The Great BIM versus GIS Debate

Are you a GIS professional convinced that GIS is the technology of choice for mapping and analyzing the world we live in?

Are you an engineer or architect with years of CAD experience confident in your abilities to create cost effective and sustainable designs?

Regardless of which camp (GIS or CAD) that you may be a part of, “The Great BIM versus GIS Debate” is sure to be a lively session at Autodesk University this year.

GIS gives us a way of mapping, analyzing and managing our real world assets within a geospatial context. It gives us a way of integrating and relating seemingly disparate data sets based on geography. GIS is a tremendously useful planning tool that helps provide us with insight into our infrastructure projects in a way that traditional CAD technology cannot.

BIM is similar to GIS in some ways. If you are unfamiliar with BIM as it applies to infrastructure then I encourage you to check out a detailed explanation in my previous blog post. Simply put, BIM is Information Modeling for the Built environment. It’s is a process - not software - a process that lets you explore the physical and functional characteristics of your project digitally, before it’s built. At the heart of BIM is an information model – a model that is used throughout the infrastructure lifecycle – a model that is passed from planning and conceptual design phases to detailed design, construction and then to management phases. As a result, the application of the BIM process can lead to significant time and dollar savings during construction and additional savings throughout the life of the asset as a result of better more sustainable designs.

So, when it comes to supporting the infrastructure lifecycle, which is better? BIM or GIS. Both BIM and GIS have their advantages; both have their supporters.

Well, if you’re unsure about BIM as it applies to GIS or visa-versa, then I encourage you to check out the “The Great BIM versus GIS Debate” at Autodesk University. This panel session will be moderated by Matt Ball (@SpatialSustain). Peter Southwood (@Geo_Pete) and I (@engis) will be opposing each other on behalf of the two camps: GIS and BIM. With what I am sure will be provocative questions from Matt Ball and audience members, Peter and I will feel the heat as we do our best to respond to questions encompassing technology; data accuracy, access, integration and analysis; collaboration and efficiency; and the future of GIS and BIM.

If you are attending Autodesk University, please join us.

What is BIM?

With over 150 sessions either highlighting or referencing BIM at Autodesk University (AU2010), BIM was certainly a popular topic. And now, you probably know that BIM is about using model based designs for better planning, faster visualization and stronger management. But if you’re looking for a brief explanation of what BIM is so that you can share what you’ve learned with your colleagues in a way that doesn’t cause their eyes to glaze over, check out the these two short videos.

This first video explores an entire project lifecycle and shows how BIM solutions can help make our cities more sustainable.

This second video emphasizes the role of information modeling in planning, designing, visualizing and managing municipal and utility infrastructure.

CAD/GIS Integration Problems Persist

Whether it’s CAD or GIS, we all use a variety of tools to get the job done. One would think though that after more than 20 years, the task of integrating CAD and GIS data would no longer be a problem.

Imagine my surprise then when both of my Unconference Sessions at Autodesk University (AU2010) were filled to capacity.

Each session began by exposing the magnitude of the CAD/GIS integration problem – a billion dollar problem that impacts engineers, contractors and suppliers throughout the planning, design and construction phases. However, these impacts pale in comparison to the many billions lost due to a lack of interoperability by the owner/operators during operation and maintenance phases (NIST).

Participants were then divided into small groups to discuss their own CAD/GIS integration problems. The results were interesting. Technology it seems was not the main point of discussion. In fact, organizational influences, data ownership, lack of understanding, workflow and standards were the primary factors contributing to an organization’s lack of data integration.



Next, participants were asked to come up with a list of possible solutions. Again, rather than “fix the technology”, discussions centered around solving data related issues and increasing communication, collaboration and education on the CAD/GIS integration topic.



The session concluded by participants sharing their plan-of-action for tackling the issues exposed. In fact, when I asked participants, "Who is committed to tackling the CAD/GIS integration problem within their own organizations?", the vast majority raised their hands in a resounding yes!

If you were one of my session participants or are in the process of tackling your own CAD/GIS integration issues, please share your experiences by sending me a note or including a comment. I would love to hear about your progress.

For more session highlights, please check out Spatial Sustain and Matt Ball's blog on this topic.

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

BIM Expanded

This year, I will have had the pleasure of attending several conferences outside of my usual engineering and geospatial interests to include architecture and IT focused events such as:

• MISA Prairies, Spring Conference, April 28 – 30, 2010
• Ontario Association of Architects Conference, May 5-8, 2010
• Royal Architecture Institute of Canada Conference, June 23-28, 2010

What is especially compelling about these events is the opportunity for me to engage participants on the expanded definition of Building Information Modeling (BIM) beyond the traditional architectural focus. One example of this expanded definition for BIM is this article in Green Building Community by Terry Bennett which discusses BIM from a civil engineering perspective.

Another example is BIM for Sustainable Cities which combines model based design from architectural and engineering design perspectives to include the integrated processes that are built on coordinated, consistent information about the municipal developments, infrastructure and related assets.

A BIM for Sustainable Cities plan is part of a 3D digital cities initiative and depends on the convergence of CAD, GIS and BIM and the integration of…

• Modeling and Design
• Surveying & Data Collection
• Planning, Site Selection & Conceptual Design
• Clash Detection, Simulation and Analysis
• Visualization
• Multidiscipline Coordination
• Construction & Construction Management
• Operation and Maintenance

With a BIM for Sustainable Cities plan, municipalities are better able to:

• Coordinate with architects, engineers, contractors and others
• Better share digital design information, geospatial data, infrastructure models and other documentation among staff and project stakeholders
• Use that information to accurately predict performance, appearance and cost
• Reliably deliver municipal projects faster, more economically and with reduced environmental impact
• Leverage model-based design information for operation and maintenance

BIM for Sustainable Cities embraces the entire municipal development lifecycle. This expanded view of BIM gives local governments, planners, engineers, architects, contractors and others an opportunity to take a more active role in neighborhood development and infrastructure projects that are planned, designed, built and managed in greener more sustainable ways.

Cadalyst Article on CAD Queries with AutoCAD Map 3D

Here's a short post on my third Cadalyst article. This article focuses on how to query your AutoCAD drawings with AutoCAD Map 3D. I have also posted a video to accompany the article.

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

Cadalyst Article on Geospatial Queries with AutoCAD Map 3D

Here's a short post on my second Cadalyst article. This article focuses on how to create feature data queries with AutoCAD Map 3D. I have also posted a video to accompany the article.

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

Cadalyst Article on Geospatial Analysis with AutoCAD Map 3D

Here's a short post on my first Cadalyst article which was published on August 19, 2009. Think of this first article as an introduction to geospatial analysis with AutoCAD Map 3D. Then watch for additional articles in this series as I expand on the “how to” aspects of the following topics:

• Queries
• Thematic mapping
• Buffers
• Geospatial topology
• 3D surfaces

Please be sure to check it out!

CAD and GIS Integration Workshop at AU2009

A new addition to Autodesk University (AU2009) is the Unconference Session where session content is created and driven by participants. Unconference Sessions represent an opportunity for you to engage with your peers around specific topics of interest. Lectures and formal presentations give way to open discussions where the sharing of ideas and experiences is encouraged.

This year, my colleague Neal Niemiec and I are delighted to be leading a 90-minute session entitled, “The Billion Dollar Opportunity: A Workshop on CAD/GIS Integration”. This workshop is 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

The opportunity for open dialog during this workshop is exciting. So, if you have a specific issue that you want us to include on the agenda, please post a comment. If you’re going to be attending AU2009, be sure to register for our session ( Class ID: GS122-3) and come say “Hello”. We look forward to meeting you!

Learn Geospatial Analysis at AU2009

Autodesk University 2009 (AU2009) will be held December 1-3, 2009 at the Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas. AU2009 is one of my favorite learning events of the year and the perfect opportunity to connect with professionals from all over the world and explore new ideas, technologies and workflows. Early registration for AU2009 commenced on August 12.

I’m thrilled to be participating at this event and happy to once again have the pleasure of facilitating a class on geospatial analysis. If you are an engineering, CAD or GIS professional; if you are an existing AutoCAD Map 3D user; or simply interested in learning how to analyze your CAD drawings and geospatial data; check out my 90-minute class entitled, “Analyze This! How to use AutoCAD Map 3D for Geospatial Analysis”. The topics that will be covered include:

• Enhanced overlay capabilities and the new workflow framework
• Databases, tabular joins and the expression builder
• Thematic mapping techniques
• Geospatial buffers and point, line and polygon topologies
• 3D surfaces

If you have a preference for the type of analysis that you want discussed and demonstrated during this class, please register your vote in the polling question entitled, Pick your AU2009 Topic, which is located to the right of this post and/or leave a comment.

If you’re going to be attending AU2009, be sure to register for Class ID: GS314-2 and please say “Hi”. I look forward to meeting you!

How to Keep both Water and Data Flowing with AutoCAD Map 3D

My colleagues Peter Southwood, Neal Niemiec and I recently had the pleasure of participating in a series of webcasts, hosted by DLT Solutions, Inc., on the topic of using AutoCAD Map 3D to improve data access, data confidence and utility of water and wastewater data. Descriptions and links to the archived webcasts appear below.

Analyzing your Water/Wastewater Data with AutoCAD Map 3D
Presenter: Michael Schlosser, Autodesk
AutoCAD Map 3D is a leading engineering platform for creating and managing your water/wastewater design information. However, AutoCAD Map 3D also has powerful querying and analysis capabilities that help you to examine your water/wastewater networks in new and useful ways. This presentation shows how queries, thematic mapping, buffers, and overlay analysis can be used to better leverage your water/wastewater data.
Recorded on July 29, 2009
Length: 50 min
Link to Webcast: http://www.dlt.com/Analyze-Water-Archive

Improving Data Confidence with AutoCAD Map 3D for Water/Wastewater
Presenter: Neal Niemiec, Autodesk
Managing water and wastewater systems within budget and to agreed upon service levels requires reliable information about the network throughout the infrastructure lifecycle. However, this requirement is threatened by a lack of data standards which can negatively impact budgets, operations, and maintenance activities. AutoCAD Map 3D improves data confidence with industry specific attribute fields, symbology and classification templates. This presentation focuses on the water/wastewater utility toolkits for creating and maintaining data according to specified standards.
Recorded on July 14, 2009
Length: 41 min
Link to webcast: www.dlt.com/autodesk/DataConfidence-Archive

Improving Access to your Water/Wastewater Data with AutoCAD Map 3D
Presenter: Peter Southwood, Autodesk
Access to current and accurate data about your water/wastewater network is crucial for sound decision making. AutoCAD Map 3D aggregates critical CAD, GIS and utility data for field, management and regulatory purposes. This presentation focus on how to improve data access and addresses connecting to data using Feature Data Objects (FDO), attaching to DWG files, importing/exporting foreign CAD/GIS data sources and creating PDF/DWF files.
Recorded on June 22, 2009
Length: 58 min
Link to webcast: www.dlt.com/Improve-Access-Archive

How to use Negative Distances in your Geospatial Buffer Analysis

Geospatial buffer analysis involves generating a polygon at a specified distance from a proposed feature to determine proximity. For example, a 100m buffer around a point feature creates a circle with a 100m radius. Similarly, a 50m buffer around a polygon feature creates a larger polygon – a polygon that encompasses the source feature.

However, did you know that you can also use a negative distance to create a buffer? That’s right! When you use a negative distance, such as -25m, to buffer a polygon feature, the result is a smaller polygon – a polygon that is inside the source feature.

Consider the following example where the objective is to determine the area of shoreline habitat available for a certain species of wildlife. The species in question has been observed not to forage beyond 100m from shore and includes a riparian buffer of 25m as part of its habitat. To compute the total area of habitat available to this species requires the creation of two buffers and a polygon overlay operation. The first buffer (ie BufferOutside25) is created at a distance of +25m and represents the riparian buffer. The second buffer (ie BufferInside100) is created at a distance of -100m and represents the forage extent. A polygon overlay analysis of type subtract is then used to determine the zone of available habitat where:

HabitatZone = BufferOutside25 – BufferInside100

The total area of habitat available is equal to the area of the zone of available habitat (ie HabitatZone).

Check out the video to see the process in action with AutoCAD Map 3D.

Engineering GIS in LEED for Neighborhood Development

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a certification program that encourages the adoption of sustainable design, construction and operation practices as applied to buildings and communities. Think of LEED as a way of promoting a green approach to community development.

From a civil engineering perspective, LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) is an opportunity to bring together engineering design and GIS analysis methods in order to meet a set of documented requirements for achieving LEED certification. For example, the Smart Location and Linkage category encourages brownfield developments to reduce urban sprawl. Maximum credit can be attained if the project is located in a previously developed infill site that is also in a high-density area. In this case, high-density is a function of the number of street intersections within a half-mile of the project boundary.

To determine how well a project complies with these criteria, we can apply an Engineering GIS approach that leverages both CAD and GIS data. First, rather than using an import/export method to bring together the required data, FDO data providers are used to connect the GIS-based parcel and street centerline data to the CAD-based site design. Next, a geospatial buffer is created at a distance of a half-mile from the site boundary. The buffer is used to determine proximity and involves generating a polygon at a specified distance from the proposed site boundary. Finally, in this simplified example, a geographic query is used to determine the number of intersections within the buffer and this number is compared to the LEED criteria.

Some of the benefits of this approach include the following:

• Data conversion and data redundancy can be avoided as a result of using FDO data providers to connect to the data directly rather than relying on an import/export process.


• Efficiency is improved as a result of applying an approach that embraces CAD tools for site design and geospatial tools for analysis all in one software platform.


• Better designs are possible because more design alternatives can be evaluated against LEED criteria.
  

Check out the video to see the process in action using AutoCAD Map 3D.

Cowboys, Barbeque and Geospatial Analysis

Yee Haw! It’s Stampede Week in Calgary, Alberta and what better way to celebrate than to combine Stampede attire (ie cowboy hat, jeans, big belt buckle and boots) with a seminar on Geospatial Analysis. Well, it seemed like a crazy idea; however, the folks at Autodraft, Inc have a great sense of fun. So, when I was given the opportunity to talk about my favorite topic of Engineering GIS and CAD/GIS integration, I jumped at the chance.

In spite of the Stampede traffic, the rain and the tornado watches, folks came out in droves to learn how to analyze their CAD drawings and geospatial data using the powerful geospatial analysis tools found in Engineering GIS. With the help of my pardner "Cowboy Bob", we delivered a seminar entitled "Geospatial Analysis for the Egnineering and CAD Professional". We used AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Raster Design and Autodesk Topobase to demonstrate numerous geospatial techniques including…

• Queries and how to use them to get more information from CAD drawings and GIS data sources
• Drawing cleanup tools and why they are necessary to ensure the accuracy and correctness of CAD and GIS data
• Topology, it’s importance for CAD and GIS users alike and how to create topologically correct features
• Spatial analysis such as network traces and their use with CAD and GIS data
• Polygon overlay and its power to reveal new patterns in CAD and GIS data
• Buffer analysis and why it’s sometime the best way to determine spatial proximity
• 3D surfaces and how to analyze them for height, slope and aspect
• Raster to vector conversion and how to combine scanned CAD drawings, maps and aerial imagery with vector-based CAD and GIS data
• And more…

After the presentation, we all moseyed on down to the Autodraft corral for a great Stampede barbeque, refreshments and conversation.

A fun and informative Yee Haw time was had by all!

New Online Resource: GIS Skills for Engineers

Over the last several months, I have had the pleasure of facilitating a number of seminars in Canada and the United States aimed at demonstrating the six crucial GIS skills needed by Engineering and CAD professionals. I have blogged about this seminar series in the past. This time I want to call your attention to a great resource entitled GIS Skills for Engineers that is now available via the web. This resource is part of Autodesk's help documentation for AutoCAD Map 3D and highlights a number of important GIS skills including:

Data Preparation
Data Conversion
Data Access
Data Editing
Data Management
Styling and Theming Features
Analysis
Sharing Data with Others
Map Layout and Cartography
Printing, Plotting, and Publishing

The best part of GIS Skills for Engineers is the accompanying animations which demonstrate the skills in action. For example, if you wanted to know how to perform a polygon overlay analysis to determine which parcels in a city fall within zones classified as “Retail”, check out this animation.

The Obstacles to CAD/GIS Integration

In my last post, I discussed a need to address the issue of CAD/GIS integration during the design and data creation phases of a project rather than waiting until the data was ready to be moved into a corporate database. The responsibility to address this issue would rest with the creators of the data (ie the engineering and CAD professionals). The reason, I argued, was one of efficiency; that is, data that was properly structured during the front end of the data lifecycle would be easier to integrate throughout all downstream infrastructure related activities, thereby, saving time and collectively, billions of dollars.

So, why does the problem of CAD/GIS data integration continue to persist and negatively impact organizations? Why do so many continue to struggle with import/export workflows, work-arounds and the old way of doing things? Why does CAD/GIS integration remain an issue today?

Well, a number of reasons come to mind…

Data Issues: First there’s the data. Sometimes CAD/GIS data integration problems really are due to the differences in the data – differences such as the use of project coordinates versus geographic coordinates; the need for annotation (ie dimensions, callouts and other explanatory text) versus topology; the use of complex geometries (ie spline curves and 3D objects) versus the limitation of geospatial databases to store them. To a lesser extent, data formats can also be an obstacle as one attempts to massage the data from one format to another potentially introducing errors and redundancy in the process.

Organizational Structure: The way an organization is divided into its various departments and workgroups impacts communication and the flow of data throughout the organization. With respect to GIS, organizations have typically assigned GIS responsibilities and functions to the GIS Department or to a subgroup of the IT Department. This organization based separation of CAD and GIS, can create a communication gap between the data creators (ie the engineering and CAD professionals) and the maintainers of the geospatial data. Then the only time one group communicates with the other is when as-built information needs to be passed to the GIS folks for inclusion in the corporate database. Consequently, the GIS folks don’t understand the problems that can arise when attempting to use geospatial data in CAD and the CAD folks don’t understand the issues related to using CAD data in a GIS. In an attempt to overcome this communication gap between departments, organizations have held Corporate Demo Days, GIS Days and other events aimed at sharing and promoting departmental information, ideas and accomplishments.

Silo Syndrome: Organizational silos occur when departments seem to focus on their own needs without recognizing their impact on other departments or to the organization as a whole. For example, when communication between departments is poor, when the exchange of information is inefficient, or when job related requests are queued and delayed, individuals find ways to work around the problem. They begin to create copies of the data; they create their own databases; and they stop sharing information to help drive their own efficiency. Unfortunately, this can perpetuate the CAD/GIS integration gap and result in greater corporate inefficiencies. To help reduce departmental silos and ensure that both corporate and departmental needs are met, some organizations have embedded GIS responsibilities at both corporate and departmental levels.

Culture Clash: The very things that make us experts in our field also lead to differences in professional cultures. Whether it’s the contrast in educational and professional backgrounds, the knowledge and experience that we gain and share as a group, the jargon, or the type of projects we work on, they all lead to differences in the way we communicate and approach a task. These differences are often additional obstacles to CAD and GIS integration. For example, while a CAD professional is focused on documenting a design in such a way that it can be built to exact design specifications, a GIS professional may be more interested in how this information can be used for planning and analysis after construction. Culture clash seems to become most evident when people balk at the technologies used by others. What’s needed is a respect for both ends of the spectrum. It’s not about CAD or GIS; it’s really about embracing both.

Myths: Myths surrounding the capabilities of CAD continue to persist in spite of significant advances in this technology. Today’s CAD includes model-based design and rule-based workflows; integrates engineering designs with other CAD and GIS data; provides support for geographic coordinates, topologically structured features, spatial analysis and geospatial databases; and simplifies integration with web-based mapping. Rather than continuing to do things the old way because of an outdated view of CAD, current capabilities and new workflows should be examined for gains in efficiency and improvements in data integration.

Lack of Metrics: In the software industry, metrics are used to measure a wide variety of characteristics pertaining to a program’s performance. However, when it comes to the subject of CAD/GIS integration, few organizations monitor the amount of resources required, in terms of time or dollars, to move as-built information into a corporate database. The lack of metrics hides the inefficiencies and the corresponding costs associated with the CAD/GIS integration issue. So, integration challenges go unnoticed and opportunities for improved efficiency escape. Metrics are needed to highlight the CAD/GIS integration problem and to make a case for change.

Discipline Specific Tools: Discipline specific tools were created for a reason. For example, there’s nothing more powerful than the data creation and editing tools available in CAD for creating and documenting an engineering design. Similarly, GIS tools excel at spatial analysis. These discipline specific tools can perpetuate the CAD/GIS integration problem by isolating users from other ways of doing things. Users become accustomed to creating data without topology, storing their data in proprietary formats or using out-dated import/export workflows to facilitate data exchange. While some have attempted to re-create CAD-like functions as custom extensions to their GIS, others have embraced an Engineering GIS approach where CAD and GIS come together exploiting the advantages of both.

What’s In It for Me? Sometimes it just boils down to incentive. Perhaps Rod said it best: “Engineers as consultants or as in house departments are incented in such a way that they do not really care about the life cycle of the data... They just want to hammer out a design and their work stops.” In other words, significant advances in CAD/GIS integration might be made if the creators of the data are contractually obligated to create the data with a new end in mind. CAD standards have been in effect since the dawn of CAD. Perhaps it’s time for a new CAD standard - one that also addresses the downstream data requirements.


The above list represents those obstacles which I have encountered most often in my conversations with a variety of engineering, surveying, CAD and GIS professionals. I’m sure other obstacles exist. If you know of additional obstacles, if you have ideas for solving or eliminating them, if you have related experiences or comments, I would enjoy hearing from you…

3D GIS is Easy

If you thought 3D was hard, think again. Maybe a different point of view would help.

I recently had the pleasure of attending a seminar entitled “A New Dimension in GIS – 3D Analysis”, hosted by the British Columbia Chapter of URISA, in which a half-dozen speakers shared their 3D GIS experiences and insight during this one-day event.

Convergence: The opening keynote presentation by Doug Eberhard (Senior Director, Autodesk) set the tone of this event by providing us with an eye-popping vision of the future in which the convergence of design, geospatial analysis, simulation and visualization are fuelling the emerging business of digital cities. According to Eberhard, at the heart of digital cities are models. These models range from model agencies and model designers to model contractors and model operators. These models allow us to examine our world in new ways –ways that can help us become a model planet.

New Perspectives: Dan Campbell (Manager, Graphics and Communications, City of Vancouver) discussed the City’s experiences, gathered over the last 20 years, in working with 3D models. In fact, it was Campbell that said, “3D is Easy; it’s 2D that’s hard.” His point was that we live in a 3D world and no-one needs to teach us how to interpret this 3D world. And yet, when we work with infrastructure designs, architectural plans and maps we force our 3D world into a 2D abstraction. According to Campbell, this 2D abstraction for the non-professional is equivalent to trying to read hieroglyphics - misinterpretation and lost meaning is often the result.

Integration: Dale Lutz (Vice President, Safe Software) explored the topic of integrating CAD, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and geospatial data and discussed the role of CityGML, Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and LandXML in the creation of 3D models. Various integration scenarios were also presented including the use of 2D CAD buildings with LIDAR to create 3D extruded buildings and the use of 3D geo-referenced BIM.

Key Takeaway: For me, one of the key takeaways of this seminar was that 3D GIS is about making it easier for the users of the information and not the CAD and GIS gurus. It’s about an easier way to analyze, visualize and communicate information about our 3D world. The boundaries between design, visualization and geospatial analysis are blurring. And yet, it’s the people and processes and not the technology that remain obstacles in realizing the vision of 3D digital cities. Data integration and an open, non-proprietary approach continue to be at the heart of the solution.

Until next time...