BIM on the Rocks

Join Jerry Bartels For Accelerate Survey Workflows Thursday 2-23

I always enjoy learning something new from Jerry. Here he is teaching Karen how to turn on her new laptop in Manchester last year. (Which reminds me that I still love the idea of an Autodesk Reality Show called “Technical Specialist Swap” )

There is still time to sign up for Jerry’s webcast tomorrow!

Webcast - Accelerate Survey Workflows

Date & Time: Thursday, February 23, 2012, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. PST

The techniques for survey are easy to implement, and survey data can be seamlessly transferred from field data applications into virtual design and construction models for display, reduction, management, and design. In this webcast presentation, civil engineering and survey professionals will learn how quickly and easily they can implement the survey specific functionality within the Autodesk infrastructure design solutions. Join us and learn how to accelerate your survey workflows to increase productivity and profitability.

Jerry Bartels, Autodesk Technical Specialist, will be your host at this webcast.  Here’s what he’ll cover:

• Site Investigation
• Leveraging GIS Resources
• Data Collection
• Importing into AutoCAD Civil 3D
• Survey Tools
• Annotation
• Collaborating with Others

If you love learning from Jerry as much as I do, check out some of these other resources:

Why Would Visualization Matter On Government Projects? (The post where I compare him to Papa Smurf)

CI5356 (from AU 2011)
It's About Time: Migrating from AutoCAD® Land Desktop to AutoCAD Civil 3D®

CV234-3P (from AU 2010)
"Field to Finish": Sculpting a Better Figure

CE News Webcast: BIM and Sustainability for Roadway Drainage Design

If you work in a firm where the project managers don’t quite understand what BIM means for your road, highway and drainage work, this is the webcast you’ll want them to see.

Round everyone up on October 21, 2010 at 1:00PM EDT for BIM and Sustainability for Roadway Drainage Design with James Wedding, P.E.

This webcast won’t go into technical nitty gritty- it is focused on understanding how a change in process can bring more value to your designs. What are your clients demanding? Who is getting the work these days? Can you give more value for the same effort?

If that isn’t enough to persuade them to tune in, you could mention that watching the webcast live earns continuing education credits. (See www.stagnitomedia.com/cedu/ for more information.)

Looking for a webcast geared towards Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis specifically? Check out this archived CE News webcast with Chris Maeder, M.S., P.E.

Automation Innovations in Stormwater Modeling

Automation innovations in Autodesk’s recently released water resource engineering software allows civil engineers to more efficiently and economically complete stormwater analysis and design projects. This presentation showcases a stormwater project in which a major engineering firm was able to complete a 30 square mile metropolitan stormwater management plan in half of the time that it would normally have taken.

⇒ Click here to view the archived presentation!
⇒ NEW! Click here to view the Water Infrastructure Design & Management Whitepaper!

For more information about Autodesk products and drainage:

BIM on the Rocks posts about Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis

Technical orientations to Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis in a youtube playlist

Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis Users Guide (pdf - 37237Kb)

Autodesk Stormwater Discussion Group

Join me at the AEC Virtual Event: 10-5-2010

I really haven’t been doing a very good job reminding you about upcoming events. I left my house sometime in mid-August for what appeared to be a “quick meeting in Utah”. Six weeks later, I find myself back in my office surrounded by piles and piles of unopened packages, inches of dust and an empty sugar-free Jolly Rangers bag. My kids have turned my workstation into a full time Reader Rabbit and Webkinz arcade. It’s time to get out my machete, tame my overgrown spider plant and get back into the normal routine.

The good thing about the AEC Virtual Event is that it is… virtual. It’s not like I am here saying- oh yeah, and don’t forget to fly to San Francisco tomorrow! You certainly could tell the boss it was in San Francisco, I won’t rat on you. Just be sure to pack your bikini and a fleece jacket, that SFO weather always surprises me.

Here are a few highlights of tomorrow’s event

(sign up at http://aec.experience.autodesk.com):

Stormwater Management Design Using AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 and Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis with Dana Probert, P.E. (that’s me!)

In this session, we'll design a storm water management system for a commercial site. We'll build upon data from the drainage planning study and show how to do a surface analysis and determine drainage catchments in Civil 3D®, model a pipe network in Civil 3D and then share the pipe network and catchment information with Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis. Once the system has been refined, we'll update the Civil 3D model. Join this session and learn how to do a surface analysis and determine drainage catchments in Civil 3D, design a drainage system in Civil 3D, share pipe network and catchment information with SSA, perform analysis in SSA, create Reports and update the Civil 3D model.

Communicating Design Intent with Visualization for Roads and Highways with Eddie Perlberg

Every design has a story to tell, and design visualization is the key to telling that story in a compelling fashion. Whether you are taking designs through review and approval processes or soliciting public comment, impressive design visualizations can make a difference. In this session, we'll use a road design project to show attendees to use AutoCAD® Civil 3D® along with Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design to validate designs, to communicate design intent to project stakeholders, to win more work for an organization.http://aec.experience.autodesk.com

Avoiding Detours in your Civil 3D Workflow with James Wedding, P.E.

In this session, we'll drive around the Civil 3D product and Subscription Advantage Pack to explore new tools and old tricks to making the most of your design software. We'll explore turning analysis, managing styles, sharing data, and improvements to point functionality. We'll also explore a grab-bag of James' favorite Civil 3D tools that you're probably ignoring. Join this session and learn how to perform simple turning analysis for your development projects, swap road design pieces on the fly without rebuilding the entire model, overwrite your Civil 3D styles from a managed template, share your design data using Autodesk's Project Butterfly and use the Drive tool to explore your site.

Take your Planning to the Next Level with AutoCAD MAP 3D with Michael Schlosser, P. Eng., GISP

Effective planning is essential to successful projects. Whether finding the best site for a new building; planning a new corridor for a transmission line or transportation project; or developing a master plan for a college campus, city, or utility network, it all starts with developing a thorough understanding of existing conditions and evaluating potential alternatives. Join Michael Scholosser, Autodesk's infrastructure subject matter expert, as he demonstrates how AutoCAD® Map 3D helps AEC professionals easily access, integrate, and analyze geospatial information to better plan and evaluate future projects. You will learn how you can access many types of geospatial data formats including information about existing roads, utilities, land use, and environmental impact. You will learn how to integrate that information with preliminary designs to better evaluate your project in a geographic, data-rich context. And you will learn how to conduct geospatial analysis based on this information to help inform critical design decisions much earlier in the process. Finally, you will learn how Map 3D can be used to develop the exhibits that are critical to building stakeholder approval for your projects.

 

Also check out:

The Power of BIM: Smoother Construction with Autodesk Navisworks

AutoCAD 2011: The Top 10 Things You Need to Know

Increase Productivity with CAD Interoperability

and tons more!

Civil 3D with Storm and Sanitary Analysis Webcast Thursday 9-9-2010

I spent my summer digging through piles of work, harassing James everywhere from Park City to Waltham, and helping Panorama with her first State Fair entries. One of the contests was a LEED certified gingerbread dwelling.

We’re back to school now, so I suppose I need to get into the habit of slapping something up here once in awhile instead of getting my social media fix on twitter.

Tomorrow, Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 1PM EDT, I will be leading a webcast on using Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis with Civil 3D.

Water Infrastructure Design Using AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011

Thursday, September 9, 2010

In this session, we'll take the recommendations from the drainage planning study presentation to design a stormwater management system for a neighborhood. We'll build upon data from the drainage planning study and show how to do a surface analysis and determine drainage catchments in Civil 3D, design a drainage system in Civil 3D, share pipe network and catchment information, and more! > Register Now

 

If you are interested, I did one a few weeks ago on using Map 3D and Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis.

Water Infrastructure Planning Using AutoCAD Map 3D 2011

Thursday, August 19, 2010

In this session, we'll use Map 3D 2011 along with Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis Stand-Alone to do regional planning for a citywide stormwater drainage system. See how you can aggregate data from multiple sources including SHP and raster imagery using Map 3D 2011, share data with Storm and Sanitary Analysis to build analysis model, run simulations and analysis in Storm and Sanitary Analysis, and more! > Watch Now

 

Also reference:

Technical orientations to Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis in a youtube playlist

Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis Users Guide (pdf - 37237Kb)

Autodesk Stormwater Discussion Group

Excel Reports from Storm and Sanitary Analysis

Contributing Subbasins and Links in Storm and Sanitary Analysis

Civil 3D Pipe Networks to Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis

If you missed the webcasts for SSA and Civil Visualization…

Over the past few weeks, some really good CE News webcasts were held.

June 15, 2010
Water Infrastructure Design & Management Webcast Series, Part 3
Automation Innovations in Stormwater Modeling
Automation innovations in Autodesk’s recently released water resource engineering software allows civil engineers to more efficiently and economically complete stormwater analysis and design projects. This presentation showcases a stormwater project in which a major engineering firm was able to complete a 30 square mile metropolitan stormwater management plan in half of the time that it would normally have taken.

This project incorporated wetlands, ponds, streams, and stormwater pipe and ditch networks, and the stormwater management plan had to accommodate 10 and 100-year storms and comply with city, county, state and federal EPA standards. This project was completed within 5 weeks, using a variety of CAD and GIS source data to construct the model. The final model was turned over to the city stormwater utility department to use on future projects, particularly in evaluating the impact of new developments on existing structures.
⇒ Click here to view the archived presentation!

June 10, 2010
CE/RAI Transportation Webcast Series, Part 2
Visualizing Civil Designs with the Power of BIM
Every design has a story to tell, and design visualization is the key to telling that story in a compelling fashion. Whether you are taking designs through review and approval processes or soliciting public comment, impressive design visualizations can make a difference.

And, working in a BIM environment makes using visualization as part of the design process much more accessible. Through project examples, learn how design visualization plays a role throughout a project from exploring project alternatives, to validating designs, to communicating design intent to project stakeholders, to winning more work for your organization.
⇒ Click here to view the archived presentation!

It took me a few minutes to figure out how to launch the archives because I don’t have my glasses on. In case you have the same problem… Just click the “Launch Presentation” button at the bottom of the landing page.

Learn more about how to download Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis, including videos, here.

Learn more about download Autodesk Civil Visualization Solution, including videos, here.

Webcast on Storm and Sanitary Analysis (Former StormNET) in Action: June 15, 2010

I had the chance to talk with Tim Olson from Bolton and Menk in Mankato, Minnesota month or so ago about how they used StormNET (now Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis) to help with a stormwater plan for the City of Ramsey, Minnesota. I wrote about how Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis can help with citywide drainage studies here.

Chris Maeder, PE, MS (formerly of BOSS International) will be hosting a CE News webcast on June 15, 2010 featuring Tim speaking about the City of Ramsey project.

Register for the CE News Automation Innovations in Stormwater Modeling webcast here.

From the CE News description:

Automation innovations in Autodesk’s recently released water resource engineering software allows civil engineers to more efficiently and economically complete stormwater analysis and design projects. This presentation showcases a stormwater project in which a major engineering firm was able to complete a 30 square mile metropolitan stormwater management plan in half of the time that it would normally have taken. This project incorporated wetlands, ponds, streams, and stormwater pipe and ditch networks, and the stormwater management plan had to accommodate 10 and 100-year storms and comply with city, county, state and federal EPA standards. This project was completed within 5 weeks, using a variety of CAD and GIS source data to construct the model. The final model was turned over to the city stormwater utility department to use on future projects, particularly in evaluating the impact of new developments on existing structures.

Last Chance to Register for Autodesk Virtual Event

You might have seen my posts about the Autodesk Seize the Opportunity Virtual Event on April 19, including the one where I had some screen captures from Jerry’s session called On the Road to Success: Autodesk Solutions for Roads and Highways.

The event is Monday, April 19, 2010- so if you haven’t already registered, head over and register now.

If you are looking for more detail, here is a pdf of the full Seize the Opportunity Event agenda.

Learn more about AutoCAD Civil 3D at www.autodesk.com/civil3d.

Snippets from the Upcoming Seize the Opportunity Virtual Event

Last week I wrote about the Autodesk Seize the Opportunity Virtual Event on April 19. On Friday, I was talking to Jerry and he shared some more details about his session called On the Road to Success: Autodesk Solutions for Roads and Highways. The session is focused on using Civil 3D for a road project, but also incorporates tools from Map 3D and Navisworks to tell the entire story.

(As a side note, don’t you love this rendering of an interchange? I’m not sure what kind of interchange it is, but I’ll bet you could find it at The Infrastructurist in their posts Don't Pluck the Clover Leaf or What's a Double Trumpet? (A Field Guide to Interchanges). That image was created from a Civil 3D model that the Benelux Users group built for us. We call those type of images “Heroic Imagery”. I need to remember to write up a blog post about the making of heroic imagery. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll get a headache.)

Jerry will show how to use tools from Map 3D, Civil 3D and Navisworks for planning and design.

I am really glad to see more examples of using geospatial data in infrastructure planning. Jerry will show using data about level of service, accidents, flooding and more to identify locations for potential intersection improvements. I think what is important to keep in mind is that even if you don’t have data readily available in your area with traffic or transportation information, it’s pretty straightforward to combine graphical data from raster imagery or CAD files with traffic data and reports to make your own Map 3D layers. The power you get for exhibit creation and analysis is worth the time invested. Better yet- next time you hire a traffic firm to do a TIS, ask them how they create their exhibits and work together on finding a way to keep the data alive.

More of us need to spend time in that planning and conceptual design space. I wrote a post a few weeks ago about Conceptual Road Design Ideas where I created a simple corridor style to show the extents of a roadway grading. What about combining that with more geospatial data? For example, I could extract the boundary from my corridor surface and convert it into a Map 3D object. Then I combine that with parcel information, land use information, flood zones, etc. and be working up reports on who will be impacted or what kind of risk might be involved with a given design alternative. There are some neat new features for Map 3D 2011- check out Murph’s blog post for some commentary.

Jerry is also planning on showing an intersection model, and highlighting new features for roads and highways- such as corridor improvements.

By combining the Civil 3D model with a point cloud of an overpass bridge, Jerry will do some clearance checks. You can also use point clouds for clash detection in Navisworks.

Karen did a neat demo using this same point cloud right in Civil 3D. She creates an elevation analysis with the bridge scan to check for height requirements.

Jerry delivers a great presentation- always full of the right combination of technical how-to and thought provoking ideas. Register today for Autodesk Seize the Opportunity Virtual Event on April 19.

It’s a Little Like Second Life mixed with BIM and a Flip Camera

I have to laugh when people are trying to explain an event or a new website and they say things like…

“It’s like a combination of Starbucks, Facebook and a box of crackers.” or “It’s like Twitter, only you access it through your microwave.”

I just signed up for the Autodesk Seize the Opportunity Virtual Event on April 19. It’s not just webcasts, but also a virtual conference complete with booths and exhibit hall. I didn’t do it last year, but from what I understand you “walk around” and interact with people at the booths.

Jerry Bartels will be conducting a session called On the Road to Success: Autodesk Solutions for Roads and Highways. The session is focused on using Civil 3D for a road project, but also incorporates tools from Map 3D and Navisworks to tell the entire story.

Another session that caught my eye was Better Planning for Better Designs with AutoCAD Map 3D.

If you are looking for an “in person” event, you can search for one near you here.

There is also a give away for a flip camera. That could be fun.

For every webcast, chat and booth you visit, or just for completing a quick survey, you'll earn points that qualify you to win a FLIP Video Camcorder.

• 25 points: Attend a webcast, chat or booth.
• 50 points: Complete our survey*.

Every 100 points you earn, enters you in our random drawing to win a new FLIP video camcorder.

*One survey per attendee.

Here is a list of sessions from the event on April 19, 2010. Register today!

On-Demand

Take Control with AutoCAD LT 2011 Software

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. PT (11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET)

Go Beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping with Autodesk Inventor 2011

Take Control with AutoCAD Electrical 2011

BIM for Buildings Renovation & Retrofits

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. PT (12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET)

See the Difference: Lynn Allen's AutoCAD 2011 Tips & Techniques

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. PT (12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET)

Accelerate Mechanical Design with AutoCAD Mechanical 2011

Better Planning for Better Designs with AutoCAD Map 3D

Winning More Business with BIM for Construction

North Avenue Post Showcases Autodesk Smoke for Mac OS X (Ends at 10:15 PT)

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT (2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET)

3D Conceptual Design Using AutoCAD 2011 Software

On the Road to Success: Autodesk Solutions for Roads and Highways

Bringing Dragon Age to Life: Digital Actors in an Epic RPG (Ends at 12:15 PT)

12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. PT (3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET)

Getting to Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Buildings

How Click 3X Created Super Bowl E*TRADE Spots 'First Class', 'Lottery', and 'Girlfriend' (Ends at 12:45 PT)

Some Links from Today’s Water/Wastewater Webcast 12-18-2008

Lucy was kind enough to invite me to help with today’s webcast. I promised I would post some links that I mentioned. More on this topic later- it’s a good one- but now I have to go catch up on Christmas preparations and hunker down for a Nor’easter.

My "Tools to Help Layout Sanitary Sewer Pipeline" post featuring some information about Getting the Most Out of Piping in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 (including drawing containing dynamic block I showed briefly)

Navisworks for Wastewater Videos on Youtube

BIM on the Rocks posts about Wastewater

More resources:

Autodesk Water/Wastewater Resource Page

G.C. Wallace Companies Turn to AutoCAD Civil 3D for Wastewater Project

Top 5 Reasons Utilities need AutoCAD Map 3D (pdf)