Autodesk
Company Overview
Founded in 1982, Autodesk develops 2D and 3D design software, as well as project management software, for the manufacturing, construction, and media and entertainment markets. In the construction industry it is known primarily for two software solutions -- AutoCAD and Constructware.
San Rafael, CA
Web: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/home?siteID=123112&id=129446
AutoCAD is a drafting and design program. (CAD stands for computer-aided design.) The newest version of this software is AutoCAD 2009, which introduces features such as the following:
- The Ribbon Interface -- A customizable ribbon that facilitates working between different applications and provides a condensed visual format of command options
- The ViewCube -- An interactive program that rotates solid or surface models in AutoCAD, providing a complete 3D view
- The SteeringWheel -- A customizable tool that contains the orbit, pan, center and zoom commands
- The Action Recorder -- A feature that automates tasks, by recording tasks, text messages, and RFIs
In addition to these features, AutoCAD's new menu browser can review files and examine thumbnail sketches as well as provide file size and file creator. AutoCAD 2009 has the same DWG file format as previous versions and can open files from any software created by Autodesk, according to the vendor. AutoCAD is compatible with Windows Vista, multiple CPU systems, and third-party applications based on the Visual LISP, AutoLISP, VBA, ActiveX and ObjectARX programming languages, the vendor said.
Constructware, which Autodesk acquired in 2006, is a Web-based project management software tool aimed at correcting the inefficiencies caused by poor communication. With Constructware all project data, such as RFIs and transmittals, is stored on a centralized database and accessible through the Internet, providing real-time information and improving communication between project members.
Collaboration and construction administration are also facilitated by a file management program that provides electronic tracking, a secure client-defined structure and automatic reference, or xref, file detection. In addition, risk management is enabled through applications such as an executive dashboard, which analyzes projects at a summary level as well as detailed information and documents. Finally, the exchange of information with any other program is allowed by Autodesk Constructware's data exchange model, which uses the Internet and XML schema. Constructware has an outbox that stores sent data and an inbox to receive data, and the XML-driven middleware is customized to fit the needs of the client, according to the vendor.
Autodesk Constructware works with Microsoft Internet Explorer; it has not been tested on the Mac version of IE, the vendor said. For proper functioning, browsers must support HTML 3.2, tables, cookies, JavaScipt 1.1 and frames. Enabling cookies and ensuring that the browser is not caching pages is also necessary, the vendor said.
Revit Architecture, from Autodesk, is building design software that is optimized for Building Information Modeling (BIM) and is ideal for sustainable design.
Users of Revit Architecture gain insight into their projects with the ability to work in any view and see 3-D designs in fully rendered screens, the vendor said. All changes made throughout a project are automatically updated across all plans, schedules and construction documents, helping to eliminate errors. Additionally, users of this building design software can receive timely feedback on project design, scope, schedule and budget, allowing them to make late-stage changes without getting off track, according to Autodesk.
Revit Architecture features bidirectional associativity. This stores all project data in one place so that, when a change is made to one part of a model, all information is changed correspondingly throughout the model. This building design software also comes with parametric components, which offer graphical systems for design thinking and form making, a swell as a detail library and detailing tools, material takeoff, design visualization, interference check.
Finally, the Revit Building Maker enables users to import conceptual massing from a variety of applications -- including Form-Z, Rhino, Google Sketchup, AutoCAD 2007 and other ACIS and NURBS-based applications -- and turn them into mass objects for design, according to Autodesk.
AutoDesk NavisWorks lets project design and building professionals synchronize their work into a single Building Information Modeling (BIM) plan. This enables team members to share, combine, review and perfect detailed 3D design models, according to Autodesk.
Autodesk NavisWorks makes it easy for users to review projects with measurement tools, fully searchable notes, redlining tools, .NWF reference files, DataTools and the ability to record animated walk-throughs for real-time playback or to be exported as .AVI files, according to the vendor. This BIM software also offers interference detection, point/line based clashing, switchback, audit trail tracks, XML import and export, 4-D construction schedules, schedule linking and the ability to export 4-D simulations, the vendor said. (In a 4-D schedule, the fourth dimension is time.)
NavisWorks is comprised of four products to enable real-time, whole-project views for effective 3-D coordination, 4-D planning, photorealistic visualizations, dynamic stimulation and accurate analysis. The four products streamline workflow by supporting all major 3-D design and laser scan files, by combining models from different formats into a single unified model, and by using real-time navigation tools such as walk, look around, zoom, zoom box, pan, orbit, examine, fly and turntable, the vendor said.
Autodesk NavisWorks Manage provides seamless visualization of all types of models, precise replication of designs, simulation of 4-D construction schedules and clash detection.
Autodesk NavisWorks Simulate is a project review tool ideal for professionals who do not require clash detection capabilities, the vendor said. Simulate offers precise replication of designs and accurate modeling of 4-D construction schedules.
Firms can use NavisWorks Manage and Simulate together to produce project presentations. The features that allow this include the ability to export photorealistic renderings into .AVI animations or still images, a library of more than 1,000 building materials, HDRI lighting, environment backgrounds, real-time shaders, the ability to publish results and ActiveX controls.
Autodesk NavisWorks Review provides users with whole-project model visualization. Users benefit from a central, synchronized environment where all stakeholders can review model designs and contribute to enhance overall quality, according to the vendor.
Finally, Autodesk NavisWorks Freedom is a viewer for files in Autodesk NavisWorks NWD and 3D DWF formats. Freedom is free for NavisWorks users.