AECCafe Voice 
Susan Smith
Susan Smith has worked as an editor and writer in the technology industry for over 16 years. As an editor she has been responsible for the launch of a number of technology trade publications, both in print and online. Currently, Susan is the Editor of GISCafe and AECCafe, as well as those sites’ … More » AutoCAD 2019 Comes with Seven New ToolsetsApril 13th, 2018 by Susan Smith
Autodesk’s AutoCAD 2019 just added seven new specialized toolsets to its subscriber program. These toolsets include specialized features and libraries for mechanical design, architecture, 3D mapping, and more; plus, greater mobility with the new web and mobile apps; and take advantage of new features and performance enhancements, included with new subscriptions to AutoCAD 2019 available March 22, 2018. New View on Sustainability: 3D Printed Housing for Underserved PopulationsApril 6th, 2018 by Susan Smith
In a day and age where affordable housing is at a premium, along comes the company ICON, a construction technologies company with the primary goal of revolutionizing homebuilding. How do they propose to do that?  First permitted 3D printed home in Austin, TX Read the rest of New View on Sustainability: 3D Printed Housing for Underserved Populations Colorado DOT Beta Tests ikeGPS Spike Integration for Mobile MeasurementsMarch 29th, 2018 by Susan Smith
Field data capture and asset inspection activities just got easier with the integration of ikeGPS’s Spike into Esri’s latest version of Survey123. Esri recently introduced its new software release of Survey123 for ArcGIS mobile application with Spike, a laser measurement solution offered by ikeGPS. Spike allows users to measure hard-to-reach physical objects from a distance simply by taking a photo with their smartphone or tablet. Survey123 with Spike runs on Apple iOS and Google Android smartphones and tablets.
Read the rest of Colorado DOT Beta Tests ikeGPS Spike Integration for Mobile Measurements Choice is Key as GRAPHISOFT Extends Licensing Options for ARCHICADMarch 22nd, 2018 by Susan Smith
Campbell Yule, director, Global Business Development spoke to AECCafe Voice about the new subscription model offered by GRAPHISOFT.
Read the rest of Choice is Key as GRAPHISOFT Extends Licensing Options for ARCHICAD Indoor Reality Captures and Processes Large Indoor SpacesMarch 15th, 2018 by Susan Smith
Just when you think that the advancements in indoor mapping have come a long way, along comes another fascinating product.
Read the rest of Indoor Reality Captures and Processes Large Indoor Spaces In the Near Future: Tekla Software 2018 for SteelMarch 8th, 2018 by Susan Smith
In a recent Webinar, presenters Tiina Lehtinen, marketing manager, Trimble; Oxana Kyllonen, application manager, Trimble; and Eric Beyer, product manager, Trimble outlined the sneak preview of Tekla Software 2018 for Steel. The new Tekla Structures 2018 is designed to be more productive with your drawings and modeling.
Read the rest of In the Near Future: Tekla Software 2018 for Steel AECCafe Voice’s Reality Capture QuestionnaireFebruary 28th, 2018 by Susan Smith
Reality Capture has taken the AEC world by storm in recent years with its ability to capture existing conditions and create 3D models out of photographs or laser scans, without seams. Technologies used include 3D laser scanning, mobile and aerial LiDAR, and photogrammetry. This resulting point data is reconstructed into a 3D model. While accurate, LiDAR only captures 3D data leaving color out. Photogrammetry is another method by which Reality Capture is achieved. This type of Reality Capture uses photographs to reconstruct a 3D image.  An image in Bentley’s ContextCapture photo planning that shows operation (gray), Read the rest of AECCafe Voice’s Reality Capture Questionnaire Kingspan Group Invests in the Future with InvicaraFebruary 22nd, 2018 by Susan Smith
Anand Mecheri, CEO and Founder of Invicara, spoke with AECCafe Voice about the company’s recent news of Kingspan Group plc’s $10 million investment in Invicara. Invicara is a provider of transformative cloud-based software solutions for the entire ecosystem of the built environment.  Invicara’s platform helps building owners and their design and construction partners create a data-rich, digital twin of a building. Read the rest of Kingspan Group Invests in the Future with Invicara Autodesk Subscription “Switch-Back” Promotion Shows Some Heart, Sort OfFebruary 16th, 2018 by Susan Smith
There have been some changes to Autodesk recently. Perhaps most importantly for the users and owners, changes to the subscription program, that has been promoted by Autodesk as an “my way or the highway” approach to selling software, or cloud services as it were. As some people were not happy with being expected to purchase a subscription and give up their perpetual licenses, a new promotion has been initiated. This new promotion offers a “switch-back” option, meaning that if you own a perpetual license and you switch to a subscription, “If you’re not satisfied, you can switch back to your perpetual license.” This is the promise. You can find out more about what this might mean for those who would like to continue with their perpetual licenses or revert to a perpetual license after finding the subscription program doesn’t work for them here. How do I get this offer? (The first of the FAQs) Simply trade in your qualifying old perpetual license(s) and purchase a new 1- or 3-year subscription to any eligible collection or individual product of your choice via one of the methods outlined. Once you submit your perpetual license(s), you agree to discontinue use of the traded-in license(s). This offer ends April 20, 2018. Which products qualify for the offer? Most Autodesk perpetual licenses of releases R14 (release year 1998) through 2018 version product not on an active maintenance plan (as of December 31, 2017) qualify to get the offer discount. When you trade in your qualifying perpetual license(s), you can get the offer discount on most Autodesk product subscriptions, including industry collections, AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor, 3ds Max, Civil 3D, Maya, and much more. View list of all eligible products and full offer details here. Can I get a different product than I have now? You do not need to purchase the same product as the perpetual trade-in license. For example, you can trade in an old, eligible perpetual license of AutoCAD and subscribe to a collection at the promotional price. (Eds note: This might work if you wanted to buy a subscription to a collection that contains AutoCAD, thereby seeming to get more for your money.) What does “switch-back” option mean? We’re confident that you will be satisfied with your subscription, but if for any reason that is not the case, you are eligible to switch back to your perpetual license at the end of either the 3-year term, or the end of the second year of an annual term (1 year plus 1 year renewal). See full details here. In those full details, note this information: Note that customers are only able to switch back to the versions set out below.
Do I have to be connected to the internet to use my software? No. After initial activation, your software will work offline for 30 days. At that point, you will need to reconnect. Don’t worry, we’ll remind you 7 days prior. Will all of my work automatically go into the cloud? Desktop applications and all associated user data are stored on your local machine. When you use cloud service applications, you can choose to either store data in the cloud or on your local machine. You retain all of your local data even if you decide to end your subscription. Will I have updates whether I want to or not? As a subscriber, you can access the latest updates anytime, but you decide if and when to install them. What else can I do with subscription that I don’t have with my old software? The subscription offerings provide you greater value and enable you to:
Learn more Eds. note: Nowhere is there any mention of continued support, upgrades or maintenance if you do choose to “switch-back” to your old version of Autodesk software after dipping your toes into the subscription pool. What this offer offers: 1) the owner or user, gains the opportunity to try out the subscription-based arrangement with an option of turning back if he/she wants to. 2) Additionally, the subscription price is 25% less than it would be without this offer, so it might be a worthwhile incentive to move forward. 3) You may really save money on signing up for the Industry Collections. You must make your decision within 30 days, if you want to “switch-back.” If you do switch back, you don’t get to pick up your perpetual license maintenance plan. You will also be sent back (kind of like in a game of Monopoly) to your perpetual license version you had before. Extraordinary as it may seem, if you had purchased a 2017 or 2018 perpetual license, it appears (see above chart) that if you were not happy with your subscription plan, you would be switched back to a 2016 perpetual license. I’m hoping this is a typo, but so far that is what is stated on the website. Stay tuned; I have contacted Autodesk to find out further information. Trimble Acquires e-Builder to Accelerate Industry TransformationFebruary 8th, 2018 by Susan Smith
This week Trimble announced its acquisition of privately-held e-Builder, an SaaS-based construction program management solution for capital program owners and program management firms. While very often we might wonder what a company’s end goals are regarding an acquisition, e-Builder extends Trimble’s ability to accelerate industry transformation by providing an integrated project delivery solution for owners, program managers and contractors across the design, construct and operate lifecycle. e-Builder is a foremost survivor of the construction software management boom of many years ago.
Read the rest of Trimble Acquires e-Builder to Accelerate Industry Transformation |
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