.jpg)
We often describe in our posts Shapemaker is cloud-based software, but we rarely clarify what that means for our users. In this article, I will outline several real-world benefits of using engineering software that operates in the cloud.
Let’s start with the basic question: what is cloud-based software from a technical perspective?
Cloud-based software is software that does not require installation on your local computer. Instead, the data that would typically be stored on a local hard drive in a desktop application is saved on the servers. This approach is highly secure, because the data isn’t stored in one place where it could be stolen (e.g. a user’s hard drive) but is instead distributed across secure cloud servers. Similar technologies are used by banks and government institutions to protect sensitive financial and personal data.
This approach to data usage unlocks many possibilities, including the following:
1. Bulk error correction in hours, not weeks
Imagine you are managing a project involving the co-location of next-generation antennas on hundreds of towers, and you discover that the input data regarding antenna width was incorrect. Traditionally, this would mean you’d have to redo all your structural calculations from scratch — incurring time and cost. With Shapemaker’s cloud-based solution, you can adjust the antenna parameters and re-analyze your entire portfolio in just a few hours (depending on the number of towers analyzed) because you're no longer constrained by your device's CPU— all calculations are performed in the virtually unlimited resources of the cloud. You’ll get fast answers on whether existing structures can support the new antennas without modification — far faster than with traditional desktop tools.
2. Mass analysis for network-wide insights
As hinted above, Shapemaker lets you analyze all telecom sites in parallel. This gives you insights into your entire tower grid within hours — enabling informed decisions about structure valuation or identifying weak spots in the network on a global scale.
3. Iterative collaboration on a single data source
As experienced telecom structural engineers, we understand that data on structures or installed equipment is often incomplete or outdated, and there isn’t always time to do a site visit before performing structural analysis. In Shapemaker, data for each tower exists in a single source of truth that can be iteratively updated by multiple users of various roles based on their specific areas of expertise. A site surveyor can gather information directly on-site and enter it into TowerBuilder. Afterwards, a civil engineer can review and validate the accuracy of the data, and finally, a site-planner can reanalyze the structure to ensure that its status remains unchanged.Numerous small updates gradually improve the digital twin, making it increasingly accurate in representing the real-world structure over time.
4. Elimination of version conflicts and data discrepancies
Have you ever held two reports for the same tower — produced by two engineers — to find different assumptions or modelling approaches? It’s difficult to determine which one is correct. In Shapemaker, there is always one authoritative, up-to-date report that you can easily share with others via PDFs or direct access to the specific site.
5. Seamless compliance with evolving standards
Design codes used to assess structural capacity are defined in technical standards — such as Eurocodes in Europe. These standards evolve over time. At Shapemaker, we ensure our software always incorporates the latest versions of these codes. Updates are applied automatically in the background — invisible to the user.
With desktop software, every update to a standard typically requires a manual software update. This often results in version mismatches between engineers — where one engineer’s files don’t open on another’s older version. With Shapemaker, you won’t experience these compatibility issues.
6. Real-time decision-making on site
Imagine this: you and a radio engineer agree on antenna placement, then request a structural analysis, and the results show the placement exceeds tower capacity. If your goal is not to strengthen the structure, you then need to revise the plan and repeat the steps. This process could take days or weeks.
With Shapemaker’s web-based platform, you can access it from any device with a browser — laptop, phone, tablet, etc. Standing on-site with a tablet or smartphone, you can immediately check whether the planned change is structurally feasible. This ensures interdepartmental coordination is efficient, and the co-location process doesn’t get bogged down in delays.
7. Integration with other cloud-based tools
The modern digital ecosystem is cloud-driven — and your Site Asset Management Platform is likely cloud-based too. Shapemaker offers API integration, allowing you to interact with the software without using our user interface. You can build your own workflows or connect directly from your platform to ours. The outcome is the same — you get full Shapemaker functionality, without needing to learn the nuances of our UI.
These are just a few of the many benefits enabled by the cloud architecture behind Shapemaker. We are confident that our users will discover even more applications and advantages as they explore the platform.
If you’d like to learn more, send us an hello@shapemaker.io.
