Virtual Design Analysis Group is a division of NVentum, LLC.


-CAPTURING HISTORY-
This unique collaborative endeavor; to utilize the latest reality capture technology to document the artifacts, buildings and campus of History San Jose, provides opportunities for private sector, non-profits and institutions of higher education to work together to solve some of today's most pressing engineering issues. The protocol for retrofitting as-built historic facilities and the use of new technologies to preserve our most prized historic treasures are vital to the continued success and expanded influence of our museums.
This blog will document the challenges and successes of this ambitious, one of a kind project.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Google and The Evolution of Modern Museums

"More museums are adding their floor plans to Google Maps for Android soon, including the SFMOMA, The Phillips Collection, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. If you’re interested in getting your museum’s floor plan included in Google Maps, visit the Google Maps Floor Plans tool.

Along with the Google Art Project, indoor mapping is one more way we’re working with museums to bring greater access to revered cultural and educational institutions around the world. Tap into the latest version of Google Maps for Android in Google Play
, and enjoy exploring the art and science of the great indoors...."
July 10, 2012...From the official Google blog

Google has developed an application for floor plans and indoor maps of numerous public facilities around the United States and abroad. Google's latest accomplishments include the interior mapping of airports, casinos and shopping centers around the world. This mapping project is the latest latest development in the evolution of modern museums and public facilities. Google currently has over 10,000 maps available for online users. Here is a partial list of the interior floor plans and maps available for online users:

United States


Museums
Smithsonian Art Museum

MGM Mandalay Bay
Casinos
  • Caesars Entertainment - Bally's Las Vegas
  • Caesars Entertainment - Caesars Palace
  • Caesars Entertainment - Flamingo Las Vegas
  • Caesars Entertainment - Harrah's Las Vegas
  • Caesars Entertainment - Imperial Palace
  • Caesars Entertainment - Paris Las Vegas
  • Caesars Entertainment - Planet Hollywood
  • Caesars Entertainment - Rio Las Vegas
  • MGM Resorts - Aria Hotel & Casino
  • MGM Resorts - Bellagio
  • MGM Resorts - Circus Circus Hotel & Casino
  • MGM Resorts - Crystals Retail
  • MGM Resorts - Excalibur Hotel & Casino
  • MGM Resorts - The Hotel at Mandalay Bay
  • MGM Resorts - Luxor Hotel & Casino
  • MGM Resorts - Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
  • MGM Resorts - Mandalay Bay - Four Seasons
  • MGM Resorts - Mandarin Oriental
  • MGM Resorts - MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
  • MGM Resorts - The Mirage Resort & Casino
  • MGM Resorts - Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
  • MGM Resorts - New York, New York Hotel & Casino
  • MGM Resorts - Signature
  • MGM Resorts - Vdara Hotel
  • Las Vegas Sands - The Venetian
Vallco Shopping Mall
Shopping Centers/ Public Buildings

Japan

Narita International Airport
National Museum of Emerging Science
and Innovation (Miraikan)

United Kingdom

Museum of London

Switzerland

Zurich Airport

Recently, a friend asked me if I felt discouraged by Google's aggressive pursuit of museum mapping and documentation. After all, Google is a technological giant with unlimited financial and human resources. Contrasted with NVentum's two man operation and very limited resources, it would be understandable for me/us to feel that the efforts to create our online museum have been seriously usurped.

However, Google's development of online maps for museums and public facilities serves as validation for our concepts of the new millennium museum. NVentum's vision of the modern museum differs from the Google projects in many ways. Google's apps allow access to museum floor plans and maps, but that is just one component of our project. Capturing History is a comprehensive documentation project that not only includes the development of online floor plans and maps, it is a tool for management and operation of facilities. Furthermore, NVentum's collaborative project with History San Jose provides facility operators/owners with new marketing and outreach tools, tools to develop new revenue streams, tools for the preservation artifacts, asset management and gaming applications.


Monday, July 9, 2012

The Old School and The New School

TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Antique Surveyor

Antique Super Surveyor
Drafting Table

1870 Gurley Transit
Faro Laser Scanners



The Last Gurley Level- 1980
Faro Laser Tracker



Scorpion Handheld Laser Scanner
By Fast Scan


Classic Reality Capture Technology
Cloth Tape Measurer
Leica Smart Station
Leica Digital Camera



Rugby 55 Interior Laser





CST Berger Theodolite
Old Reliable

6" Bow Compass
Gurley Pocket Compass
w/Telescope- cir. 1900

Hearlihy ArchiBoard
Template














Old School Jeep Schematic
The "New School"- Jeep Laser Scan

Laser Scanning for Forensic Analysis
Modern Home Design Techniques





Traditional Home  Design Techniques













Revit Software

Cyclone (Leica)













Python Software
Revit- BIM Software for Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing