Hexagon said that LocLab’s proprietary technology, enabled by a high degree of automation using proven workflows and artificial intelligence, allows the creation of digital twins
Swedish digital solutions company Hexagon announced the acquisition of LocLab, a specialist in 3D digital twin content creation.
Hexagon noted that LocLab’s proprietary technology, enabled by a high degree of automation using proven workflows and artificial intelligence, allows the creation of digital twins.
The Swedish firm also highlighted that LocLab’s in-house developed toolchain can leverage several data input formats to balance speed, cost and accuracy – such as terrestrial videogrammetry, survey data and point clouds – but only requires photographs or videos at minimum. The firm highlighted that videogrammetry is a highly scalable method that comes in handy when survey accuracy is not needed and speed is preferred. Whether creating 3D models of machines, buildings and manufacturing facilities or large-scale areas such as transportation networks or entire cities, the AI software compares detected objects with LocLab’s vast object library of 3D elements (street objects, building components, rail equipment, etc.) to semi-automate the creation of a semantically enriched 3D model.
“We continue to advance the utility and potential of the digital twin. We call it the Smart Digital Reality,” said Hexagon president and CEO Ola Rollén. “Like any digital twin, it provides an intuitive 3D hub for data management and information. But it has traits not always associated with digital twins: it’s data-rich, kept up to date in real-time, and workflow-driven, making it seamlessly accessible. And most importantly, it’s autonomously intelligent, meaning it can implement physical world actions independent of human intervention.”
“The foundation of any smart digital reality is the underlying 3D model. If not already part of one of our solutions or readily available via our content program, it can be time and resource-intensive to create,” Rollén head. “LocLab’s semi-automated modeling process with AI-based object recognition from video data and its enormous library of 3D digital content offers tremendous time savings and cost efficiencies.”
The acquisition strengthens Hexagon’s ability to make the ‘Smart Digital Reality’ more accessible to new and existing customers while providing LocLab’s customers with a proven platform for hosting, sharing and keeping 3D digital twins up to date.
Headquartered in Germany, LocLab serves some of the world’s largest transportation, construction, and design consultant companies. Once the transaction is fully approved, LocLab will operate as part of Hexagon’s Geosystems division.
The firm noted that the completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals
Hexagon mainly focuses on digital solutions that create Autonomous Connected Ecosystems (ACE). Hexagon’s solutions are built from its portfolio of sensors and software that capture, store, analyse and distribute information with the aim of improving productivity and quality across geospatial and industrial applications. Its industrial sensors include stationary and portable equipment for measurement and process control in the manufacturing and engineering fields.
Hexagon has approximately 23,000 employees in 50 countries.
