James Wedding is at Autodesk University Brazil this week. He’s tweeting (@civil3d)from around Sao Paulo and from the event itself, and I’ve talked him into taking some good notes so that I can write a blog post recap as a constructive way to conceal my jealousy.
He’ll also be posting pictures while he is there. As a fellow drainspotter, I know he’ll find some interesting manhole covers, or catch a gutter in action.
So what is all the buzz in Brazil? All of my Autodesk friends who have been down their recently supporting our excellent Brazil team and our Brazilian channel partners say the same thing- they have never seen so much traffic or so much construction. My experience with Brazil is limited to a few episodes of House Hunters International and a few magazine articles, so I am looking forward to debriefing with James upon his return.
A view from the cab today, courtesy James Wedding.
A few things I have read about the construction boom in Brazil lately:
For a general overview from a Civil Engineering perspective, check out Booming Brazil: Designing for Growth and Two World Stage Events by Bob Drake in CE News. I didn’t realize that Brazil is nearly the size of the US (3.3 million square miles compared to 3.7 million square miles) and that Sao Paulo has more people than New York City.
It is no surprise that a city more populous than NYC and growing at an alarming rate would have some seriously intense traffic. The World's Worst Traffic Jams by Andrew Downie in Time has some interesting insights into the lack infrastructure planning that leads to backups over 100 miles long.
For a more personal side of the story, read Being There: Sao Paulo from the More Intelligent Life blog. Helen Joyce, the Sao Paulo bureau chief for The Economist, recounts her impressions of a city that seems to be steeped in paradox. An interesting mix of old, new, personal warmth and separation of classes and neighborhoods.
I also found this customer success story (pdf) in our Civil 3D Customer Showcase that features Figueiredo Ferraz and how they used BIM, including Civil 3D, for a watercourse improvement and planning project.
Looking forward to learning more next week!
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