March 2015 - BaseStone

Working closely with our users and listening attentively to feedback, we pick up on certain things – annoyances you face everyday. Whether you’re communicating with others on the project or creating as-built redlines for handover, we focus on building technology to help you get the job done.

Here’s what we’ve released for you this month. Enjoy using these features and let us know what you think – we’re listening.

Shiny new web interface.

You might have already noticed that BaseStone is looking particularly dapper in your browser of late. We have released a brand new shiny web interface for you to use.

But there’s more to life than just about being ridiculously good-looking. We’ve also worked hard on the user experience to make your life easier. Take a look now.

Reporting, hassle-free.

Reporting is important for sharing progress with others, you can now more easily generate and manage these outputs.

On the web, simply generate a report or snapshot of a drawing from the top menu. Communicate progress by sending these files to other stakeholders.

Manage reports and snapshots.

All of your reports and snapshots will be available for you to view and download in the main project dashboard. Magic.

reports and snapshots

Seek and you will find.

We have made it easier for you to search through all of your projects. You can also personalise them by adding a project photo. Lovely.

search through projects

Scroll to zoom on drawings.

Have you tried the new scroll to zoom function yet? You can also view issues more easily. Click on any piece of markup on the drawing to see the issue in more detail.

Get excited about app 2.3.

This just in: we’ll be releasing a new version of the BaseStone iPad app in the very near future. The new release features a slick new interface and review functionality. As you so kindly found your way to our blog, here’s a sneak preview…

That’s all from us. We’re looking forward to hearing your feedback.

Try the new features on BaseStone

WHY THIS CONSTRUCT?

Construction of the Sagrada Família began 133 years ago this week but besides its remarkable gothic design and art nouveau contribution to Barcelona’s skyline, it has another reason to be famous. Over a century later, construction is still underway. Although its architect, Antoni Gaudí, often said “my client is not in a hurry” (his ‘client’ being God), construction is now progressing rapidly thanks to the use of innovative technologies. It has since been announced that Gaudí’s “unfinished masterpiece” will be completed in 2026 – in time for his centenary.

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ABOUT THE BASILICA

As expected, opinions on Gaudí’s style have been mixed but his spirit of innovation is evident in the legacy he has left. At the time of Gaudí’s death in 1926, less than a quarter of the Basilica had been completed, and it progressed slowly for the next few decades owing to the Spanish Civil War and the need for private donations. Although new machinery was being utilised, it is fair to say that the introduction of computers into the design and construction processes, in the 1980s, was a pivotal moment. Pioneering research has also taken place since the mid-1990s into the flexibility of parametric modelling throughout construction projects.

As new technology has arisen, the construction of the Sagrada Família has accelerated. Jordi Bonet i Armengol, the monument’s 88-year old chief architect, said “I never thought we could go this far”, who, like many others, hadn’t even been able to envisage its completion. CAD and stone-cutting technologies have dramatically cut the labour time and costs. BIM is now being used for the latest stages of the Sagrada Família, offering an accurate visualisation of how the Basilica will look once complete – a welcome sight and an example of technology’s ability to revolutionise the construction process.

In keeping with Gaudi’s vision of longevity, the Sagrada Família School was built next to the church, for the children of the construction workers and children from underprivileged backgrounds. Although the School has been relocated, Gaudí’s progressive approach and sense of social responsibility have served as inspiration for many.

LEGACY

The Sagrada Família began serving its true purpose when it was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 and has since held daily mass.

It is an impressive example of persistence and the effect innovative technology has on construction, especially in bringing together generations of construction workers, engineers and architects.