Welcome to AECWeekly! Just announced from Adobe is their Adobe Acrobat 3D software, the newest member of the Acrobat software suite, targeted at the architectural and manufacturing markets.
Acrobat 3D enables architects and engineers to publish and share 3D design information from popular CAD applications with users who don't have copies of CAD programs, but who have Adobe's free Reader. Since there are 1.25 billion copies of Adobe's free Reader out in the marketplace, ostensibly, 3D design information could reach a lot of folks. Read about it in this week's Industry News.
This coming week I'll be at the daratechPLANT conference in Houston. Hope to see many of you there. Look for a special report on the conference in next week's AECWeekly.
AECWeekly is a news magazine featuring important industry news profiles, a summary of recently published AEC product and company news, customer wins, and coming events. Brought to you by AECCafe.
AECWeekly examines select top news each week, picks out worthwhile reading from around the web, and special interest items you might not find elsewhere. This issue will feature Industry News, Acquisitions/Agreements/Alliances, Announcements, Financials, Appointments, Awards, New Products, and Upcoming Events.
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Susan Smith, Managing Editor
Industry News
Adobe Acrobat 3D Targets the AEC Market
by Susan Smith
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Acrobat 3D enables architects and engineers to publish and share 3D design information from popular CAD applications with users who don't have copies of CAD programs, but who have Adobe's free Reader. Since there are 1.25 billion copies of Adobe's free Reader out in the marketplace, ostensibly, 3D design information could reach a lot of folks.
Patrick Aragon, Acrobat Product Market Manager, gave me a demonstration of the new Acrobat 3D and a short history of how Adobe ended up in the AEC marketplace. Originally, Adobe targeted creative professionals, but they found out that a large percentage of this market were architects and engineers who used Acrobat and PDF in their workflows.
The focus of Acrobat 3D is “document based collaboration” - “securely collaborating with your customers, suppliers as well as your partners,” explained Aragon, who was brought on board with the release of Acrobat 7 Professional, which was targeted at AEC professionals like its predecessor, Acrobat 6 Professional. Just before the release of 7, Bentley licensed Adobe's PDF libraries technology and embedded that into MicroStation so they can create PDF content from DGN as well as DWG files.
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Acrobat 3D extends the electronic base design collaboration to include 3D information as well. It is a “superset” of Acrobat 7 Professional, which is the product for the AEC market. However, those AEC professionals who use 3D quite extensively who want to exchange content beyond the core design team will find value with this product.
“The whole goal of clarifying design intent and accelerating time to market, is to reduce design interpretation errors and associated re-work,” said Aragon. “On a design build project, you make a change, and it takes time to actually get the drawings printed out electronically or in print, with everyone understanding the full nature of the change that has happened. With 3D that can be clarified very quickly. Also in a bid scenario, it's critical to communicate those ideas clearer to the customers and prospective bidders. It also provides access to the design assets who may not have a native CAD application.”
Main features of the Adobe Acrobat 3D product:
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This is useful for constructability reviews, contract formation or RFPs, technical documentation, and all customers may use it for their marketing information to distribute to their customers.
2) To capture information and put it in a PDF document, hit print screen on your computer and Acrobat recognizes and captures that information from the OpenGL path, giving you an option of what you want to do with that content in the resulting PDF file. You can accept all defaults, change background color, lighting, add default views, add JavaScript, and it converts quickly. You can make adjustments inside the PDF 3D file.
You can capture data into PDF with any application that uses OpenGL, which is the majority of 3D applications. If you don't have the application or viewer for that application, Adobe Acrobat 3D provides a way to directly translate many of those files into a PDF.
3) You can add comments to your model information (comments were already in Acrobat 7 Pro). In 3D, should you move the model view around, that comment is actually associated with that particular view. “We've added a” tab” with all products - Acrobat Standard, Reader, Acrobat Pro and Acrobat 3D. People who receive content can go to the model tree tab and go to any views that have defined as well as specific comments they've defined. So it will zoom in and bring you to the view you were in when you made that comment and provide easy navigation for someone with only the free Reader or who not familiar with Acrobat.”
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4) You can add comments using familiar Acrobat tools. “I can navigate to the comments. The free Reader will have commenting toolbars - I can add comments and markups to this document. With Acrobat 3D, I can add to comments, or navigate to the comments and reply to them. The product also includes a set of standard business stamps and you can create custom stamps.
5) You can combine 3D files with other documents such as email, web documentation, spreadsheets and insert 3D CAD designs into Word, Excel or PowerPoint files and use Acrobat 3D to convert them into PDF.
6) Advanced security controls are provided in Acrobat 3D, with password protection that restricts access, printing, editing and other actions.
Acquisitions/Agreements/Alliances
COADE, Inc. and Alias Ltd. announced that the two software companies have entered into an agreement under which COADE's CAESAR II Version 5.00, the company's popular software for pipe stress analysis, now bundles a license of Alias' ISOGEN, the world's leading software for producing automatic piping isometrics. This will allow engineers to create annotated piping isometrics directly from CAESAR II, thus saving significant time and expense over producing them manually.
Cimmetry Systems Corporation, an Agile Software Corporation company, continues to invest in world-class partners to offer customers high quality, local sales and support
capabilities. See press release for list of VAR partners.
Announcements
Autodesk has made the decision to change the name of MapServer Enterprise. Previously code named “Tux”, the new names are of the various versions of it are as follows:
- MapGuide Open Source: Open source version
- Autodesk MapGuide® Enterprise 2007: Commercial version (available later this year)
- Autodesk MapGuide® Studio 2007: Commercial authoring tool (available later this year)
Decisions driving the change were twofold: First, the open source web mapping community voiced concern about confusion over the existing MapServer project and Autodesk's web mapping product. Also, current MapGuide customers and partners wanted a name and a brand that they know well and identify with.
Members of the MapServer Foundation open source geospatial community are scheduled to meet February 4th in Chicago. Online discussions are underway to find a new name for the MapServer Foundation, which is now seeking other open source geospatial projects to join the effort.
Other big news from Autodesk this week is the announcement that Carl Bass, the company's chief operating officer, has been named president and chief executive officer, effective May 1, 2006. Bass also has been appointed to the company's expanded Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Carol Bartz, who has served as CEO since April 1992, will become the company's first Executive Chairman of the Board.
As COO, Bass has had overall responsibility for sales, marketing and product development in Autodesk's core businesses: manufacturing, infrastructure, media and entertainment, building and wireless data services. Bass has been with Autodesk for 10 years.
As Executive Chairman, Bartz will focus her energies on improving the business climate for Autodesk around the world, particularly in emerging markets such as China, India and Eastern Europe, as well as work to build even stronger relationships with Autodesk's key customers, partners and investors.
netGuru, Inc., in response to numerous inquiries, clarified the timing of the "ex-distribution" date related to the cash distribution in the amount of $0.85 per common share that is anticipated to be paid on January 27, 2006, to shareholders of record as of January 17, 2006.
An ex-distribution date is the day on or after which shares trade without a particular distribution. Due to the magnitude of the anticipated distribution and consistent with NASD Uniform Practice Code Rule 11140(b)(2), the ex-distribution date, as previously announced, is anticipated to be January 30, 2006, which is the first business day following the January 27, 2006, payable date for the distribution. Shareholders should contact their brokers with any questions regarding the mechanics of the distribution.
The Autodesk User Group International (AUGI) organization has partnered with Sterling Systems to bring AUGI CAD Camp to Indianapolis. During this one-day special event, Autodesk software users will learn from the top Autodesk instructors and CAD gurus in the nation as well as enjoy a professional networking opportunity with peers in their industry.
Open Source Business Conference, LLC announced the conference schedule for Open Source Business Conference(TM) (OSBC(R)), the premier event for open source software and business. The conference will consist of four tracks that focus on: how to leverage open source into a business; understanding and mitigating open source legal risks; the industry's cutting-edge open source startups and learning the business models that fuel them. OSBC is scheduled to be held February 14-15, 2006 at the Argent Hotel in San Francisco.
Financials
Mentor Graphics Corporation announced that fourth quarter 2005 bookings and revenues achieved record levels. Revenues are expected to be in excess of $220 million, exceeding the Thomson First Call consensus estimate of $218 million. The company expects to be profitable for the quarter. See press release
Epicor Software Corporation, provider of enterprise software solutions for the midmarket, is scheduled to release its earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 on January 31 at 1:30 p.m. PST. The conference call begins at 2:00 p.m. PST, following the earnings release.
When: Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Time: 2:00 p.m. PST
Dial in: +1 (800) 811-8824 or outside the U.S. +1 (913) 981-4903
Conf ID: Epicor
Nemetschek North America announces that Mr. Roberto Rovira, assistant professor of the Landscape Architecture Program at the Florida International University's School of Architecture, has won the recent Miami Monument International Design Competition. A
landscape architect and long-time VectorWorks user, Rovira used VectorWorks to design the winning entry, entitled Miami Sunspars.
Commercial operating income for 2005 up by 66% to euro 51 million for Oce N.V.
Strong fourth quarter: commercial operating income tripled See press release
Awards
TRIRIGA announced that it has been positioned in the leader quadrant on the Gartner Inc. Magic Quadrant for Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS). The 2005 IWMS Magic Quadrant evaluates 11 software vendors on the "Completeness of Vision" of their solutions as well as their "Ability to Execute" in this market, which brings together the disciplines of facility management, real estate management, maintenance management and project management.
Bricsnet announced it has been positioned by Gartner, Inc., in the leaders quadrant in the "Magic Quadrant for Integrated Workplace Management Systems, 2005" report (source: Magic Quadrant for Integrated Workplace Management Systems, 2005; by Michael A. Bell; December 20, 2005).
Appointments
Avatech Solutions, Inc. announced that their growth plans for 2006 include the aggressive hiring of industry-focused sales and technical people. These new Avatech experts will augment the existing 175 professionals working for the firm across the United States.
New Products
CMiC, provider of enterprise and project management software for the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industries, has launched CMiC Dashboard, a software tool that displays consolidated company and project information on a single screen.
CMiC also launched CMiC Self Service, a Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool to help organizations tailor their views of company information without the expense of heavy customization while maintaining the integrity of the company's database.
Upcoming Events
| daratechPLANT 2006 | |
| Date: | January 22 - 25, 2006 |
| Place: | Houston, TX USA |
| Schedule compression, cost reduction, safety, business-, and engineering-process enhancements, six-sigma quality, and practices that bring these about through the strategic deployment of technologies that solve real problems and enhance collaboration are at the heart of daratechPLANT conferences.
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| AGC of America - Building Division Meeting Home | |
| Date: | January 25 - 28, 2006 |
| Place: | THE WESTIN KIERLAND RESORT & SPA
SCOTTSDALE, AZ USA |
| The Building Division winter meetings will be held January 25-28, 2006 at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. All meetings will be held at the Westin Kierland. A reception and dinner will be held on Thursday evening, January 26 and a golf tournament will be held on Friday, January 27. The room rate is $239 per night plus state and local taxes.
Hotel room reservations will be done on an individual call-in basis. To book your hotel room, call the Westin directly at (480) 624-1000 and identify yourself as an attendee for the AGC Building Division meetings in order to receive the group rate. Hotel reservations must be made by Tuesday, January 3, 2006. Cancellations will be accepted up to 72 hours prior to arrival. We have many excellent sessions planned for this meeting and all are encouraged to attend. Please refer to the attached program summary which outlines the format and content of meeting sessions. If you have any questions about this meeting, please feel free to contact Damian Hill at (703) 837-5365 or hilld@agc.org or Amy Fields at (703) 837-5360 or fieldsa@agc.org. We look forward to seeing you in Scottsdale!
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| 5th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth | |
| Date: | January 26 - 28, 2006 |
| Place: | Adam's Mark Hotel
Denver, CO USA |
| The New Partners for Smart Growth Conference has grown significantly since it began several years ago--increasing in scope, attendance, and prestige--and is now considered to be the "premier" smart growth conference held each year. The strength of this conference comes from the variety of participants and speakers who cross disciplines to share experiences and insights, and valuable tools and strategies to encourage smart growth implementation and "get it done."
The 2006 conference continues this exciting trend and includes more new partners than ever. They recognize smart growth as a viable solution to the many challenges posed by growth; they may see it as a smart investment, an opportunity to spur economic development, and/or a way to improve the public health. With the challenges our nation is currently facing--at home and abroad--there are more reasons than ever to join hands with new partners and work toward our common goal of creating safe, healthy, and livable communities for all.
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