Available within Trimble Warehouse for all Tekla Structures users, the Envelope Layout tool makes it easy to generate a roofing, cladding or flooring zone within a 3D model. Trimble executive Dominique Flasquin explains how this extension came about and its many advantages.
When it comes to construction, layout is an essential step in anticipating the installation of a covering. Whether you're talking about building cladding, flooring or roofing, layout helps determine the quantities and materials required for the job. It also helps to optimize cutting and to place realistic orders with the various suppliers.
Good layout is synonymous with an efficient job site, with no surprises. But to achieve a satisfactory result, you need not only the right measurements, but also the right tools. For decades, building professionals relied on manual plans and calculations, before they could rely on digital solutions. While software for defining 3D envelopes has been around for a long time, what was lacking was an efficient, detailed solution for effectively associating a building's 3D model with a detailed envelope rendering. This is where Tekla Structures' Envelope Layout tool comes in.
The Calepinage Enveloppe tool, created by Trimble France
Dominique Flasquin is Production Engineer at Trimble France. In particular, he studies the specific demands of the French market to imagine and develop useful additions to the Tekla Structures software solution. "We carry out two types of development: those specifically requested by customers, and those we decide to design ourselves, because we feel they will be suited to the needs of a large number of users."
The Calepinage Enveloppe tool falls into this second category: in the course of his discussions with companies using Tekla Structures, Dominique Flasquin realized that when it came to modeling a building's envelope, some professionals were either using clever, but time-consuming, methods to do so within Tekla Structures, or they were using another, less relevant software package. In the latter case, they also lost out on the many advantages of their 3D model.
The engineer is all the more concerned by the lack of effective solutions for his customers, given that he himself began his career as a metal carpenter. " In the early 1980s, I was designing envelopes on a drawing board," he recalls. " I had an idea of how to go about creating an efficient tool within Tekla Structures, so I took the specification in hand. Development work on the Calepinage Enveloppe tool began in France in 2020 and lasted almost a year. The first version went online at Tekla Warehouse in March 2021.
A Tekla Structures solution accessible to all
Calepinage Enveloppe is an extension to Tekla Structures: any user with a license for the software can install and use it immediately. " This tool is aimed at professionals trained in the creation of building envelopes," explains Dominique Flasquin. " It lets you process a building's envelope on a previously modeled 3D model".
In practice, simply select a surface and apply different materials. The tool can be used to create external, thermal or acoustic layers, to create overhangs or to generate openings in the building envelope with the utmost precision. Complexes can also be saved for reuse on other building sites.
The advantages of the Calepinage Enveloppe extension are numerous. First and foremost, Dominique Flasquin emphasizes the time saved: "It makes modeling much faster, but that's not all. For example, experienced staff in a design office can take charge of creating predefined complexes, which can then be used by younger staff, who can obtain a precise result with less experience."
More collaborative work on the envelope
Time is also saved in the use of data obtained from 3D modeling. Calepinage Enveloppe automatically generates purchase orders and layout plans for the building site. The former enable you to know exactly what materials to order as the work progresses, while the latter can be sent to the client and other trades so that they know immediately where to position the various elements of the envelope. This reduces unpleasant surprises on delivery and enhances coordination between the various teams.
As the Calepinage Enveloppe tool takes its place at the heart of the Trimble ecosystem, it benefits from the collaborative dimension made available to Tekla Structures users. "The 3D model of the envelope can be exported in multiple formats and sent to a platform such as Trimble Connect. The plans can be consulted, checked and reproduced by anyone involved on the site, who then has access to all the technical specifications," explains Dominique Flasquin.
A constantly evolving catalog of references
The scalability and collaborative nature of Calepinage Enveloppe can also be seen in the collections available in the reference catalog. When added to Tekla Structures, the tool already includes a vast selection of profiles. But users can add new ones, either by integrating their own references, or by downloading additional collections from Tekla Warehouse.
"Some suppliers even decide to supply us with their own collections, which we add to the catalog. We make regular updates, because the market is constantly evolving, including in terms of the complexity of materials", explains the expert in charge. " The more references we have, the better it is for everyone.
Calepinage Enveloppe, a state-of-the-art tool
For Dominique Flasquin, the addition of this tool to Tekla Structures is clear proof that the world of BIM is becoming increasingly rich, and is moving in the right direction. "Calepinage Enveloppe was born because our customers pointed out to us that this functionality was missing from our software. But it also enabled us to interest professionals who only do envelopes and hadn't used Tekla Structures before. "
Today, facilitating access to tools for creating 3D models is one of Trimble's main missions, as it faces increasingly precise expectations from its customers. "BIM is indispensable today, and we're not going backwards. We need to support professionals in this direction. What's more, 3D mock-ups are now a real market demand: it's becoming increasingly necessary to provide them. With our solutions, we're helping our customers to meet this demand," sums up Trimble's engineer. Envelope specialists now have their own tool within Tekla Structures.
As Dominique Flasquin assures us, Calepinage Enveloppe will continue to evolve over time: "Our two main areas of improvement concern dynamic modification functionalities and the integration of finishes. And, of course, we regularly add to the catalog. This will ensure that all Tekla Structures users benefit from increasingly comprehensive 3D modeling.
