Skip to main content

Autodesk introduces new software tools

As World Highways was going to press Autodesk was due to announce the 2014 versions of its entire range of programs including AutoCAD, Civil 3D, NavisWorks and Revit Structural and others programs used by the road industry. As previously, they are packaged in suites; Standard, Premium and Ultimate. Key aspects focus around the inclusion of a completely new and fast point-cloud “engine” developed from the Alice Labs company acquisition made last year. Part of a new Autodesk Recap, standing for reality captur
April 25, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
As 3260 World Highways was going to press 685 Autodesk was due to announce the 2014 versions of its entire range of programs including AutoCAD, Civil 3D, NavisWorks and Revit Structural and others programs used by the road industry. As previously, they are packaged in suites; Standard, Premium and Ultimate.

Key aspects focus around the inclusion of a completely new and fast point-cloud “engine” developed from the Alice Labs company acquisition made last year. Part of a new Autodesk Recap, standing for reality capture, this will be able to open point-clouds in the main tools used in civil engineering such as Map, Civil 3D and Revit. Recap is included in all of them. The company says the new engine is fast, inputs most of the major formats, and can translate point-clouds into different local coordinate systems to match other data.

The Infrastructure Modeller tool, for conceptualising projects and testing sketch scenarios is now relaunched as a enhanced version, re-named InfraWorks.

In the Ultimate suite this will include roads and highway modules which allow early design sketches to be done with precision data, so that they can be imported directly into Civil 3D for further work. It will also link to the cloud for tasks like optimisation of the vertical alignment

– part of a general philosophy for all Autodesk products using more "infinite" computing power of the cloud for heavy "grunt" work, instead of the local desktop.  Rendering capacity is another aspect.

The cloud will also be used for communication, and design and construction collaboration, with BIM360 Glue, a cloud accessed tool for design integration and class detection, which is a “NavisWorks light" - accessed via a very small client application with full high quality graphics whatever the capacities of the local laptop.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Topcon’s LN-100 3D positioning system
    May 13, 2014
    Topcon Positioning Group says its new BIM solution - the LN-100 – is the world’s first 3D positioning system designed specifically for construction layout. Said to offer seamless integration and flow of project data from the design to the field, the LN-100 is simple to operate, removing “the intimidation factor and reducing the learning curve in performing construction layout tasks,” according to Eduardo Falcon, Topcon Positioning Group executive vice president and general manager for the GeoPositioning
  • Made to Measure laser mapping
    June 15, 2012
    Dutch surveying company Geomaat says it is taking millimetre accurate measurements in record time to aid a range of highway design, construction and maintenance projects. Using the mobile laser mapping system StreetMapper, and specially developed point cloud software, Geomaat says it can calculate highly accurate cutting, milling and asphalt figures, create as built models and undertake change detection.
  • Made to Measure laser mapping
    June 26, 2012
    Dutch surveying company Geomaat says it is taking millimetre accurate measurements in record time to aid a range of highway design, construction and maintenance projects. Using the mobile laser mapping system StreetMapper, and specially developed point cloud software, Geomaat says it can calculate highly accurate cutting, milling and asphalt figures, create as built models and undertake change detection.
  • Trimble’s tablet offers data processing on-site
    March 12, 2018
    Trimble has developed its T10 Tablet, which the firm claims is a rugged and high-performance data processing platform for use onsite. The unit offers fast computing power and a large screen and is now available through the SITECH dealer channel for use in civil engineering and construction applications. Its key features include a military-grade ruggedness to cope with tough construction site conditions, a sunlight readable display for reading text, graphics and complex maps under field conditions and a