APEG BC and the API Link

The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (APEGBC) held its Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting at the Victoria Conference Centre last October 12 to 14 in world-acclaimed Vancouver Island, BC. 

The two-day event provided members and professionals with several seminars with varied speakers to meet their developmental, corporate and professional needs.  The trade exhibition and several social events allowed participants the opportunity to network with different trades and service providers. 

Dowco Consultants Ltd. participated in this annual event for the first time as trade exhibitors to showcase not only our capabilities and accomplishments as detailers but also to demonstrate the use of Tekla Structures.  We also had the chance to partner with The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC),  represented by the organization’s Western Regional Executive Director, Peter Timler,  P. Eng.  

Jeremy Knight of Softek Services Ltd demonstrating Tekla Sturctures and the API Link to Louise Roos of Clearbrook Ironworks

We also invited Softek Services Ltd. and their Senior Sales Engineer, Jeremy Knight to demonstrate their progress on the link with Tekla Structures with the use of their **‘S-Frame’.  As mentioned in my previous article*, an Application Programming Interface (API) link has been provided by Tekla in order for Analysis & Design applications to link up with Tekla Structures.  As some of you are aware, the API link between Tekla Structures and other A&D solutions such as S-FRAME will be commercially available in version 13.0. This link allows the user to build an analysis model within Tekla Structures, send the model into the A&D software for analysis and design, and retrieve member shape changes and end reaction forces from that A&D tool and back into Tekla Structures.

Due to Tekla’s openness strategy, all licenses on maintenance for 2007 will receive the added functionality at no cost.  Though this feature may not be perceived as beneficial at the time of its release, it is interesting to note that A&D vendors are now realizing the potential of developing the link with Tekla Structures.  As the construction industry is gearing toward true collaboration between all members of the life cycle, this API link will be one more step towards achieving True Structural BIM. 

* Breaking the Boundaries of Analysis & Design, Details, August 2006
** Visit http://sframe.cscworld.com/ for more Information