The Autodesk 2010 Product Line Rollout Edition!

All Autodesk® Users

• Autodesk 2010 Product Line for General CAD Design
• ALACAD's "What's New in AutoCAD® 2010" Webcast
• Free Download for Subscription Customers - Autodesk® Impression
• Joint Civil 3D® and Revit® Seminar - "From Dirt to Doors - Making Civil 3D and Revit Work Together in Harmony" - Memphis, TN
• Training Schedule for April - May

Architecture, Engineering and Construction

• Autodesk 2010 Product Line for Architectural BIM
• ALACAD's "What's New in 2010 for Architects & Engineers" Webcast Series
• For Subscription Customers: New Revit® Feature Releases
• Architecture and Design Visualization Webcast Series
• Localized Training in Pensacola: Revit MEP® Essentials, April 21- 23, 2009
• For Revit® Users: Cool New Stuff in Revit Architecture 2010

Manufacturing/ Mechanical Engineering

• Autodesk 2010 Product Line for Digital Prototyping
• ALACAD's "What's New in 2010 for Manufacturing" Webcast Series
• AutoCAD® Electrical Webcast
• New Course Offering: CAD Manager’s Guide to Inventor
• For Subscription Customers: Autodesk Inventor iLogic Now Available
• ALACAD Is Now Offering Online Inventor Training
• ALACAD's Autodesk Inventor User Group, Jackson, MS Chapter Meeting in April

Plant and Process

• Autodesk 2010 Product Line for Plant & Process
• ALACAD's "What's New in AutoCAD® P&ID 2010" Webcast
• For AutoCAD P&ID Users: "In the Pipes" Weblog

Civil Engineering and Geospatial

• Autodesk 2010 Product Line for Infrastructure BIM
• ALACAD's "What's New in 2010 for Civil Engineering & GIS" Webcast Series
• For Subscription Customers: Autodesk MapGuide® Studio Will Be Included with Autodesk MapGuide® Enterprise
• AutoCAD® Civil 3D® Webcast Series
• AutoCAD® Land Desktop Transition Program Ends April 17th
• For AutoCAD® Map 3D Users: Map 3D 2010 "What’s New?"
• For AutoCAD Civil 3D Users: Cross Sections and Volume Tables

Autodesk 2010 Product Line for General CAD Design

AutoCAD LT® 2010
AutoCAD LT software is known for its efficiency, power, and reliability. And now it’s better than ever. With AutoCAD LT 2010, we’ve added more 2D tools you’ve been asking for, like ALIGN, xref, and block attribute commands. High-quality PDF output means you can easily share drawings with anyone. And you can save time by attaching PDFs as an underlay in drawing files. The professional choice in drafting and detailing software now has even more ways to help increase your productivity. Take full command with AutoCAD LT 2010.

AutoCAD® 2010
Design and shape the world around you with the powerful, flexible features found in AutoCAD software, one of the world’s leading 2D and 3D design software. With robust 3D tools that can create almost any shape imaginable, AutoCAD helps you intuitively explore design ideas. It offers innovations that increase design and documentation efficiency, and enables you to more securely, accurately, and seamlessly share those designs with colleagues. And with thousands of available add-ons, AutoCAD provides the ultimate in flexibility because it can be easily customized for your specific needs. With these capabilities and more, AutoCAD delivers the power and flexibility needed to take documentation and design further.

Autodesk® Impression 3
Quickly create compelling, presentation-ready graphics with Autodesk Impression software, the fast and easy way to make an impact on colleagues and clients. Add everything from pencil lines to watercolor washes to your DWG™ and DWF™ files using prebuilt styles, or create your own custom styles to convey your own unique look. And because Impression enables you to save styles, you can quickly update presentation graphics when designs change, as well as apply your signature style (or styles) to all the drawings that your office produces. Best of all, familiar tools and built-in learning resources make Impression simple to learn.

Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design 2010
Autodesk 3ds Max Design software enables architects, designers, engineers and visualization specialists to explore, validate and communicate their creative ideas - from initial concept models to final, cinema-quality presentations. 3ds Max Design offers digital continuity with the AutoCAD, Revit and Autodesk Inventor software families of products enabling the reuse of design data for visualization.

Autodesk® Design Review 2010
Accelerate design and building projects from start to finish with Autodesk Design Review software, the free,* all-digital way to review, mark up, and track changes to Revit software models and drawings without the original creation software. Accurately measure, redline, and annotate DWF™, DXF™, and PDF files. Quickly review designs with a new, task-based ribbon interface. Add comments, track status, and drag information of any type—site photos, project timelines, or estimates—into one file. Import comments from DWF files into an Autodesk® design application, overlaying digital markups onto the original file for fast revisions. Download Autodesk Design Review software here.

Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage 2010
Autodesk Navisworks Manage software is a comprehensive review solution for design and construction management professionals seeking powerful insight and predictability to improve productivity and project quality. Design data created in building information modeling (BIM) applications—such as the Revit family of products—can be combined with geometry and information from other design tools and reviewed in real-time as an entire 3D project, regardless of file size or format. NavisWorks Manage combines precise fault-finding analysis and interference management together with dynamic 4D project schedule simulation and photorealistic visualization. Entire project models can be published and freely viewed in NWD and 3D DWFTM file formats.

*Free products are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user license agreement that accompanies download of the software.

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ALACAD's "What's New in AutoCAD 2010" Webcast

Join ALACAD for this free webcast to learn about the new functionality in the latest version of AutoCAD.

What's New in AutoCAD 2010 Wednesday, April 29, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CDT

To view all upcoming webcasts, click here.

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Free Download for Subscription Customers - Autodesk® Impression

Impress your colleagues and clients with compelling presentation-ready graphics created directly from your DWG™ and DWF™ files. Autodesk® Impression software is easy to use, saves you time, and recognizes data from your CAD files. Best of all, if you are a Subscription customer, it's also free. To see a short presentation on Impression (including sample graphics), click here.

Autodesk Impression is available to AutoCAD®, AutoCAD®Architecture, AutoCAD® Civil, AutoCAD® Civil 3D, AutoCAD® Map 3D, AutoCAD® Mechanical, AutoCAD® MEP, AutoCAD® Revit® Architecture Suite, AutoCAD® Revit® MEP Suite, AutoCAD® Revit® Structure Suite, Autodesk® Inventor® Suite, Revit® Architecture, Revit® MEP, and Revit® Structure software products’ subscription customers. To download this software, simply login at the Subscription Center here.

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Joint Civil 3D® and Revit® Seminar - "From Dirt to Doors - Making Civil 3D and Revit Work Together in Harmony" - Memphis, TN

8:00 - 10:00 am, April 9, 2009, The Crescent Club, Memphis, TN

Face it, sites need buildings and buildings just don't hover in space. Architects design buildings and Engineers design the sites, but until now the two industries have been alienated from each other. This session will show how the two can truly work in harmony and utilize data that they never could before. Join us to see exactly how Civil 3D and Revit Architecture can be used to create the ultimate 3D site model! This FREE seminar will be held at the Crescent Club from 8:00 to 10:00 am on April 9, 2009.

Please note: The dress code for this venue is business casual. NO ATHLETIC WEAR, SHORTS, TENNIS SHOES OR DENIM. Click here to register.

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Training Schedule for April - May

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Autodesk 2010 Product Line for Architectural BIM

AutoCAD LT® 2010
AutoCAD LT software is known for its efficiency, power, and reliability. And now it’s better than ever. With AutoCAD LT 2010, we’ve added more 2D tools you’ve been asking for, like ALIGN, xref, and block attribute commands. High-quality PDF output means you can easily share drawings with anyone. And you can save time by attaching PDFs as an underlay in drawing files. The professional choice in drafting and detailing software now has even more ways to help increase your productivity. Take full command with AutoCAD LT 2010.

AutoCAD® 2010
Design and shape the world around you with the powerful, flexible features found in AutoCAD software, one of the world’s leading 2D and 3D design software. With robust 3D tools that can create almost any shape imaginable, AutoCAD helps you intuitively explore design ideas. It offers innovations that increase design and documentation efficiency, and enables you to more securely, accurately, and seamlessly share those designs with colleagues. And with thousands of available add-ons, AutoCAD provides the ultimate in flexibility because it can be easily customized for your specific needs. With these capabilities and more, AutoCAD delivers the power and flexibility needed to take documentation and design further.

Autodesk® Impression 3
Quickly create compelling, presentation-ready graphics with Autodesk Impression software, the fast and easy way to make an impact on colleagues and clients. Add everything from pencil lines to watercolor washes to your DWG™ and DWF™ files using prebuilt styles, or create your own custom styles to convey your own unique look. And because Impression enables you to save styles, you can quickly update presentation graphics when designs change, as well as apply your signature style (or styles) to all the drawings that your office produces. Best of all, familiar tools and built-in learning resources make Impression simple to learn.

Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design 2010
Autodesk 3ds Max Design software enables architects, designers, engineers and visualization specialists to explore, validate and communicate their creative ideas - from initial concept models to final, cinema-quality presentations. 3ds Max Design offers digital continuity with the AutoCAD, Revit and Autodesk Inventor software families of products enabling the reuse of design data for visualization.

Autodesk® Design Review 2010
Accelerate design and building projects from start to finish with Autodesk Design Review software, the free,* all-digital way to review, mark up, and track changes to Revit software models and drawings without the original creation software. Accurately measure, redline, and annotate DWF™, DXF™, and PDF files. Quickly review designs with a new, task-based ribbon interface. Add comments, track status, and drag information of any type—site photos, project timelines, or estimates—into one file. Import comments from DWF files into an Autodesk® design application, overlaying digital markups onto the original file for fast revisions. Download Autodesk Design Review software here.

AutoCAD® Architecture 2010
AutoCAD Architecture 2010 is the version of AutoCAD software for architects. Creating designs and documentation is much more efficient using the software’s purpose-built tools for architects. Automate tedious drafting tasks and help reduce errors. The familiar working methods and intuitive user environment offers immediate productivity gains with the flexibility to learn additional features at your own pace. The software’s industry-leading DWG file format makes it easy to share and communicate designs with engineers and the extended project team. AutoCAD Architecture offers immediate productivity for architects familiar with AutoCAD software.

AutoCAD® MEP 2010
AutoCAD MEP 2010 software is the discipline-specific version of AutoCAD software for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) designers and drafters. Sharing and collaborating with architects and structural engineers is made easier through the familiar AutoCAD-based environment. AutoCAD MEP’s more intuitive systems and design tools provide greater drafting productivity with the flexibility to make last-minute design changes more quickly and easily. AutoCAD MEP helps to provide increased drafting productivity, better accuracy, and design coordination opportunities for MEP designers and drafters. Production of construction documents is automated, allowing the creation of single line and double line systems in addition to schematics.

AutoCAD® Structural Detailing 2010
AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2010 software, built on the familiar AutoCAD platform, enhances productivity with more precise detailing and creation of fabrication shop drawings. Help improve accuracy through material-specific bills of quantities and schedules. Automate concrete reinforcement definition and shop drawing creation for various types of structural concrete members. Model steel structures or import CIS/2 files, helping to enable faster and more efficient modeling of steel connections and shop drawings. Streamline the steel fabrication process with links to computer numeric controlled (CNC) machines. Extend design to fabrication with direct integration between Revit® Structure software and AutoCAD Structural Detailing software.

Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2010
Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 software works the way architects and designers think, allowing users to work more naturally, design freely and deliver more efficiently. Purpose-built for building information modeling (BIM), Autodesk Revit Architecture helps designers explore early design concepts and forms, and more accurately maintain their vision through design, documentation and construction. Use the essential BIM data that Autodesk Revit Architecture provides to support sustainable design, clash detection, construction planning and fabrication. Share the model to work collaboratively with engineers, contractors and owners in an integrated process. And with parametric change technology, any change made is automatically updated throughout the project, keeping design and documentation better coordinated and more reliable.

Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2010
Autodesk Revit Structure 2010 software offers building information modeling (BIM) to structural engineering firms, delivering a better coordinated and more reliable model for more efficient and more accurate design and documentation. Help improve multidiscipline coordination by using crucial information from architectural and engineering files, whether from Revit models or from 2D file formats. Incorporate analysis through bidirectional linking to popular structural analysis software, including Autodesk® Robot™ Structural Analysis Professional software. Powerful parametric change management technology assists in coordinating modifications and updates across the model and documentation. Utilize a comprehensive set of drafting tools to help complete your construction drawings in Revit Structure, and share your design data with project teams for more efficient collaboration.

AutoCAD® Revit® MEP Suite 2010
AutoCAD Revit MEP Suite 2010 software, which contains Autodesk Revit MEP 2010 building information modeling (BIM) software and AutoCAD MEP 2010 software, is a comprehensive engineering design solution for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers, designers, and drafters. Work in a familiar AutoCAD-based environment while helping to increase drafting productivity with tools designed specifically for building systems design with AutoCAD MEP software. Gain from the competitive advantages of BIM to support better decision making with Autodesk Revit MEP software. More clearly identify, share, and resolve system interferences and clashes when collaborating with other design disciplines. Help accelerate engineering design with tools that help to provide increased drafting productivity and support sustainable design and analysis.

Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage 2010
Autodesk Navisworks Manage software is a comprehensive review solution for design and construction management professionals seeking powerful insight and predictability to improve productivity and project quality. Design data created in building information modeling (BIM) applications—such as the Revit family of products—can be combined with geometry and information from other design tools and reviewed in real-time as an entire 3D project, regardless of file size or format. NavisWorks Manage combines precise fault-finding analysis and interference management together with dynamic 4D project schedule simulation and photorealistic visualization. Entire project models can be published and freely viewed in NWD and 3D DWFTM file formats.

Autodesk® Inventor® Professional 2010
Is this a mistake? Isn't Inventor for mechanical engineers? Yes, but now that buildings are becoming "smarter" and more advanced, many architects are integrating mechanical designs into their buildings, (think Cardinals Stadium, with its roll-out playing field or the Bahrain World Trade Center, with its 3 wind turbines). Now, with improved file transferability between Inventor and Revit, this collaboration is easier than ever. The Autodesk Inventor 2010 product line provides new usability and productivity enhancements for 3D design, simulation, plastic part creation and data exchange. Autodesk Inventor software, the foundation of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping, produces an accurate 3D model that enables users to validate the form, fit and function of a design before physically building it. The Autodesk Inventor 2010 product line incorporates powerful, but easy-to-use, desktop technology to help users create accurate digital prototypes that bring better products to market faster and at less cost.

*Free products are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user license agreement that accompanies download of the software.

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ALACAD's "What's New in 2010 for Architects & Engineers" Webcast Series

Join ALACAD for these free webcasts to learn about the new functionality in the latest versions of Revit.

What's New in Revit Structure 2010 Tuesday, April 28, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CDT

What's New in Revit Architecture 2010 Tuesday, April 28, 2009 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. CDT

What's New in Revit MEP 2010 Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CDT

To view all upcoming webcasts, click here.

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For Subscription Customers: New Revit® Feature Releases

Now Autodesk® Subscription members, as part of their benefits, can download the following new releases via the Subscription Center:

Revit® Extensions for Revit® Architecture 2009
Revit Extensions are a series of easy-to-use applications that extend the capabilities of Revit Architecture 2009 software in key areas, including modeling, coordination, and documentation. Specifically, the extensions provided in this executable file are: Grid Generator, Freeze Drawings, Compare Models, Text Generator, Elements Positioning, and Model Generation based in Microsoft® Excel® spreadsheet software. The file installs the Revit Extensions for Revit Architecture 2009 and includes the Extensions Engine, a platform that hosts each extension within Revit Architecture 2009 software.

Revit Extensions for Revit Architecture 2009 are compatible with the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Revit Architecture 2009 software.

Revit® Extensions for Revit® MEP 2009
Revit Extensions are a series of easy-to-use applications that extend the capabilities of Revit MEP 2009 software in key areas, including modeling, coordination, and documentation. Specifically, the extensions provided in this executable file are: Freeze Drawings, Compare Models, Text Generator, and Elements Positioning. The file installs the Revit Extensions for Revit MEP 2009. It also includes the Extensions Engine, a platform that hosts each Extension within Revit MEP 2009 software.

Revit Extensions for Revit MEP 2009 are compatible with the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Revit MEP 2009 software.

Revit® Extensions for Revit® Structure 2009
Revit Extensions are a series of easy-to-use applications that extend the capabilities of the Revit® Structure 2009 software in key areas, including structural analysis, modeling, concrete reinforcement, interoperability, and construction documentation. Specifically, the extensions provided in this executable file are:

• Structural Analysis: Analysis Integration Enabler, Analysis Integration Enabler for Autodesk Concrete Building Structures 2009, Static Analysis of Beams, Static Analysis of Frames, Static Analysis of Slabs, Static Analysis of Trusses.
  
  
• Import/Export: CIS/2 Export, CIS/2 Import.
  
  
• Reinforcement: Automatic Reinforcement Generation, Reinforcement of Beams, Reinforcement of Columns, Reinforcement of Continuous Footings, Reinforcement Design, Reinforcement Drawings Enabler, Reinforcement of Parapets, Reinforcement of Piles, Reinforcement of Pile Caps, Reinforcement of Retaining Walls, Reinforcement of Slab Corners, Reinforcement of Slab Openings, Reinforcement of Spread Footings, Reinforcement of Walls, Reinforcement of Wall Corners.
  
  
• Modeling: Model Generation based in Microsoft® Excel® spreadsheet software, Grids Generator, Bridge Modeling (NEW)
  
  
• Miscellaneous: Text Generator, Elements Positioning, Freeze Drawings, Compare Models

The file installs the Revit Extensions for Revit Structure 2009 software. It also includes the Extensions Engine, a platform that hosts each extension within Revit Structure 2009. Revit Extensions for Revit Structure 2009 are compatible with the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Revit Structure 2009 software (with the exception of Analysis Integration Enabler for Autodesk Concrete Building Structures 2009 and Reinforcement Drawings Enabler).

Residential HVAC Load Calculation Extension for Revit® MEP 2009 and AutoCAD® MEP 2009
The Residential Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Load Calculation Extension for Revit® MEP 2009 software and AutoCAD® MEP 2009 software is a residential and light commercial HVAC load calculation software tool that determines peak cooling and heating loads for buildings. By downloading this extension, MEP professionals will be able to properly size building mechanical systems for residential and light commercial projects. Architects, home owners, and home builders can also benefit from the software tool on their projects. The extension can be used alone or in conjunction with other Autodesk® technology. The extension is able to integrate with these tools by importing and exporting gbXML.

To download any of these extensions, login to the Subscription Center here.

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Autodesk's Architecture and Design Visualization Webcast Series

This series of webcasts will be presented by popular Autodesk Technical Specialists Amy Fietkau and Eddie Perlberg. During the webcast you'll be provided an opportunity to ask your technical questions online and receive answers in real-time from our team of experts!

Navigating AutoCAD Architecture Wednesday, April 15, 2009 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CDT Learn how to navigate the new User Interface. If you find yourself frustrated with new releases because you can't find your familiar tools, this is the webcast for you. We'll show you the reorganization of the interface and give you tips on the best ways to get around. This includes; ribbons, application menu, Panel manipulation and the Quick Access Toolbar.

Revit Architecture and Interior Design Wednesday, April 22, 2009 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CDT Come see how Interior Designers are using revit Architecture to improve the quality of their designs. In this webcast we'll show you how to view spaces in 3D with finishes applied, how to track data using finish schedule and how to create multiple design options for client meetings.

Navigating 3ds Max Design Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CDT Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design includes many new enhancements to the User Interface to bring more productivity to your daily workflow. In this webcast, we'll show you how the interface enhancements, including ribbons, application menu, panel manipulation and the Quick Access Toolbar, can provide you with that productivity. We'll also investigate the enhanced Review technology that brings a new level of realism and interactivity straight to your Viewport.

Get Started with AutoCAD Architecture Wednesday, May 6, 2009 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CDT Geared to brand new people interested in AutoCAD Architecture or current AutoCAD users who want to switch. Show how it differs from AutoCAD. Ways to start using it simplistically. Show some of the AutoCAD features, detailing, scheduling, reference notes.

Navigating Autodesk Revit Architecture Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CDT Revit has a completely new look! The new interface is a big enhancement for improving future interoperability with other Autodesk products. Learn how the new interface can improve tool navigation and manipulation of content. This is a must see webcast for existing Revit users.

To view all upcoming webcasts, click here.

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Localized Training in Pensacola: Revit MEP Essentials, April 21- 23, 2009

ALACAD will be offering this $1,350, 3-day course locally in Pensacola on April 21 - 23, 2009. Train during the day, then get to go home and sleep in your own bed at night. In addition, you'll save money by not having to pay hotel, food and travel expenses! This course will be held at the Hampton Inn Pensacola-Airport.

About this course: In this course students use Revit MEP to learn about building information modeling and the tools for parametric MEP systems design and documentation. Students begin this three-day course by learning the fundamental features of Revit MEP, then progress through schematic design, system analysis, and construction documentation before finishing with design visualization.

Call Charisse Smith at 888-442-3100 to register today!

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For Revit® Users: Cool New Stuff in Revit Architecture 2010

It's that time of year again! Time to gear up for the new release of the Autodesk products. Revit Architecture 2010 has some nice new features. Here are some of my favorites that have not gotten much publicity. Enjoy!

1. Export Building Site Tool - This is a great addition to allow you to export your building site and model to your Civil engineer. It grabs the site, model, building footprint, property lines, and UTILITY Connections and groups them into a new .adsk file format. I especially love the ability to show the Civil engineer where the utility connections are located. Not only that, if they are using Civil 3D 2010, they can actually connect their pipes to our connections.

2. The Press & Drag check box on the bottom right corner of the screen. I have always hated how easy it was to accidentally pick and move something inside of Revit without meaning to. Now you can uncheck this check box and you have to first pick the item you want to move before you can move it. This will make my life so much easier!

3. The ability to include sheet revisions in a Drawing List. We are no longer limited to just showing revisions on the titleblocks. We now have the ability to add the Current Revision and Current Revision Description to a Drawing List.

4. The ability to label slopes. This was high on my wish list. I now can call out the slopes on my roofs and floors.

Those are my top 4 non-publicized new features inside of Revit Architecture 2010. More to come soon!

View all of Mike Massey’s articles at:
http://knowingwhatyoudontknow.blogspot.com

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Autodesk 2010 Product Line for Digital Prototyping

AutoCAD LT® 2010
AutoCAD LT software is known for its efficiency, power, and reliability. And now it’s better than ever. With AutoCAD LT 2010, we’ve added more 2D tools you’ve been asking for, like ALIGN, xref, and block attribute commands. High-quality PDF output means you can easily share drawings with anyone. And you can save time by attaching PDFs as an underlay in drawing files. The professional choice in drafting and detailing software now has even more ways to help increase your productivity. Take full command with AutoCAD LT 2010.

AutoCAD® 2010
Design and shape the world around you with the powerful, flexible features found in AutoCAD software, one of the world’s leading 2D and 3D design software. With robust 3D tools that can create almost any shape imaginable, AutoCAD helps you intuitively explore design ideas. It offers innovations that increase design and documentation efficiency, and enables you to more securely, accurately, and seamlessly share those designs with colleagues. And with thousands of available add-ons, AutoCAD provides the ultimate in flexibility because it can be easily customized for your specific needs. With these capabilities and more, AutoCAD delivers the power and flexibility needed to take documentation and design further.

AutoCAD® Electrical
AutoCAD Electrical is AutoCAD software for controls designers, purpose-built to create and modify electrical control systems. It contains all the functionality of AutoCAD, the world’s leading CAD software, plus a comprehensive set of tools for automating control engineering tasks, such as building circuits, numbering wires, and creating bills of material. AutoCAD Electrical provides a library of more than 650,000 electrical symbols and components, includes real-time error checking, and enables electrical and mechanical teams to collaborate on digital prototypes built with Autodesk® Inventor® software. AutoCAD Electrical offers control engineers a competitive edge by helping save hours of effort, so they can spend more time innovating.

AutoCAD® Mechanical
AutoCAD Mechanical is AutoCAD software for manufacturing, purpose-built to accelerate the mechanical design process. It includes all the functionality of AutoCAD, the world’s leading CAD software, plus a comprehensive set of tools for automating mechanical engineering tasks, such as generating machine components, dimensioning, and creating bills of material. AutoCAD Mechanical provides a library of more than 700,000 standard parts, supports multiple international design standards, and enables users to quickly detail and document digital prototypes created in Autodesk Inventor software. AutoCAD Mechanical offers engineers a competitive edge by helping save hours of effort, so they can spend time innovating rather than drafting.

Autodesk® Navisworks® Manufacturing Review 2010
Autodesk Navisworks software for manufacturing, part of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping, helps you and your extended teams experience more reliable data aggregation, visualization and collaboration on your most complex projects. Using Autodesk Navisworks software, you can combine together large assemblies consisting of machinery, tooling, layout and facilities data from multiple CAD vendors and create a single, lightweight 3D digital model of your factory. By combining high-quality information created by 3D design applications such as Autodesk® Inventor® software with geometry and data from other CAD software, Autodesk Navisworks software products help enable a realtime, whole-project view for more effective largescale visualization and optimization.

Autodesk® Inventor® Professional 2010
The Autodesk Inventor 2010 product line provides new usability and productivity enhancements for 3D design, simulation, plastic part creation and data exchange. Autodesk Inventor software, the foundation of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping, produces an accurate 3D model that enables users to validate the form, fit and function of a design before physically building it. The Autodesk Inventor 2010 product line incorporates powerful, but easy-to-use, desktop technology to help users create accurate digital prototypes that bring better products to market faster and at less cost.

Autodesk® Inventor® LT Suite 2010
Introduced in the 2010 release, this new suite combines Autodesk Inventor LT and AutoCAD LT, one of the world's top-selling 2D drafting and detailing software, to make it more practical and affordable for mechanical design professionals to start designing in 3D and participate in Digital Prototyping workflows. Autodesk Inventor LT offers powerful part-level 3D parametric modeling, multi-CAD translation capabilities, automated DWG drawing views, and many other advanced capabilities found in Inventor.

Autodesk® Alias® Automotive 2010
Autodesk Alias Automotive software, part of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping, is an industry-leading application for automotive design and styling and the choice of leading automotive styling studios throughout the world. The software provides a comprehensive set of visualization and analysis tools for the entire shape-definition process, from concept sketches through Class-A surfacing. With an advanced workflow, the software helps automotive companies reduce rework and produce design iterations faster. Autodesk Alias Automotive helps designers control their designs further into the development process with tools to efficiently refine models and create production-quality, reusable NURBS surfaces for engineering.

Autodesk® Alias® Design 2010
Autodesk Alias Design software, part of the Autodesk Solution for Digital Prototyping, is for consumer product designers who control the entire design process—from ideation to the final surfaces that are passed to engineering. Included are a complete set of tools to help designers develop and communicate product design using sketches, illustrations, photorealistic renderings, and animations. By being able to effectively tell the story, It helps accelerate design review decisions and keep projects on schedule. In addition, designers can create production-quality geometry that can move back and forth between design and engineering applications, enabling collaborative product development.

Autodesk® Alias® Surface 2010
Autodesk Alias Surface software, part of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping, offers a full set of dynamic 3D modeling capabilities that enable virtual modelers to evolve concept models into high-quality production surfaces for consumer product design and Class-A surfaces for automotive design and styling. In addition, it facilitates the workflow between digital modeling and scanned physical prototypes, enabling designers to quickly handle large amounts of scan data more efficiently, accelerating development time and reducing rework. This complete set of tools for importing and configuring data from 3D scanners for visualization and reverse engineering includes cutting, smoothing, automatic hole filling, mesh reduction and evaluation.

Autodesk® Showcase® 2010
Autodesk Showcase design visualization software, part of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping, facilitates informed decision making on digital prototypes. With integrated raytracing, state of the art materials and an easy to use interface, Showcase simplifies and accelerates the task of creating accurate, highly realistic imagery from 3D CAD data. Within a single application, it provides the tools required to prepare, process and present data to not only convey form, but also to create an environmental context to communicate brand character. Showcase provides an interactive environment in which users can present and review designs for important product decisions, locally and via remote sessions—resulting in an efficient and economical design review process.

Autodesk® Vault Manufacturing 2010
Autodesk® Vault Collaboration 2010
Autodesk® Vault Workgroup 2010
Help maximize return on your company’s investment in design data by driving design re-use with the Autodesk Vault product line, part of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping. The product line consists of Autodesk Vault, Autodesk Vault Workgroup, Autodesk Vault Collaboration and Autodesk Vault Manufacturing. The product line helps design, engineering, and manufacturing workgroups manage the digital prototyping process. Users can reduce time organizing files, avoid costly mistakes, and more efficiently release and revise designs. The data management software’s revision process can be quickly deployed or tailored to unique requirements.

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ALACAD's "What's New in 2010 for Manufacturing" Webcast Series

Join ALACAD for these free webcasts to learn about the new functionality in the latest versions of AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD Electrical and Inventor Professional.

What's New in Autodesk Inventor Professional 2010 Thursday, April 23, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CDT

What's New in AutoCAD Mechanical 2010 Thursday, April 23, 2009 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. CDT

What's New in AutoCAD Electrical 2010 Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. CDT

To view all upcoming webcasts, click here.

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Autodesk's AutoCAD® Electrical Webcast

Boost Your Electrical Controls Design Productivity by 80% with AutoCAD Electrical Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CDT Trying to decide whether or not to switch to AutoCAD Electrical? In this webcast, John Zwerlein – Autodesk Solutions Engineer – will demonstrate the time required to complete 10 tasks in both basic AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical. The conclusion: switching to AutoCAD Electrical can increase your productivity by as much as 80 percent.

To view all upcoming webcasts, click here.

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New Course Offering: CAD Manager’s Guide to Inventor

This one-day, $350 course will introduce best practices for CAD Administrators, IT Administrators, Power Users, and anyone else setting up and maintaining an Inventor workgroup environment. Topics include: understanding project files, setting up Styles and Standards, and setting up template files and network drives. This course will be offered on March 31st in our Birmingham, AL office. Call us at 888-442-3100 for more information or to register today.

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For Subscription Customers: Autodesk Inventor iLogic Now Available

Exclusively available for customers with their Autodesk® Inventor® software products on Autodesk® Subscription, the Inventor® iLogic Extension 2009 enhances the parametric design capabilities of Inventor 2009 software by providing a powerful and elegant solution for rules-based design. With its easy-to-use rules, authoring capabilities, and an intuitive user interface seamlessly integrated with the Inventor product, Inventor iLogic technology shatters barriers to automating tedious design tasks and adds higher levels of design intelligence to your digital prototypes.

The Inventor iLogic Extension 2009 is available now on the Subscription Center for Inventor subscription customers here.

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ALACAD Is Now Offering Online Inventor Training

Due to the overwhelming success of our Inventor Webcast Series, ALACAD will begin offering live, online one-hour training classes focusing on a specific aspect of Inventor the second Tuesday of each month. These classes are free to ALACAD Subscription customers, and $25 (per class) to all others. After registering, you will be contacted by an ALACAD Sales Representative for your Subscription Contract number or preferred method of payment.

FEA (Finite Element Analysis) Basics Tuesday, April 14, 2009 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. CDT

Introduction to Design Accelerator Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. CDT

To view all upcoming webcasts, click here.

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ALACAD's Autodesk® Inventor® User Group, Jackson, MS Chapter Meeting in April

Come join ALACAD at the next meeting of the Jackson AUGI (Autodesk Users Group International) Manufacturers User Group. There will be food and drinks, an introduction to what the user group is and does, and Jon Selzer, VP of Manufacturing Design Solutions, will discuss Bending and Building with Inventor’s Sheetmetal and Frame Generator Tools. Then, we’ll take a look at some of the tricks of the trade for making these tools work for you. This is a great opportunity to meet and network with others in your industry, as well as get a little free training. This meeting is FREE to anyone who would like to attend and will be held on April 21, 2009 at the Hyatt Ridgeland/ Jackson, 1016 Highland Colony Parkway, Jackson, MS from 5:30 - 8:00 pm. Register here.

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Autodesk 2010 Product Line for Plant & Process

AutoCAD® 2010
Design and shape the world around you with the powerful, flexible features found in AutoCAD software, one of the world’s leading 2D and 3D design software. With robust 3D tools that can create almost any shape imaginable, AutoCAD helps you intuitively explore design ideas. It offers innovations that increase design and documentation efficiency, and enables you to more securely, accurately, and seamlessly share those designs with colleagues. And with thousands of available add-ons, AutoCAD provides the ultimate in flexibility because it can be easily customized for your specific needs. With these capabilities and more, AutoCAD delivers the power and flexibility needed to take documentation and design further.

AutoCAD® P&ID 2010
Create, modify, and manage piping and instrumentation diagrams with AutoCAD P&ID 2010. Built on the latest AutoCAD platform, AutoCAD P&ID is easy to use and familiar to designers and engineers, so design teams can start immediately with minimal training. Common tasks performed every day are streamlined and automated to boost productivity, while component and line information is easily accessed by designers as they work. With simple reporting, editing, sharing, validation, and exchange of design information, projects start easier, run better, and finish sooner.

Autodesk® Navisworks® Manufacturing Review 2010
Autodesk Navisworks software for manufacturing, part of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping, helps you and your extended teams experience more reliable data aggregation, visualization and collaboration on your most complex projects. Using Autodesk Navisworks software, you can combine together large assemblies consisting of machinery, tooling, layout and facilities data from multiple CAD vendors and create a single, lightweight 3D digital model of your factory. By combining high-quality information created by 3D design applications such as Autodesk® Inventor® software with geometry and data from other CAD software, Autodesk Navisworks software products help enable a realtime, whole-project view for more effective largescale visualization and optimization.

AutoCAD® Plant 3D
Coming soon!

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ALACAD's "What's New in AutoCAD P&ID 2010" Webcast

Join ALACAD for this free webcast to learn about the new functionality in the latest version of AutoCAD P&ID.

What's New in AutoCAD P&ID 2010 Thursday, April 30, 2009 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. CDT

To view all upcoming webcasts, click here.

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For AutoCAD P&ID Users: "In the Pipes" Weblog

In this issue of our newsletter we introduce you to a blog called “In the Pipes” by Ursula Sadiq of Autodesk Plant Solutions. Her latest post explains a little of what went on at Autodesk's One Team University Plant Solutions training and update session for Autodesk Resellers, but you'll also find a post on what's new in AutoCAD P&ID 2010 as well as some interesting insights into the development process of new Autodesk software in her past posts. Click here to view her weblog: http://in-the-pipes.typepad.com/

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Autodesk 2010 Product Line for Infrastructure BIM

AutoCAD LT® 2010
AutoCAD LT software is known for its efficiency, power, and reliability. And now it’s better than ever. With AutoCAD LT 2010, we’ve added more 2D tools you’ve been asking for, like ALIGN, xref, and block attribute commands. High-quality PDF output means you can easily share drawings with anyone. And you can save time by attaching PDFs as an underlay in drawing files. The professional choice in drafting and detailing software now has even more ways to help increase your productivity. Take full command with AutoCAD LT 2010.

AutoCAD® 2010
Design and shape the world around you with the powerful, flexible features found in AutoCAD software, one of the world’s leading 2D and 3D design software. With robust 3D tools that can create almost any shape imaginable, AutoCAD helps you intuitively explore design ideas. It offers innovations that increase design and documentation efficiency, and enables you to more securely, accurately, and seamlessly share those designs with colleagues. And with thousands of available add-ons, AutoCAD provides the ultimate in flexibility because it can be easily customized for your specific needs. With these capabilities and more, AutoCAD delivers the power and flexibility needed to take documentation and design further.

Autodesk® Impression 3
Quickly create compelling, presentation-ready graphics with Autodesk Impression software, the fast and easy way to make an impact on colleagues and clients. Add everything from pencil lines to watercolor washes to your DWG™ and DWF™ files using prebuilt styles, or create your own custom styles to convey your own unique look. And because Impression enables you to save styles, you can quickly update presentation graphics when designs change, as well as apply your signature style (or styles) to all the drawings that your office produces. Best of all, familiar tools and built-in learning resources make Impression simple to learn.

Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design 2010
Autodesk 3ds Max Design software enables architects, designers, engineers and visualization specialists to explore, validate and communicate their creative ideas - from initial concept models to final, cinema-quality presentations. 3ds Max Design offers digital continuity with the AutoCAD, Revit and Autodesk Inventor software families of products enabling the reuse of design data for visualization.

Autodesk® Design Review 2010
Accelerate design and building projects from start to finish with Autodesk Design Review software, the free,* all-digital way to review, mark up, and track changes to Revit software models and drawings without the original creation software. Accurately measure, redline, and annotate DWF™, DXF™, and PDF files. Quickly review designs with a new, task-based ribbon interface. Add comments, track status, and drag information of any type—site photos, project timelines, or estimates—into one file. Import comments from DWF files into an Autodesk® design application, overlaying digital markups onto the original file for fast revisions. Download Autodesk Design Review software here.

AutoCAD Civil 2010
AutoCAD® Civil 2010 software, the better AutoCAD® software for civil engineering design and construction documentation, helps civil engineering technicians, drafters and surveyors complete transportation, land development, and environmental projects faster. AutoCAD Civil boosts productivity and streamlines time-consuming design tasks such as intersection and corridor design, parcel layout, pipes, and grading with purpose-built tools and customizable standards. Deliver more consistent construction documentation with styles-based drafting and wizard-driven plans production, and improve coordination with design and drafting that remain synchronized. Accelerate learning in a familiar AutoCAD® environment with tools and processes you already know.

AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2010
AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2010 software, the building information modeling (BIM) solution for civil engineering, helps project teams explore transportation, land development, and environmental projects digitally before they are built. Using Civil 3D, civil engineers can better evaluate more what-if scenarios and optimize project performance with geospatial and stormwater analysis. The creation of more coordinated and consistent information helps enable delivery of higher-quality documentation and visualizations. The more accurate 3D models can be used to generate quantity takeoff information and supports automated machine guidance during construction. BIM helps civil engineers minimize errors and omissions, shorten production time, deliver more innovative projects, and ultimately, gain a competitive advantage.

AutoCAD Map 3D 2010
AutoCAD® Map 3D software is a leading engineering platform for creating and managing spatial data. Using open-source Feature Data Object (FDO) technology, AutoCAD Map 3D provides direct access to the leading data formats used in design and GIS and enables the use of AutoCAD® software tools for maintaining a broad variety of spatial information. Bridging the gap between CAD and GIS, AutoCAD Map 3D makes it possible for engineering and GIS professionals to work with the same data and enables design processes to integrate geospatial functions in a single environment for more efficient workflows. The results are better designs, increased productivity, and better data quality.

AutoCAD Raster Design 2010
Use AutoCAD® Raster Design software with AutoCAD® software, and applications based on AutoCAD to unlock and extend the value of existing design information. Make the most of scanned engineering drawings and plans by using them in current projects while saving redrafting time with powerful correlation and raster-to-vector conversion tools. More easily edit, enhance, and maintain your archive of scanned drawings and plans within a familiar AutoCAD environment with image cleanup, processing, and hybrid editing tools. Using AutoCAD Raster Design, you can increase productivity; improve decision making and presentations; and enhance, preserve, and maintain valuable raster assets.

Autodesk Topobase
Autodesk® Topobase™ infrastructure model management software provides accurate information about the location and status of your assets throughout your organization. Built on AutoCAD® Map 3D and Autodesk MapGuide® software, Topobase helps you see the big picture, reduce backlogs, and improve efficiency by providing precise and up-to-date as-built information to engineering, GIS, and field operations teams. The open, flexible Topobase software can easily be configured to support your specific processes and integrated with existing design GIS, asset management, and business systems. Standard industry-specific workflows build intelligence into your infrastructure management processes and enable rapid implementation for quick returns on your investment.

Autodesk Mapquide Enterprise 2010
Autodesk MapGuide® Enterprise software is a powerful mapping platform for delivering CAD and GIS information quickly, easily, and cost-effectively via the web. It helps to maximize the value of design and spatial data by enabling information sharing with customers and internal teams, as well as integrating with enterprise applications. Based on MapGuide Open Source, Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise harnesses the innovation of a broad community of developers, backed by commercial-grade quality assurance and support. Simple to develop and deploy, Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise provides a powerful API (application programming interface) for creating spatial applications, support for multiple development environments, and direct connectivity to a wide range of data types that offer easy access to information organization-wide.

Autodesk Mapquide Studio 2010
Use Autodesk® MapGuide® Studio software, the authoring environment for Autodesk MapGuide® Enterprise software and MapGuide Open Source software, to quickly publish maps, create spatial applications, and manage the preparing geospatial data for distribution on the web. Modeled after popular web development tools, Autodesk MapGuide Studio provides a unified environment for developers and web designers to rapidly build mapping sites using flexible plug-and-play application widgets and design templates. Utilize a developer-friendly interface to easily upload data files, connect to databases, and stylize and preview maps all from across the web. Integrate business logic written in PHP, ASP.NET, or Java® programming language directly into an application and preview it in Autodesk MapGuide Studio.

Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage 2010
Autodesk Navisworks Manage software is a comprehensive review solution for design and construction management professionals seeking powerful insight and predictability to improve productivity and project quality. Design data created in building information modeling (BIM) applications—such as the Revit family of products—can be combined with geometry and information from other design tools and reviewed in real-time as an entire 3D project, regardless of file size or format. NavisWorks Manage combines precise fault-finding analysis and interference management together with dynamic 4D project schedule simulation and photorealistic visualization. Entire project models can be published and freely viewed in NWD and 3D DWFTM file formats.

*Free products are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user license agreement that accompanies download of the software.

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ALACAD's "What's New in 2010 for Civil Engineering & GIS" Webcast Series

What's New in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 Wednesday, April 22, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CDT

What's New in AutoCAD Map 3D 2010 Wednesday, April 22, 2009 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. CDT

To view all upcoming webcasts, click here.

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For Subscription Customers: Autodesk MapGuide® Studio Will Be Included with Autodesk MapGuide® Enterprise

Autodesk MapGuide Studio 2010 software will be available as a free* download from the Autodesk® Subscription Center for Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise customers, and will also be available on the Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise 2010 DVD.

*Free products are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user license agreement that accompanies download of the software and/or its installation.

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Autodesk's AutoCAD Civil 3D Webcast Series

Wisconsin DOT Webcast Series: Design Workflow & Data Project Management Thursday, April 2, 2009 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CDT In this webcast, you'll learn how WisDOT leverages the power of data shortcuts to help project teams manage design changes. Topics include: Project folder structure, standard naming conventions for data elements and drawings, and an overall project/data management plan for roadway design.

Road Design Series — Corridor Modeling with AutoCAD Civil 3D Thursday, April 8, 2009 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CDT Join this webcast presentation and learn how AutoCAD Civil 3D includes a combination of easy-to-use cross-sectional components called subassemblies to deliver a unique approach to create intelligent models of roads and other transportation systems.

Getting Started in AutoCAD Civil 3D Part I Friday, April 24, 2009 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CDT From road design and land development to public works engineering projects, Auto Civil 3D has enabled Autodesk customers to boost productivity, improve coordination, and simplify workflow across a wide range of civil engineering projects. Join Lucy in Part 1 of a 2-part webcast series and learn more about the new features in AutoCAD Civil 3D and how they can enhance your competitive advantage.

Road Design Series — Integrating Geospatial Data with AutoCAD Civil 3D Wednesday, May 6, 2009 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CDT With today's transportation projects, civil engineers have more data sources to manage than ever before. At its core, AutoCAD Civil 3D is geospatially aware – as you import spatial data into your design environment, it automatically manages the coordinate systems for you. Join Lucy Kuhns and learn more about how easy it is to integrate geospatial data with AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Wisconsin DOT Webcast Series: Corridor Building Workflow Thursday, May 7, 2009 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CDT Join us for this series of webcasts where you will see how the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has improved their workflow by moving to AutoCAD® Civil 3D®. In this presentation you'll learn about WisDOT's best practices for corridor modeling. This webcast will focus on standard subassemblies and how to leverage them in final outputs.

Getting Started in AutoCAD Civil 3D Part II Friday, May 29, 2009 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CDT From road design and land development to public works engineering projects, Auto Civil 3D has enabled Autodesk customers to boost productivity, improve coordination, and simplify workflow across a wide range of civil engineering projects. Join Lucy in Part 2 of a 2-part webcast series and learn more about the new features in AutoCAD Civil 3D and how they can enhance your competitive advantage.

To view all upcoming webcasts, click here.

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AutoCAD® Land Desktop Transition Program Ends April 17th

As technology has advanced and the challenges facing engineering organizations have become increasingly complex, Autodesk has decided it is time to look beyond Land Desktop to new technology that better addresses the demands of today’s engineering organizations. As a result, AutoCAD Land Desktop 2009 products will be the last release of Land Desktop software. Until April 17th, 2009 eligible AutoCAD Land Desktop 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 customers can crossgrade to AutoCAD® Map 3D, AutoCAD Civil, or AutoCAD Civil 3D for a special promotional price. Call us at 888-442-3100 for more information.

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For AutoCAD® Map 3D Users: Map 3D 2010 "What’s New?"

The new version is on its way to a desk near you. So let's look at what is new. First, it has all the features of AutoCAD 2010; that includes the new freeform modeling tools and the parametric tools. Using them in a Map/GIS environment is another story but if you want to “design” 3D models, you can.

The first thing you may notice is Map3D 2010 is ribbon based with two new workspaces. A tool base ribbon and a task based ribbon.

Now if you have not used the ribbons in any other application or used them in AutoCAD before, it takes a little extra work to get used to them over menu-driven interfaces. The big change to these in the 2010 version is a new context-sensitive ribbon.

With the context-sensitivity ribbons, a new tab will display depending on the object(s) you may have selected. It makes it easier with most of the tools/commands right there instead of trying to hunt down the location on the ribbon.

The next item you may notice is the Survey tab on the task pane.

The Survey Extension from 2009 is now part of the task pane and allows you to import survey points from a number of different ASCII point data files and supports LandXML data. You will be able to import points and create different point groups from the data based on the attributes. 

The next new feature is creating an overlay with feature data. Prior to this if we needed to do an overlay it had to be with standard AutoCAD objects and then create a topology, which always took some drawing cleanup to complete a correct topology. Now users can do 7 different types of overlays with data from FDO sources.

With the new overlay feature and the existing buffer feature Map3D users can do just about any type of analysis they need to on a regular day to day operation.

Speaking of day to day operations, the next new feature may be of use. The new Windows Work Flow Framework may be an answer to all those repetitive tasks.

Anyone that tried to use the Macro-recorder in 2009 found out that it did not work with FDO features. This not only works on FDO but uses the Window Workflow Foundation to include tasks or activities that can be done outside AutoCAD. So far there is little documentation on using it but the nerds that like to get under the hood and tinker should be able to get some nice little activities created with it.

Another new feature is one that a lot of CAD users have been wishing for since the data connect days. A simple way to view the attributes from the connected features with out opening the data tables.  It’s included in the property palette now. That’s right, instead of getting just “Mapbulkfeature” in the property palette when you have a feature selected you get all the attributes with that feature.

Not only is it viewable - you can edit the values also. Selecting multiple features and changing the attribute value at one time is now a possible task.

Those are a few of the new features that a lot of users can take to the boss and say it was worth the upgrade. A few others improvements are the bulk copy has been enhanced and improved on, a few new options with the COGO tools, a couple of new data providers, a better raster reprojection, support for 64 bit systems and Citrix XenApp 5.0. The last new feature I will post about is the Geographic location tool. In 2009 version you most likely have seen the GeoMarker or what some call the “wagon wheel” or “pizza” when you assigned a coordinate system to your map. That is a standard AutoCAD feature the allows non-map users to get a geographical location  from a number of places like Google Earth or just by entering a Lat/Lon, well now we can use that location to insert the drawings into our map without having to move or scale it. In other words, if you get a drawing of a building from a standard AutoCAD user and they provided the geo location in the drawing then when we bring that building into our map it falls right into place instead of at 0,0,0.

View all of Murph’s articles at:
http://map3d.wordpress.com

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For AutoCAD® Civil 3D® Users: Cross Sections and Volume Tables

In this post I want to spend a little time with cross sections and computing material and earthworks volumes from the cross sections. I have been using AutoCAD Civil 3D for quite a while now and I have to admit that what I am going to show you next is something that I have not used before, and frankly never thought to ask, "What does that do?" Let's assume that we have created our corridor model, you know existing ground surface, alignment, profile from surface, proposed profile, and assembly. In the process of creating the corridor we also created our Top and Datum surface from the corridor model. In turn we used the boundaries feature in the Corridor Properties dialog box and added boundaries to each of the surfaces at our daylight line.

Then we start to look at our corridor sections and we see something that just doesn't look right. For some reason out datum surface has jumped from the bottom of the subgrade at the edge of the travel way to the top of the back of curb and back down to the extended subgrade. As seen in this image, the datum surface is jumping all over the place.

We know that this is not correct. So, how do we fix it? It just so happens that there is a very simple fix to this issue. All we have to do is open up the Corridor Properties and click on the Surfaces Tab. In the table showing our surface definitions we see that there is a column called Overhang. This column is the correction for the jump in the surface shown above. This is what I had been missing!

By clicking in the Overhang column for each surface, we can tell Civil 3D how to "correct" the jumps in our datum surface. By setting the Overhang for the Datum surface to Bottom Links, the software forces the surface along the bottom links of the assembly, something we probably thought was happening automatically. After setting the Overhang corrections, we simply rebuild the Corridor Model and the surfaces are updated. We can use the View/Edit Corridors Function to verify that the surface has been updated. This image shows the corrected Datum surface.

Here we can see that the Datum surface more closely resembles how a contractor would construct our roadway with a 1 foot extension of the sub-base under our curb and gutter.Now lets talk about material and earthworks volumes based on our cross sections. We are going to assume that at this point that we have created our cross sections from the alignment associated with our corridor model and that we have created multiple cross section views on a D-size sheet. At this point we realize that we forgot to add the volume tables to our cross sections. Can we fix this rather easily? You bet we can.

First of all we have to go to the Sections pull-down menu and select Compute Materials. Make sure that you select the Alignment for which you have cut cross sections and the Sample Line Group for that particular alignment. This will bring up the Compute Materials dialog box. In the Compute materials dialog box there is a drop-down for Quantity Takeoff Criteria. It depends on the final output that I am looking for as to which criteria I select. In this instance we are going to select Material List.

At this point I will edit the Material List Criteria to make sure that have the materials listed that I am interested in, such as Pave1, Pave2, Base and Sub-base. After setting the materials that I want I click on OK to close the Compute Materials dialog. Next I go back to the Sections menu and select Compute Materials again.

I want to click on the Import another criteria. This will allow me to add additional criteria to the current materials list. Here I want to select Earthworks so that we can calculate the cut/fill volumes at each section.

Here I can set the cut/fill factors for the soil if I know what they are. Once I have added the Earthworks Criteria I click on OK to close the Edit Materials dialog box. Now I need to add the Volume Tables at each cross section. To add the tables, I am going to click on a grid line for one of the cross sections, then right-click and select Section View Group Properties.

Click on the ellipsis button in the Change Volume Table column. This will bring up the Change Volume Tables dialog box. In this dialog box I want to select Total Volume from the Type drop-down. I want to select the Table style to use, in this case I am using the Basic Style. Click the Add button to add the table definition. Then I want to make sure that I select the corresponding Material List from the pull-down in the table definition. Then I can set the location of the table using the section view and table anchors.

Then click on OK and you should have your volume tables attached to each of the cross sections. One caveat here is that when you add the Volume Tables to existing cross sections, you will probably have to go back and edit the spacing of your sections. So, you may have a little more work to do, but it is automated by editing the Section View Group and the Array on your Group Plot Style. Remember that you can create the Volume tables as you create the Cross Section Views, but you have to compute the materials before creating the views. Here is an image of a completed section with a volume table.

View all of Whit McCormack’s articles at:
http://gettingtothedirt.blogspot.com

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