Speaking in Malaysia, Autodesk director of technology, Geoff Zeiss said that the convergence of geospatial, engineering design, and 3D -- GIS, [geographical information systems] CAD [computer aided design], BIM [building information modelling] -- has allowed the company to offer modelling solutions in 5D.

"The 5D approach allows tight control of 3D design as well as project management in a time sequence [fourth dimension] as well as detailed monetary implications to any real-time changes. The ability to immediately see monetary implications of any design or project variations constitutes the fifth dimension," said Zeiss.

He said that this approach of using electronic models allowed in-depth collaboration over networks. "Clash detection is one of the problems that can be managed through intelligent modelling, which also enable 4D management. This involves using a 3D model that is linked to project management applications, which run through project instances, thus allowing a project to be viewed in time sequence."

"Geospatial is used in many different processes around location-based applications or GIS systems," Zeiss said, adding that such intelligent 5D modelling would be useful to both public service and business organizations throughout Asia.