Innovation

Close-up of Cegelec Brest

Building Solutions business units are rarely confined to a single market segment in France. Because most are well-integrated in their regions, it is fairly unusual for a BU to develop a single activity. But some regions, such as Brest, lend themselves to segmentation by project manager.

Loïc Goasduff, Business Unit Manager at Cegelec Brest, which generated €8 million revenue in 2017, oversees 60 employees. He has succeeded in positioning his business unit in key markets with four project managers specialising in healthcare, industrial building shells, local authorities and defence. In each of these fairly unrelated activities, contracting authorities and procedures are specific and projects are large and technical, enabling the project managers to thrive in serving their region.
In addition, the business unit focuses on innovation, notably via its partnership with the Crédit Agricole’s “Village by CA Brest” incubator. Regional Director Xavier Loiselet is one of its sponsors, enabling the BU to forge ties with startup E-Mage-in 3D and its innovative tools.

What is E-Mage-in 3D?

The E-Mage-in 3D startup operates in digitalisation and production of digital tools such as virtual and augmented reality.
The startup developed software called “panobuilder”, which loads photographic images to create a 360° virtual visit.
The Cegelec Brest teams have been using the software for the past year on their worksites.

How does it work?

A camera is used to capture several images of a site and load them into the panobuilder software. Panobuilder automatically creates a virtual visit format and then enables the business unit to add content (technical fact sheets, diagrams, equipment models, etc.).

It is used primarily in three areas:
1. Ground surveys & simulation
2. Production of virtual as-built files
3. Promotion of expertise

What are its advantages?

A technician can, for example, use the system to examine the relevant model, instruction sheet or wiring diagram of an electrical panel before starting to work on it.

In another example, a crew leader can virtually inspect a refurbishment project in an office, where sensitive equipment is located, and then better prepare his technicians.

Click here to find out more about the solution.

E-Mage-in 3D saves time and boosts operational efficiency by centralising the full range of site data, from equipment location to technical information, in a single interface.

Next step: To round out the system, the goal is to superimpose the photos of the site and the 3D photos in the BIM!