From the Ground Up

Creating outer boundaries for buildings - TIP and TRICK

Been a little while since I posted a cool tip and even this time I have taken someone else’s idea.

This one is from Donal McMoreland of Amicus Technology in Galway, Ireland.

http://www.amicustec.ie

So you may want to build a cool city model using our Infrastructure Modeler application and you have the local mapping dataset, (this one from the OSi in Ireland)

The problem here is that there is no polygons or closed polylines, especially when you have adjoining properties

So the steps are

Create a new layer and make current.

Isolate the building layer

Draw a rectangle around the area

Now using the BHATCH command (use the solid hatch), select a point in the area outside the buildings within your rectangle

Select your solid hatch and then right click and select ‘Generate Boundary’

Now select and delete the solid hatch and you are now left with nice closed polylines around each building.

Final step if you are going into Infrastructure Modeller, it is better to save this layer to a SDF file, so type in MAPEXPORT and save to a file.

 

Now you can connect that SDF file in Infrastructure Modeler and up they pop!

(Note the relistic sky in Galway)

 Jack Strongitharm

 

 

 

Nice tip, thanks Donal !!

 

Jack Strongitharm

Infrastructure Modeler 2012 Service Pack 1 is Now Available

We have released Service Pack 1 for Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler 2012 to address some reported issues from customers.

via atlandsend.typepad.com

Get yourself upto date and check out this blog from the product manager

Jack Strongitharm

#BIM2011 Autodesk UK BIM Conference, London

 

On Wednesday 16^th November, we hosted the second Autodesk BIM Conference in London at Kings Place London. 

Last year we focused on ‘educating’ the industry on BIM, this year the objectives was for leaders from construction and civil engineering firms to hear a review of the business benefits of BIM and BIM implementation strategies adopted by large firms and SMEs. 

 

BIM Conference

Speakers included senior level Directors from Kier, Mott MacDonald, BAM, HOK, Bryden Wood, WSP, David Miller Architects, Asda, Gatwick Airport and Balfour Beatty.  Most importantly, we again managed to have the Governments Chief Construction Adviser, Paul Morrell present straight after our very own Phil Bernstein. 

 

We had interactive polling sessions during the day, below is an example of those questions and responses.

 

Has using BIM helped you to win work in the past 12 months?

63% of the audience said YES

23% of the audience said NO

14% were unsure

 

Will BIM help supply chains to collaborate better in future?

92% said YES

2% said NO

6% unsure

 

Phase 2 of the BIM Conference is all about Implementation and we now have 25 events taking place across the UK and Ireland over the next few weeks with our partners – check out www.autodesk.co.uk/bimroadshow for the details.

 

Jack Strongitharm

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 - Update 1

Time to get upto date

Download it here

Jack Strongitharm

Tips and Tricks for Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler - AU Virtual

If you are not going to AU this year like me, you need to get online and take part

If you are interested or already using Infrastructure Modeler, you have got to watch this class!

AU Virtual, Class GS4570, November 29^th.

http://au.autodesk.com/

With Neil Brooker (my boss) and Lynda Sharkey, these guys have a few screws loose as you can see below but seriously will take you to another level with this amazing product.

Also watch the main stage presentations at AU this year as its going to be rather interesting!

 

Jack Strongitharm

Project Parsec Released to Labs!

Are you keeping up with the pace

Project Parsec is a technology preview that allows AutoCAD Map 3D 2012 users to easily import and map GIS geometries and attributes to AutoCAD Map 3D standalone industry models from any FDO source, including SDF, SQLite, Esri SHP and geodatabase files, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle databases.  If you, our partners or customers have been looking for a streamlined way to convert dumb GIS data into intelligent Map 3D industry models, for use in mapping, planning and/or management, Project Parsec will help.

More Information about Project Parsec:

 

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/parsec/

Jack Strongitharm

I've never seen so many iPads in one place

At the end of last week I got back from the Construction MobileIT 2011 Conference in London in the UK, it was a great one day discussion about how mobile devices can be best used in the construction industry. With fascinating insights from Transport for London about how BIM models are helping with Emergency Service planning on London Underground after the 7/7 terrorist bombings in 2005, discussions about the safety of putting data in the cloud, using QR codes in versioning of drawings, use of point cloud technology by surveyors across the life cycle of a building project and whether social media has a place in construction for resolving RFI's.

via beyonddesign.typepad.com

Its an iPAD day I think, shame I left my at home.

Click below to read Lee's post

Jack

Structural Analysis on the iPAD - Autodesk ForceEffect

Could have done with this at Uni

http://youtu.be/L_-kS68z78U

Jack Strongitharm

AutoCAD Map 3D 2012 Service Pack 1 - Released

Not to be applied to Civil 3D, but if you run Map time to update

Link to site

Jack Strongitharm

Point Clouds used in Crash Investigations

Aswell as using point clouds for scanning buildings and highways etc, point cloud technology is really used to maximum effect in scanning crashes on roads to reduce the time to clear the site and open it back up to traffic.

This video article on the BBC looks into how using technology could prevent accidents by monitoring driver behaviour and also in return reduce accidents and also insurance premiums.

Watch here

Jack Strongitharm