From the Ground Up

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