I just wanted to explain before we go into this venture what this point while
into this venture what this point while
into this venture what this point while modeling is about we founded seven years
modeling is about we founded seven years
modeling is about we founded seven years ago the ETH together with professor
ago the ETH together with professor
ago the ETH together with professor Greer Egham a laboratory bridging
Greer Egham a laboratory bridging
Greer Egham a laboratory bridging engineering and architecture it was
engineering and architecture it was
engineering and architecture it was supported by the Swiss National Science
supported by the Swiss National Science
supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the school board the ETH
Foundation and the school board the ETH
Foundation and the school board the ETH School Board and what happened is that
School Board and what happened is that
School Board and what happened is that we transferred a technology that was
we transferred a technology that was
we transferred a technology that was privy to engineers and surveyors and
privy to engineers and surveyors and
privy to engineers and surveyors and brought it into the realm of modeling
brought it into the realm of modeling
brought it into the realm of modeling and the way we argued with the Swiss
and the way we argued with the Swiss
and the way we argued with the Swiss National Science Foundation is we
National Science Foundation is we
National Science Foundation is we basically said well there’s no such
basically said well there’s no such
basically said well there’s no such thing as a landscape modeling laboratory
thing as a landscape modeling laboratory
thing as a landscape modeling laboratory a DTH but not even in Europe or probably
a DTH but not even in Europe or probably
a DTH but not even in Europe or probably worldwide we’d like to bring this sort
worldwide we’d like to bring this sort
worldwide we’d like to bring this sort of large-scale modeling from the virtual
of large-scale modeling from the virtual
of large-scale modeling from the virtual world into a reality and make it
world into a reality and make it
world into a reality and make it accessible to younger generations of
accessible to younger generations of
accessible to younger generations of researchers and students so that’s
researchers and students so that’s
researchers and students so that’s actually what we did what you’re going
actually what we did what you’re going
actually what we did what you’re going to see is going to require a little bit
to see is going to require a little bit
to see is going to require a little bit of a gymnastic to understand how this
of a gymnastic to understand how this
of a gymnastic to understand how this sort of visualizing occurs but actually
sort of visualizing occurs but actually
sort of visualizing occurs but actually what you’re looking at in this picture
what you’re looking at in this picture
what you’re looking at in this picture is a still picture of a model it’s a
is a still picture of a model it’s a
is a still picture of a model it’s a gigantic digital model showing the
gigantic digital model showing the
gigantic digital model showing the entire Alpine chain ranging north south
entire Alpine chain ranging north south
entire Alpine chain ranging north south over the Guittard
over the Guittard
over the Guittard before we start I think that we should
before we start I think that we should
before we start I think that we should define first what a point cloud is made
define first what a point cloud is made
define first what a point cloud is made of it’s actually made of millions if not
of it’s actually made of millions if not
of it’s actually made of millions if not billions of pixel points the pixel
billions of pixel points the pixel
billions of pixel points the pixel itself is a recent word in the history
itself is a recent word in the history
itself is a recent word in the history of mankind it appeared in 1967 at NASA
of mankind it appeared in 1967 at NASA
of mankind it appeared in 1967 at NASA actually in the Jet Propulsion lab
actually in the Jet Propulsion lab
actually in the Jet Propulsion lab Billingsly when they satellites and and
Billingsly when they satellites and and
Billingsly when they satellites and and spatial missions were sending back
spatial missions were sending back
spatial missions were sending back electronic image to earth and it simply
electronic image to earth and it simply
electronic image to earth and it simply means picture element it’s the smallest
means picture element it’s the smallest
means picture element it’s the smallest unit visible unit on a digital image or
unit visible unit on a digital image or
unit visible unit on a digital image or screen it goes back actually to 19
screen it goes back actually to 19
screen it goes back actually to 19 century theories German person called
century theories German person called
century theories German person called Paul nip cough first talked about a
Paul nip cough first talked about a
Paul nip cough first talked about a built Punk’d the basically that’s what
built Punk’d the basically that’s what
built Punk’d the basically that’s what the entire cloud is made of so what is a
the entire cloud is made of so what is a
the entire cloud is made of so what is a cloud it’s basically a set of points
cloud it’s basically a set of points
cloud it’s basically a set of points that carry information each point
that carry information each point
that carry information each point carries in a way a position relative to
carries in a way a position relative to
carries in a way a position relative to its neighbors and the black space in
its neighbors and the black space in
its neighbors and the black space in between is simply no information and as
between is simply no information and as
between is simply no information and as I said until recently these data sets
I said until recently these data sets
I said until recently these data sets these point clouds were used by very
these point clouds were used by very
these point clouds were used by very serious engineers civil engineers mostly
serious engineers civil engineers mostly
serious engineers civil engineers mostly to draw precise technical plans and
to draw precise technical plans and
to draw precise technical plans and elevations on construction sites like
elevations on construction sites like
elevations on construction sites like dams and other things and the image
dams and other things and the image
dams and other things and the image itself while the model itself was never
itself while the model itself was never
itself while the model itself was never made fully the information was extracted
made fully the information was extracted
made fully the information was extracted and 99% of the point cloud information
and 99% of the point cloud information
and 99% of the point cloud information was thrown away what happened with this
was thrown away what happened with this
was thrown away what happened with this laboratory is we bridged the two fields
laboratory is we bridged the two fields
laboratory is we bridged the two fields engineering and creative architecture
engineering and creative architecture
engineering and creative architecture and kept the entire datasets as they
and kept the entire datasets as they
and kept the entire datasets as they were and started working with these
were and started working with these
were and started working with these unwieldy models that count billions of
unwieldy models that count billions of
unwieldy models that count billions of points basically each point carries the
points basically each point carries the
points basically each point carries the famous GPS coordinates the X Y Z that
famous GPS coordinates the X Y Z that
famous GPS coordinates the X Y Z that assesses slant latitude longitude and
assesses slant latitude longitude and
assesses slant latitude longitude and elevation and you have within this
elevation and you have within this
elevation and you have within this family of point clouds these so-called
family of point clouds these so-called
family of point clouds these so-called control points that anchor the entire
control points that anchor the entire
control points that anchor the entire cloud in precision and we’re talking
cloud in precision and we’re talking
cloud in precision and we’re talking about millimetre in terms of height or
about millimetre in terms of height or
about millimetre in terms of height or width the position is within millimeter
width the position is within millimeter
width the position is within millimeter precision these control points are
precision these control points are
precision these control points are actually riveted to a series of
actually riveted to a series of
actually riveted to a series of satellites that go around the earth and
satellites that go around the earth and
satellites that go around the earth and really give that fixed position the
really give that fixed position the
really give that fixed position the control point also helps to bring
control point also helps to bring
control point also helps to bring different sets we use drones we use
different sets we use drones we use
different sets we use drones we use terrestrial lasers we use lidar mobile
terrestrial lasers we use lidar mobile
terrestrial lasers we use lidar mobile cars that register elements and these
cars that register elements and these
cars that register elements and these control points allow us to bring things
control points allow us to bring things
control points allow us to bring things together so much for the technical
together so much for the technical
together so much for the technical explanation I think the best way to
explanation I think the best way to
explanation I think the best way to explain that is to start again with the
explain that is to start again with the
explain that is to start again with the point within a point cloud so that you
point within a point cloud so that you
point within a point cloud so that you can’t stand the sort of phenomenon that
can’t stand the sort of phenomenon that
can’t stand the sort of phenomenon that I call trance duck
I call trance duck
I call trance duck scale what happens is you can go from a
scale what happens is you can go from a
scale what happens is you can go from a minut scale of an object to the very
minut scale of an object to the very
minut scale of an object to the very broad scale of a territory seeming
broad scale of a territory seeming
broad scale of a territory seeming seamlessly and that’s quite
seamlessly and that’s quite
seamlessly and that’s quite extraordinary so let’s start our journey
extraordinary so let’s start our journey
extraordinary so let’s start our journey here we’re going to see a pixel point
here we’re going to see a pixel point
here we’re going to see a pixel point retracting into the virtual digital
retracting into the virtual digital
retracting into the virtual digital space of the new net tunnel this is
space of the new net tunnel this is
space of the new net tunnel this is actually a data set that was given to us
actually a data set that was given to us
actually a data set that was given to us by the ARP transit of the entire new
by the ARP transit of the entire new
by the ARP transit of the entire new high speed rail tunnel in Switzerland
high speed rail tunnel in Switzerland
high speed rail tunnel in Switzerland the longest in the world and here we’re
the longest in the world and here we’re
the longest in the world and here we’re retracting out of the south portal which
retracting out of the south portal which
retracting out of the south portal which is in BO do very slowly and we’re going
is in BO do very slowly and we’re going
is in BO do very slowly and we’re going to pull out at the scale of an object
to pull out at the scale of an object
to pull out at the scale of an object and as we go up in the air we’re going
and as we go up in the air we’re going
and as we go up in the air we’re going to literally start seeing and this is
to literally start seeing and this is
to literally start seeing and this is all a point cloud data set we’re going
all a point cloud data set we’re going
all a point cloud data set we’re going to start seeing the model in a much
to start seeing the model in a much
to start seeing the model in a much bigger picture of the environment here
bigger picture of the environment here
bigger picture of the environment here you even see raindrops falling on the
you even see raindrops falling on the
you even see raindrops falling on the tunnel entrance
tunnel entrance
tunnel entrance they were scanned the forests the
they were scanned the forests the
they were scanned the forests the mountains adjacent to that etc so what’s
mountains adjacent to that etc so what’s
mountains adjacent to that etc so what’s extraordinary with the point cloud when
extraordinary with the point cloud when
extraordinary with the point cloud when you use it as a general data set is it’s
you use it as a general data set is it’s
you use it as a general data set is it’s a virtual model it’s a still image but
a virtual model it’s a still image but
a virtual model it’s a still image but it has extraordinary precision this is
it has extraordinary precision this is
it has extraordinary precision this is just the section of the model that we’ve
just the section of the model that we’ve
just the section of the model that we’ve been scanning at the eth over the last
been scanning at the eth over the last
been scanning at the eth over the last seven years of the landscape modeling
seven years of the landscape modeling
seven years of the landscape modeling and visualizing laboratory what you see
and visualizing laboratory what you see
and visualizing laboratory what you see this sort of strange little streak on
this sort of strange little streak on
this sort of strange little streak on the upper part of the the plan picture
the upper part of the the plan picture
the upper part of the the plan picture is actually the datasets that we took
is actually the datasets that we took
is actually the datasets that we took they’re embedded in a Swiss topo dataset
they’re embedded in a Swiss topo dataset
they’re embedded in a Swiss topo dataset and what you see underneath is the
and what you see underneath is the
and what you see underneath is the section through the mountains with that
section through the mountains with that
section through the mountains with that high-speed tunnel going through if you
high-speed tunnel going through if you
high-speed tunnel going through if you look at the screen you also see that her
look at the screen you also see that her
look at the screen you also see that her thin line in the middle of the picture
thin line in the middle of the picture
thin line in the middle of the picture which is literally the tunnel that you
which is literally the tunnel that you
which is literally the tunnel that you see in semi-transparency through the
see in semi-transparency through the
see in semi-transparency through the pixel points of the model this is the
pixel points of the model this is the
pixel points of the model this is the tunnel you all know it it’s been very
tunnel you all know it it’s been very
tunnel you all know it it’s been very highly publicized since its inauguration
highly publicized since its inauguration
highly publicized since its inauguration last June it is quite unreal one really
last June it is quite unreal one really
last June it is quite unreal one really doesn’t know where the one is under the
doesn’t know where the one is under the
doesn’t know where the one is under the ocean or under the mountain the
ocean or under the mountain the
ocean or under the mountain the relationship to the landscape has been
relationship to the landscape has been
relationship to the landscape has been in a way lost here and of course when
in a way lost here and of course when
in a way lost here and of course when you look at what has happened with this
you look at what has happened with this
you look at what has happened with this highly technical sort of device
highly technical sort of device
highly technical sort of device is that you can cross the Alps in
is that you can cross the Alps in
is that you can cross the Alps in roughly 20 minutes it used to take two
roughly 20 minutes it used to take two
roughly 20 minutes it used to take two weeks when Goethe went over the Alps and
weeks when Goethe went over the Alps and
weeks when Goethe went over the Alps and basically what you see in gray is the
basically what you see in gray is the
basically what you see in gray is the entire mountain landscape having
entire mountain landscape having
entire mountain landscape having disappeared what’s good though is that
disappeared what’s good though is that
disappeared what’s good though is that the Swiss train company the SBB has
the Swiss train company the SBB has
the Swiss train company the SBB has provided for us a virtual compensation
provided for us a virtual compensation
provided for us a virtual compensation they have within the trains as you cross
they have within the trains as you cross
they have within the trains as you cross the tunnel monitors that talk about your
the tunnel monitors that talk about your
the tunnel monitors that talk about your new horizon it’s labeled underneath each
new horizon it’s labeled underneath each
new horizon it’s labeled underneath each screen and probably it’s the absence
screen and probably it’s the absence
screen and probably it’s the absence thereof that means that the new horizon
thereof that means that the new horizon
thereof that means that the new horizon appears on a virtual screen so what
appears on a virtual screen so what
appears on a virtual screen so what should we say about that I think we’re
should we say about that I think we’re
should we say about that I think we’re going to go back to the point cloud to
going to go back to the point cloud to
going to go back to the point cloud to try and understand how it actually works
try and understand how it actually works
try and understand how it actually works as a model and as a piece and I think
as a model and as a piece and I think
as a model and as a piece and I think the best way to designate that is to
the best way to designate that is to
the best way to designate that is to explain that the model is like a crust
explain that the model is like a crust
explain that the model is like a crust here we’re just south of the Gothic
here we’re just south of the Gothic
here we’re just south of the Gothic going down we’re monitoring the earth
going down we’re monitoring the earth
going down we’re monitoring the earth crust it’s really showing in the most
crust it’s really showing in the most
crust it’s really showing in the most intricate details the old tremolo wrote
intricate details the old tremolo wrote
intricate details the old tremolo wrote in the new tremolo Road it’s almost like
in the new tremolo Road it’s almost like
in the new tremolo Road it’s almost like a big cake a digital cake which is empty
a big cake a digital cake which is empty
a big cake a digital cake which is empty underneath it’s just really showing the
underneath it’s just really showing the
underneath it’s just really showing the surface in the most intricate detail
surface in the most intricate detail
surface in the most intricate detail what you’re going to start seeing now
what you’re going to start seeing now
what you’re going to start seeing now though is the tunnel below that line
though is the tunnel below that line
though is the tunnel below that line that appears in transparency which is
that appears in transparency which is
that appears in transparency which is actually the autobahn tunnel the first
actually the autobahn tunnel the first
actually the autobahn tunnel the first tunnel that we’re going to see and it’s
tunnel that we’re going to see and it’s
tunnel that we’re going to see and it’s appearing in transparency through the
appearing in transparency through the
appearing in transparency through the cross the second line above that looks
cross the second line above that looks
cross the second line above that looks like a cloth hanging line is actually
like a cloth hanging line is actually
like a cloth hanging line is actually the nail tunnel which is further east
the nail tunnel which is further east
the nail tunnel which is further east and as we cut through that model as if
and as we cut through that model as if
and as we cut through that model as if you’re cutting through a piece of cake
you’re cutting through a piece of cake
you’re cutting through a piece of cake we see with exact geographic position
we see with exact geographic position
we see with exact geographic position the depth of field with the two tunnels
the depth of field with the two tunnels
the depth of field with the two tunnels below the earth crust that’s quite a big
below the earth crust that’s quite a big
below the earth crust that’s quite a big will during image and that’s where these
will during image and that’s where these
will during image and that’s where these point cloud data sets are actually
point cloud data sets are actually
point cloud data sets are actually producing a sort of revolution of sorts
producing a sort of revolution of sorts
producing a sort of revolution of sorts again the point cloud is a surface that
again the point cloud is a surface that
again the point cloud is a surface that is geo-referenced and that really shows
is geo-referenced and that really shows
is geo-referenced and that really shows an extraordinary amount of texture here
an extraordinary amount of texture here
an extraordinary amount of texture here you see the texture in front of the
you see the texture in front of the
you see the texture in front of the terrain but you also see the
terrain but you also see the
terrain but you also see the transparency of the entire mountain
transparency of the entire mountain
transparency of the entire mountain chain behind it goes all the way to the
chain behind it goes all the way to the
chain behind it goes all the way to the Mater hole on the far left this is part
Mater hole on the far left this is part
Mater hole on the far left this is part of the model again and here we see the
of the model again and here we see the
of the model again and here we see the journey
journey
journey north-to-south so I’ll just let you
north-to-south so I’ll just let you
north-to-south so I’ll just let you travel we’re going to go through the
travel we’re going to go through the
travel we’re going to go through the portal that we just saw before what’s
portal that we just saw before what’s
portal that we just saw before what’s extraordinary with this vision is that
extraordinary with this vision is that
extraordinary with this vision is that we actually come down and within the
we actually come down and within the
we actually come down and within the recognizable human scale we see things
recognizable human scale we see things
recognizable human scale we see things in very very precise positioning I think
in very very precise positioning I think
in very very precise positioning I think that’s what’s the most important thing
here we’re going to get to the portal
here we’re going to get to the portal that we just left a few minutes before
that we just left a few minutes before
that we just left a few minutes before and what you’re going to see very
and what you’re going to see very
and what you’re going to see very quickly is the portal and then the
quickly is the portal and then the
quickly is the portal and then the double pipe of the train line veering to
double pipe of the train line veering to
double pipe of the train line veering to the right under the mounting crust and
the right under the mounting crust and
the right under the mounting crust and then shooting into the mountain itself
then shooting into the mountain itself
then shooting into the mountain itself transparently here we’re going up the
transparently here we’re going up the
transparently here we’re going up the hill towards the Guittard
hill towards the Guittard
hill towards the Guittard and then we’ll come down over the
and then we’ll come down over the
and then we’ll come down over the devil’s bridge below you see the
devil’s bridge below you see the
devil’s bridge below you see the motorway tunnel in transparency that’s
motorway tunnel in transparency that’s
motorway tunnel in transparency that’s really what’s absolutely fascinating
really what’s absolutely fascinating
really what’s absolutely fascinating with these models
so it’s actually a massive scale digital
so it’s actually a massive scale digital model that can be used here we’re
model that can be used here we’re
model that can be used here we’re arriving on the Gothard again and then
arriving on the Gothard again and then
arriving on the Gothard again and then we go down again with the mote ultra ban
we go down again with the mote ultra ban
we go down again with the mote ultra ban bridge underneath and magician and fluke
bridge underneath and magician and fluke
bridge underneath and magician and fluke The Devil’s Bridge the well-known
The Devil’s Bridge the well-known
The Devil’s Bridge the well-known Devil’s Bridge on the bottom of the
Devil’s Bridge on the bottom of the
Devil’s Bridge on the bottom of the picture etc going through we’ve been
picture etc going through we’ve been
picture etc going through we’ve been deploying techniques like drones before
deploying techniques like drones before
deploying techniques like drones before they were celebrated that was 10 years
they were celebrated that was 10 years
they were celebrated that was 10 years ago now they’re sort of ubiquitous we’ve
ago now they’re sort of ubiquitous we’ve
ago now they’re sort of ubiquitous we’ve been using the lidar system we even
been using the lidar system we even
been using the lidar system we even reserved the Ultra Bank tunnel for
reserved the Ultra Bank tunnel for
reserved the Ultra Bank tunnel for ourselves close it off and measured it
ourselves close it off and measured it
ourselves close it off and measured it we even have been going to very cold
we even have been going to very cold
we even have been going to very cold places this is Matthias scanning the
places this is Matthias scanning the
places this is Matthias scanning the Guittard what I think is really
Guittard what I think is really
Guittard what I think is really important to understand is how this
important to understand is how this
important to understand is how this really works and what its applications
really works and what its applications
really works and what its applications are for the future it’s not just a
are for the future it’s not just a
are for the future it’s not just a nice-to-have model of the Swiss Alps
nice-to-have model of the Swiss Alps
nice-to-have model of the Swiss Alps here we can literally work as engineers
here we can literally work as engineers
here we can literally work as engineers sexually we’re going to cut through the
sexually we’re going to cut through the
sexually we’re going to cut through the infrastructure that pours out of the
infrastructure that pours out of the
infrastructure that pours out of the Alps in Goshen and here you see a very
Alps in Goshen and here you see a very
Alps in Goshen and here you see a very very precise section showing how the
very precise section showing how the
very precise section showing how the motorway the railway bridge etc works
motorway the railway bridge etc works
motorway the railway bridge etc works and the applications there have been
and the applications there have been
and the applications there have been multiple we’ve worked in Southeast Asia
multiple we’ve worked in Southeast Asia
multiple we’ve worked in Southeast Asia and Jakarta monitoring flood problems in
and Jakarta monitoring flood problems in
and Jakarta monitoring flood problems in slums we’ve been rebuilding artificial
slums we’ve been rebuilding artificial
slums we’ve been rebuilding artificial islands in Venice with the same
islands in Venice with the same
islands in Venice with the same technology we’ve been working in Israel
technology we’ve been working in Israel
technology we’ve been working in Israel and Jordan on the naira your insight to
and Jordan on the naira your insight to
and Jordan on the naira your insight to document archaeological elements and
document archaeological elements and
document archaeological elements and basically what we’re able to do with
basically what we’re able to do with
basically what we’re able to do with this type of modeling is not just map
this type of modeling is not just map
this type of modeling is not just map the Alps but actually simulate flow
the Alps but actually simulate flow
the Alps but actually simulate flow simulate new projects and use it almost
simulate new projects and use it almost
simulate new projects and use it almost as a tool of participation we’ve trained
as a tool of participation we’ve trained
as a tool of participation we’ve trained hundreds of young researchers and
hundreds of young researchers and
hundreds of young researchers and students for it and I think that’s
students for it and I think that’s
students for it and I think that’s really the goal of this laboratory so
really the goal of this laboratory so
really the goal of this laboratory so basically the entire team behind the
basically the entire team behind the
basically the entire team behind the guitar project which was shown
guitar project which was shown
guitar project which was shown by the way in the Venice Biennale two
by the way in the Venice Biennale two
by the way in the Venice Biennale two years ago and will be shown again at the
years ago and will be shown again at the
years ago and will be shown again at the ETH Center at the beginning of next year
ETH Center at the beginning of next year
ETH Center at the beginning of next year in June is actually the result of a huge
in June is actually the result of a huge
in June is actually the result of a huge amount of collaborations I thank you for
amount of collaborations I thank you for
amount of collaborations I thank you for your attention
your attention
your attention [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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