Autodesk Autoturn 6.0
AutoTURN is a third-party CAD software released for the AutoCAD, MicroStation, BricsCAD. The 2008 release of AutoTURN 6.0 added additional simulation functions. It builds on version 5.1's abilities to loop simulations by adding the ability.
Used to its fullest capability, design, analysis, and modeling software can expand a civil engineer’s vision, providing, among other benefits, rapid evaluation of multiple design solutions. In response to a request from CE News, companies provided the following information about their latest programs. Company web addresses are provided for immediate access to additional information.
Adobe Systems, Inc. (www.adobe.com) introduced Adobe Acrobat 9. Users can now include Adobe Flash Player-compatible video and application files in PDF documents. Acrobat 9 also has the ability to unify a wide range of content from multiple media types, such as documents, video, audio, and even 3-D objects into one compressed PDF file. In addition, Acrobat 9 provides access to capabilities for collaborating live within a PDF document—enabled by working with Acrobat.com, a new suite of hosted services. Acrobat 9 users can access Acrobat.com to store and share files and to gather comments in a shared document review.
Autodesk (www.autodesk.com) released AutoCAD Civil 2009 for the design and documentation needs of civil engineering technicians, drafters and surveyors and AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 for design and analysis. With data shortcuts and xrefs, project members can share model data such as surfaces, alignments, and pipes, working off the same instance of a design object for multiple design tasks. Annotation can also be generated from the data shortcuts or directly through an xref to help ensure that production drafting remains in sync. For companies looking for advanced data management, the addition of Autodesk Vault technology enhances data shortcut functionality with advanced change management, version control, user permissions, and archive control.
Bentley Systems, Inc. (www.bentley.com) released V8i, which encompasses products for all of the solution communities served by Bentley. According to the company, the V8i portfolio leverages and extends core capabilities of its new interoperability platform, enabling Bentley applications to persist, share, and visualize infrastructure asset data in a common way, promoting collaborative workflows. The result is a project environment that combines flexibility, scalability, and robustness, and a portfolio that offers discipline-specific, integrated software and services. The photo, courtesy of Henning Larsen Architects, depicts work the firm performed for the Massar Children’s Discovery Centre.
BLUERIDGE Analytics (www.blueridgeanalytics.com) provides SITEOPS site engineering software, a web-based conceptual site design system. Available for single- and multiple-pad sites, SITEOPS combines layout, grading, and piping tools with the ability to auto-generate design files and cost estimates. SITEOPS enables rapid site evaluations and fast what-if scenarios, allowing engineers to focus on engineering instead of drafting. For instance, users can adjust a building’s location and the system automatically redraws parking, driveways, islands, grading, stormwater piping, and more. It produces 2-D and 3-D solution sets designed to interface with CAD-based products in DWG, LandXML, and other design formats.
BOSS International (www.bossintl.com) released its stormwater and sanitary sewer modeling software StormNET for Civil 3D, which enables civil engineers to do integrated stormwater and sanitary sewer engineering in AutoCAD Civil 3D. The program includes all of the necessary tools for designing and analyzing stormwater and sanitary sewer networks, including detention pond and FHWA storm drain inlet design. It integrates its stormwater and sanitary sewer library with the AutoCAD Civil 3D Parts Catalog. StormNET for Civil 3D operates within AutoCAD Civil 3D and can perform stormwater drainage, hydrology, and hydraulic analysis; stormwater and sanitary sewer pipe sizing; storm drain gutter spread analysis; detention pond sizing and outlet design; and stormwater and sanitary sewer pipe network design.
CAD Masters, Inc.’s (www.cadmasters.com) CMI Standards Manager v2009 provides users the ability to extract and manage AutoCAD Civil 3D styles through a Standards Database, as well as to import AutoCAD Civil 3D styles into any drawing from the Standards Database. Features include new layer auditing and conversion tools with batch processing, text and dimension style auditing and conversion tools, and symbol auditing tools.
Autocad Autoturn
CADsmart (www.cadsmart.net) released version 6 of CADsmart Skills Assessment Software. The release includes live video recording of candidate assessments, which can be replayed when needed for training and support. The software has two main applications. The Premier assessment, typically takes one hour and can be used to evaluate employees’ CAD skills, productivity, and speed. Premier pinpoints areas that may benefit from training and development. The Xpress exercise takes 10 to 20 minutes and is suitable to quickly identify a potential employee’s CAD expertise.
Carlson Software (www.carlsonsw.com) will hold its 2nd Annual Carlson User Conference, April 5-7, 2009, in Lexington, Ky. All new classes have been scheduled for both beginner and advanced users, including hands-on labs. Learning tracks will cover data collection, land surveying, civil engineering, construction and machine control, and mining. Classes include the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units.
CEDRA Corporation (www.cedra.com) introduced AVLand GeoDatabases, which provide an efficient environment for multiuser and multi-departmental use and the ability to store multiple data sources in a single database. By using the GIS database for planning and general information analysis and for in-house engineering design applications, a city can create a comprehensive and dynamic database that can be used to manage and meet the ever-evolving needs of its infrastructure (streets, sewers, water, and other components). Such a database also provides public works engineers the ability to access right-of-way, buildings, contours, water lines, wastewater and stormwater sewer lines, and many other layers of data from a central repository relevant to their work.
Eagle Point (www.eaglepoint.com) offers LandSketch for residential planners to reduce the time it takes to produce conceptual designs. With LandSketch, users can develop alternatives electronically and re-use the best design elements from any alternative; eliminate the time it takes to get from hand-drawn paper sketches to electronic drawings; efficiently develop conceptual plans without over-engineering the concept when using high-end engineering design software; and export intelligent data directly into AutoCAD Civil 3D or Eagle Point software to get to final engineering plans faster.
ERDAS’s (www.erdas.com) OpenStreetMap was added to ERDAS TITAN 2009 as the default basemap in the TITAN Viewer. OpenStreetMap is a free, editable map of the world. ERDAS TITAN enables users and organizations to make their geospatial data available, while retaining digital ownership rights. Using a 3-D virtual globe, users can create data and content mashups that can be quickly published and viewed by others. OpenStreetMap may now be used as a basemap for a 3-D virtual globe. ERDAS TITAN also translates data on the fly to view only formats for consumption into a variety of geospatial applications, including Google Earth, Microsoft Virtual Earth, ERDAS IMAGINE, ArcMap, and more.
Google (http://sketchup.google.com) launched SketchUp 7 and SketchUp Pro 7, the newest versions of the 3-D modeling software. According to the company, SketchUp 7 helps users express ideas better and more easily in 3-D, as well as share work and collaborate more effectively. SketchUp 7 includes new features designed to make modeling more intuitive, help beginners get going, and enable veteran designers to work more efficiently. Now, users can search the Google 3D Warehouse, an online database of millions of 3-D models, from within the SketchUp 7. Credits ensure that modelers’ work is recognized and helps all users better understand the history of design behind each model.
Harper Houf Peterson Righellis, Inc. (www.hhpr.com) released an updated version of Civil Tools Pro that offers 50 civil engineering routines for streets, earthwork, coordinate geometry, hydraulics, general mathematics, and cost analysis. Data set-up is not required because data files are not used. Customized printouts with personalized headers provide documentation of results. The software allows users to work in either English or metric units, and a new conversion feature allows data entry in one unit, then conversion of the data and results to the other unit for display or printing.
HydroCAD Software Solutions LLC (www.hydrocad.net) released HydroCAD Stormwater Modeling version 9. New features include land use reporting, pollutant loading calculations, stormwater pump modeling, and expanded exfiltration options. According to the company, an underground storage wizard allows quick layout, modeling, and cost estimates for subsurface stormwater storage, using any of the more than 250 predefined chamber definitions. Complete HydroCAD systems are available from just $195, or with a new metered (hourly) licensing.
Autoturn For Revit
Intergraph (www.intergraph.com) says its SmartPlant 3D provides all the capabilities needed to design a plant and keep it as-built throughout its life cycle. According to the company, SmartPlant 3D enables optimized design, increasing productivity and shortening project schedules. It integrates plant engineering data enterprise-wide; integrates with complementary tools such as other SmartPlant Enterprise products; shortens project schedules by enabling streamlined design processes; enables global, concurrent engineering; and preserves the value of plant engineering information, enabling its re-use for future projects.
ITT Visual Information Solutions (www.ittvis.com) released ENVI 4.5 geospatial image processing and analysis software. The new release integrates geospatial imagery into GIS workflows by sharing data seamlessly between ENVI and ESRI’s ArcGIS. ENVI 4.5 provides the ability to export any ENVI activity, including processed imagery, vector, classification, or extraction results, to the geodatabase for ready use in GIS workflows. ENVI 4.5 supports enterprise, file, and personal geodatabase types. In addition, ENVI 4.5 provides direct access to the full suite of map composition tools available in ESRI’s ArcGIS Desktop.
MWH Soft (www.mwhsoft.com) released PipePlan for InfoWater, a GIS-centric water modeling software. According to the company, PipePlan helps users quickly design pipelines within a flexible, easy-to-use graphical interface; directly access and display node (station) information including slope, angle, and pressure; automatically generate comprehensive pipeline plans and profiles in CAD format, as well as high quality plan and profile deliverable sheets; and configure graphical presentation of CAD drawings. The software also helps define the location of pipe ancillary fittings, such as air valves, blow offs, bends, and tees; report interference with existing/proposed utility networks; instantly update profiles for horizontal alignment changes; visually check compliance with design criteria; and optimize pipeline construction cost.
Autoturn Autocad Civil 3d
Strata Systems, Inc., (www.geogrid.com) released an upgrade of its StrataSlope interactive software program for design and analysis of geogrid-reinforced slopes. StrataSlope considers tie-back and compound stability using log-spiral failure surfaces, direct sliding via conventional two-part wedge mechanism, and deep-seated stability analysis using Bishop’s Method of Slices. According to the company, StrataSlope is ideal for reinforced soil slope applications, and is effective for basic global stability evaluation of retaining walls. The software accommodates complex geometries with as many as three soil zones (reinforced, retained, and foundation), along with inclined toe and top slopes. Additional software elements include three uniform surcharge areas, options to include pore water pressure, and seismic stability factors. StrataSlope, available for download from the company’s website, is fully compatible with U.S. or International design standards such as BS 8006.
Transoft SolutionsTorrent grandmaster flash and the furious five rappers. (http://www.transoftsolutions.com) launched AutoTURN Extended Vehicle Libraries. Available as a purchased download, these vehicles supplement AutoTURN 6.0’s libraries to ensure users have the right types of vehicles for projects. The AutoTURN 6.0 Extended Vehicle Libraries are a compiled set of the most commonly requested vehicles. AutoTURN 6.0 users are able to search for vehicle libraries according to type. Included are three collections of emergency, two compilations of refuse collection, and one library of mining vehicles. Every vehicle type includes plan/realistic view, lock-to-lock time, profile view, track width, tire size, steering type, articulating angle, wheelbase, steering lock angle, front and rear axle group, and vehicle length.
Wallingford Software (www.wallingfordsoftware.com) simultaneously released version 9.5 of all six of its core software solutions: InfoWorks CS (collection systems), SD (storm drainage), WS (water supply and distribution), RS (river systems), FloodWorks, and InfoNet. Building on the 2-D functionality introduced in v9.0 into InfoWorks CS, SD, and RS, v9.5 enhancements include new 2-D objects (initial condition polygons, outfalls, gullies, point inflows, and boundary conditions), multiple improvements to results analysis and export, and new ground model modification tools. Two-dimensional models in InfoWorks CS, SD, and RS can now be run within FloodWorks, Wallingford Software’s real-time flood forecasting and warning system.