Fresh Features at Topoprint: RoundRects, Faster 3D Prints, and Improved Mobile Use

Topoprint now supports creating relief maps as RoundRects (rounded rectangles) alongside traditional disc shapes. Backend optimizations have accelerated 3D model processing significantly: a model that once took up to 10 minutes now completes in less than three minutes, complete with a progress bar update to keep users informed. Additionally, the Topodisc Designer web app has been revamped for...

Fresh Features at Topoprint: RoundRects, Faster 3D Prints, and Improved Mobile Use

Keeping the Lights On While Innovating: Finding the Right Agile Balance

Finding the right balance between Running-the-business (RTB) and Changing-the-business (CTB) can be challenging. This post explains that if RTB tasks are kept to a minimum, Scrum can be effective. However, if those tasks increase, adopting a hybrid or Kanban system can significantly help maintain smooth workflows and achieve operational excellence.

Keeping the Lights On While Innovating: Finding the Right Agile Balance

Multi-color 3D Prints with Topoprint

This blog post outlines the process of creating multi-color 3D prints using the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon printer and the Topoprint software. I explain how to prepare multiple STL files for distinct landscape features, using OrcaSlicer for effective slicing. The final print, requiring extensive filament changes, showcases the Landwasserviadukt.

Multi-color 3D Prints with Topoprint

Creative Connections: "Yes, yes, and..." Meets Rubber Duck Debugging

When someone proposes an idea to you, smile and assure them that you understand (yes ...). Express your enthusiasm about it (... yes ...) with an even bigger smile. Then, offer to enhance and extend their great idea (... and ...). You can compare this creativity technique to rubber duck debugging, but always remember that you should not replace a human with an LLM.

Creative Connections:

Seeing the Bigger Picture in Small Details: Birchgletscher’s Collapse

Last week, Switzerland’s Birchgletscher collapsed and caused a major rock avalanches, altering the landscape and burying the village of Blatten. With the data of the federal Rapid Mapping service and the help of individual experts, a first open post-event elevation model was made available. I used the model to create pre- and post-event visualizations and prints at a local scale.

Seeing the Bigger Picture in Small Details: Birchgletscher’s Collapse

Personal News: My First Day at Fotokite

Today marks my first day at Fotokite, a Zurich-based company that designs and manufactures actively tethered UAVs forpublic safety and emergency response. I’ll be leading the application engineering team and am excited to help build a great company with an innovative product.

Personal News: My First Day at Fotokite

One SQL statement to create a web map of Pizza places

The post explores an SQL query using DuckDB and OvertureMaps data to extract, filter, and visualize pizza places in Switzerland. All these steps can be done in one line, and the generated map of Swiss pizza places can be viewed immediately using PMTiles.

One SQL statement to create a web map of Pizza places