From the Ground Up

Autodesk Geotechnical Module – Now available

Launched today for those customers with AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013, the Autodesk Geotechnical Module is available as a download from the subscription centre (www.autodesk.com/subscription) under the ‘AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013 Productivity Tools’.

Here are some introductory notes from the help file

The Autodesk® Geotechnical Module has been developed and licenced to Autodesk by Keynetix, it has been designed to ease the task of creating and viewing geological and subsurface information.
Geotechnical design is like any other engineering practice, the designs need to be revised and refined. In many respects this is more the case with geotechnics as the engineer with limited information tries to interpret the data to best fit the site. To this end the tool has been designed to quickly display data in AutoCAD® Civil 3D®to allow the user to start modelling and interpreting the site data.
The Geotechnical Module is designed to work with drill hole locations and geology data, this functionality includes:
Importing and connecting to geotechnical data, both AGS and CSV formats
Creating and managing Boreholes in both plan and model space
Creating and managing sub strata surfaces
Producing dynamic profiles and projecting log strips on to them
Geotechnical hatch and style management
The module is designed to show you the geotechnical data as-is, it does not interpret the data, however the surfaces that are created are a great aid and starting point in the interpretation, modelling and visualisation process.

There are going to be some video guidance and tutorials showing how the Autodesk Geotechnical Module can be used and examples of workflows modelling the data, visit: 

www.keynetix.com/civil3d

About Keynetix
Keynetix, based in the UK, is an Autodesk Industry Partner and has been developing geotechnical data management software for over two decades. The software ranges from on-site data entry tools for both drillers and engineers, desktop data entry tools including Excel extensions and the world leading geotechnical data management software HoleBASE SI. HoleBASE SI’s unique features allow you to manage your data throughout the lifetime of a project and access historical information alongside your current project, transforming the way you archive and manage site investigation. HoleBASE SI allows you to rapidly produce logs, reports, charts and interpretations of your data within seconds.

Autodesk licenses technology for borehole field data from Keynetix

We have some exciting developments underway with Keynetix www.keynetix.com that will help automate the process of importing borehole field data into a project model.

I am here at the #geotechnicaME conference in Doha this week

where I will be demonstrating with Keynetix a technology, which we have licensed, for AutoCAD Civil 3D and to use the data throughout the Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite and for use with model devices.

 

We hope to deliver this technology sometime next year.

Also there will be a class presentation at Autodesk University #AU2012 which will be presented by Gary Morin Director of Keynetix and special guest Dave Simeone (AutoCAD Civil 3D Product Manager) which will also preview this technology.

CI4020 - Using Geotechnical Data in AutoCAD® Civil 3D.

Jack Strongitharm

From the Ground Down ! - Geotechnical Webinar

 

Image courtesy of enzdata.com

Despite the name of our blog being “from the ground up” we are doing a free webinar next week all about everything “from the ground down!”

I will be presenting with Gary Morin and Roger Chandler from Keynetix at an online webinar entitled “The Role of Geotechnical Data in Building Information Modelling”

This online seminar reviews the current BIM implementations on major infrastructure projects in the UK and overseas and reviews how the inclusion of the geotechnical data in the BIM model can improve the model’s usefulness and the decision making process.
We are going to be showing some cool borehole and geology work live on the webinar so if your project involve geotechnical data you should sign up to see what is possible with AutoCAD Civil 3D and other products
The seminar will conclude with a set of recommendations that, if adopted, could allow the engineering design team to produce innovative geotechnical systems and improve the cost-effectiveness of construction. 

20^th September at 3pm (UK) BST

http://bit.ly/Bimwebinar

Jack Strongitharm

Bridge Modeler for AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2013

The Bridge Modeler for AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2013 which enables users to create bridge models based on critical geometry in the Civil 3D corridor model and existing ground surface has been posted live to Productivity Tools for AutoCAD® Civil 3D®. Bridge elements include abutments, piers, and bearings configuration and modeling as well as bridge deck, barriers and roadway. Users can also create AutoCAD Civil 3D alignments and profiles from key bridge strings such as bottom of lowest girder or top of barrier. Finally, users can quickly transition bridge parameters created in the AutoCAD Civil 3D version of this Bridge Modeler into the Autodesk Revit Structure Bridge Modeling extension (REX) where additional modeling can be accomplished. 

The Productivity Tools for AutoCAD® Civil 3D® are available on subscription center.

Geotechnica UK 2012

Last week I had the opportunity to join Keynetix, our geotechnical Industry Partners, at the Geotechnica 2012 event in Banbury. It is not often that I get to attend shows held in a marquee in the middle of a field and with all the rain we have had over the last few weeks it had a certain festival mud feeling to it.

From left to right (Roger Chandler, Jack Strongitharm (Me), Gary Morin)

Dr Roger Chandler, managing director at Keynetix, made a presentation on the first day which covered a number of geotechnical data management mistakes that you must avoid at all cost and I was pleased to see that one of this top 5 mistakes was “Ignoring BIM”

The geotechnical community is rapidly coming to terms with the advantages that BIM can offer it and it was interesting to see a geotechnical perspective on BIM models like the one below where there is no reference to the ground surface let alone what is below it.

Things are never that easy underground as the next example illustrates. This model was created in Civil 3D with the help of the Keynetix KeyHOLE product.

If you would like to learn more you can register for the replay of the presentation at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/923759296 or watch the YouTube video of KeyHOLE in action in AutoCAD Civil 3D at http://youtu.be/3bMC951PDBo

 

Jack Strongitharm

BIM for Infrastructure - Roundabout Design (Update Webinar)

An update to the BIM for Roundabout Design presentation from Autodesk, Savoy Computing, TRL and introducing Design Pro Software for Traffic Sign Design.

 

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:

BIM for Roundabout Design - European Time zone

Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM BST

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/923111906

 

 

BIM for Roundabout Design - America's Time zone

Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM BST, (2pm Eastern, 11am Pacific)

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/271823602

 

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

 

Jack Strongitharm

Mapping data in the UK with Local Authority Projects

 

When working on public sector contracts, we’ve heard that it can be a real hassle for contractors to get hold of the mapping data they need. And, let’s face it, even when they have the data, working with it in standard CAD packages can be a challenge too!

So what’s this about?  Well, Autodesk have been working with the clever people at Emapsite and have what we believe to be the complete solution to the above.

And the date?  On Monday 14^th November at 11am we’re running a webinar, with Emapsite, to show just how easy it can be to access and work with mapping data. It’s free of charge, you just need to register and tune in on the day.

So – if you can spare half an hour (and potentially save days) of your time, do join us.

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar Seat Now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/159725562

Jack Strongitharm

Roundabout Design: Dynamic, 3D and adjusted by traffic analysis!

Its great when I can have some time with some developers as some good ideas come together.

The guys at Savoy Computing and TRL with Arcady, put together a very cool 2D roundabout tool in recent months.

After spending some time with them, we now have it Civil 3D enabled where it is pushing out Civil 3D Alignment objects for the channels, ICD and even those 2/3 crownlines.

With a little conceptual design surface underneath, we can now make a full corridor model linked to the roundabout design and traffic analysis and get real time updates.  Once decided on the layout a few tweaks to the profiles and you have it all fully detailed and ready to build!

Enjoy this video that Savoy has put together.

 

http://youtu.be/7vh83ekgOI8

 

 

Jack Strongitharm

Advanced multi point ZVI software add on for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011

In Civil 3D we have a simple ZVI function where we can check one point against the surface

However when considering sites such as Wind Farms etc. you will need more functionality to factor in multiple objects.

Our partners at KeyTERRA-FIRMA Ltd have made a version of their tool available to be used on Civil 3D surface objects with also the ability to add visibility barriers (which could be a line of trees, fencing etc), field of view and report in advanced shading.

Link to website

 

Jack Strongitharm