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Industry News
Autodesk Design Review and Freewheel Released
by Susan Smith
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Jennifer Toton, senior marketing product manager for the Extended Design Group at Autodesk which manages Design Review and Freewheel, said that the team’s products and services are targeted for the extended team that sits around the designers who don’t need to use a full CAD or BIM product.
“The designer typically is publishing out a DWF file, or they can send a DWG file onto the reviewer who is using Design Review. Then they can read in that file, take that measurements, markups, or other annotations, save them back out and send that DWF file back to the designer who can be working in AutoCAD, Revit or Inventor,” explained Toton. “They can read those changes back into that application and see the redlines in the context of the design they’re working on.”
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- Improved 3D measure and markup capabilities, so measurements and markups are persistent, which means as you take a measurement or markup, rotate the model and that respective markup stays within your view. This makes it easy to read and collaborate with teams.
- Another enhancement for AEC, geospatial and manufacturing is version comparison which allows the reviewer to understand what the change between versions is, for example, if you receive an architectural sheet set from your architect but they didn’t tell you what had changed. You can load a previous version in to Design Review and it will tell you what’s been added and what’s been deleted in the last version you saw. You have a visual reference so that you don’t need to search for what changed.
- GIS functionality is driven by customers like the City of Vancouver who are using Design Review today out in the field. “They have inspection and maintenance crews using Design Review on a Panasonic Toughbook laptop and they use that to share their maps straightforwardly,” noted Toton. “They are planning to deploy this new feature called ‘georeferencing DWF files.’ Now they can publish DWF files out of AutoCAD Map 3D or AutoCAD Civil 3D with the geocoordinates. That metadata is inside the DWF file, so when the field worker actually pulls up the map, they can look at the different latitude and longitude and integrate it with their GPS device.”
The City of Vancouver has leak detection crews that go out and follow a pipeline to see where a water main might have a leak. They will identify a leak and with GPS integration, they can click on the Design Review application and it will mark their geocoordinates, and then they can send out crews to fix it.
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A partnership with HP expands printing capabilities, which gives users Batch print with HP Instant Printing capabilities, accelerating printing productivity when sending multiple sheets or models to connected HP Designjet printers.
Design Review has also been built into the Buzzsaw service for collaborative project management.
Freewheel was first made available as Project Freewheel on Autodesk Labs in July of last year. 150,000 unique users have downloaded the service, and many customers have asked for it to be put in full production. The same 24/7 servers used by the Buzzsaw service are used for Freewheel. “You can upload any DWF file you have, either 2D or 3D, and send it to someone on your team using email, and send a url string,” Toton said. “It’s become a great way for customers to use DWF and collaborate with their team members but not require any installation of software. Once the recipient gets that email, they click on the link and go back to that design that had been uploaded in the first place.”
Acquisitions/Alliances/Agreements
CDV Systems, Inc. (CDV), providers of Autodesk® Revit® and CodeBook® implementation services, training, consulting and courseware to the AEC market, nationally and internationally, proudly announces the formation of a partnership with London Infotech, Inc., (LII) of Ahmedabad, India. LII has been providing Revit Building®, Revit Structure® and Revit Systems ® modeling services to architects, contractors and building owners for the past 20 months. As worldwide Alliance Partner, CDV now offers to their clients LII’s full scope and comprehensive Revit Production services.
Cimmetry Systems, an Agile Software company and global leader in Collaborative Visualization solutions, and InQuest Technologies, a leading provider of collaborative solutions for information intensive industries, signed a new Independent Software Vendor (ISV) agreement.
Oce announced that it has joined the ABC Business Partner program as its select provider of large format printing solutions. Through its alliance with ABC, one of the nation's most prominent construction trade associations, Oce will provide ABC's more than 24,000 members with access to award-winning large format technical document printing and scanning solutions through the ABC member discount program. Oce is the only vendor in this ABC Business Partner category.
Announcements
Re Autodesk and Vista: Almost all of Autodesk’s 2008 applications will support Vista. Exceptions to 2008 compatibility include AutoCAD® Utility Design, Autodesk MapGuide® Enterprise, and Autodesk Streamline® software, which will not support Vista. Windows Vista support is expected to be provided for the Autodesk® Inventor™ 2008 software family in a future service pack release.
Intergraph Corporation announced that it has been selected, as part of a team led by MainStream GS, LLC, to support the Ogden Air Logistics Center's (OO-ALC) Continuous Process Improvement Program (CPIP). The program strives to improve system availability, maintain 100% readiness, reduce flow time, and decrease cost across the organization. Intergraph brings process reengineering, software development and systems integration experience to the team, delivering IT-enabled process improvement solutions.
ArchiCAD from Graphisoft passed the second step of the IFC 2x3 certification at the IAI's (Industry Alliance for Interoperability) latest certification workshop held mid-March in Waltham, US. The IFC 2x3 add-on for ArchiCAD 10 is available as free download from Graphisoft's official website.
People
CH2M HILL, a global full-service engineering, construction and operations firm, has named David Ludwin, P.E., regional business group manager for the firm's Water Business Group in its nine-state Southwestern U.S. region.
New Products
Autodesk, Inc. and Robobat announced that Robobat has released a series of Extensions for Revit Structure, Autodesk’s building information modeling (BIM) software for structural engineers. A series of easy-to-use applications developed by Robobat, these Extensions are the most recent result of the technology initiative between Autodesk and Robobat to deliver best-in-class solutions to the structural engineering community.
Archway Systems, Inc. announces new software extension of either MicroStation V8 XM Edition or MicroStation PowerDraft V8 XM Edition. The extension includes detailing of steel studs and preparation of instructions which drive the New Tech Framing machine which automatically unrolls sheet steel, folds to a C section, drills, crimps, marks and cuts studs to precise length.
DOKuStar Professional software is the flagship product in the DOKuStar product family from Oce Document Technologies. The latest version 2.0 offers a number of major enhancements - incorporating several recognition engines for document classification and data extraction from structured, unstructured and mixed documents. DOKuStar Professional software v2.0 is suitable for a wide variety of document capture applications, especially challenging mixed-document environments such as mail room applications. The software can be used as a web service and as a cornerstone in a service oriented architecture (SOA).
Corecon Technologies, a leading software developer for the architecture, engineering and construction industry, has just released the latest version of its flagship software. The Corecon 2007 Spring Release offers its users a multitude of user-friendly features such as a Microsoft Excel export option for reports and increased dashboard capabilities for financial analysis needs. Now, Corecon 2007 offers the quality and security of any Corecon product in an updated and more accessible format than ever before.
NYacad, Inc. has released new add-on for AutoCAD Dim Over! - VBA application for quick adding and modification of leaders and dimensions. The program helps decrease the number of dimension styles in drawing by offering the variety of commands for overriding of existing dimensions and leaders.
Informative Graphics Corporation (IGC) announced the latest release of its MYRIAD(R) 3D/2D CAD viewer. MYRIAD 8 represents a complete architecture overhaul, improving speed and performance, fidelity and the overall user experience.
SmartDraw.com, creator of SmartDraw(R) announced that it has expanded its software to meet the specific needs of finance and accounting professionals. The software includes 22 new SmartTemplates(TM) designed to help companies minimize fraud and comply with regulatory requirements through improved analysis and documentation of internal financial controls. Each SmartTemplate loads a diagram-specific command set and step-by-step instructions, turning the user into an instant expert on creating financial and accounting diagrams. New SmartTemplates are included for accounts payable flowcharts, cash control worksheets, responsibility charts, and many other areas.
DAZ 3D a developer of professional quality 3D software and models, announced the release of a free U3D content exporter included as part of DAZ/Studio 1.5 (also available for free). Now Photoshop users of all experience levels can quickly combine 3D models into their existing Photoshop projects. With the ability to manipulate the 3D models inside Photoshop CS3 Extended, users can achieve a new dimension of realism with their artwork.
Around the Web
Google to buy DoubleClick for $3.1 billion, April 13, 2007, CNET News.com Upcoming Events
|
2007 International CAD Consortium Conference | |
| Date: |
April 22 - 25, 2007 |
| Place: |
Fort Worth Hilton
TX USA |
| | |
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Meridian Systems 2007 User Conference | |
| Date: |
April 24 - 26, 2007 |
| Place: |
Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine
San Diego, CA USA |
| The 2007 Meridian User Conference allows our software users to meet with Meridian executives, technical staff, participate in variety of project management software sessions, earn advanced product certifications, and attend new technology demonstrations. The 2007 user conference will feature several peer networking opportunities, as well as an exhibit pavilion featuring Meridian technology partners offering a variety of solutions and services. | |
|
Introduction to Lean Construction | |
| Date: |
April 26 - 27, 2007 |
| Place: |
Atlanta Hilton, Downtown
Courtland Street NE Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30303 USA |
| Introduction to Lean Construction provides an overview of Lean Construction and its underlying theory, principles and techniques. The seminar will also focus on the design, operation and improvement of the project based production systems and their control along with the continuing practice of work structuring. The Last Planner System® of production control, the essential planning system for lean projects will be described and its function explained. This session is a must for people and companies considering or adopting Lean Construction. | |
|
BE Conference 2007 | |
| Date: |
April 29 - May 3, 2007 |
| Place: |
Los Angeles Convention Center
Los Angeles, CA USA |
| BE Conference offers unrivaled value to individuals and organizations looking for better ways to work and better ways to achieve optimal performance: Hours and hours of accredited learning A variety of networking opportunities Best practice sharing from peers and knowledge leaders Technology updates across all industries and disciplines The BE Awards of Excellence, the most prestigious awards program dedicated to infrastructure design and management. | |
|
AIA 2007 National Convention and Design Exposition | |
| Date: |
May 3 - 5, 2007 |
| Place: |
San Antonio, TX USA |
| The AIA 2007 National Convention and Design Exposition is the premier event for architects and building industry professionals. Join us San Antonio May 3-5, for over 250 continuing education programs, 60 tours, 40 events, and 800 leading-edge companies exhibiting their products and services, you’ll find plenty of exciting educational and entertaining activities. | |
|
Research Buildings 2007 | |
| Date: |
May 7 - 8, 2007 |
| Place: |
San Diego, CA USA |
| Get the details on the newly emerging models for more compact, more efficient, and more flexible multi- and interdisciplinary research buildings. Learn the latest project scoping and planning rationales, metrics, project delivery methods, and facility operation and management plans for a variety of open-plan lab facilities, new layouts and fit-ups for convertible wet/dry lab space, new types of research tools and equipment, and team-based research processes.
Specifically, you’ll learn:
Email research2007@tradelineinc.com to get full program details as they become available. Register through April 06 2007 SAVE $150 USD | |
|
Coastal Sediments 07 | |
| Date: |
May 13 - 17, 2007 |
| Place: |
Intercontinental Hotel
New Orleans, LA USA |
| The conference Steering Committee and the Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute (COPRI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers welcome you to the Sixth International Symposium on Coastal Engineering and Science of Coastal Sediment Processes—Coastal Sediments 07!
The Coastal Sediments 07 conference is the sixth in the series following the inaugural conference in 1977. The Coastal Sediments technical specialty conferences provide an international forum for exchange of information among coastal engineers, geologists, marine scientists, shallow-water oceanographers, and others interested in the physical processes of coastal sediment transport and morphology change. Coastal Sediments 07 will continue to maintain the high quality of presentations and Proceedings which has made the event a valuable professional learning experience with a legacy of a frequently consulted Proceedings volume. Both a hard copy Proceedings volume and CD version will be distributed to participants at the conference. | |
|
Ecobuild America / AEC - Science & Technology | |
| Date: |
May 15 - 17, 2007 |
| Place: |
ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER
ANAHEIM, CA USA |
| Ecobuild America and AEC-ST is THE annual gathering place for the building industry professionals and AEC professionals who design, construct, manage facilities, and specify building products, materials and services. This event is strategically located in Southern California, where you'll gain direct networking access to the most powerful and important people who are focused on building sustainable facilities. | |