AEC Exhibitor Highlights from Autodesk University 2011

As mentioned in my article published earlier this week on the general session keynote and the new cross-industry innovation forums at the recently concluded Autodesk University 2011, there were many more exhibitors in the Exhibit Hall this year than I have ever seen in the past. It seems like the universe of Autodesk solutions continues to grow exponentially every year. This article captures the highlights of those products that were exhibited that are relevant to the AEC industry. Because there were so many exhibitors, it is possible that I may have missed some—therefore, this is by no means an exhaustive listing of all the AEC technology vendors who were present. Also, I was not able to spend as much time at each exhibitor booth as I typically do, therefore this article summarizes the main developments that I saw and does not delve too deeply into the details of the individual products.

Revit-Integrated Applications

Trelligence showed the new release of its popular Affinity application for architectural programming, early design, and design validation (described in detail in the article “Trelligence Affinity: Extending BIM to Space Programming and Planning”). Affinity 7 has many new features including the ability to define and input program drivers and use them to generate space program requirements; the ability to specify multiple quantities of a department or group in a program; a new 3D rendering engine, including the ability to select a room in a 3D model and view its properties (see Figure 1); the ability to create and easily manipulate curved walls; improved visualizations of design components, including doors, walls and room objects; the ability to create design grids for easier layout; improved alignment, snapping and layout tools; and additional editing tools for rooms. In addition, tight integration with leading AEC industry software tools has been further developed including Revit Architecture, Google SketchUp, and the new IES <VE> integration for sustainability analysis. The bi-directional integration with Revit has been further improved with a revision of the Affinity functions available in the Revit ribbon, providing a guided route through the multiple options available including Connect Project, Import Program, and Sync Design. Also, direct access to Affinity Team Projects is now available from within Revit, enabling dynamic work sharing and collaboration. The project file is stored in a central repository accessible to all team members to edit either in live, real-time mode, or locally, by locking and checking out portions of the project file.

FM:Systems, which develops computer-aided facility management (CAFM) software, is the partnership Autodesk relies on to extend BIM to FM, with its FM software integrating with Revit through its FM: Interact platform (as discussed in the recent AECbytes article “BIM for Facilities Management”). At Autodesk University, FM:Systems showed its Revit integration as well as its recently launched browser-based mobile access for the FM:Interact Workplace Management Suite, called FM:Mobile,. It enables real estate and facilities professionals to access facilities information from iPhones and iPads, enabling greater flexibility and mobility in how they manage their portfolio. Given that these professionals spend most of their working hours walking the floors, grounds and parking lots of the buildings they oversee, mobile access is extremely helpful to them, enabling them to execute everyday tasks such as entering maintenance requests, recording asset serial numbers and scheduling moves much more easily and conveniently.   

Another regular exhibitor, Interspec, used the event to announce a major upgrade to its popular e-SPECS specification management system. e-SPECS v7.0 includes enhanced Revit integration, Office Master Updater application integrated into the popular Microsoft Word application and specification manual publishing enhancements. The new Revit-specific functionality includes support for Revit phasing that enables correct specifying of new or phased building development, a Revit Validation Console that enables assignment of parameter values directly to assemblies throughout the model (including linked Models), and a Keynote Manager that highlights coordinated section tags in e-SPECS Designer. Interspec also showed its e-SPECS for Navisworks prototype (see Figure 2), which augments its e-SPECS for Owners program and should be of interest to contractors as well.

CodeBook International showed the new version 10 of its CodeBook platform, which now supports SQL Server database tools and adds CAD and BIM support for Revit Architecture 2011 and 2012 and Revit MEP 2011 and 2012, in addition to ArchiCAD 15, AutoCAD Architecture 2011 and 2012, Bentley Architecture V8i, and MicroGDS 2011. CodeBook was displayed for the first time at Autodesk University 2004, where it was exhibited as a project manager's tool that organized the entire project program in an Access database, linked it directly with the project CAD drawings, and then compared and validated the textual, programmatic database with the CAD files. Now it works with BIM and links to models, shares data, and gives detailed reports and validations throughout the design and construction phases of a project, thus managing information from project inception through to facilities management after project completion.

I also saw an interesting new tool called VIMtrek, which is a 3D video game-like modeling program that allows architects, designers, and contractors to navigate around in the building and collaborate on details and edits. Developed jointly by SmartBIM and Vizerra, VIMtrek can convert a 250 MB Revit design file into an immersive collaborative 3D environment in under five minutes; also, it captures all the BIM information and embedded environmental and energy efficiency data in the model. Built on gaming industry standards, VIMtrek offers all the benefits of its compression technology, where files end up about one-third of the original Revit file size, and you have a fully navigable walkthrough environment, in which the viewer can roll the cursor over objects to see all the embedded data (see Figure 3).

There were several other third-party Revit developers showing the latest updates to their solutions including CADworks, which showed the progress it has made with its Cloud-based Revit MEP content tool; Ideate, with its BIMLink application that can push Revit data into Excel for easy editing and which is now available as a network license; CTC, with its BIMlist application that help users identify and locate all available design content for use in their projects; and StrucSoft Solutions, which develops structural applications for Revit, including MWF Professional (Metal-Wood-Framing Professional) and a soon-to-be-released floors-and-ceilings framing module.

Other Software Solutions

There were several exhibitors showing laser scanning solutions at Autodesk University, indicating a growing demand for documenting as-built conditions for design. For example, there was ClearEdge3D, which develops software for automatically extracting 3D geometry from point cloud data, saving substantial time compared to manual extraction. It was previewing its latest release, EdgeWise 3.0, which will debut in mid-January. The main enhancements include automatic completion of occluded areas of the point cloud, and plug-in support for AutoCAD, Revit, and Microstation. ClearEdge3D currently targets the plant and AEC/BIM industries, with civil products to follow later in 2012. The company has also recently received funding from the National Science Foundation to further feature extraction research—the ultimate goal to be able mobile-map whole city blocks.

Autodesk reseller Microdesk, which specializes in AEC and BIM software, demonstrated how AEC attendees can think “outside the box” by using Microsoft’s Kinect technology to create live, rendered and interactive presentation environments with a Revit model. It was very interesting to see how the gaming technology in Kinect could be used to create some rudimentary laser scans, as an alternative to the more expensive lasers scans produced by machines costing thousands of dollars.

Another Autodesk reseller, IMAGINiT, showcased updates to the Scan to BIM product that it launched at last year’s Autodesk University, and also highlighted its brand new ProductivityNOW portal, a new, custom built industry portal geared to maximize the productivity of anyone using Autodesk software and Autodesk complementary technologies. It features insights from the 85 IMAGINiT technical experts, eLearning expertise from ASCENT, downloadable utilities from IMAGINiT’s software development team, and the knowledge from its global support team. Access to the portal is open for anyone to explore, with a tiered subscription system providing added enhancements and IMAGINiT customers receive additional privileges.

Bluebeam Software demonstrated the latest version of its Revu PDF solution (see the recent review of version 9 in AECbytes), showing how it could increase productivity and save time and money for its users. Specifically, PDF Revu CAD can improve communication and collaboration on projects by enabling digital processes from design through bid and build. Plugins for AutoCAD and Revit also allow for easy one-button PDF creation and batch options.

Another solution that has been covered in a dedicated article in AECbytes, SITEOPS, which works by applying optimization technology to the field of site design and land development, was also being exhibited at Autodesk University. SITEOPS used the opportunity to unveil a new partnership with Google SketchUp; it incorporates an “import button” in SITEOPS that will allow its users to directly import their SITEOPS layouts from Google SketchUp to render realistic 3D site models. This new feature enhances the conceptual capabilities of SITEOPS’ site-optimization software. With access to the SketchUp 3D Warehouse, users have unlimited 3D models to better visualize their site plans. The Google SketchUp button is only available with the purchase of SITEOPS’ Grading and Piping Module.

Also on display were Solibri, showing their latest release, Solibri Model Checker v7, which was recently reviewed in AECbytes, and the AutoCAD integrated tools for road and site design and airport design developed by Transoft Solutions. BIM9 and Advance 2000, which both provide private BIM cloud installation and consulting for the AEC industry, were there to showcase their services and the rationale for them. As the use of BIM expands, the need to access BIM information remotely is growing, hence the growing interest in these cloud consulting firms.

Hardware Solutions

Supermicro, a global leader in high-performance, high-efficiency server technology innovation and green computing exhibited its lineup of SuperWorkstations at Autodesk University, showcasing computing solutions for Autodesk users ranging from entry level systems to high-end graphics workstations. Supermicro leverages its knowledge and expertise in the server field to deliver high-performance, high-reliability solutions in the workstation space. It demonstrated its entry level workstation running AutoCAD 2012, a midrange workstation running Inventor and Navisworks, and its unique Ultra High Performance 4 GPU SuperWorkstation highlighting interactive GPU ray-tracing with 3ds Max iray. These application optimized server-grade systems are designed to run 24/7 and are easy to maintain, with tool-less designs incorporating hot-swappable HDDs or SSDs, optical drives and cooling subsystems.

HP exhibited its newest workstations and printers, as well as updates to its new ePrint and Share application that it exhibited at the AIA this summer (see AECbytes Newsletter #52). The application is now available on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch in the form of a cloud printing functionality for AutoCAD WS, allowing design professionals to print, access and share their large-format plans wherever the job takes them, without installing drivers or opening applications. An ePrint and Share plug-in for AutoCAD also allows CAD professionals to access the tool directly from AutoCAD to create print-ready files with just one click.

Contex, a leading developer of wide format scanning and imaging solutions, showed the next version of its Nextimage imaging software, which makes scanning, copying, and printing easier and more productive. The upgrade includes new accounting capabilities that allow users to track and report on scanner activities by department, project, and user name. Users can also track the types of scans produced, such as color or grayscale scans, resolution, file name, and printers used. Productivity-enhancing features include multi-page file support, which lets users batch scan a mix of documents, edit, and reorder the images into a single PDF or TIFF file; and click-free automatic scanning of documents, which can save a lot of time. Contex also introduced two new scanners: the HD Ultra wide format scanner built with Contex’s next generation xDTR2, its exclusive extended data transfer rate, and Gigabit Ethernet, making it twice the speed of its predecessor; and the SD3600, a compact and lightweight 36-inch addition to the company’s successful SD wide format scanner series,

Other hardware vendors that exhibited at Autodesk University include Nvidia, which showed its new Maximus technology that offers dramatically accelerated workflows by bringing together the professional 3D graphics capability of NVIDIA Quadro professional GPUs with the parallel computing power of the new NVIDIA Tesla C2075 companion processor onto a single workstation, designed to run many professional design, creative and simulation applications. 3D Connexion, which makes devices for advanced 3D navigation for designers and professionals, used the event to introduce its newest 3D mouse, the SpaceMouse Pro, which combines 3Dconnexion’s six-degrees-of-freedom sensor for intuitive and precise 3D navigation with an advanced ergonomic design and easy on-screen display. Dell was also present with its usual line-up of computers, and I was particularly intrigued by a new Dell tablet running Windows 7 designed for professional use, which was different from most other tablets I have seen.

Conclusions

You could not tell that there is an economic crisis at a global level from the large number of vendors who exhibited at Autodesk University this year. While there were no dramatic and revolutionary developments that stood out, there were a lot of incremental upgrades and developments that continue to further the state of the art of the AEC technology industry. It was a healthy sign of its strength and vitality, and hopefully once the economy improves and AEC firms are busy again with projects to design and build, they will find themselves well supported by the technological advances in their field, many of which were in evidence in the Exhibit Hall at this year’s Autodesk University.

About the Author

Lachmi Khemlani is founder and editor of AECbytes. She has a Ph.D. in Architecture from UC Berkeley, specializing in intelligent building modeling, and consults and writes on AEC technology. She can be reached at lachmi@aecbytes.com.

Building the Future > AEC Exhibitor Highlights from AU 2011 > Printer-friendly format