Large-scale field research is providing extensive data on the prehistoric settlement history of the Bayuda Desert in Sudan. The authors briefly examine notable outputs from the project, including some of the more than 100 radiocarbon dates that permit a more nuanced understanding of the chronology of settlement pattern changes.

Yacht design process currently faces challenges as slow data sharing, lack of flexibility in modelling and inefficient optimisation of shapes. This paper assesses the potential of an integrated approach over the traditional one, using a hypothetical industry scenario. The key aspects of data sharing/project management, modelling system, and shape optimization are compared, and new collaborative tools and technologies are introduced. The research reveals significant benefits of the integrated approach over the traditional one highlighting its potential to foster innovation within the industry.

This study compares empirical and topology optimization methods for reducing gear body mass. Specimens produced via empirical guidelines and topology optimization were compared to referent full-disc gear, focusing on stresses and deformations. Values were determined numerically (Ansys was used) and the calculation method was verified using ISO 6336. The empirical approach exhibited substantial increases in stress and deformation while topology optimization method had promising outcomes. While decreasing mass, it also diminished tooth root stress on the tensile side by 17.1%.

The aim of this contribution is to provide a new methodology regarding the use of photogrammetry and 3D modelling in the classroom. By means of a practicum taught at Complutense University of Madrid and a survey conducted afterwards, we show the different steps of the activity, as well as the reception of the students, who learnt to elaborate 3D figures.

The paper focuses on comparative experiment on manufacturing and inspection of two different prismatic one-off parts, which have different complexity. Our experiment shows that transforming product definition method from the Drawing Centric Definition (DCD) to the Model Centric Definition (MCD) enables 28%-29% time savings in manufacturing and inspection phases of machined one-off part's life cycle. Furthermore, transition from MCD to Model-Based Definition (MBD) enables 5%-9% time savings, respectively. Applying of MBD enables more time savings in complex part compared to a less complex part.

In automotive digital development, 3D prototype creation is a team effort of designers and engineers, each contributing with ideas and technical evaluations through means of computer simulations. To support the team in the 3D design ideation and exploration task, we propose an interactive design system for assisted design explorations and faster performance estimations. We utilize the advantage of deep learning-based autoencoders to create a low-dimensional latent manifold of 3D designs, which is utilized within an interactive user interface to guide and strengthen the decision-making process.

The development of technical systems requires close cooperation of stakeholders from different disciplines. This collaboration takes place in workshops. Driven by digitalization and by the current pandemic such workshops take place primarily online. Suitable collaboration tools and methods are crucial to success. At the beginning of such workshops, use and damage scenarios are identified. In this paper, we presented a method and tool for identifying and modeling use and damage scenarios, which we evaluated in 14 online workshops with a total of 118 participants over a period of almost 3 years.

Since 1979, when the first cave art was documented in North America, dozens of other examples have come to light. Among these, 19th Unnamed Cave in Alabama contains hundreds of pre-contact Native American mud glyph drawings. In 2017, 3D modelling of the glyphs was initiated, ultimately enabling digital manipulation of the chamber space and revealing images that could not be perceived prior to modelling. Most surprisingly, the cave's ceiling features very large anthropomorphic glyphs that are not apparent in situ due to the tight confines of the cave. We argue that photogrammetry offers untapped potential for not simply the documentation but also the discovery of a variety of archaeological phenomena.

Stromatolites are biogenic sedimentary structures formed by the interplay of biological (microbial composition) and environmental factors (local hydrodynamic conditions, clastic input and/or water chemistry). Well-preserved, three-dimensional (3D) fossil stromatolites are key to assessing the environmental factors controlling their growth and resulting morphology in space and time. Here, we report the detailed analysis of well-exposed, highly informative stromatolite build-ups from a single stratigraphic horizon within the Maastrichtian–Danian Yacoraite Formation (Argentina). This study focuses on the analysis of depositional processes driving intertidal to shallow subtidal stromatolites. Overall depositional architecture, external morphology and internal arrangement (mega, macro, meso and microstructures) of stromatolite build-ups were analysed and combined with 3D photogrammetric models, allowing us to decipher the links between stromatolite structure and tidal dynamics. Results suggest that external morphology and architecture of elongated and parallel clusters grew under the influence of run-off channels. The internal morphology exhibits columnar structures where the space between columns is interpreted as recharge or discharge channels. This work supports the theory that stromatolites can be used as a high-resolution tool in the assessment of water dynamics, and provides a new methodological approach and data for the dynamic reconstruction of intertidal stromatolite systems through the geological record.

In product development, an automated generation of shape variations enables a rapid assessment of potentially appealing design directions. We present a framework for computing a product line-up of automotive body shapes based on spectral methods for mesh processing. We calculate the eigenspace projections of 3D vehicle meshes and identify the relevant style as well as content components based on the eigenvalues. The style of a model is then transferred to arbitrary prototype content car shapes, which allows for a rapid portfolio generation of various car types with minimal user interaction.

The development of cyber-physical systems requires close cooperation between stakeholders from different disciplines. Model-based systems engineering support this by the design of a system model. Non-identified domain knowledge by the stakeholders is a challenge when creating the system model. The CONSENS 3D-Modeling Method supports the domain-independent elicitation of domain knowledge using a 3D environment and enables the derivation of a SysML system model. We applyed the method by implementing a prototype, called 3D Engineer, to an application example from the automotive industry.

Current geometrical modelling approaches are unable to handle complex geometrical objects such as heterogeneous lattice structures. In this work, a framework for a novel bio-inspired geometric modelling method is proposed. The method can potentially support geometric modelling of heterogeneous lattice structures. The method utilises discretisation algorithms that are based on cell division processes encountered in nature. The method is verified on two 2D use-cases.

The value of models is well recognised in product and systems engineering. Modelling languages and diagrams are used to capture mental models and to handle model complexity. Literature research indicates that there are only very few approaches to utilise the potential of virtual and augmented reality for supporting tasks in model based (systems) engineering. The paper at hand contributes a new morphology of intuitive interaction for Immersive Abstraction as a holistic approach to extend that coverage. It presents a holistic framework to categorise solutions and future research directions.

The design of an active seat suspension for a mid-class passenger vehicle based on the given set of requirements is considered a combination of four subsystems; the carrier, the actuator, the spring, and the damper. The design of the former two is considered through the 10 and 16 concepts for each, respectively. Two overall designs are proposed for further development. One based on a dual Scott-Russell mechanism and one based on Sarrus mechanism. The first one is evaluated to have high stiffness, the second to be more cost-effective. The detailed design of the first concept is presented.

Engineering work is mostly done in 3D CAD software throughout the engineering process from conceptual design and layout of products. Physics-Based Virtual Prototypes are very valuable addition on Computer Aided Engineering enabling product development simulators, training simulators and digital twin concept in product lift-cycle process. In this work, we present a framework, how such virtual prototypes can be developed from 3D CAD models with meaningful effort.

The urbanised peat-rich coastal-deltaic plain of the Netherlands is severely subsiding due to human-induced phreatic groundwater level lowering, as this causes peat layers to compress and oxidise. To determine the potential susceptibility of this area to future subsidence by peat compression and oxidation, the effects of lowering present-day phreatic groundwater levels were quantitatively evaluated using a subsidence model. Input were a 3D geological subsurface voxel-model, modelled phreatic groundwater levels, and functions for peat compression and oxidation. Phreatic groundwater levels were lowered by 0.25 and 0.5m, and the resulting peat compression and oxidation over periods of 15 and 30 years were determined. The model area comprised the major cities Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and their surrounding agricultural lands.

The results revealed that for these scenarios agricultural areas may subside between 0.3 and 0.8m; potential subsidence in Amsterdam and Rotterdam is considerably lower, less than 0.4m. This is due to the presence of several metres thick anthropogenic brought-up soils overlying the peat below the urban areas, which has already compressed the peat to a depth below groundwater level, and thus minimises further compression and oxidation. In agricultural areas peat is often situated near the surface, and is therefore highly compressible and prone to oxidation. The averaged subsidence rates for the scenarios range between 7 and 13mma−1, which is corresponds to present-day rates of subsidence in the peat areas of the Netherlands. These results contrast with the trend of coastal-deltaic subsidence in other deltas, with cities subsiding faster than agricultural areas. This difference is explained by the driver of subsidence: in other deltas, subsidence of urban areas is mainly due to deep aquifer extraction, whereas in the Netherlands subsidence is due to phreatic groundwater level lowering.

Photogrammetry provides an accessible, cost-effective means of creating a high-resolution, digital 3D record of archaeological artefacts. The methodology has been widely adopted, but a number of issues remain, especially in relation to model variability, and to misalignments that result in gaps in the models generated. Two new approaches are presented here that have been shown to increase standardisation during data capture and processing routines. This ensures that models are seamless and quantitatively accurate.