CAD/GIS Integration and Autodesk LandXplorer at AU2010

Are you struggling with CAD/GIS data integration? Well, if enrollments for my two AU2010 workshops (see blog) on this topic are any indication, it seems that you’re not alone. Data integration is a hot topic!

In fact, when you throw BIM and large-scale city and infrastructure models into the mix, the data integration issues can become overwhelming – especially if you don’t have the right plan or the right tools.

• How do you get the big picture when you need to aggregate CAD and GIS data, wireframes and building models, surfaces and aerial photos?
• How do you analyze and visualize this data in 3D quickly and efficiently?

If these questions resonate with you then check out Autodesk LandXplorer. I’ve blogged about Autodesk LandXplorer previously. But why not register for an Autodesk LandXplorer class while at Autodesk University?

For example, Dan Campbell of the City of Vancouver is delivering a session (CV220-3P) entitled “Claiming New Territory with Autodesk LandXplorer”. I’ve seen Dan Campbell present numerous times. His sessions are always informative, entertaining and filled with lots of eye-candy.

You also don’t want to miss the hands-on lab (CV234-27) being led by Lynda Sharkey of Autodesk. Her lab is an introduction to Autodesk LandXplorer. Oh and be sure to check out the hilarious promo video for her class.

CAD and GIS Integration Workshop at AU2010

If CAD and GIS data integration issues continue to plague your organization, if you’re frustrated by working with unstructured CAD files, if you’re perplexed by rigid GIS data models, if you’re looking for easy ways to add CAD data to your GIS databases, or if you're bewildered by the many obstacles to CAD/GIS integration then my CAD and GIS integration workshop may be for you.

This year, at Autodesk University (AU2010), I am delighted to be facilitating two Unconference Sessions entitled, “The Billion Dollar Opportunity: A Workshop on CAD/GIS Integration”. These workshops are aimed at engineers, surveyors, architects, CAD and GIS professionals, and anyone interested in the CAD/GIS integration issue. Anticipated discussion topics will include:

• Drivers for CAD/GIS integration
• CAD/GIS integration scenarios
• Approaches for addressing CAD/GIS integration issues

Note that these workshops fill quickly (the first one is already full). So, if you missed the opportunity to register for my first session (Class ID: CV319-3U), try registering for my repeat session (Class ID: CV220-7U).

But don’t wait; I fully expect the second session to fill too.

See you at AU!

A Cultural Shift in the GIS Industry

In honor of GIS Day 2010, my colleagues Neal Niemiec, Pete Southwood and I have created an on-demand webcast that highlights Building Information Modeling (BIM) and its impact on the geospatial community.

If you’ve never heard of BIM, you’re not alone. Until recently, BIM has been the domain of architects and building owners. However, the application of BIM has expanded. BIM is now being embraced by municipalities, utilities, transportation departments, campuses and others with an interest in infrastructure; it’s not just about buildings anymore.

A Cultural Shift

BIM is creating a cultural shift in the GIS industry. Geospatial professionals know the power of GIS but many have little knowledge or experience with BIM. Increasingly, geospatial professionals are being asked to integrate BIM models with their GIS data. The task is often a struggle as they attempt to combine the data without losing valuable information. As a result, workflow suffers which compromises efficiency, affects decision making, and impacts data accuracy and currency.

An improved understanding of BIM can help overcome these challenges and ensure that BIM models and geospatial data are integrated in a manner that respects both design and GIS requirements.

If CAD and GIS are the Tools, BIM is the Toolbox

BIM is an integrated process that lets you explore a project’s physical and functional characteristics digitally, before it’s built. Again, BIM is not just about buildings; it’s information modeling for the built environment. As such, BIM encompasses CAD and GIS disciplines by combining model-based design with information and analysis.

BIM is multidisciplinary. It combines the complexity of both built and natural environments. It applies to municipal, transportation, utilities, as well as, campus style environments such as education, health care and airport facilities.

Access this on-demand webcast:

• Learn what BIM is and why it’s of importance to the geospatial professional.
• Discover how BIM helps improve CAD/GIS data integration workflows.
• See how intelligent model-based design helps promote “GIS Ready” data.
• Learn how BIM streamlines analysis, visualization and the ability to accurately predict performance, appearance and cost.
• Discover how BIM improves sharing of digital design information, geospatial data, infrastructure models and other documentation among staff and project stakeholders.
• Learn how BIM helps extend your GIS asset information into the design/build process to better coordinate with architects, engineers, contractors and others.
• Learn how to leverage BIM throughout construction, operation and maintenance.
• Discover how BIM helps you deliver projects faster, more economically and with reduced environmental impact.
• Learn how BIM reduces risk through a better understanding of a project’s physical, social and economic impact before breaking ground.

Follow this link to access the on-demand webcast and learn more about BIM for the geospatial professional:

http://www.autodesk.com/bimforgis

Geospatial Sessions at AU2010

I’ve been looking forward to Autodesk University (AU2010) for a whole year. The event is being held November 30 – December 2, 2010 and that’s only a few short weeks away. My excitement is definitely building. With 600 topics and 400 speakers to choose from and only 3 days to take it all in, I always find it a challenge deciding on which sessions to attend. Usually, I choose topics with a geospatial slant and this year is no exception. Check out the list I’ve compiled below of great geospatial sessions being offered at Autodesk University this year. These sessions offer a wonderful mix of tips, processes, strategies and new ideas for working with design and geospatial data. The topics are varied and cover planning, design, construction and maintenance using AutoCAD Map 3D, Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk LandXplorer, Autodesk Topobase and more.

UT220-2: A Metadata to Remember: The Importance of Metadata Management for Infrastructure Utility Companies

Speaker: Anthony Neal, Senior Consultant, Autodesk

UT220-1: Sewer Master Planning with AutoCAD® Map 3D and Autodesk® Storm and Sanitary Analysis Extension

Speaker: Dan Leighton, Principal Consultant, DL Consulting

UT223-1U: Autodesk Solutions Add Valuable Situational Awareness for Utility Operations

Speaker: Doug Laslo, Utility Industry Customer Success Manager, Autodesk

UT234-1: Solving Spatial Problems in a CAD-Driven GIS for Telephone Companies

Speaker: Tim Jones, GIS Supervisor, Ponderosa Telephone

CV319-2: Air Force Civil Engineering's Decision to Use AutoCAD® Map for Its GIS Solution

Speaker: Nathan Jaworski, Engineering Contingency Instructor, Red Horse

UT319-2: Optimizing Water/Wastewater Utility Drafting Workflows Using AutoCAD® Map 3D & Autodesk® MapGuide

Speaker: Sean Dingman, Project Manager, Websoft Developers Inc

GS327-1: Spatial Databases with AutoCAD®, AutoCAD Map 3D, and Autodesk® MapGuide®

Speaker: Gordon Luckett, GIS Consultant, Arrow Geomatics Inc.

UT330-1: AutoCAD® Civil 3D® GIS: Migrating Pipe Network Data for Infrastructure Projects

Speaker: Brian Lopez, EMEA Channel Services Program Manager, Autodesk

GS330-1: VanMap, Autodesk® MapGuide® Enterprise, and the 2010 Winter Olympics: A Host City Tale

Speaker: Jonathan Mark, GIS and Topobase Support Manager, City of Vancouver

UT333-2: MidCoast Water: A Case Study on Implementing Autodesk® Topobase™ Client and Web

Speaker: Daniel Watson, ANZ Consulting Practice Lead, Autodesk ANZ

GS416-1: Moving to SQL Spatial: The Whole Nine Yards at Grand Forks

Speaker: Adam Jonasson, GIS Coordinator, City of Grand Forks

UT416-1: Water Companies Integrate CAD and GIS with AutoCAD® Map 3D

Speaker: Anja de Clercq, CAD Coordinator, VMW

GS422-1: Thousands of Raster Files in MapGuide: How Do I Make It Work?

Speaker: Jeremy Robson, Technical Architect, Autodesk

UT430-1: Integrating Autodesk® Topobase™ with Outage Management at the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities

Speaker: Matthew Kreig, Supervisor of Mapping & Drafting. Kansas City Board of Public Utilities

UT220-3U: Migrating to Autodesk® Topobase™ Electric: A Real World Experience

Speaker: Andy Morsell, Consultant, Autodesk, Inc.

UT223-2: Autodesk® Topobase™ Integration Blueprints

Speaker: Pat Byrne, Subject Matter Expert – Utilities, Autodesk

UT231-2: Leveraging Geospatial Solutions for Maximum Benefit at Electric Utilities

Speaker: Allen Beaudette, Electrical Engineer, GL Noble Denton

CP234-1: Autodesk® MapGuide® as a Services Platform: Integrating with Other Applications

Speaker: Giulio Pagan, Senior Consultant, Autodesk

CV319-3U: The Billion Dollar Opportunity: A Workshop on CAD/GIS Integration

Speaker: Michael Schlosser, Geospatial Subject Matter Expert. Autodesk

UT330-2: The Utility Plan-Design-Manage Workflow: A Global Tour of Industry Trends, Projects, and Innovation

Speaker: Alan Saunders, Sr. Industry Manager, Autodesk

UT422-2: From AutoCAD® Map 3D to Autodesk® Topobase™ and Autodesk Topobase Web for Gas Utilities

Speaker: Deeter Smith, GIS Administrator, Okaloosa Gas District

CV223-4: Using Autodesk® Storm and Sanitary Analysis on Large Stormwater Projects

Speaker: Tim Olson, Water Reousrces Design Engineer, Bolton & Menk, Inc.

CV228-1: Autodesk® Topobase™ at the London 2012 Olympics: Managing the Transport Infrastructure

Speaker: Mike Chatterton, Information Knowledge Manager, KBR / Olympic Delivery Authority

UT228-1: Follow the Lines: Best Practices for Utility Projects at the City of Chur, Switzerland

Speaker: Daniel von Kaenel, Delivery Manager, Autodesk

UT330-3U: Process and Information Flow within the Utility Asset Management Life Cycle

Speaker: Kevin Miller, Utility Industry SME, Autodesk

CV416-2: AutoCAD® Civil 3D® and Infrastructure Modeling Solutions: Practically

Speaker: Neil Brooker, Technical Sales Manager, Autodesk

UT419-2U: Risk Management for Utility Industry Projects: The Key to Success?

Speaker: Shashi Verma, Project Manager, Autodesk

UT422-1: Streamlining the Design through Asset Management Workflow at Anchorage Municipal Light & Power

Speaker: Chris Nailer, Technical Consulting Manager, Autodesk

UT433-1: Integrating Autodesk® Topobase™ with Infor™ Hansen Asset Management

Speaker: Joe Chandler, Technical Consulting Manager, Autodesk

CV220-3P: Claiming New Territory with Autodesk® LandXplorer®

Speaker: Dan Campbell, Manager – Graphics & Communication, City of Vancouver

CV223-3P: Raster Images, Elevation Models, and Point Clouds in AutoCAD® Map 3D and AutoCAD Civil 3D®

Speaker: Nathan Moore, GeoSpatial Support Analyst, Autodesk

UT228-2: Implementing an Enterprise-Class Telecommunications Network Design Tool

Speaker: Casey van der Grient, VP Business Development. SPATIALinfo

CV231-1: Slope Stability Analysis with AutoCAD® Civil 3D®

Speaker: Donal McMoreland, Civil Applications Engineer, amicus technology

CV234-4: FDO: CAD's Best Friend

Speaker: Gary Rosen, Regional Civil Sales Director, Carlson Software

CV319-1P: Understanding the Spatial Analysis Tools: Buffers, Overlays, and Topologies in AutoCAD® Map 3D

Speaker: neal niemiec, Geospatial Technical Specialist, Autodesk

UT322-2: Using and Optimizing Storm and Sanitary Analysis 2011 in a Consulting Engineering Environment

Speaker: Charles Ogden, QA Analyst, Autodesk – Contractor

CV327-1: AutoCAD® Civil 3D®: The Ten Commandments of Survey Data

Speaker: Creg Dieziger, Senior Engineering Technician, Morrison Maierle, Inc.

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

Speaker: Richard Sincovec, President, Quux Software

APICP330-2: Build Powerful Workflows Using the AutoCAD® Map 3D 2011 Workflow Framework

Speaker: Gopinath Taget Raghunathan, Developer Consultant, Autodesk

CV330-1P: Surface Modeling and Analysis Using Real-World Data in AutoCAD® Civil 3D®

Speaker: Stefanie Self, Civil Engineer, Office of Surface Mining

CP228-1: Autodesk® MapGuide® MapAgent: The Secret Renderer

Speaker: Jeremy Robson, Technical Architect. Autodesk