Launch of innovative U_Build 1.0 based on 3Dfacto technology

4. juni 2009

Copenhagen, Denmark – U_Build is an interactive IT tool for public and user participation in building design and management as well as urban planning. The first version of U_Build was released June 3, 2009 at the Danish Architecture Centre and has been developed by MUTOPIA in close cooperation with a range of partners, including 3Dfacto as the main partner.

Ensuring user participation is often paramount to the successful building design and urban plan, however organizing and democratizing the user participation process is often difficult. With increasing complexity and an increasing number of stakeholders to take part in the process, old-fashioned civic hall meetings do not appeal to younger people, and the whole set-up of the process tend to favor professionals and ‘the usual suspects’. It seemed therefore obvious to create a tool that would make use of the Internet, and thus enable younger people and families with a stressful everyday life to participate in the discussion from behind the computer. It also opened up a possibility for a better representation of the building design or urban plan using 3D models. Hence, the main partner for MUTOPIA in the development process became 3Dfacto with its superior technology for management and visualization of 3D models together with profound experience in creating user friendly interfaces.

With U_Build the users are able to take their own virtual tour around the project and make their own visual impression of the project, read and receive any news about the project, post their own comments and suggestions, as well as participate in discussion forums with other users. The input received from the users can be sorted according to various parameters and made accessible by visual statistics and textual analysis.

U_Build can be customized to a wide range of building and urban planning projects by uploading a project specific 3D model as well as any explanatory text, images, logos, videos, sound, etc. A range of pre-built functionalities can be utilized such as login procedure with various access rights and integration of U_Build into the existing website of the client. The development of U_Build has been supported by Realdania through the initiative “Byggeriets innovation” (Building Lab DK) with the purpose of driving innovation in the building industry.

View U_Build demo online.

For more information, please contact:

3Dfacto A/S
Thomas Randrup, CEO
Telephone: +45 33 30 07 33
Email: trandrup@3dfacto.com

About MUTOPIA
MUTOPIA is an interdisciplinary architectural office developing urban planning and architecture projects focused on the users. MUTOPIA was founded in 2004 by architects Serban Cornea and Kristina Adsersen, out of a common urge to produce architecture with a higher utility value for the users. MUTOPIA works with a wide range of projects, including a variety of program types and scales within Urban planning, Housing, Office, Culture, Landscape, Infrastructure, and Participatory planning.MUTOPIA draws on professional experience gained in architectural offices in Denmark, Holland, Italy and Romania, teaching experience gained at the Royal Danish School of Architecture and Aarhus School of Architecture, as well as a variety of other architecture - related experiences such as architectural competitions, participatory planning processes, educational work, exhibitions and lectures.

For more information about MUTOPIA, please visit: www.mutopia.dk

About 3Dfacto
3Dfacto is a leading provider of consultancy and software for sales and product configuration. The company, 3Dfacto, was established in 1998 with its groundbreaking research and products in the field of component-based product modeling and visual configuration. VirtuBUILDTM is the brand name of the mature product platform based on 3Dfacto’s and Array´s patented research. The sales force of companies worldwide, for example, ABB, Danfoss, Aalborg Industries, and Cimbria, use our software platform to eliminate order errors and rework, and they have significantly reduced costs of sales and production. 3Dfacto is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

For more information about 3Dfacto, please visit www.3dfacto.com