Autodesk Launches its 2010 Design Software Portfolio

Last week, Autodesk hosted two webcasts to officially launch the next version of its design software portfolio, one focused on AutoCAD and the other on its building, transportation, and geospatial products, all of which are now under its AEC division. While the company did provide a brief glimpse of some of its upcoming technologies at Autodesk University in December, it did not provide any details on specific features at that time, so the webcasts served as a good opportunity to get an overview of the developments and enhancements across the entire portfolio of products. Unlike in the past two years where this launch was held at an actual media event in San Francisco, Autodesk opted to go virtual this year, a nod to the current economic climate as well as the general emphasis on being green. Recall that Bentley hosted a similar launch event for its V8i generation of products in November, providing an easy way for users to compare and contrast the product offerings and development approaches of the two leading vendors in AEC software. This month's AECbytes Newsletter captures the highlights of the Autodesk 2010 product launch, including both the AutoCAD and the AEC webcasts.

Next up is a feature that provides an overview of some of the established and upcoming solutions for collaboration, project management, and project information management solutions in AEC. These include the server-based Newforma Project Center, the web-based Attolist, and the SharePoint-based Organice. While BIM has become firmly established as a critical technology in the AEC industry, BIM deployment by itself is not sufficient to successfully execute and complete building projects while meeting the demands for efficient processes, fast-track design and construction, minimizing waste and construction errors, sustainable design, higher quality buildings, less budget over-runs, and so many others. In particular, with the growing push for IPD (integrated project delivery), BIM cannot deliver on it alone, and it needs to be supplemented with the kind of solutions described in this article.

And finally, we have two Tips and Tricks articles this month: one on how to model a Return Air System in Revit MEP, and the other on how to create and format a custom interactive schedule in ArchiCAD.

Do continue to check out the AECbytes Blog for reader comments and the VendorHub to get a consolidated view of all the technology providers in AEC.

Thank you!

Lachmi Khemlani

Editorials > February 2009