AUGIWORLD

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AUGIWORLD December 2021

The Official Publication of the AUGI Design Community

Industry Insights www.augiworld.com

US $8.00

Also in this issue: What is a Digital Twin

| A Blend of Design Tools | Creating An Amazing Prototype In AutoCAD

AUGIWorld

December 2021

CONTENTS FEATURES 6 BIM

What is a Digital Twin?

8

3ds Max

Insight into a Hybrid World as 3ds Max Professionals

16 BIM

8

ArcGIS GeoBIM: Connecting Projects in Context

20 3ds Max

Civil View: What Is It? And How Do I Use It?

30 Civil 3D

Creating An Amazing Prototype In AutoCAD: The Process, Tips And Tricks

COLUMNS 4

20

Letter from the President

12 Inside Track 34 Tech Manager

30 augiworld.com

December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

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AUGIWorld www.augiworld. com

From the President

W

elcome to the December issue of AUGIWorld! This month our focus is on Industry Insights.

I’ve been perusing the Autodesk University 2021 sessions and found several that related to our topic. One that I was inspired by was titled “Preserving 800-year city heritage using open online BIM courses” by Alexander Vysotskiy and Aleksei Agafonov (https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/ class/Preserving-800-year-city-heritage-using-open-online-BIMcourses-2021). This was an industry talk where they discussed their project. They had a need to generate a city model to preserve the history of the city (buildings, parks, etc). Most of the buildings are wood and there was a real concern that a working model of the city was critical so that there was documentation for restoration if needed. However, they were short one major item, people who had the skills to create this model. So, they did an amazing thing, they offered free BIM training via YouTube streaming in exchange for creating BIM models in the city. Basically, they crowd-sourced the design! Over 2400 people initially signed up for the project, over 1500 people created BIM models, and 549 people finished the training.

I was very impressed, if you think about it, there are now 549 people who weren’t using BIM modeling tools who are now capable of taking on these projects and perhaps provide themselves with new employment opportunities. Additionally, at least another 1000 people had some training and another 800 people had exposure to it. Considering the value of the model of the city, plus the incredible value they created by offering free training in exchange for BIM modeling, I’m not sure you can even quantify the value of this project!

I hope you enjoy this month’s edition of AUGIWorld, and I hope you take the time to be inspired by industry talks from AU as well as other conferences (like the ESRI User Conference). I found a webpage that has a compiled list of BIM conferences - https:// archsmarter.com/bim-conferences. Check it out, I’m sure you’ll find something helpful!

So, one last thing. On December 8th at 10 am (HST), 12 pm (PST), 1 pm (MST), 2 pm (CST), 3 pm (EST), we will be holding our AUGI General Meeting for 2021. Everyone is welcome and we’d love for you all to attend.

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Editors

Editor-in-Chief

Todd Rogers - todd.rogers@augi.com

Copy Editor

Isabella Andresen - isabella.andresen@augi.com

Layout Editor

Tim Varnau - tim.varnau@augi.com

Content Managers

3ds Max - Brian Chapman AutoCAD - Jim Fisher AutoCAD Architecture - Melinda Heavrin AutoCAD Civil 3D - Shawn Herring AutoCAD MEP - William Campbell BIM Construction - Kenny Eastman Tech Manager - Mark Kiker Inside Track - Brian Andresen Inventor Revit Architecture - Jay Zallan Revit MEP - Nathan Mulder Revit Structure - Jason Lush

Advertising / Reprint Sales

Kevin Merritt - salesmanager@augi.com AUGI Executive Team President KaDe King Vice-President Frank Mayfield Treasurer Todd Rogers

AUGI Board of Directors Brian Andresen Kimberly Fuhrman KaDe King Chris Lindner

Frank Mayfield Todd Rogers Scott Wilcox

Publication Information

AUGIWorld magazine is a benefit of specific AUGI membership plans. Direct magazine subscriptions are not available. Please visit www.augi.com/ account/register to join or upgrade your membership to receive AUGIWorld magazine in print. To manage your AUGI membership and address, please visit www.augi.com/account. For all other magazine inquires please contact augiworld@augi. com

Published by:

AUGIWorld is published by Autodesk User Group International, Inc. AUGI makes no warranty for the use of its products and assumes no responsibility for any errors which may appear in this publication nor does it make a commitment to update the information contained herein.

AUGIWorld is Copyright ©2021 AUGI. No information in this magazine may be reproduced without expressed written permission from AUGI.

Best regards,

All registered trademarks and trademarks included in this magazine are held by their respective companies. Every attempt was made to include all trademarks and registered trademarks where indicated by their companies.

KaDe

AUGIWorld (San Francisco, Calif.)

ISSN 2163-7547

AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

A Global Community for AEC Professionals to Learn, Grow and Exchange Knowledge.

Become a member: www.dbei.org/membership

BIM 2022

by: Eric Wing

What is a Digital Twin?

T

hat seems to be the question of the year.

What exactly is a digital twin? I’m asked that question almost as much as I ask the same question myself. After about a year of trying to dive into the subject I didn’t come up with a lot of answers, but drew a lot of honest questions.

twins but very few folks actually want to dive in and take responsibility for it. It happens to the best of us. I think the fake Pie Chart below sums up most presentations you’ll see on the subject.

A BIM REBRANDING?

Yep. It’s a rebranding of BIM. Autodesk simply can’t seem to, or won’t produce a viable interface between Revit, Navisworks, Civil 3D (and whatever else they acquired that month) to a typical end user who could actually use the data for facility management. I think the term BIM is finally running out of marketability. They’ve already made word salad out of what the B the I and the M actually means. I’m a BIM Director and I can’t explain to people what my title means. Why not just rebrand something instead of coming up with something solid and new? Piecing together hundreds of Revit models for huge buildings with multiple projects going on over the span of years is, in almost every instance, undoable. Ever upgrade a Revit model and have a warning saying that 300 taps must be attached to a duct? I wonder if that’s going to cause any issues. I don’t want to be the person having to deal with that. Neither does anyone else. Another issue is, it seems everyone wants to talk about the 6

SO, WHAT IS A DIGITAL TWIN TECHNICALLY?

Over the past few years I have worked with PhD students, clients, and colleagues on that definition. It

AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

BIM 2022 does start with BIM, but the actual digital twin part refers to the interface that people can use without being a Revit expert I was talking about. It’s about getting a 500 LOD model into an application that works for facility management. There’s lots of 500 level models out there and there’s lots of awesome facility management applications out there but the two never successfully seem to get married up. Also, a digital twin has controls appended to the assets.

For example, if you click on a roof top HVAC unit, not only do you get the typical LOD 500 data but you are supposed to have live sensors monitoring the equipment, all connected by IP address and located

by GPS. Pretty exciting stuff.

LOGISTICS

The logistical issue now is existing buildings. My jam is aviation and healthcare. These buildings are already there. They are added onto over the years and most of the critical infrastructure we would need access to, is either buried in a wall or ceiling… or actually buried underground. The effort that it takes to get an actual “twin” of what’s there would cost more to the owner than the cost savings would ever pay back.

Then there’s maintenance. Even if everything above was accomplished (they tore down the ceilings and walls and dug up the underground infrastructure) In an effort to use a digital twin to maintain a building, these maintenance models need to be constantly maintained themselves. This takes additional staff, constant training, and the willingness of the people actually doing the work to play along. Half of the staff is probably close to retiring. Trust me, there’s reluctance. I know, that’s exactly why we need to capture this data now, but you might want to work on your patience if that’s an issue for you.

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

One thing I also like to point out, is you don’t need to go from paper drawings to a digital twin overnight. Looking at the end game while assessing where you are at now is cause to say “there’s no way on earth is this going to happen”. Start from square one. Establish what you do have in place and build from that. Get management backing and for crying out loud learn as much about the subject and the software as you possible can. Be a leader.

Please. Get a hold of me if you need another pie chart, completely agree, or if you think completely differently about the subject. You can find me on LinkedIn. Eric Wing lives in Syracuse NY where he is the Director of BIM Services for C&S Companies. Eric is a popular speaker at events around the country speaking on many BIM-related topics.

Eric has authored several books including Autodesk’s official training guide for their BIM solution “Revit” called Revit for Architecture No Experience Required. Eric is also an author for LinkedIn Learning where he has authored around 60 full courses on BIM management, Revit, AutoCAD MEP, Navisworks and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) Eric has truly been a leader in the architecture, engineering and construction industry since the conception of BIM and 3D design, and has specialty skills in BIM coordination, training and development of technical staff along with daily application of these tools on multi scale, multi-disciplinary projects.

If you know me or have read my stuff before you probably know I act tough but usually back off. I spent my career on this subject in the trenches so I see the ugly more than most. But I do believe we can get there. It does start with making sure your design firms are giving you what you need upon project close out. That means the up-front bid documents need to have a solid BIM Execution plan and the deliverables need to match your expectations. Constructing a new building out in the middle of a field somewhere helps also, but that’s not generally the case.

Eric is also currently a Professor at Syracuse University teaching BIM and Advanced BIM at the School of Architecture, and at the School of Engineering.

Eric has also taught courses at the Rochester Institute of Technology and Clarkson University on the subjects of Analytical tools for Facility Management, BIM, and Integrated Project Delivery.

augiworld.com

December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

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3ds Max 2022

by: Brian Chapman

Insight into a Hybrid World as 3ds Max Professionals I

t’s not easy taking the path of an expert for visualization, 3D art, and creativity. Like anything, it takes optimism, sacrifice, time, dedication, effort, and a will to ignore doubt, cynicism, frustration, and failure. It takes the tenacity to ignore all obstacles and constantly remind yourself, “There are far more important things to focus on,” and most of all, a faith (and gamble) the effort will pay off.

It’s important to find communities that support you, engage with you, and highlight the bitter

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truths of your failure while pushing you to accomplish more. Arenas, where the crowd inspires you, drives you to do more, to face the odds against you, face the audacious Goliaths head-on, and be willing to give it your all or go to zero.

So, this month we share some of the communities and events 3ds Max professionals can draw inspiration from to level up in the arena of 3D. To maintain a pulse, push yourself, be inspired, and have a destination to drive to, we’ll present some of these areas, these events, for the 3D gladiator

AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

3ds Max 2022 to assemble and invoke your spirit of creativity, whether that’s the creative warrior, the robot, the explorer or any other we can relate to.

Creative language aside, it’s essential for 3D professionals to maintain a pulse on how 3D influences the world. Consider participating in more non-traditional events expanding worldwide with hybrid solutions now available (one of the few blessings to come out of a covid era).

FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE ROBOT- 3D EXPERIENCE: ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Registration is open for the 3D Experience in Atlanta and it is scheduled for a hybrid event on February 6-9, 2022. While focused on manufacturing with software like Solidworks, Enovia, and many more, this even can help 3D professionals understand how 3D technology influences work around the globe.

The industry comes complete with certifications and training for those who wish to expand the tools in their tool bag. Review their site to see if it’s for you.

augiworld.com

“3DEXPERIENCE World brings a vibrant community of designers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders together to learn, engage, share knowledge and drive innovation, around our 3DEXPERIENCE WORKS portfolio, for our SOLIDWORKS customers.”

The robot at heart might consider the hybrid event Industrial Internet of Things, from Berlin, Germany (English speaking). This event focuses on manufacturing leaders discussing content like A.R., V.R., data, and technology shaping their world.

FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE EXPLORER – GEO WEEK: DENVER, COLORADO Geospatial technology plays an essential role in modern-day scientific and engineering applications of 3D and 3D visualization work. As photogrammetry, drone technology, point cloud technology advance, so does their uses. To discover how geospatial technology is shaping our world think about participating in the event.

December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

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3ds Max 2022 “The combined conference program and tradeshow floor will feature commercial applications of 3D technologies, innovations and case studies in the built environment, advanced airborne and terrestrial remote sensing solutions, smart products for a full project team, and much more!”

FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE BUILDER – D2

D2 (Digital Design) is traditionally one of the largest conferences for arch viz experts. Stay tuned for

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2022’s event and follow them on YouTube as they present lots of content related to visualization for Arch Viz. https://www.youtube.com/c/d2conferences

FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE PAINTER – CREATIVE PRO: WASHINGTON, D.C.

Adobe software remains integral to 3D work. This hybrid event will occur May 9-13, 2022, and covers content working with Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and more.

AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

3ds Max 2022

THE WORLD IS EXPANDING FOR EVERYONE. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE BEFORE YOU WHILE YOU CAN. FOR THE GAMER – MANY MORE

Games overtook all other entertainment fields in 2020-2021. While experts argue over the reason, games have become an integral part of the world, generating millions of jobs, and building enormous wealth. Here is a list of a few events coming this year: D.I.C.E. Summit 2022, February 22-24, 2022 | Las Vegas, Nevada D.I.C.E, the premier video game networking conference, includes a variety of intimate and exciting events.

NerdiGras 2022, March 11-13, 2022 | Atlanta, Georgia NerdiGras will offer three days of music and live entertainment, video games, board games, classic arcade games, and cosplay.

TokenCon 2022, March 18-20, 2022 | Oklahoma City TokenCon is an extension of the Oklahoma Board Game Community’s network of board game events throughout Oklahoma.

Tabletop Games to celebrate their passion by costuming / cosplay Gen Con 2022, August 4-7, 2022| Indianapolis Gen Con is the leading destination of tabletop gaming enthusiasts worldwide.

Conclusion Events like these take place every day worldwide.

The world is expanding for everyone. Take advantage of the opportunities that lie before you while you can. With hybrid systems gaining ground, we now have much more access to events and learning that we may not have had before.

Brian Chapman is a 3D Artist, Autodesk Authorized Developer, and Application Specialist in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can reach out to Brian at procadman@pro-cad.net.

MomoCon 2022, May 26-29, 2022 | Atlanta, Georgia MomoCon brings together fans of Japanese Anime, American Animation, Comics, Video Games, and augiworld.com

December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

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Tech Manager

by: Mark Kiker

A Blend of Design Tools I

sat down (virtually) with three team members from Sargent & Lundy, an engineering firm focused on the power and energy market Vinton Trowbridge, Medhat Wagdy and James Stirk. They are working with a mixture of tools from Autodesk and Bentley to provide design and documentation for projects worldwide. We discussed their firm, their positions and duties and how they work in a blended environment of design tools.

Medhat: I am a senior project designer/laser scan specialist. My main role is to provide user support for Sargent & Lundy’s system of BIM applications with a focus on training engineers who develop P&ID drawings. In addition, I lead Sargent & Lundy’s laser scanning center where I’m involved in training employees to use laser scanners and laser scanning software. I have been working for Sargent & Lundy for over 40 years.

Mark: First off, thanks for discussing how you get design done when different tools are in use. Tell us about yourselves.

James: I’m a senior IT Manager focused on engineering software development and implementation. I manage the staff that configure and deploy our system of BIM applications, provide user support, and develop software to automate and streamline internal work processes. I too have worked in the AEC industry for nearly 40 years, and I’m also a registered professional engineer in Illinois.

Vinton: I am a manager in engineering software development and implementation at Sargent & Lundy. My main role is a system administrator for our system of BIM applications. I support users and project teams using many different software products. I have worked in the AEC industry for 40 years, almost all that time with Sargent & Lundy.

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Mark: Well, you folks have a wealth of experience.

Can you tell us about Sargent & Lundy? Sounds like it has been around for a long time.

AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

Tech Manager

James Stirk

Medhat Wagdy

Vinton Trowbridge

Sargent & Lundy - A History of Industry Leadership Sargent & Lundy shares its history with that of the electric power industry itself. The industry was just emerging when engineers Frederick Sargent and Ayres Lundy formed an independent engineering and consulting company in 1891, dedicated to working with clients in the electric power business.

Individually, they had earned recognition for their technical talent and foresight. Sargent was one of Thomas Edison’s most capable early associates, while Lundy was a highly regarded colleague of electric railway innovator Frank Sprague. Together they collaborated on power generation and transmission projects that advanced the industry and set the company’s long-term course.

Vinton: It has. Sargent & Lundy is one of the longest-standing full-service architect engineering firms in the world. It was founded in 1891 and is now a global leader in power and energy. We have expertise in grid modernization, renewable energy, energy storage, nuclear power, fossil fuels, oil and gas, and carbon capture. We deliver some pretty comprehensive project services – from consulting, design, and implementation to construction management, commissioning, and operations/ maintenance. The firm serves public and private sector clients in the power and energy, gas distribution, industrial, and government sectors.

Medhat: From what I have been told, the firm’s first project was the Harrison Street Station in 1892. It was the largest power plant in the United States at the time, with output carried over transmission lines for a revolutionary length of over 3,000 feet. Their nuclear power work began in the mid-1950s. Today, Sargent & Lundy has designed more than 30 increasingly advanced nuclear units and has been continuously engaged in nuclear power work ever since.

James: Sargent & Lundy started working in renewable energy in the mid-1980s with solar energy generating systems (SEGS) in the Mojave Desert.

Overall, we have engineered 958 power plant units and more than 6,200 circuit miles of power delivery systems. Our focus on the power business remains augiworld.com

unchanged. We’re actually still working with our very first client from 1891 as well as many other long-time clients. With our comprehensive services, we’ve worked with more than 1,600 clients in over 100 countries… and still counting.

Mark: Wow, that is impressive. What software are you using for your design projects? Autodesk products? Bentley products? Others?

Vinton: At Sargent & Lundy, we use Bentley and Autodesk applications based on project requirements. Our primary products and seat counts are listed in the tables below. We’ve also developed several custom applications integrated with Bentley and Autodesk products to help streamline our work processes.

Bentley Products

Seat Count

OpenBuildings Designer Connect Edition

30

Descartes

60

MicroStation (in process of moving from V8i to Connect)

228

STAAD.Pro

31

AutoPIPE Nuclear

9

ContextCapture

1

December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

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Tech Manager Autodesk Products or Collections

Seat Count

Architecture, Engineering & Construction Collection

278

AutoCAD

232

AutoCAD LT

122

Product Design & Manufacturing Collection

22

ReCap Pro

7

Vault Professional

26

Civil 3D

3

Mark: Tell us about a recent or active project that uses both Bentley and Autodesk programs – industry, scope, length of project, staffing load, built cost, etc.

James: In 2018, Tampa Electric Company (TEC), an Emera company that provides power to more than 750,000 customers across West Central Florida, initiated a modernization project for its Big Bend Power Station. The station aimed to convert existing coal units to an efficient gas-fired combined-cycle facility.

The Big Bend Power Station is located near Apollo Beach, Florida, on nearly 1,500 acres in southeastern Hillsborough County. Between 1970 and 1985, they expanded to a total of four coal-fired units with a combined output of more than 1,700 megawatts. A natural gas peaking unit was installed

in 2009 to provide additional power during periods of peak demand.

TEC initiated the modernization project in order to continue providing safe, reliable and cost-effective power to its customers while meeting growing demand. The improvements will eliminate coal consumption in generating electricity, use less water as a part of that generation process, produce less wastewater, eliminate solid waste and reduce air emissions.

Vinton: Construction on this project started in 2019 and is expected to be completed in January 2023 with an estimated project cost of $853 million. The project involves over 60 vendors supplying model files and engineering data. The interoperability between Bentley and Autodesk products is essential to the project success. When completed, Unit 2 will be retired and the modernization project will be capable of producing 1,090 MW. Medhat: Sargent & Lundy relied on technology from Bentley and Autodesk to deliver an innovative design project on time and within budget.

Key aspects include the use of laser scans from the existing facility merged with many design models. Our primary design work was performed with the Bentley design tools and utilized Autodesk Navisworks Manage for clash detection and 3D model reviews. The ability to generate a consolidated central model with component attributes in the

Tampa Electric Company (TEC) 14

AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

Tech Manager Navisworks model provided all project stakeholders access to critical information throughout the project.

We are providing detailed engineering, design, procurement, project management, and onsite construction management/commissioning services to help TEC achieve crucial goals. Let me list a few services in greater detail: •

•

•

•

Streamlining the design process and minimizing field interferences and rework by integrating 3D CAD models with laser scans that identify potential issues prior to construction.

Facilitating constructability by utilizing the 3D model for reviews with TEC and the installation contractors to speed approvals.

Providing convenient access to new equipment that optimizes maintainability and minimizes operating and maintenance costs.

Delivering a complete electronic design package that can fully accommodate plant operating and maintenance preferences to ensure timely project delivery.

Mark: Tell us how you used specific design tools and how they interacted.

James: Each discipline uses different tools that allow them to design their part of the plant in 3D. For example, our structural group uses Bentley’s OpenBuildings Designer to design the plant structure. Our mechanical group designs and models equipment and piping in MicroStation.

Sargent & Lundy has developed applications that manage the 3D model and automate the generation of drawings and interference checks. Interference checks are performed with Autodesk Navisworks Manage. Drawings are extracted from the 3D model using MicroStation.

Mark: That is quite a blend of tools. What were the successes, challenges, and unexpected lessons learned?

Vinton: Our products provide significant design and engineering tools/features that help us develop the end product efficiently with significant benefits to all project stakeholders. The products also provide capabilities to customize and develop add-ins that further optimize our work processes.

James: The interoperability provided by import and export options in both Bentley and Autodesk augiworld.com

products allows us to work with file formats furnished by a long list of vendors. File conversions allow our design teams to work in the tool sets required and still easily merge them into the central model for use by the rest of the project team.

Medhat: The use of laser scanning to create a point cloud model of the site in as-built condition was a great success for design. The laser scan point cloud files were processed using ReCap Pro and attached for viewing and clash checking in Navisworks Manage. The point cloud files were also attached directly in MicroStation and used during design.

Mark: Any advice to others that might have concerns about blended platform projects?

Vinton: One of the biggest challenges when dealing with different CAD platforms is finding tools that are flexible when importing and exporting various file formats. We’ve found that using MicroStation DGN and AutoCAD DWG as the main CAD platform provides the greatest flexibility. The use of Autodesk Navisworks Manage also handles a wide range of different file formats. The key is finding the right formats that allow the most efficient exchange of design data.

Mark: Thanks for sharing what you and your team have been doing. It is remarkable to see how today’s tools can work hand in hand to increase project delivery.

Mark Kiker has more than 30 years of hands-on experience with technology.

He is fully versed in all areas of management from deployment planning, installation, and configuration to training and strategic planning. As an internationally known speaker and writer, he was a returning speaker at Autodesk University for 20 years. He is a former Board member, President and Executive Director of AUGI. Mark is currently serving as Chief Technology Officer for SIATech, a non-profit public charter high school focused on dropout recovery. He maintains two web sites, www.caddmanager.com and www.bimmanager.com.

December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

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BIM 2022

by: Anthony Renteria

ArcGIS GeoBIM: Connecting Projects in Context

D

espite the narrowing of the gap between GIS and BIM over the last few years, Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms and their clients are still battling with disparate data on multiple platforms and are still struggling to provide a single authoritative view of project data to communicate project information easily and securely.

ArcGIS GeoBIM delivers an innovative, easy-to-use, web-based experience for project teams to explore and collaborate on BIM projects and issues using data from multiple systems in a geospatial context.

WHAT IS ARCGIS GEOBIM?

ArcGIS GeoBIM enables the linking of projects and workflows by connecting ArcGIS with the Autodesk Construction Cloud and BIM 360.

Within a GeoBIM project, you can link georeferenced ArcGIS features with Autodesk records – meaning that it’s easier to access, visualize and query project documentation from multiple sources.

GeoBIM also makes it easier to communicate and collaborate within a secure, web-based environment, which can be tailored to the needs of multiple stakeholders.

WHO WOULD USE ARCGIS GEOBIM?

ArcGIS GeoBIM will benefit customers in any sector where organizations construct, manage, or renovate fixed physical assets – whether those are road or rail networks, utility networks, campuses, water facilities and more. However, there are three key customer types for whom ArcGIS GeoBIM can deliver new benefits from connected GIS & BIM.

Figure 1: ArcGIS features can be linked directly to Autodesk

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AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

BIM 2022 AEC Executives: Whether it’s a CEO, a Vice President or a Design Principal, AEC Executives need visibility into the data and documents that their teams are managing so that they can measure progress, understand risks and costs, and communicate seamlessly with stakeholders. They also want to differentiate themselves from competitors by streamlining processes and providing better insight into projects for their clients.

ArcGIS GeoBIM provides a single common experience to access project data. By leveraging ArcGIS and the Autodesk Construction Cloud in a web-based app, it’s possible to consolidate and visualize digital models, GIS data, supporting documentation and issues at both a single project and on a portfolio level.

GeoBIM allows AEC Executives to see all their project activity on a single map without the need for specialized desktop software. In addition to viewing up-to-date BIM and GIS data, they can connect to dashboards and tabular data that give them insight into how a project is progressing.

For example, issues can be mapped and tracked according to issue type, subtype, and status. As team members collaborate on and resolve issues within the Autodesk Construction Cloud, that information is automatically visible to stakeholders within GeoBIM. ArcGIS GeoBIM also enables better and more seamless communication of project information with stakeholders. GeoBIM apps provide a secure and highly configurable way for AEC Executives to access views into a single project, or a portfolio of projects. As stakeholder needs change, apps can be

Figure 2: A change of status from ‘Open’ to ‘Closed’ within the Autodesk Construction Cloud will change the project dashboard within ArcGIS GeoBIM augiworld.com

tailored to provide different dashboards, different types of information, and different functionality, with the ability to securely control who can see apps and data.

AEC Project Managers: Often project managers find that their teams are spending time locating and recreating project information, converting data from one format to another, and building one-off, bespoke tools to provide visibility into project locations and status.

These workflows are ineffective and inefficient, eating into budgets.

Design Managers, Construction Managers, and Project Managers are just some of the people who want to organize projects without reorganizing data, minimizing data conversion and use out-of-the-box enterprise ready tools to provide tailored experiences for different team members and stakeholders.

ArcGIS GeoBIM links directly to BIM data stored in its native environment. ArcGIS features are linked to dynamic BIM datasets – meaning that when a construction sheet is updated, or a new model version is uploaded to the Autodesk Construction Cloud, that information is available at once. The need for data to be moved, duplicated, or converted is greatly reduced, saving teams time and effort.

ArcGIS GeoBIM also gives AEC Project Managers a highly configurable environment connected to the Autodesk Construction Cloud, which can be used to meet standards such as ISO 19650. It can also provide a scalable web experience that can be re-used on future projects, minimizing the risks and costs associated with one-off, in-house custom tools.

Figure 3: Apps can be tailored to provide the tools and information needed by specific stakeholders or for specific presentations

December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

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BIM 2022 Owner /Operators: People who own and manage facilities, assets and capital projects often have the problem that their maintenance and management information is completely separate from design and construction documentation. They need an overview of all their current projects, and insight into their portfolio.

They want asset and engineering documents at their fingertips, and they want to be able to share project information securely and easily within their organization’s departments.

ArcGIS GeoBIM can be configured for a single project, or for a portfolio of assets, and can be easily accessed by project members and members of other departments without the need for specialized tools or training.

Teams can find construction documents, models, and other asset information using a GeoBIM app that combines a web-based map with data in multiple systems. They can search their existing GIS features, find related linked datasets from their map experience, and view models within the Autodesk Construction Cloud, knowing that the latest version of relevant content is being served directly through GeoBIM, using the Autodesk Forge Viewer.

Organizations can communicate directly through the Autodesk Common Data Environment, along with a geospatially enabled view that creates a truly connected experience, from planning, to design, to construction, to maintenance. This means that detailed digital records can be passed to the owner or operator, increasing their understanding of the built assets they now own, and empowering them to make better decisions for the future.

SUMMARY

ArcGIS GeoBIM delivers an innovative, easy-to-use web-based experience for project teams to explore and collaborate on BIM projects and issues using data from multiple systems in a geospatial context.

AEC teams and owners can work with linked data from multiple systems in configurable web apps that simplify communication and collaboration with teams and stakeholders. With GeoBIM, teams spend less time on file conversion, thus increasing access to reliable up-to-date data. GeoBIM enables secure access to project information, including BIM content, reality capture, documentation, and issues so that project teams can see active information for better decision making and collaboration.

Start connecting your projects in context and put your projects on the map!

Visit our product page for more information.

Anthony Renteria is Product Manager for ArcGIS GeoBIM and AEC workflows focused in design and construction project delivery leading into operations.

He is currently working with customers interested in GIS & BIM integrations that enhance their processes, provide better engagement opportunities, and transform how their projects are delivered into clients. Anthony has worked in industry for over (15) years where he was responsible for assisting AEC teams with project technology planning while integrating innovative solutions to complete tasks faster and with the utmost quality. While Anthony began working in general contracting, he has worked extensively with designers and owners to improve standards and develop BIM implementations that encompass the full project life cycle. Anthony is CM-BIM certified (AGC of America) and holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California.

Figure 4: Up-to-date project information can be accessed in its native format, enabling owners to better understand built assets

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AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

3ds Max 2022

by: Todd Rogers

Civil View: What Is It? And How Do I Use It? O

ne of the most underrated, unused features of 3ds Max is Civil View. Civil View is what I use to animate cars in InfraWorks. Most users don’t know that you can do this. The best part about it, is that you don’t have to know how to use 3ds Max to accomplish this task.

I have taught this as Autodesk University twice and have several videos out on YouTube explaining

how to do this. And what better way to reach more people than to post it right here in AUGIWORLD magazine!

WHAT SOFTWARE IS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS?

Hopefully most users are subscribed to the AEC Collection. In this process, you are going to need the following software: Civil 3D, InfraWorks, and 3ds Max.

20 AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

3ds Max 2022 I have been doing this simple operation for quite some time. So, the whole process has been the same with several different versions of the software.

In this article I am going to be using the 2022 products. Same process, same results; except for ONE small setting in InfraWorks that has changed.

This will be discussed later in the article.

INFRAWORKS

This is going to be the first process. Open InfraWorks and choose an existing model or create a new one. Then, you are going to pick a location to create a component road. It can be a two lane, four lanes, or whatever your choice. Make sure to change the width of your lanes to be an even number. For some reason, InfraWorks lanes by default are 11.81’. I make mine an even 12’.

Figure 1 Figure 3

What I like to do when showing this procedure is drape the component road on to the terrain.

Alternatively, you can have the road anyway in InfraWorks. This is YOUR imagination. Then, you need to get a point-to-point distance from the centerline of the road you’re tying into, to around about where the end return is on your component road as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2 augiworld.com

The reason we do this is to not let the cars extend into the middle of the road. This is in case you will be having traffic moving along the road that you’re tying into perpendicularly. Remember this value and distance. From the image, you can see my measurement is 23.4’. I will make it an even 24’.

Next, export your road out to IMX. This is located on the Present/Share tab. Use the Polygon selection method. Make sure you have a coordinate system set because of use in Civil 3D. See Figures 2 & 3.

December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

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3ds Max 2022

Figure 5

To do this, go to the Home tab, Feature Line>Create Feature Lines from Alignment. The important part here is that you MUST place the feature line on a Site, and uncheck the Create Dynamic Link to the Alignment as shown inFigure 4.

Figure 4

CIVIL 3D

Open Civil 3D. On the Insert tab, click on Open InfraWorks Model.

Select the IMX file that you exported from InfraWorks. Do NOT use the Refine Selection option.

You want to bring everything in from the IMX file.

Now change all of the surfaces to _No Display. You will notice that with the newer versions, a corridor in created for you automatically from InfraWorks.

Nice feature, but you can either freeze the corridor, or use the Isolate Objects>Hide Selected Objects option. Now you are only left with the road alignment.

Next, we are going to create a feature line from the alignment.

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Figure 6

AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

3ds Max 2022 Once you click OK, then you will see 0 vertices will be weeded. Figure 5 shows what you want.

Now you will have a feature line with elevations along the alignment. We will now need to add more elevations along the feature line at 5’ increments to “smooth” the feature line. Click the feature line and in the contextual ribbon, choose Insert Elevation Point. On the command line, choose Increment and then type in 5.

Figure 7

Remember the distance from the centerline to the end return we did in InfraWorks? That distance will not be used to trim the feature line back.

Mine was 24’. I do this by offsetting the alignments that are perpendicular to the alignment/feature line. When you offset these alignments, they are now polylines and those can be used to trim the feature line. See Figure 6.

Your feature line should now look like Figure 7.

Now navigate to the Output tab and choose Export to 3ds Max. In the dialog box, uncheck everything, then only check your feature line as shown in Figure 8.

Click the Export button to save your file.

You are now finished with Civil 3D.

Figure 8

3DS MAX

Open 3ds Max. If you’re using a more recent version, then Civil View will already be installed. The older versions require you to manually install Civil View.

Click on Civil View. This is the first run of it, so it “initializes” it. Now when you click on Civil View, you will have the functionality. We will ONLY be using Civil View to accomplish this. There are only 2 small operations where we will actually use a 3ds Max function.

Figure 9

augiworld.com

Click Civil View>Geometry Import>Civil 3D (VSP3D) File. Select the file you exported from Civil 3D (Figure 9).

December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

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3ds Max 2022

Figure 10

Figure 11

24 AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

3ds Max 2022 Next, click on the feature line, then make sure you check the box next to it when it shows up to the right as shown in Figure 10.

Click OK. You will immediately see a dialog box stating that there are global import shift settings.

3ds Max does not work unless it’s close to it’s 0,0.

So, Max shifts the import closer to 0,0 and gives the X and Y shift. We will need to know these numbers at the end to input the exact OPPOSITE into InfraWorks. I’ll show you later how to retrieve these numbers. Click YES, and then YES again.

You will now see your feature line. Now click Civil View>Civil View>Civil View Explorer and dock this dialog box to the left. Next, click Civil View>Civil View>Object Placement Style Editor.

Click the Add New Element button. Click the Parent Shape button, then select your feature line. At the bottom of the dialog box, select Cars (16). Under Longitudinal Placement, toggle the radio button for Multiple Random Station. For Count, change to 10. Then specify your Miles/hr:. I’m choosing 45. If you see KM/hr, you can change this by going to Civil View>Civil View>Preferences. Click the Localization tab and change to “miles”. Now click the Resource Kit Paths and change to US IMPERIAL.

Next, under Lateral Placement, the Horz. Offset is going to be 6. Remember, I changed my lane width to 12 in InfraWorks. So, half of 12 is 6. Under Other Options, check the box for Use Random Object(s) from the selected Category. Click Apply.

You will now see the cars on the right-hand side of the feature line. Move the scrubber bar to see your cars moving (Figure 11).

Under the Object Definition at the top of the dialog box, you are going to right-click on the Random [Cars] and choose Copy, then right-click again and Paste.

Now we will change a few of the settings to the exact opposite. So, for miles/hr, I’m changing mine to -45, Horiz Offset to -6.0 and Rotation to 180. Click Apply. See Figure 12 Click OK, then No. Move the scrubber bar and make sure you don’t have cars on top of each other like I do shown in the Figure 13.

To fix this, simply click on the vehicle and in the Civil View Explorer, move the Station Control. You can also, add vehicles here, change vehicles, change

Figure 12 augiworld.com

December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

25

3ds Max 2022 rectangle you just drew around the model, and right-click on the Move command. See Figure 14.

Notice in the previous image that some of my model is outside of the rectangle. It needs to be completely inside of the rectangle. So, I’m going to use the Scale command to stretch my rectangle to completely engulf the model.

Once you do that, then navigate to the right and click on the Modify button. Expand Rendering and check the boxes for Enable in Renderer and Enable in Viewport. See Figure 15.

Figure 13

their colors, etc.

If you click on Scene Settings in the Civil View Explorer, you will see the Global Import Shift as I mentioned earlier. Take note of this now. You can do a screen shot or write it down. We will use this in InfraWorks.

Now we will draw a rectangle around the model. Place your view in Top View. Navigate to Create>Shapes>Rectangle. We now need to move the rectangle closer to the 3ds Max 0,0. Select your

Next, right-click on the rectangle and choose Convert to Edible Mesh.

You will now need to convert the Mental Ray to Standard. Below is a link that will take you to the file. You can simply drag and drop it into 3ds Max. https://www.dropbox.com/s/tpkr3lwxn9tm5wm/ convert%20mr%20to%20standard%20material. ms?dl=0 We are now finished with 3ds Max. Go to File>Export>Export. Change the file type to Autodesk Collada (*.dae). Give it a name and

Figure 14

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AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

3ds Max 2022

Figure 15

location, then click Save. In the dialog box, expand Animation, then expand Bake Animation. Check the box beside Bake Animation, then click OK. Depending on how long your road is, and how many vehicles you decided to use (Remember I used 10 on each side), depends on the time it takes to export.

Figure 17

You may receive a couple of error messages. You can simply ignore them.

We are now finished with 3ds Max. Reminder – take note of the Global Import Shift numbers.

INFRAWORKS

Back in InfraWorks, we are going to open the Data Sources dialog box from the Manage tab. Click the arrow next to Add File Data Source and choose 3D Model (Figure 16).

Figure 16 augiworld.com

Navigate to your file you exported from 3ds Max. Once it shows up in the list, double-click it to configure it. For Type, choose City Furniture.

Set your coordinate system to the same coordinate system you used in the beginning and in Civil 3D. Under Offset, put the digits from the Global Import Shift in the X and Y. NOTE: these need to be the exact opposite.

Mine were negative values in 3ds Max, so here, I’m entering them as positive values. Next, the data transfer comes in Meters from some reason. So, we need to specify that scale under the Scale section for the X, Y, and Z. The conversion factor for Meters to Feet is 3.2808. This value goes into X, Y, and Z. December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

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3ds Max 2022

Figure 18

Click Close and Refresh.

You should now see the cars on your road. However, they are ghosted. This is something that has recently changed. So, to fix this, go back into the Configure dialog box by double-clicking on it from the Data Sources dialog box.

On the 3D Model tab, check the box to Invert Transparency. Now, click Close and Refresh. You should now see your cars as they should be in Figure 18.

CONCLUSION

There are several different methods for creating animation for InfraWorks. This is by far the easiest.

Perhaps in another article we will dive into animating objects. Check out my YouTube page for videos on how to do what we just did in this article and more animation for InfraWorks. https://www.youtube.com/c/rekids3113

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Mr. Todd Rogers is a certified Partner Service Expert (P.S.E.) and certified Autodesk instructor with over 28+ years of experience in teaching, managing, and providing hardware and software solutions for hundreds of engineering firms throughout the greater Houston, Texas area.

Mr. Rogers is a valued member of Walter P Moore, where he works as a BIM Manager. He also holds the “Autodesk Expert Elite” status - a program to recognize individual community members who have made extraordinary contributions with helping customers by sharing knowledge, providing community leadership, and exemplifying an engaging style of collaboration that drives a healthy and valuable Autodesk customer community. Todd is also the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for AUGI, and the Editor-in-Chief for AUGIWORLD magazine. He is an active blogger. Through his personal blog website (civil3dj. wordpress.com), he shares tips and solutions with Autodesk software issues.

AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

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AutoCAD 2022

by: Daniel Davis

Creating An Amazing Prototype In AutoCAD: The Process, Tips And Tricks

T

he creation of AutoCad was a true revolution in the 3D modeling industry. They were first on the market, and they are still thriving and used by professionals thirty years later.

Any engineer can state that AutoCad is an irreplaceable tool and the plethora of its features has almost an infinite number of ways to use it.

We can write a whole saga about all the amazing things you can do in AutoCAD, but today we will

focus only on some of them. Let’s look at how you can create an outstanding prototype in AutoCAD software.

THE PROCESS OF CREATING AUTOCAD MODELS AND PROTOTYPES

Every product you have on your shelf, in your hands, or overall in your home once went through the process of product prototyping.

30 AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

AutoCAD 2022

The process usually involves three crucial steps: drawing a concept sketch by hand, creating a digital model in AutoCAD, and then making a physical copy of your product.

On the first, arguably the most important part of the whole process, you need to come up with your design and hand-draw it on a piece of paper. It is useful to add as many details as you can at this stage of the process because you don’t really know what will work out in the end and what will be tossed into the trash.

Next, you have your detailed concept sketch, and it is time to make its digital copy in AutoCAD. You can create a 2D or 3D render of your product, depending on your needs. This prototype is needed for creating a physical prototype and the product itself in the future.

Now we are on the final stage, and we use 3D printing or one of the types of rapid prototyping (there’s a lot of them on the market) to create a

augiworld.com

physical embodiment of your idea. Now you only need to refine your prototype to make it look exactly right, and that’s it!

ADVANTAGES OF AUTOCAD FOR PROTOTYPING

The first and foremost advantage of the program is an abundance of features that can be used to prototype pretty much every type of design: from urban development and machinery to interior design and sculpture creation.

You can choose from a line of products the exact software you need for your specific prototyping requirements. You can use a couple of AutoCAD products simultaneously because all of them were built on the same basis.

AutoCAD has pretty frequent software updates and a very flexible design. You can customize your AutoCAD workplace according to your preferences and need to use the exact number of tools you want in this particular project.

December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

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AutoCAD 2022 And lastly, AutoCAD gives you very realistic, even photorealistic prototypes, so usually, what you see on your monitor, you will get in real life mockup.

DISADVANTAGES OF AUTOCAD FOR PROTOTYPING

AutoCAD drawings could not be used to edit in other tools, and AutoCAD can’t edit drawings created in other graphic programs.

Some features of AutoCAD are too old. The program has existed for decades, and it shows in different areas that may look confusing to some users. Newer software like 3D max looks much more intuitive compared to AutoCAD. You can’t look back at the history of creating your project because AutoCAD does not support it.

That’s why you usually need to record your creative process to have some backups of it (more on this later).

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Also, AutoCAD does not have a feature of 3D parameterization, which can be crucial for some users. And the last thing that is a serious con against AutoCAD is its high requirements: you need a pretty powerful PC or Mac (if you use AutoCAD for Mac) to use the software to the fullest.

TIPS AND TRICKS

To finish our article, we would like to share some of our favorite tips and tricks we learned during these years spent with AutoCAD. Some of them were literal lifesavers for us multiple times.

1. Use hyperlinks on your objects to add specification information, links to a manufacturer, or any other info that can be useful later.

2. Files in AutoCAD can be hefty, and if you need to reduce the size of your project and don’t lose anything, consider using blocks for it. Yes, it really works!

3. Always record your creative process in AutoCAD in case you will need proof that you came up

AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

AutoCAD 2022

with the idea or if you lost the digital prototype.

Videos speak much louder than words, and the creative process captured with Lightworks or Movavi software will help you to patent your product and protect it in the future.

4. Did you know that AutoCAD has more than a hundred shortcuts? Of course, they can change your life completely, so check out the full list here.

5. If you need to get an image from your AutoCAD project and it needs to have a high resolution (which simple screen capturing will never give you), use Publish to web plot drivers to get an image in almost every format!

6. AutoCAD has numerous add-ons for any circumstances. One of our favorites is the TRANS add-on that will allow you to translate texts in your project into one of the given languages. Of course, this method is not perfect because the add-on uses Google Translate for this matter.

However, if you have a text in your project that needs to be presented in several languages and you can proofread it later, this add-on can become your new magic tool. augiworld.com

CONCLUSION

AutoCAD is a market leader, and prototypes created with this mastodon of the software world are usually impeccable.

If you need to create and make real your design idea, there’s no better tool than AutoCAD for sure. It will allow you to create a high-quality digital copy of your design and make it real through 3D printing.

Daniel Davis a digital marketer with more than 10 years of experience. He is a contributor to Content Marketing Institute and regularly quoted as an expert in large media outlets.

His job is to make your business known all over the Internet.

December 2021 | AUGIWorld Magazine

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Inside Track

by: Brian Andresen

Welcome to AUGIWorld Inside Track! Check out the latest opportunities to advance your skills, processes, and workflows in your firm with the most current AEC-related software and hardware updates available.

XOMETRY INSTANT QUOTE APP 2.0

https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/ Detail/Index?id=5430166430880711212&ap pLang=en&os=Win64 Autodesk Fusion 360 This App enables users to instantly get price and lead time estimates and design-for-manufacturability feedback from Xometry, allowing design engineers to see the direct impact of design changes on their part’s cost and manufacturability without leaving Autodesk® Fusion 360™. This instant feedback allows creators to make better parts and increase speed to market. The Xometry Instant Quote App is free and downloadable directly from the Autodesk Fusion 360 App Store.

Seamless Instant Quoting: Direct integration with our machine learning-trained Xometry Instant QuotingSM Engine enables you to weigh the cost impact of design decisions by instantly pricing your parts and offering lead time estimates in one integrated CAD workspace.

New: • In-App Design Feedback: The Xometry App displays design for manufacturing (DFM) feedback directly in the CAD environment, saving you valuable time in design optimization.

•

Multiple Part Uploads: Users can now upload multiple parts of their project at the same time.

•

Xometry EU Login with Additional Language Support (FR, DE, IT) for EU Market. Xometry EU users can now use the same Xometry App to enjoy Xometry instant quoting experience in Fusion 360

Order From Fusion 360: Use the Xometry App to directly order designs through Xometry who offers a wide range of manufacturing processes including 3D printing, CNC, sheet metal, urethane casting, and more.

About Xometry: Xometry is a leading AI-enabled marketplace for on-demand manufacturing, transforming one of the largest industries in the world. Xometry uses its proprietary technology to create a marketplace that enables buyers to efficiently source on-demand manufactured parts and assemblies and empowers sellers of manufacturing services to grow their businesses. Xometry’s buyers range from self-funded startups to Fortune 100 companies. Learn more at www. xometry.com or follow @xometry.

VCAD

https://www.vcad.it/ A C C & BIM 360 Vcad is the integration between Autodesk Construction Cloud® and Microsoft Power BI®, that allows the easy and immediate creation of reports and dashboards, using the data and graphic elements of your BIM files.

With Vcad you can automatically generate Power BI reports that will contain a fully interactable rendering of the model as well as all the data defined in the model, including: all the elements of the model, the defined attributes of the elements, all the spaces and their relations with the elements of the model.

Vcad will allow you to enhance your business intelligence and analytics by using data coming from your IFC, Autodesk® Revit® and Autodesk® Navisworks® files (soon more to come).

FILTERMORE

https://apps.autodesk.com/RVT/en/Detail/ Index?id=4005291581487532621&appLang =en&os=Win64 Autodesk Revit: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 FilterMore is an advanced filter that will let you view your current selection as single elements and grouped by category, family, and type. It will also let you expand your current selection through different options like nested, joined, hosted or a host of elements.

Also tired of losing your current selection? FilterMore will add additional buttons as a fast way to store a temporal selection where you can append or restore it.

With Pre-Filter you will be able to filter by category before making any selection.

AUGIWorld brings you recent developments in Autodesk and related software items

If you have some news to share with us for future issues, please let us know. Likewise, if you are a user of a featured product or news item and would like to write a review, we want to know. brian.andresen@augi.com 34 AUGIWorld Magazine | December 2021 augi.com

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