A third prediction is that owners have significant interest in getting as built models and using them in their business practice. They understand the value of the model for asset management practices and ask for it a lot more. It is very prevalent in the higher education world, and is stepping out to the commercial and government space.
Top News of the Week
Intergraph has released CADWorx DraftPro, its new intelligent AutoCAD-based 2D plant design and layout solution that it is offering free via download ( www.cadworxdraftpro.com), with the first live webinar demonstrations of CADWorx DraftPro scheduled for January 26, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. CT. The webinar leader will be Sonia Delgadillo, senior CADWorx applications specialist at Intergraph CADWorx & Analysis Solutions group.
ZWSOFT unveiled the beta program for its forthcoming ZW3D 2012, the flexible CAD/CAM software for all types of 3D modeling and machining. This new release promises significant improvements in many areas, with a special focus on increased modeling efficiency and advanced CAM operations as well as the new ribbon interface. More enhanced functions will come with the official release of ZW3D 2012 by the end of February this year.
Alliances/Agreements/Acquisitions
Trimble announced that it has acquired privately-held Plancal of Horgen, Switzerland, a leading 3D CAD/CAE and ERP software provider for the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industries in western Europe. The acquisition of Plancal broadens Trimble's industry leading BIM to Field solutions for MEP and HVAC contractors to automate project estimating and management, modeling, detailing, layout and construction. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Announcements
BLUERIDGE Analytics – provider of SITEOPS, patented site-optimization software – announces its 2012 lineup of Certified Providers. SITEOPS allows civil engineers, architects, landscape architects and planners to provide essential services that are beneficial to real estate developers and owners, such as:
- Site design optimization proven to save an average of $15,000 per acre
- Comparison of numerous site design options up front, allowing developers to select the best design for a project and gain confidence in the development costs—even in the earliest conceptual stages
- Value-engineering up-front leading to better cost and design driven decisions
- Shortening of the collaborative effort in the conceptual phase, reducing the time it takes to get to permitting and construction document preparation
- Use of 3D visualization of site and surroundings to communicate the project’s intent to stakeholders
Autodesk, Inc. announced that its design software will be used in the National University of Singapore (NUS) Engineering Design and Innovation Centre (EDIC) and the Design-Centric Curriculum (DCC). An NUS-Autodesk Term Professorship at the NUS Faculty of Engineering is also being established and hosted at EDIC.
Gehry Technologies (GT) announces that Deep Bhattacharya, executive vice president of business development and strategy; Matt Reid, senior vice president of marketing; and Jim Cheung, vice president of research and development, have joined the company's management team. In addition, the company announced the promotion of Alex Kunz to vice president of global services.
New Products
SmartDraw Software announced the release of two new editions of SmartDraw 2012: Business and Enterprise. Both of the new editions share all of the features and functionality of the SmartDraw2012 Standard Edition, including over 70 types of visuals such as mind maps, time lines and org charts. Automated drawing and formatting features from the original version are also incorporated into the new editions, which also offer a variety of enhanced tools and features.
A new book, BIM in Small-Scale Sustainable Design, is now available on Amazon.com.
Authored by Vectorworks user François Lévy, this work is the leading guide to architectural design within a building information modeling (BIM) workflow, giving the practitioner a clear procedure when designing climate-load dominated buildings.
Around the Web
AECCafe Today
Events
| Stay Connected with World of Concrete | |
| Date: | January 23 - 27, 2012 |
| Place: | Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV USA |
Since 1975, World of Concrete has been the industry’s ONLY annual international event dedicated to the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries. Featuring indoor and outdoor exhibits, leading suppliers showcasing innovative products and technologies, exciting demonstrations and competitions, a world-class education program, and the information you need to help sustain and grow your business. Start the year off strong at World of Concrete! | |
| UCT - the TOTAL Source for the Underground Construction Market | |
| Date: | January 24 - 26, 2012 |
| Place: | Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, TX USA |
Underground Construction Technology (UCT) International Conference & Exhibition is the TOTAL source for the underground construction market. As the biggest and best annual event in the underground construction industry, UCT focuses on bringing together individuals who are involved in the installation and rehabilitation of the total underground infrastructure, not just aspects of it. | |
| Advanced Solutions: Complimentary Collaborative Building Management Workshop | |
| Date: | January 25, 2012 |
| Place: | Courtyard Cincinnati
500 West Third Street, Covington, KY 41011 USA |
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an intelligent 3D model-based process that provides insight for creating and managing projects faster, more economically, and with less environmental impact. Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. When combined together, BIM and Collaboration result in optimum project results. BIM allows architects, engineers, builders, and owners to explore a project's key physical and functional characteristics digitally – before it's built. By using coordinated, data-rich information models, all members of a project can contribute to its success through improved accuracy, less waste, and the ability to make informed decisions earlier in the process. BIM helps design professionals stay competitive in an increasingly complex business climate by giving them the ability to better predict building outcomes, facilitating higher profits and more | |
| Executive Hire Show 2012 | |
| Date: | February 8 - 9, 2012 |
| Place: | Ricoh Arena
Coventry, United Kingdom |
Generator manufacturer, SDMO, will be exhibiting a comprehensive line up of their power generation and pumping equipment at the forthcoming Executive Hire Show, with several products being showcased for the very first time. Taking centre stage on stand D35, will be two examples from their very popular Rental Compact range of generators, the R110C3 (100kVA) and the R33C3 (30kVA), fully compliant with Stage 3a of The Non-Road Mobile Machinery (Emission of Gaseous and Particulate Pollutants) (Amendment) Regulations 20062006/105/EC, which came into force on the 1st January 2011. | |
| THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS' SHOW (IBS) | |
| Date: | February 8 - 11, 2012 |
| Place: | Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL USA |
| THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS' SHOW (IBS), the largest residential building industry tradeshow in the world. With the most residential construction pros you'll see in one place, IBS is the building industry’s defining business event. Now in its 68th year, IBS brings together virtually every aspect of the building industry. Owned and produced by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), IBS is the perfect showcase for suppliers and manufacturers looking to market and sell to builders, architects, developers, dealers, and distributors. | |
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-- Susan Smith, AECCafe.com Managing Editor.
