D models, bill-of-materials and, in general, all views of the detailed design are also updated dynamically and automatically!
6. Parameterization
PANOPLIA supports various construction practices through an impressive level of parameterization.
7. Input from ETABS and StereoSTATIKA
Capability to import the building frame and its analysis from popular analysis packages, such as ETABS and StereoSTATIKA, and automatically generate the detailed design of the building. The list of supported analysis packages will be expanded in the future.
8. Electronic workflow including e-order of materials
PANOPLIA manages reliably the interaction and communication among design consultants, construction companies, rebar manufacturers, formwork contractors, concrete suppliers etc.
For example, it manages the online order of steel reinforcement from a list of suppliers offering unique benefits to both the construction company and the rebar manufacturer: it suitably groups and integrates the required reinforcement for a project in accordance with the needs of the client and automatically generates his order. Having generated the order of the reinforcement, the client dispatches it to slelected rebar manufacturers (either through the Internet or through a document generated by the system). Upon receipt of the order, each supplier may automatically issue an offer having inserted his prices, and send an offer to the client. Clients are able to easily send orders and receive offers from various suppliers, compare the tendered prices and proceed with the acceptance or the rejection of an offer.
9. Cost Reduction
Overall, PANOPLIA offers consistent and instant detailed designs, efficient construction management and unambiguous material procurement. As a result, construction companies, rebar manufacturers and other suppliers and contractors enjoy significant cost savings.
• Reduced personnel cost: Any computer-literate user is able to use PANOPLIA effectively. The system simplifies several design, construction management and materials procurement tasks, thus requiring less specialized personnel to carry out these tasks.
• Reduction of labour-intensive tasks: The fast production of all drawings, catalogues etc. from a single input, as well as the automatic update of these in case of alterations, reduce dramatically the work required for traditionally time-consuming tasks such as the compilation of reinforcement catalogues.
• Enhanced Productivity of technicians: The detailed 3D visualization of the reinforced building frame offers to technicians complete understanding of the construction project on its entirety, as well as clear-cut visual “instructions” even for the most complex of its reinforcement details.
• Unambiguous orders: The exact calculation of the required materials save time and cost from both the construction company and its suppliers.
• Time savings via efficient and error-free communication: Through its electronic workflow system, PANOPLIA reduces significantly the time required to exchange clear technical information among all parties involved.
BENEFITS FOR THE DETAILED DESIGN CONSULTANT Speed, Reliability
1. A once-off input of the building frame results in several outputs of all its detailed design aspects.
2. No use of 3rd-party CAD programs required; however, import from and export to DWG/DXF is available.
3. Complete detailed design and cross-section drawings with elevations and dimensions.
4. Exhaustive and accurate reinforcement catalogues generated in just a few minutes as opposed to the work of days or weeks required under current practice.
5. Reassurance of correct RC design and placement through 3D visualization and navigation.
6. Easy-to-use editing tools for changes to the structural elements and their reinforcement.
7. Fully parameterized program that can adapt to any engineer’s practices.
8. The software itself is of high educational value on specific construction matters to both the Engineer and his assistants.
9. The lack of manual data entry during the various phases of the project promotes the correctness and unambiguity of the construction,
10. Explanation of construction details to the technicians with the use of (optionally stereoscopic) 3D images.
11. Fast and reliable electronic workflow for all actions related to the project.
12. Enhanced “image” of the consultant portrayed to his clients through the use of state-of-the-art technology.
13. Direct interface with the analytical packages StereoSTATIKA and ETABS.
BENEFITS FOR THE REBAR MANUFACTURER Speed, Cost Savings, Reliability
1. Attraction of new clientele through the online ordering system.
2. Precise orders both in terms of quantity and quality.
3. Complete understanding of the size of the construction project and its RC details using 3D visualization and navigation.
4. Cost and time savings in the creation of reinforcement catalogues for cutting and bending.
5. Minimization of customer complaints.
6. Speedy and costless creation of offers to clients.
7. The accuracy of orders and online ordering result in a “leveled field” of competition for all rebar manufacturers.
8. Ability to translate PANOPLIA’s RC catalogues into commands of CNC machines.
9. Creation of detailed designs from standard designs generated by any program.
10. Enhanced quality of service delivered to clients.
11. Fast and reliable electronic workflow for all actions related to the project.
12. 12.Enhanced “image” of the manufacturer portrayed to his clients through the use of state-of-the-art technology.
BENEFITS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Speed, Cost Savings, Reliability
1. Complete knowledge of the construction project due to the existence of detailed 2D and 3D plans.
2. Accurate calculation of all materials and labour costs required.
3. Confidence in the accuracy of orders of materials and labour man-days.
4. Certainty of correct execution of the project.
5. Receipt of more offers from suppliers on “equal terms”.
6. Unambiguity of the quantity/quality of materials and labour work.
7. The participation of the Company in detailed design facilitates later the supervision and execution of construction works.
8. Enhanced quality of the construction.
9. Fast and reliable electronic workflow with the consultant and the suppliers;
10.Enhanced “image” of the Company portrayed to his clients through the use of state-of-the-art technology.
BENEFITS FOR THE FORMWORK CONTRACTOR Speed, Cost Savings, Reliability
1. Attraction of new clientele through the online ordering system.
2. Cost and time savings due to the availability of accurate construction plans which facilitate the preparation of the work.
3. Ability to quickly edit any part of the design drawings in cooperation with the consultant through exchange of electronic files.
4. Cost and time savings in the creation of catalogues for the placement of formwork panels
5. Minimization of customer complaints.
6. Speedy and costless creation of offers to clients.
7. The accuracy of orders and online ordering result in a “leveled field” of competition for all formwork contractors.
8. Enhanced quality of service delivered to clients.
9. Fast and reliable electronic workflow for all actions related to the project.
10. Enhanced “image” of the contractor portrayed to his clients through the use of state-of-the-art technology. |
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