From the Ground Up

Autodesk Shared Reference Point Tool – Now available

aka as the BIM Coordinator released on our Labs site, we have had a good interest in making this available on our newer releases.

So for both 2013 and 2014 releases this tool is now available on www.autodesk.com/subscription under the productivity tools for AutoCAD Civil 3D.

 

There are two installers, one to be installed on Civil 3D which runs from the toolbox and a second that installs to run on Revit (any version)

 

The tool exports an xml file from Civil 3D with coordinates and z level/elevation, rotation and units.

From within Revit you select the same two reference points on your building/structure and it creates a ‘Shared Coordinate System’ for your location and can orientate the view to suit and most importantly export the building/structure correctly to be used in AutoCAD platforms, Navisworks etc.

Download the Video

or watch through Youtube

 

To see this in action I have recorded a new video that covers from the outline planning of a site with InfraWorks through to the project aggregated model in Navisworks.

As usual I throw a big supermarket on a public park in the UK close to where I live, of course its all made up!

 

Jack Strongitharm

Project Basejump (Bing maps) – now back available

After a little break Project Basejump is back and running until August 2013 (that’s next year) for AutoCAD Map and Civil 3D 2013 users.

Its free and fast to use, just connect via the data connection (FDO) inside your ‘Planning and Analysis’ workspace, but ensure you have set the coordinate systems you are working in i.e. Great Britain, BritishNatGrid’

Then just choose the aerial or map that you want and connect, simple!

Jack Strongitharm

Civilising BIM - Buildings need to positioned on the ground

I must copyright this phrase :)

 

I have had quite a few requests from you on whether I can share the dataset I show on the video of the BIM Coordinator Tool posted on Labs for AutoCAD Civil 3D and Revit.

The data

Download Shared Coordinate Systems.zip (33271.3K)

When you upzip the file

1 - Export Shared Coordinates.dwg

I use to show xrefing the 2D floor plan of the building to work out position on site and also set a floor level.

2 - Import DWG from Revit.dwg

Is showing that the Civil design has taken place with the position of the building in mind and that as the civil engineer I would like the building back in my model for reference purposes and to continue the drainage design, documentation etc.

Office Building.rvt

Is the building to be setup with shared coordinate system

Coordinated Site Model.nwf

Is a Navisworks file with the Civil Model already linked and ready to receive the Revit file

Coordinated Site Model.nwd

Is a Navisworks published file with the Civil model embedded and not linked to the DWG file (easiest one to try out)

The rest of the files are reference files for aerial photography and ground surface data

 

Here is how I put it together if you haven't seen it in action.

 

 

Try it out for yourself and please give feedback via the Labs feedback system

Currently for 2012 releases of AutoCAD Civil 3D and Revit products

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

 

Jack Strongitharm

BIM Coordinator - now on Labs

Struggling to setup your shared coordinate system in Revit to match your site in Civil 3D?

This is the tool for you.

Also watch the video as it shows how the tool works and how to share your Revit model back to Civil 3D and also Navisworks.

(Also because its my demo )

Currently for 2012 releases of Civil 3D and Revit.

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

 

Jack Strongitharm

Interactive Terrain Shaping for AutoCAD Map3D and Civil 3D - now on Labs

Some more fun from our Labs team!

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/civil3d_terrain/

Jack Strongitharm

Point Cloud Feature Extraction in Revit

If you are a user of Revit, there is now some of the same capability to extract to Revit objects like we have had in Civil 3D for a little while now

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/scan_to_BIM/overview/

Here is a little test I just did with some Faro data around a motorway bridge where the resultant surface ignored the bridge structure and the passing noise.

Jack Strongitharm

AutoCAD Civil 3D Profile Optimisation on the Cloud – Project Silverstar

About time we got a cloud application to use for design purposes.

Not necessarily a magic button for design, but this tool can work out a solution based on a number of parameters for vertical slope, tie ins, volumes etc.

It is a PVI solution, so I would like you to give it a try and give some feedback based on your requirements to make this fit your design needs.

 

Anyway, download it from here

 

Once installed you run it from the toolbox

Choose what alignment and surface profile you want to use

.

 

Add mass haul information if you have any

.

Choose some maximum and minimum values

Choose how intense you want the solution

 

Within a short space of time a result is emailed to you

A PDF of the output

Then use the Profile from file option or LandXML file to import the result

There you have it

 

Put your head in the clouds

 

Jack Strongitharm

Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler - Online and on the iPAD

So those of you following this new product from Autodesk, we have kept you to your desktop building these conceptual planning models.

With AU this week there is always the new things from development coming out.

So building a planning project you need to share this with those that are not necessarily users of design software.

Creating videos end up becoming the final design and not really asking the question, what do you want? lets try it out.

Also being able to share this model to someone through their internet browser or even one of those tablet devices really opens up the model to everyone.

So now we can, below you can see my model through the internet explorer (I just skinned it via ipadpeek.com to show how it could look on the tablet.)

 

Want to try it out now?

You will need to install first the web plugin for Internet Explorer

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

Then

Try my sample model

If you do install the iPAD application, you also get Augmented Reality, so you can access your model on site and through the camera in the iPAD 2 you can see your model in position.

I just need to get myself an iPAD 2, at least I have a reason for one now

(note not available for iPAD 1)

Have fun!

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

Update to the Bridge Modeler for Civil 3D on the Labs

 

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/civil3d_bridge/

Jack Strongitharm