According to Pictometry’s David Petterson, product manager, solutions integration, the integration with AutoCAD Civil 3D follows last year’s integration with AutoCAD Map 3D. Both of these integrations utilize the new Pictometry Connect platform that allows users to instantly access Pictometry’s 2.1 petabyte library of olique and orthogonal imagery, as well as accurate geospatial content.

The aerial imagery is stored in the cloud, and Pictometry imagery and data is accessed in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013 with just a click. The types of data that will benefit from this integration include asset data such as transmission and distribution networks, oil and gas pipelines, and lease parcel boundaries that can be accurately displayed on top of dimensional imagery, to verify and validate spatial data. According to the press release, the imagery is precisely geo-synchronized with the user’s drawing file, automatically overlaying GIS and CAD data. Pictometry’s imagery can be used as a visually intelligent backdrop for the creation of new content, and for editing and attributing existing content. In addition, Pictometry has added an integration within AutoCADMap 3D 2013, complementing its existing integration with AutoCADMap 3D 2012, which was released last year.

Pictometry’s initial foray into the AutoCAD market was with the Map 3D integration last year. “We began with Map 3D because it serves that planning, and GIS type market,” said Petterson. “What we found from customers was that our imagery was such an authoritative resolution that we could pull this down the food chain into a better design and as-built within the Civil 3D structure. That’s why we officially launched the Civil 3D integration last week. Obviously the Civil 3D market is ten times that of Map 3D, and customers asked for Civil 3D integration. Imagery always been the domain of the planning and the predesign and conceptual.”

In addition, Pictometry currently has a release with Autodesk Utility Design which is  built on the Map 3D engine. “What we’ve found is that one of the derivative products of what we do is used to generate some of the best 3D models that are out there,” said Petterson. “People are taking that imagery and producing it in a 3ds format and natively consuming that in something like Infrastructure Modeler. So it’s really exposing our imagery to all of what the customer does.”

With the Pictometry Civil 3D integration you don’t have to exit out of AutoCAD, you can stay within that system you can go find the location you want. At the press of a button you can bring the content directly within the Civil 3D environment. Utilities that might have thousands of  substations scattered around countryside, and in order to go into an as-built location they’d have to send a survey crew out there. With Pictometry imagery they could pull down that site location and do a general as-built and model that location, all without leaving their office. “They are finding multiple use cases for this ability to pull discreet images as opposed to a whole map base,” Petterson pointed out. “That’s the other thing we find with our AutoCAD users, they don’t want to have to deal with a 20-30 Mb Mr. Sid image file and pulling it into WMS because it gets in the way of what they’re trying to do. It’s great for validation to turn that on and off, but in the end it becomes cumbersome. What we provide is a tighter integration and the ability to pull in just a discreet image in very high resolution just covering the area they want. This fills a need that fits more into their workflow than what they’ve had in the past.”

Top five trends DeLacey outlined are as follows:

1. Rebuilding America “Hurricane Sandy is fresh in our minds, and we think in the coming months people are going to push for the use of technology in building, not only in the wake of Sandy but around the current crisis with infrastructure. Governor Cuomo talked about the advantage of technology and what we think the future will look like, especially with climate change and some of the storms we’ve had hit New York in years past. This push for technology is associated with infrastructure.
2. Regulatory Compliance “We are seeing significant push for BIM for non-traditional use. The appetite for BIM is increasing based on increased ways to use the model. More government organizations are developing BIM-based workflows that will add efficiencies in regulatory compliance and design review. We think the use will influence the industry and further adoption at more levels.”
3. Increased focus on the I in BIM “By that we see a critical mass at this point and more and more purpose-built apps taking advantage of information in the models. Look at the integration of Maximo and Revit or mobile apps that can stream specific parts of the model to your mobile device based on information in the model. BIM has found its way more and more into field operations, material management  and other uses that go beyond project delivery to help with more efficient facility operations and maintenance.”
4. Mobility “Mobility is hitting critical mass but in 2013 will become an industry standard.  This may be the last year it’s on the list. We’re so connected in our personal lives, but in our business word we’re not connected, we are still chasing information around. I think it will change quickly – I think the Microsoft Surface new tablets/laptops that will all run Windows 8 will be the business equivalent of the iPad. It will be interesting to see if iPad can make itself a staple in the business environment. The iPad hasn’ been able to replace my laptop. I haven’t seen Apple make huge strides in the business world, there is still disconnection.”
5. Cloud “The Cloud is still young and will be on the list for the next three years, until we’re actually running our design and construction apps from the Cloud. I think a lot of people who are in the position to make a decision about the Cloud are old enough to remember the Burroughs B25. That evolved from your user space and processing power on a desktop. Now we’ve grown up to a laptop that’s more powerful than that, where no one limits my space or processing power. We have created an independent computing generation and for a lot of people they think of the Cloud as going back to the Burroughs, having limited space. I think the reason that Autodesk put the 12-year-old on stage to was to demonstrate that they are growing up in a world the connectivity – anything they have on any device is so natural to them any time and anywhere.”

In a press Q&A with Carl Bass and Jeff Kowalski, the following questions were asked:

What are some of the most important areas you are entering into?

Bass: Change in the industry is slow. It’s been 12 years since BIM and people are still trying to figure out how to get the maximum benefit from it. Construction is one of the most important areas we’re entering into and manufacturing is the other.

Why do you think the consumer market is important?

Bass: Maybe you shouldn’t care about consumers, on the other hand, we have the interaction of culture and technology. We’ll have something like 100 million users that are engaged in creative and design activities by the end of the year. I wouldn’t have thought that population existed a few years ago.

There is a huge amount of attention paid to Autodesk by the media now because of our attention to consumers. 50 percent of our media attention is coming from consumer stuff. We don’t want to detract from our professional customers doing what they want to do. We will always be a company providing solutions for design.

What is the importance of 3D modeling?

Bass: Moving to 3D modeling has never been the goal in itself. We’re nowhere near having the ability and the depth to be able to move it through process.

The core model data is not important in Fusion 360. We should get as flexible with our tools as we do with drills, etc. We are tool-centric in our use of data. The learning curve for some tools is so heavy we try to use those tools for everything.With Fusion 360 we want to be able to use the best tools for the job.

“The best investment I ever made was to take a course in AutoCAD.”

“We are interested in learning about Navisworks and MEP software.”

“I don’t have time to get the work done that I need to get done let alone take on a new technology.”

“We don’t use BIM. We’re a university medical center and we are using FM Desktop and FM Systems and trying to get a GIS in place.”

“I’m here to learn more about Map 3D.”

“Those in power differ in their commitment to technology.”

“FormIt sounds really interesting.”

“It is a nightmare getting everything into BIM.”

“In developing countries there is 60% use of color in printing architectural drawing plans. In the U.S. there is only 10%.”

More Autodesk products are being moved to the cloud to facilitate ease in sharing and ability to store more data.

CEO Carl Bass says  “Cloud architecture is the biggest thing to happen to computing since the PC.”

Trends highlighted in yesterday’s Media Day included the following:

1) Consumerization of IT – technology used  to be consumed through large companies  then work its way down to consumers. Now technology is starting to be adopted by people in their personal lives.

2) Creativity and personalization of design – There is an emergence of the creative class, more who want to participate in the design process, and who want to create personalized stuff.

3) The return of making –Maker Faires and Techshop are enabling people to have access to manufacturing equipment, also the learning and sharing and networking with others.

The new products announcements have already hit the wire – mostly Autodesk 360 offerings and FormIt, a new SketchUp lookalike that is specific to Autodesk products and allows interaction with BIM.

Some of the core Autodesk 360 stuff is included for subscribers, for others you have to be using a suite. BIM 360 products you pay additionally for.

AU Virtual is available for those not in attendance to see happenings at the conference on video.http://au.autodesk.com/?nd=au_player

http://connected.bentley.com/viewSeminars.aspx?BEC_SS_ID=801

Unlike other building companies, McAslan + Partners is strictly an architectural team.

Designed in 1852 by Lewis Cubitt, the building is being restored in concert with English Heritage. The GBP 547 million redevelopment of King’s Cross Station takes an historic rail station and transports it into a modern interchange with a charming facade that fits with the historic fabric. That is one thing McAslan + Partners says they do a lot – work with an existing building that has a historic fabric and work to keep the feeling of that building for the next 100 years.

The 67 acres of brown-field land is being redeveloped to create eight million sq ft of offices, retail and housing. In 2011 Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design moved into renovated railway buildings to the north of the station.

Modern features added include solar panels for the renovated train sheds at the apex of the lanterns to lessen visual impact. These will generate 10% of the energy requirements for the station. In addition a rainwater recycling scheme provides over a third of the water used.

The King’s Cross Station has taken 14 years to complete, and during that time the architectural team has evolved with the advent of new technologies. Meanwhile the team has completed a project in Moscow, restored the music hall for the Royal Academy of Music in London and helped a devastated community in Haiti to restore order, among other accomplishments.

Cliff Green, project technology manager, says that “Architecture as process  is less about a statement.”

Despite a lot of roadblocks, simulation and reality came together when the western concourse roof representation was able to demonstrate it could rise up. This 3D representation allowed an international team to coordinate 16 steel tree form like columns that support a single-span structure in the center of a labyrinth of subway and service tunnels. This roof extends 7,500 square meters, rises to a height of 20 meters, and spans 150 meters. Environmental control was achieved by balancing the need for architectural lighting then balancing artificial light with natural lighting. “Stations are stressful enough – another example of bringing simulation and reality together,” said Green.

As far as innovation is concerned, Green says it’s about the reality not only of new pieces of architectural engineering, but to see that technology assist the old structure.

Bentley Software including MicroStation and GenerativeComponents (GC) were used at every stage, but there was also a lot of hand drawing done in the conceptual stages because the architect felt it lent itself to the design.

Besides the obvious aesthetic beauty of this design, the project is benefitting from a schematic design extending all the way through the  construction process, that ultimately saves time and costs.

In attendance were 84 journalists from around the world, whom Walters said reached 3 ½ million readers.

Greg Bentley’s talk was entitled “Working Smarter, Together, and Accelerating Mobility for Data Acquisition.” He talked about how good infrastructure design sustains our economy and reduces our environmental footprint.

Consumerization

A new word was introduced:  “Consumerization,” or, the measure of how much invention is coming our way.  “The products we’re talking about are industrial,” said Bentley. “We don’t have to invent these technologies – we just have to apply them.”

Consumerization refers to a short cycle for products, economical and accessible everywhere.  It is really the first time we have heard Bentley Systems talk about the consumer market, except for the way the mobile market has broadened technology in its aim toward the consumer.

The Bentley Utilization Index shows growth in various industry segments. Asia continues to be a growth area for infrastructure. 2012 has shown reasonable growth widely and unevenly distributed throughout the world, according to Bentley.  47% of application utilization hours are BIM hours.

In a recent report by McGraw Hill, it was determined that there is the expectation in AEC firms that projects will be done in BIM in 2013. Those surveyed believe that ROI in BIM use depends upon the expertise level of those using it.

Bentley introduced the idea of industrial apps from Bentley that will be able to handle huge projects specifically. This takes the form of a ProjectWise or AssetWise passport on any device and gives access to all Bentley apps.

The concept of information mobility (where the information keeps working), vs. information mortality (where information gets stuck where it is and doesn’t get used properly; it is comprised of monolithic data structure, conflicting file formats, opaque information, and enterprise labyrinths) clarifies what can happen to  information that has been housed in building information systems and other information systems.

Information mobility was a phrase used throughout the day.

Information Modeling Innovations

Senior vice president of Bentley Software Bhupinder Singh spoke next on Information Modeling innovations. “Since 2009 we have been delivering compatibility updates through the V8i SELECT Series,” he said. “We are most interested in ease of use from the workflow standpoint, how easy is a product to implement in workflow.”

Ways in which this can be accomplished are through ProjectWise, according to Singh, where ProjectWise can contribute to knowledge sharing and view sharing such as spatial view, dependency view and component view.

There are concerns that the right version be used with mobile devices, when we have several different clouds offered, for example. Leaving ProjectWise behind a firewall can exclude someone outside the firewall who needs to access information.

Bentley CONNECT is designed to reach the consumers outside the firewall and enterprises that would like to share their data through a neutral space. An SAAS environment provides Bentley Connections Space that up until now has been serviced with DropBox.

Integrated Project Innovations

Singh talked about “Integrated Project Innovations” such as “Dynamic Review”  that translates to Bentley Transmittal Services that are built on ProjectWise transmittals. This also includes ProjectWise integration for Revit 2013, ProjectWise integration for Civil 3D 2013, and the new Project Dashboards to be available next year, enabling users to create their own dashboards. With this dashboard users will be able to use industry standards and i-models.

The Bentley product ConstructSim heavily leverages i-models as it is a model -based work package creation. The visualization engine in ConstructSim is Navigator.

For mobile devices Information mobility apps the heavy lifting will take place on a server.

Virtual Word vs. Physical World

Greg Bentley described the “physical world” as that of budgeting systems and scheduling. This is an area that also spans from graphics and engineering data.

The “virtual world” holds things like virtual positioning for ProjectWise, taking advantage of the sensor technology brought into Bentley by companies such as Ivara and Trimble, a picture that will fill out more as this conferences progresses.

According to the press release, Bentley Descartes V8i (SELECTseries 3) offers 3D modeling that combines point clouds, raster imagery, and geometry. The resulting models enhance the usability of point clouds by supporting hybrid design workflows that deliver “as-operated” 3D models to serve the operations and maintenance needs of owner-operators. By uniquely enabling hypermodeling – the intuitive navigation of as-operated models in 3D context that includes engineering information in any form – Bentley is committed to enhancing infrastructure safety and resilience while increasing owner-operators’ returns on their engineering investments.

Zambuni said that point cloud data is becoming ubiquitous, as gathering data is becoming more cost effective.  “ The challenge has been to bring data into workflows in an efficient way,” Zambuni said. Those who make use of this data include  infrastructure engineering workflows, design, construction, operation or planning and designing.

“Initially, we licensed the Vortex engine from Pointools to allow us to visualize, animate and view point clouds in MicroStation, but then we wanted to make point clouds a fundamental data type which means we can manage them alongside raster and vector.” The questions remained,  how do we support visualization,  animation in MicroStation and how do we deliver the advanced processing of point clouds that people need which we are going to support in Descartes and Pointools? What do you do in extended and enterprise workflows?

“That’s where ProjectWise streaming services come in, where you can literally isolate the elements of the point clouds you want to work with and stream them into a desktop session,” said Zambuni.  “This allows you to get all the advantages you want with ProjectWise and workflow management and getting files aligned with projects. You can really bring point clouds into extended workflows rather than have them sit on thumb drives or hard drives somewhere or fedexing them around, it starts making them manageable in the way you manage DWG and DGN or any other engineering documentation.”

This is not just about individual products, he cautions, but rather about workflows and supporting point clouds in a very connected way across a range of products.

Scalable terrain models (STMs) are slightly different from point clouds as they are so huge and people must slice and dice them to bring them into projects. Often a very large STM can’t be used because it is unmanageable.

“We have made technology that allows you to to bring an STM in,  even if it’s billions of points and to view that, you can work with that single scalable STM at city, regional or country level and you do it quickly and effectively,” said Zambuni.

Fredericque said that with the adoption and growth of our aerial lidar sensors, more and more people use aeril lidar and ask for STMs with a large number of points, increasing the need for this data type. Most products cannot cope with the sheer size of these files.  Greg Bentley, CEO of Bentley Systems, says  this is part of the big data problem solving for users – the way Bentley can manipulate and process point clouds and bring STMs into engineering worfklows.

“It also is a big plus for geospatial workflows for national mapping agencies where you want to manage large scale geospatial projects,” said Fredericque.

Ravi said that Pointools engine was integrated into MicroStation in 2009 which by extension made it a part of the Bentley platform. Descartes has extra layers of Pointools functionality on top of the engine.

Bentley Descartes V8i (SELECTseries 3) running on MicroStation V8i (SELECTseries 3) advances information modeling, in particular for infrastructure assets and 3D cities, through:

• advanced point-cloud processing
• the ability to handle extremely large scalable terrain models
• 3D model texturing functionality