BIM on the Rocks

#AU2010: Still room in Lynda’s LandXplorer Lab!

Have GIS data to aggregate? Want it to look sexy? How about adding some dinosaurs? Check out Lynda’s promotional video for her LandXplorer Lab at Autodesk University this year.

 

Sign up for CV234-2L Introduction to Autodesk LandXplorer.

What does it do?

Is it really that easy to build city models like Karen shows in this video, or Lynda demonstrates in this video?

Join Lynda Sharkey, Autodesk Technical Marketing Manager, for this lab where you will have a chance to see how your GIS data, design data and more can be brought together in powerful ways.

#AU2010: CV327-6 Solving the Grid-to-Ground Problem with Custom Coordinate Systems

Richard Sincovec (who some of you may know as Sinc on various Civil 3D discussion groups) will be teaching a class on coordinate systems at AU this year.

For years, you’ve been asking for advanced classes on complex subjects like this one, and I am so excited that Richard put in the proposal. I can also say that if half of his graphics are as easy to read, educational, and, dang, sexy as this one- I’m THERE.

 

From Richard:

In recent years, it's becoming more and more common for us to work on projects that are large enough that the curvature of the Earth must be taken into account.  It's also becoming more and more desirable to use a georeferenced coordinate system, so that we can easily use GPS equipment on our projects, and so we can easily integrate aerial photography, GIS data, and more.

We can use coordinate systems like State Plane or UTM for these purposes, but those coordinate systems can create "The Grid-To-Ground Problem", where the distances implied by our coordinates are not the same as the distances "on the ground".  This can be a great source of error, and can create a lot of problems for our construction projects.

The class CV327-6 Solving the "Grid To Ground Problem" with Custom Coordinate Systems will address this issue.  We'll start by learning exactly what a Grid Projection is and how it is constructed, and how it can lead to "The Grid-To-Ground Problem".  We'll also discover how to create a "Low Distortion Projection", where our grid distances are equivalent to the ground distances, avoiding "The Grid-To-Ground Problem" in a way that satisfies the needs of both the Surveying and GIS communities.

This class is intended for people who have solid experience using Map or Civil 3D, but are weak on the details of Map Projections and Coordinate Systems.  This knowledge is becoming critical for not only Land Surveyors, but also Engineers, GIS professionals, and anyone else who must work on large projects or deal with georeferenced data.

The primary learning points will be:

• Types of Map Projections
• "Projection Distortion"
• What are Ellipsoids, Datums, and the Geoid
• How "Floating Scale Factors" work
• How we hit "The Grid-To-Ground Problem" and its potential repercussions
• How to define a "Low Distortion Projection" that is suitable for our Project
• How to create our new Coordinate System in Civil 3D or Map 3D

#AU2010 : Civil Visualization Classes Round-Up

In my post the other day called Finding Civil at Autodesk University 2010, I mentioned you can find a lot of Civil Visualization classes on the Design Visualization track at Autodesk University. Today, I want to highlight some of these goodies- this is your chance to learn something very few people have yet mastered! (And impress girls/guys at parties with your fly arounds and drive throughs.)

Learn more about the Civil Visualization Extension for Civil 3D and 3DS Max Design here: www.autodesk.com/civilvis

The first class you’ll want to sign up for is DV228-3 Delving Deeper: Mastering the Autodesk® Civil Visualization Extension  with Bruce Harfield and Marion Landry. Bruce is the creator of Dynamite VSP (which became the Civil Visualization extension this past spring) and well known for his work at 3AM Solutions. Bruce taught at Autodesk University last year, and also authored the White Paper on the Autodesk Civil Visualization Solution (pdf - 2797Kb).

Marion is a visualization and 3DS Max Design expert here at Autodesk. I’ve worked with her on many projects, and she really knows her stuff. You might recall Marion from the What’s New in 3DS Max Design Dynamite VSP workflow video on youtube.

Marion passed me a Tips and Tricks video for rendering animated cameras with 3DS Max Design with Civil Visualization as a bit of a preview for some of the content in their class. This is the behind the scenes, under the hood, hard core class you’ve been craving. Hear it straight from the product experts.

The next class you won’t want to miss is from Remco Bastiaans, CV427-3 See How It's Done: Visual Road Design. I know Remco from his work with the Benelux Users Group. Check out some of Remco’s work on the Benelux Users Group visualization blog. 

Remco and his friends are some of the most savvy Civil 3D users I have ever met. They produce some amazing, real, production projects with Civil 3D combined with 3DS Max Design. If you want to know what it takes to use the software in practice to impress your clients and stakeholders, Remco is your man.

See more of the work of Remco and the other Benelux Users on their youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/C3DBenelux 

 

A few other classes to round out your visualization education at Autodesk University:

CV327-2
3D Airspace Design in AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2011
Ove Cervin

DV220-4
What's New in Autodesk® 3ds Max® and Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2011
Eddie Perlberg

DV223-1
Project Management Basics: How to Manage a Design Visualization Project
Jay Mezher

AU 2010: Join the Part Builder Skull and Bones Society

I received an email from the mysterious and intriguing Cyndy Davenport today about her class CV223-1 Join the Part Builder Skull and Bones Society. You may remember that while pregnant with Prospector, I worked on a part builder project and proclaimed that eating fried Twinkies was far better for your health.

If you still want to explore custom pipe network parts and you are not a fan of fried Hostess products, sign up for Cyndy’s class!

Once upon a time back in 1832, a secret society was formed.  They were known as the Skull and Bones Society.  Every year, new members are chosen and they take on the names of characters in literature.  This year at AU, Medusa and Long Devil will form the Order of the Skull and Bones for Partbuilder.  Attend and the secrets of this mysterious tool will be revealed to you. 

 

The class will consist of lecture and demonstration on work planes, profiles, constraints, modifiers, and modeling parameters.  Cyndy and cospeaker Rad Lazic will build a curb inlet as an example in class.

Are you up to the challenge?

AU Virtual 2010: Can’t Make It to Vegas? Join us!

November 30–December 1, 2010.

Registration Is Open!

Can't make it to the AU 2010 Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas this year? Autodesk University has you covered—from anywhere in the world.

Autodesk University Virtual 2010 will broadcast high-quality, relevant, expert-led, live streaming and on-demand classes and keynotes right to your desktop. These classes are recorded especially for this event, and AU Virtual instructors are drawn from the same pool of high-caliber professionals who present at Autodesk University 2010 in Las Vegas.

Register for the AU Virtual Premier Pass for Only $139!

AU 2010 conference attendees are automatically registered for AU Virtual, and Autodesk Subscription customers, Autodesk Student Community members, and Autodesk employees can register for free.

Register Now!

Here are some of the Civil Engineering related lecture style classes that we chose for their broad appeal and fantastic, expert instruction!

CV240-2V and CV232-1V Open Pipes: A Look Inside AutoCAD® Civil 3D® Pipes with Scott Kent, PE

CV232-2V and CV238-2V Weather the Storm: AutoCAD® Civil 3D® and Autodesk® Storm and Sanitary Analysis with Matthew Anderson, PE

CV312-1V and CV320-2V AutoCAD® Civil 3D® Subscription Advantage Pack with James Wedding, PE

CV320-1V and CV334-1V AutoCAD® Civil 3D® and Infrastructure Modeling Solutions: Practically with Jack Strongitharm

There is also a large selection of classes in Spanish and Portuguese, and additional related virtual sessions for infrastructure.

I will write more about another type of virtual class- Product Clinics- tomorrow. You definitely won’t want to miss those!

AU 2010: Civil Infrastructure Hands-On Labs

You won’t want to miss out on our lineup of lab classes this year. We did our best to select topics we knew would be popular and informative. We also selected instructors that we were sure would deliver quality sessions and terrific handouts.

We’ve encouraged the instructors to set up the labs as time to explore models, learn some new technology and get your feet wet. Take this chance to dig into a product or tool that you haven’t seen yet.

Labs fill quickly, so do not delay! Register today!

1. Heard about LandXplorer but have no idea where to begin?

Sign up for CV234-2L Introduction to Autodesk LandXplorer. What does it do? Is it really that easy to build city models like Karen shows in this video, or Lynda demonstrates in this video? Join Lynda Sharkey, Autodesk Technical Marketing Manager, for this lab where you will have a chance to see how your GIS data, design data and more can be brought together in powerful ways.

2. I’ve talked a lot about Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis, but perhaps you’d like to hear more from the man behind the product (former StormNET). Chris Maeder, MS, PE will be leading CV220-1L Introduction to Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis

3. Last year, we introduced QTO tools for Civil 3D. I posted a youtube video showing some of the features. Are you using them? Why not? Need some help getting started? Highly-rated speaker Robert Gadbaw is teaching this popular lab twice. CV223-5L and CV427-1L are both An Introduction to Quantity Takeoff Tools with AutoCAD® Civil 3D®.

4. Sending some of your “new guys” to Autodesk University? Or maybe some architects in your group need some cross training in Civil 3D just so they know what it is all about? How about the managers? Louisa Holland (famous for her work at Civil 3D for Beginners and co-author for next year’s Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D text) will give new users a chance to get their hands on the model in CV327-5L AutoCAD® Civil 3D® for Beginners.

5. Where can I get started with Navisworks? I need Navisworks training for Civil 3D! These are two of the most popular phrases I hear on a daily basis. Join the ever patient, entertaining and informative Angel Espinoza for CV330-1L My Model Management Methods W/O Madness: AutoCAD® Civil 3D® and Autodesk® Navisworks® 

 

6. Looking to get some more information about customization? Isaac Rodriguez, one of the coolest developers I know at Autodesk, is teaching CP220-1L Interoperability of an AutoCAD® Civil 3D® .NET Application and Associative Surfaces COM API 

7. Do you work with Revit Structure and Civil 3D, or maybe you’ve pulled down the Civil 3D Bridge Extension from labs and just aren’t sure how to get started? Sign up for Steven Costa’s SE433-3L Bridging the Gap Between AutoCAD® Civil 3D® and Autodesk® Revit® Structure 

 

Get the New Deal at AU 2010 with James Wedding

James got a little jealous that Peter Thomson sent me a video before he could. He had been busy working on his campaign buttons yesterday, but today he managed to send me a video to promote his two Vault Collaboration with Civil 3D classes.

 

I love this video. The bar has been raised, AU speakers!

CV427-4P Collaborating Civilly 

CAD managers and partners looking to develop a better use of the Autodesk Vault solution in their AutoCAD Civil engineering environment

Class Description

In this class, we will explore using AutoCAD® Civil 3D® in an Autodesk® Vault Collaboration environment. Moving beyond the basics of checking drawings in and out, we will explore life cycles, security models, distributed project teams, and planning to pull it all together. Designed for the AutoCAD Civil 3D user working in a larger environment, Autodesk Vault Collaboration will be the focus of this class.

Key Learning

• Understanding Autodesk Vault product levels
• Working with data categories
• Working with document life cycles
• Moving data through the Autodesk Vault solution
• Understanding roles and users in Autodesk Vault

DM430-3U Collaborating Civilly, The Discussion
This is your chance to get up close and personal with James and members of the Data Management Team. The follow up discussion to Collaborating Civilly, we'll get a chance to discuss Autodesk® Vault Collaboration, AutoCAD® Civil 3D®, Data Shortcuts, and all the various ways you can pull your team together. Bring your ideas and your solutions to this open discussion focused on team work and AutoCAD Civil 3D users.

If you are a speaking on a civil, utility or related topic, make a quick video or send me some screen captures- I would love to highlight your class!

Finding Civil at Autodesk University 2010

If you are overwhelmed trying to pick your classes for Autodesk University 2010, take a deep breath. I am here to help.

For those of us who are interested in civil engineering and related industries, most of your classes will be clustered under these three tracks.

Infrastructure Power Track

A somewhat logical sequence of classes that builds from planning, through conceptual and preliminary design, surveying, detailed design, documentation, data management and more. We worked hard to make sure the instructors have a good knowledge “under the hood” of each topic. You will get practical information on using the tools, real workflow scenarios and details about how each piece of the program works.

For example, Deep Dive into Corridor Modeling features Chakri Gavini and Nick Zeeben as instructors. It’s a rare chance to tap into these two Manchester based corridor minds.

Civil Infrastructure

This is the main track for Civil 3D, but also features civil related classes on Landxplorer, Map 3D, Topobase, Navisworks, Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis and more.

Utilities and Telecommunications

You’ll want to look for planning, water and utility classes in this area, such as CV223-4 Using Autodesk® Storm and Sanitary Analysis on Large Stormwater Projects with Tim Olson and UT220-1 Sewer Master Planning with AutoCAD® Map 3D and Autodesk® Storm and Sanitary Analysis Extension with Dan Leighton.

Some of the tracks to look under for Civil Interest classes:

Collaboration and Data Management: Vault, Vault Collaboration

Construction and Real Estate: Navisworks, Buzzsaw, more

Customization and Programming: Civil 3D API

Design Leadership : Dan Philbrick and Dave Simeone

Design Visualization: Civil Visualization (Dynamite VSP)

Structural Design and Engineering: Civil Bridge Extension

AU 2010: Down the Drain with Peter Thomson

You might remember me mentioning my friend Peter Thomson of MWH in New Zealand. He’s one of my favorite email pen pals! I saw him teach at Civil 3D University in Auckland last year and I was impressed by his knowledge of the software and how he works with labels and styles that really make a big impact.

Peter is teaching at AU this year, and he sent me a video that gives you a bit of a preview of his class. Check it out!

CV333-2P Down the Drain with AutoCAD® Civil 3D® Pipes: Getting Started with Company Standards and Smart Ideas 

Class Audience

Those who are tasked with building an effective AutoCAD Civil 3D template for pipes for their company

Class Description

This class covers top tips for getting started with pipe networks in AutoCAD Civil 3D. The class will take you though some dos and don'ts for setting company standards, application of command settings, presentation of data for company consistency, defining a company naming system for all pipe network elements, settling on a company "way of doing things", designing a range of company styles, building a company catalog, creating a parts list, precooking settings in empty networks, creating networks demonstration, manipulating pipes in profile views, force mains, and a myriad of top tips to help you avoid common pitfalls in creating a company template for Civil 3D pipes. And we'll have some fun along the way!

Key Learning

• Build a template for a workplace for pipes and learn some tricks and concepts to do this effectively
• Set company rules for use of pipes
• Learn about styles for pipes
• How to use command settings and styles to use Civil 3D pipes effectively
• Understand the power of a well-constructed template and learning tools associated with a template for staff training

Prerequisite Software

Attendees should be familiar with creation and manipulation of alignments,surfaces and profile views in Civil 3D

More about Peter:

Peter Thomson on Pipes

Civil 3D and a New Zealand Airport

Using a Pipe Network Tools to Create a Rising Main

If you are a speaking on a civil, utility or related topic, make a quick video or send me some screen captures- I would love to highlight your class!