Welcome to AECWeekly! The CAD and GIS industries rarely have groundbreaking announcements in common or back to back, but this week they had both. On Tuesday we learned that @Last Software, a company known to CAD users as an easy to use 3D design tool and only recently to GIS users, was acquired by Google, Inc. Bentley had already scheduled a press conference for Wednesday, and the rumor was that they were announcing a MicroStation 2D/3D connection to the Google Earth environment - a rumor that proved true. Read about this exciting news in this week's Industry News.
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Industry News
3D Dominates the News
- @Last Software sold to Google
- Bentley Announces Google Earth Tools Integration: Connecting MicroStation to the Google Earth Environment
by Susan Smith
The CAD and GIS industries rarely have groundbreaking announcements in common or back to back, but this week they had both. On Tuesday we learned that @Last Software, a company known to CAD users as an easy to use 3D design tool and only recently to GIS users, was acquired by Google, Inc. All day Tuesday, bloggers were having a field day, but still had difficulty getting much information. Both @Last and Google are traditionally untraditional in their approach, and so did not send out a formal press release, rather, they allowed their blogs and the SketchUpdate newsletter to convey the news. Bentley had already scheduled a press conference for Wednesday, and the rumor was that they were announcing a MicroStation 2D/3D connection to the Google Earth environment - a rumor that proved true.
@Last Software Sold to Google
In August of 2005, I wrote about SketchUp for GISWeekly, as the product had just gained the notice of the GIS industry with its then-newly announced SketchUp ArcGIS plug-in which enabled ArcGIS users who have the 3D Analyst extension to quickly create highly detailed 3D models. In that article I mentioned that Google Earth type technologies had brought home the fact that we no longer needed to spend an arm and a leg to have 3D to view maps and geometric data.
In that moment of lucidity, I saw the two companies--@Last and Google--traveling parallel paths. I also began to wonder what SketchUp would come up with, now that Autodesk was planning to release its competing Vespa product.
Founded in 1999, SketchUp was created by a group of design software veterans who wanted to create a program that would allow design professionals to actually sketch on the computer to develop their ideas. Inexpensive and simple, SketchUp is something that nearly everyone can use, but has tremendous potential for professionals.
I spoke briefly with Jeff Martin, former senior market director for @Last Software, now Product Marketing Manager for Google. Interested parties were directed to the SketchUp website to find out the scoop on the acquisition.
The following from the website blog describes how the acquisition came to be:
“Here's the story. We got to know a bunch of Googlers while we were building the Google Earth Plugin for SketchUp, and it quickly became apparent that we could really stir things up together. At first, it was kind of hard to imagine; after all, we'd been blazing our own trail for so long. But after we kicked it around awhile, it started to seem right. One thing led to another, and here we are. This is one of those wonderful win-win situations; it would have been impossible for us to feel good about this acquisition if we didn't feel our culture, our users and our mission would be in good hands.”
I mentioned to Martin that this industry space has received a lot of attention recently: Autodesk will release their Vespa, a SketchUp-like program later this year, and Bentley is connecting MicroStation to the Google Earth environment.
Where once @Last representatives might have been more forthcoming as employees of a private company, now they are all part of publicly-owned Google. “What I can say is the activity in the marketplace has validated the mission of SketchUp to make 3D easy and accessible for everyone because they are recognizing that it is a valid space to be in,” said Martin.
Future product plans can't be discussed at this time, however, Martin was reassuring about SketchUp development being maintained under the Google moniker. “Our early success has been due to adoption in the AEC market and those people in the AEC market have been our greatest evangelists and our most dedicated users. Going forward, we wouldn't dream of doing anything that would draw away from that. We will continue to develop for and support those guys in the AEC market.”
Although at this point it's uncertain how many AEC guys know about Google Earth, it won't be long before they do. The following are KML links to examples using SketchUp and Google Earth.
Statue of Liberty
SketchUp headquarters
Google Mountain View campus
As reported in the SketchUp blog: “We're bringing the '3D' part; Google's contributing the 'Everyone.'”
@last Software purchased by Google Earth
Google Blog: A new home for @Last Software
Bentley Announces Google Earth Tools Integration: Connecting MicroStation to the Google Earth Environment
[ Click to Enlarge ] 
[ Click to Enlarge ] Bentley Announces Google Earth Tools Integration: Connecting MicroStation to the Google Earth Environment. |
This integration offers a way to effectively combine CAD and GIS data to enable reliable contextual decisions. In a demonstration, Joe Croser, global marketing director of Bentley platform products, showed a view of the Bentley Exton facility and its surrounds. The model shows a rich collection and the impact of 2D, 3D, civil and GIS information upon the landscape. This model can be viewed by going to the website and clicking on “eseminar.”
An entire design team can access the high resolution contained within the MicroStation environment. But when they want to publish the model to a wider audience and communicate with different people, it makes sense to put the model information into a more relevant file format such as KML. “We've developed the integration and the publishing tools form MicroStation to Google Earth so that we're always just one click away within the MicroStation model and publishing it to the MicroStation environment,” said Croser.
To begin to use the Google Earth Tools, Croser first opened the published file inside of Google Earth, then zoomed in to see the imagery provided by Google Earth. You can also see the MicroStation 2D, civil and utilities information overlaying that imagery. If you zoom in closer you can see some text and links, and can see how the high resolution raster image that came attached to the reference file within MicroStation has been transferred along with the model, along with the hyperlink and the civil and GIS data, to be incorporated with the image data in Google Earth.
“The image data in Google Earth is not always in the same high resolution, depending upon where you are located on the earth,” explained Croser. “That's one of the reasons why it's important to be able to enhance detail with the imagery that you have, not only when you're working in MicroStation when you develop your model, but also when you take that out to Google Earth and you want to zoom in really close to your projects and get a good understanding of what's happening there.”
As Croser zooms around, he can access the generator on one of the Bentley buildings and link to the company that maintains it. He can move over to the main Thomas P. Bentley building and link directly to the PDF floor plan of the office building there. “Google Earth is providing a very simple, very intuitive, graphically rich environment for us to be able to move around our project and access a whole range of different pieces of information in the format which is most relevant to the person accessing the information, for example, 2D drawings in PDF, weblinks, images, and we could just as easily have links to Word documents and Excel files depending upon the needs of the audience that we're publishing that information to.”
Saved views in MicroStation are also published to the Google Earth environment, so that you can turn on and of level information, turn on and off reference files to be able to see the additional information that was first added to MicroStation and later published to the Google Earth environment.
Moving location to central Philadelphia, shown in the demo is a model of a proposed extension to the Philadelphia Convention Center. Towards the top left hand corner there is another link, that upon a closer look, you see another link to planning details. “This is a complex junction,” Croser noted. “We want to have a different file format here that would communicate a different level of information to the reviewer. By following the link I can open up a 3D PDF file which is a richer model that is already rendered, and we can have a pre-defined animation in here and interact with it dynamically. We just created this model at a different level of detail and illustrate the different purposes so we can see how the various components might be assembled.”
Moving across the country to San Diego, you can see the utilities grid overlaid across the imagery in San Diego. Here you can turn levels on or off and include simple block modeling of the existing city buildings within the Google Earth environment. You can also zoom in and rotate in Google Earth to see how the utilities information overlaps the city grid.
It would seem that CAD data would slow transmission across the internet considerably. By using the KML format from Google you can optimize your MicroStation content, and selectively determine what content you want to publish to that KML file. Bentley has used 3 Mb as a practice example.
Features of MicroStation Geographics coordinate systems are exported to the correct locations in Google Earth. Raster references can be added to DGN and DWG files and be published in the KML format within the Google Earth environment. MicroStation levels are also transferred to the KML file as are the saved views in MicroStation to make it easier to move around to pre-defined positions. “Very importantly, url links in MicroStation are published as Google Earth placemarks so it means that we really can treat the model that has been initially prepared in MicroStation and publish to Google Earth as a fabulously rich and intuitive graphical environment for navigating models, finding other extended pieces of information and being able to communicate that to a wider audience, and make far more informed design decisions about projects in their context.”
In order to place MicroStation information in the correct location, the user must define one or more points by going into Google Earth, and importing those points that signify where in MicroStation design they're located. Then it will calculate the projection for you. This does mean that you're registering your CAD file to Google Earth, which is done once as a one time use.
It all sounds good, but what about access control, an issue that has been raised around Google before? “We're publishing the KML file and integrating into the MyPlaces on the Google Earth interface. At this point I don't think there is any level of access control in the free download - you certainly could control access to the KML file through any of our tools in ProjectWise systems,” lead developer, Ray Bentley, noted.
Beta testing took place at 150 sites for about 1 ½ months. As the product is part of the MicroStation V8 XM toolset, it will continue to be part of the product and enhanced, based on user feedback worldwide.
What do you have to buy? Everything demonstrated on the website works in the readily available product that you can download from Google Earth's website . The Bentley Google Earth Tools Integration is available right now for existing SELECT subscribers and the tools will be included in the V8 XM edition of MicroStation when it's released in May.
Alliances/Acquisitions/Agreements
Hagerman & Company, Inc. announced its Mt. Zion corporate headquarters have been designated as an Autodesk® Premier Authorized Training Center for MSD-Mechanical and Manufacturing. Hagerman & Company joins a worldwide network of Autodesk Authorized Training Centers, which meet the highest standards for training personnel, classrooms and quality of their course offerings.
e-Builder announced it has earned certified status in Microsoft Corp.'s Partner Program, which recognizes e-Builder's expertise and total impact in the Project Management and Collaboration marketplace. As a Certified Partner, e-Builder has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customer needs. Microsoft Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support that give them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Announcements
Daratech, Inc., the market research and technology assessment firm, reports that the company's recent PLANT conference highlighted the significant challenges and possible solutions facing the process & power industry. The cry for change came from around the world; from keynote speakers Brian Chang, who spoke of Asia's process and shipbuilding industries being at a critical juncture and the need to modernize, invest in collaborative technologies, change business practices, and enable innovation across the organization, to John Voeller, Senior Vice President of Black & Veatch and member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who said that "the speed of change around the world is faster than what our industry has previously been able to embrace."
Plant design software and services will enjoy robust growth of 11% to $800 million in 2006, by Daratech's most recent forecast. Partly as a result of robust demand for oil and other forms of energy, process and power owner/operators and EPC firms are projected to step up their investments in IT solutions that enable the quickest time to product, and to control the total lifecycle cost of the asset.
Greg Bentley, CEO of Bentley Systems, Incorporated, and other business leaders in Greater Philadelphia met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez at Bentley's headquarters last week to discuss innovation and competitiveness in America. The secretary also heard remarks by Mr. Bentley promoting America's supply chain of innovation, and a presentation by the second-place winners of the National Engineers Week Future City Competition for young innovators.
Cimmetry Systems Corporation, an Agile Software Corporation company, announced the launch of Cimmetry Certified(TM), a new VAR Certification Program available to all Cimmetry VAR partners. Cimmetry Certified(TM) will be introduced during the Agility 2006 User Conference in Las Vegas, which Cimmetry will be co-hosting with its parent company, Agile Software.
According to the Microsol Resources website, Autodesk is raising the SRP (suggested retail price) for almost all of its software on the same date, March 23rd. This is a significant increase, and will most definitely result in a price increase to our clients. For example, the SRP for a standalone license of AutoCAD is going up by $250.00. For the network license of AutoCAD 2007, the increase is $495.00. For that reason, if you are considering purchasing additional licenses in the near future, or converting licenses from standalone to network deployment, we urge you to contact us immediately to obtain a quote, either by phone or via email by writing to our sales. Again, the price increases will take effect on March 23, 2006
Graphisoft, provider of Virtual Building(TM) solutions, announced a global alliance with Oracle, the world's largest enterprise software company, that will focus on the expertise of both companies in the construction industry. The alliance will deliver solutions to the construction sector with the aim of addressing key industry issues around inefficiency, waste and the mismanagement of projects.
The first combined initiative from the alliance will be a UK-wide series of seminars designed to show construction executives how technology can be applied to building projects to improve efficiency on time, and on budget, delivery.
Case Study
Synergis(R) Technologies Engineering Design Solutions Division announced that Gilmore & Associates, Inc., a full-service Pennsylvania engineering and consulting firm serving municipalities, turned to Synergis Engineering Design Solutions for training and support during their implementation of Autodesk Civil 3D. The company credited the support and service offerings from Synergis and the quality of Autodesk software for helping them perform their job at the highest level of efficiency and accuracy.
Bentley Systems, Incorporated announced that Empresas Publicas de Medellin E.S.P. (EEPPM), Colombia's largest multi-utility company, has selected Bentley as its sole software provider for water distribution modeling solutions.
Headquartered in Medellin, Colombia, EEPPM will use Bentley's WaterGEMS to support a ten-year master plan to reduce water loss and improve the reliability of its water supply system. Serving more than 3 million people across ten different cities in the Aburra Valley, the system consists of more than 3,200 kilometers of pipe, 95 tanks, and 29 pump stations.
Awards
The readers of Desktop Engineering (DE) Magazine have selected Mathcad(R) 13 as the 2005 Readers' Choice Product of the Year, choosing the world's most widely used calculation software from a slate of 12 candidates and hundreds of products covered every year.
New Products
Informative Graphics Corporation (IGC), a provider of Web-document and collaboration technology, released its latest version of Brava!(R) Enterprise content visualization server. The new version 5.3 offers a number of enhancements designed to increase Brava's flexibility and efficiency.
Autoweb, a global provider of data management solutions, announced the launch of Autoweb Fusion-DX, a data integration solution for design, engineering and manufacturing organizations to automate, control and manage data management processes throughout the extended enterprise.
Autoweb's Fusion-DX product automates the manual processes associated with product data management and global data exchange.
ArchVision announced the release of Casual People Volume 9 [Winter]. This collection of 3D RPCs is designed to aid customers with projects in colder climates. The 16 individuals in this collection are wearing winter clothing. This RPC collection is fully compatible with the full set of RPC Platform Tools including Mass Populate, Mass Edit and RPC Helper tools for added ease of placement and editing.
Bentley Systems, Incorporated announced that it has connected MicroStation to the Google Earth(TM) service. As a result, for the first time, users can view and navigate 2D/3D models of infrastructure projects in the context of the Google Earth environment.
Around the Web
Developer Told to Build 9/11 Site or Stand Clear, Charles V. Bagli and David Dunlap, March 16, 2006, The New York Times (registration required) -One day after critical talks on the rebuilding effort at ground zero collapsed, the Pataki administration said yesterday that it would not reopen negotiations with the developer Larry A. Silverstein. It challenged him to start building the $2.3 billion Freedom Tower next month or "move out of the way."
Upcoming Events
| The 2006 Architectural Engineering Institute National Conference | |
| Date: | March 30 - April 2, 2006 |
| Place: | Omaha, NE USA |
Conference TopicsDevelopment Processes
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| A.R.E. Design and Site Graphics Seminar | |
| Date: | March 31 - April 2, 2006 |
| Place: | Paul Cejas School of Architecture at FIU Tamiami Campus
11200 SW 8th Street, PCA 175, Miami, FL 33199 USA |
| Facilities for Emerging Sciences | |
| Date: | April 10 - 11, 2006 |
| Place: | St. Petersburg, FL USA |
Conference sessions will focus on facilities and fit-ups for:
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| How The Weitz Company Limits Project Risk and Improves Business Processes / What is Your ROI? | |
| Date: | April 18, 2006 |
| Place: | Webinar from Data Builder, Inc.
500 SW 7th Street, Suite 104, Des Moines, IA USA |
| Join special guest Mark Federle, Chief Information Officer of The Weitz Company, for this Webinar and live e-PCS demonstration by Data Builder
According to a recent Iowa State University Study, "Since documentation is a critical factor in managing risk, technology that improves a company's ability to create, distribute, archive and retrieve documents will necessarily lead to better risk management protocols." Join Mark Federle, Chief Information Officer of The Weitz Company, and Scott Lombard, Vice President of Data Builder Inc.'s Sales and Marketing department, for this one-hour Webinar to learn:
One Day Only on April 18, 2006 from 3:00 PM through 4:00 PM CST To register for this complimentary webcast, please navegate on the above link or call 515-471-1608 if you have any questions. *If you are busy that day, sign up anyway! You can play back the scheduled broadcast any time you like. Sincerely, The Team at Data Builder, Inc. |
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| Dexter & Chaney 10th Annual User Conference | |
| Date: | April 27 - 28, 2006 |
| Place: | Seattle, WA USA |
| Our 2006 Conference will begin with our signature kick-off event on Wednesday, April 26, 2006. The Conference sessions will commence bright and early on Thursday, April 27th and will end at approximately 5:00 p.m. on April 28th. |
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You can find the full AECCafe.com event calendar here.
To read more news, click here.
-- Susan Smith, AECCafe.com Managing Editor.