Showing posts with label AutoCAD Civil 3D. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AutoCAD Civil 3D. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Cadalyst Article on How to Work with Point Clouds

Here's a short post on my latest Cadalyst article. This article focuses on one of my favorite new features in AutoCAD Map 3D 2011: the new point cloud tools for viewing, querying and analyzing 3D laser scanning and LiDAR data sets. I have also posted a video to accompany the article.

Please be sure to check out both the article and the video.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

How to Unlock the Data in your CAD Drawings

Are you using AutoCAD to help plan and manage your infrastructure network? Are you wondering how you can access and better use the information in your AutoCAD drawings? Do you want to be able to analyze your AutoCAD drawings, generate material lists and reports, or reveal new patterns in the data? If so, there is a way with AutoCAD Map 3D – the better AutoCAD for working with your infrastructure data.

With AutoCAD Map 3D you can query your AutoCAD drawings in much the same way that a spreadsheet or database can be queried. For example, with AutoCAD Map 3D, you can query by CAD properties such as color and layer, as well as, by location.

Consider a scenario in which a water utility or municipality is reviewing their watermain replacement program. Cast iron watermains are considered a priority. The AutoCAD drawing containing information about the watermain network must be analyzed to determine the location of the cast iron watermains, as well as, their corresponding lengths and diameters.

To see how this type of analysis can be done, please review the following short video which demonstrates the use of CAD queries in AutoCAD Map 3D.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

How to Add the AutoCAD Menu to AutoCAD Map 3D

AutoCAD Map 3D is built on AutoCAD technology. This powerful combination gives you access to robust AutoCAD design tools for accurately and efficiently creating and maintaining CAD drawings, as well as, geospatial data. However, if you are an AutoCAD user wanting to use AutoCAD Map 3D to access the familiar AutoCAD specific menu commands, toolbars and ribbons, you may be scratching your head trying to find them.

Well, the key is to use workspaces. In AutoCAD and AutoCAD Map 3D, your work environment includes menus, toolbars, ribbons and how they are arranged. Your work environment is saved in a workspace. You can configure a workspace to look and function the way you want and create different workspaces for various tasks. For example, you can setup one workspace for using AutoCAD Map 3D commands and another workspace for using AutoCAD commands.

Here’s how to add the AutoCAD 2010 workspaces to AutoCAD Map 3D 2010.

1. Enter CUI at the command prompt to reveal the Customize User interface dialog.
2. In the Customize User Interface dialog box, click on the Transfer tab.
3. On the Transfer tab, under Customizations in New CUI File, click the Open customization file icon.
4. Navigate to the folder containing the file named acad.cuix. For example, in Windows XP the folder is:

C:\Documents and Settings\\application data\autodesk\autocad map 3d 2010\r18.0\enu\support\

5. Select the file named acad.cuix.
6. Expand Workspaces in both the left and right panes
7. Drag the AutoCAD workspaces from the right pane onto the AutoCAD Map 3D Workspaces in the left pane.
8. Click the save icon to save your changes.
9. Click Apply.
10. Click OK.

Click here for a brief video demonstration of the steps outlined above.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Dispelling the Myths of CAD/GIS Integration

Psst - it's no secret! CAD and GIS technologies have advanced considerably in the last couple of decades. However, in spite of these advancements, there is still an outdated view of GIS software that is closely integrated with CAD technology. Myths regarding the integration of these two technologies also continue to exist. Unfortunately, the perpetuation of these myths can negatively impact data quality, process efficiency and ultimately an organization’s bottom line.

During the last several months, I tweeted using my Twitter name
@engis about the top myths which I feel continue to prevail about today’s CAD in spite of many technological advancements. I have collected these tweets (modified slightly for improved readability) below.

How many of these myths are still prevalent or being perpetuated in your organization?

  • Myth: CAD cannot do geospatial topology.
    Reality: Today’s CAD supports both CAD and GIS topologies including node, network and polygon topology and analysis.

  • Myth: You can’t query a CAD drawing.
    Reality: Today’s CAD supports geospatial queries including both geographic and attribute based filters.

  • Myth: CAD doesn’t do geospatial analysis.
    Reality: Today’s CAD supports topology analysis including overlays, dissolves, buffering, tracing and more.

  • Myth: CAD doesn’t do thematic maps.
    Reality: Today’s CAD does support theming. Stylize points, lines, polygons, text without affecting source data.

  • Myth: CAD only supports simple points, lines and text.
    Reality: Today’s CAD also supports complex GIS features (eg networks, nested polygons, surfaces and more).

  • Myth: CAD is single file, single user.
    Reality: Today’s CAD supports multi-file, multiuser access; object locking; databases; long transactions and more.

  • Myth: CAD doesn’t do 3D surfaces.
    Reality: Today’s CAD supports flood plain analysis, slope analysis, volume calculations, draping, overlays and more.

  • Myth: CAD data is file based.
    Reality: Today’s CAD supports storing data in files, SQL databases and external GIS data repositories like Oracle.

  • Myth: CAD is for creating paper drawings.
    Reality: Today’s CAD merges design and GIS data with outputs to paper, desktop, Internet and mobile.

  • Myth: CAD does not support raster.
    Reality: Today’s CAD supports raster/vector overlays, vectorization, image processing and GIS analysis.

  • Myth: CAD doesn’t understand geographic coordinates.
    Reality: Today’s CAD supports thousands of datum, projection and coordinate systems.

  • Myth: CAD requires you to import/convert other CAD and GIS data.
    Reality: Today’s CAD supports connection to many data formats without import/export and conversion.

Avoid being a secret agent. Please check-out AutoCAD Map 3D and AutoCAD Civil 3D for more information about the reality of today's CAD and it's ability to integrate CAD and GIS data and workflows. Spread the word.


Monday, April 6, 2009

Free Engineering GIS Software for Unemployed

Autodesk, Inc recently announced a new program called the Autodesk Assistance Program. According to Steve Blum, Senior Vice President America's Sales for Autodesk, the program is designed to help the unemployed advance their career during this challenging job market.

Among other things, the program offers:

  • Free software
  • Free online training
One of the software packages offered by Autodesk through this program is AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Recall that in some of my previous
posts, I discussed the need for Engineering GIS. Well, built on top of AutoCAD Map 3D and AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D is a true engineering GIS platform and complies with all five Engineering GIS requirements, namely:
  • Data throughout the lifecycle
  • Native data access
  • Engineering design tools
  • Geospatial tools
  • Accurate renderings
If you are currently unemployed and interested in investing some of your time to retain existing skills or get the new Engineering GIS skills you need, check out the details of this program here or be sure to tell a friend in need.