ConstructionAdvisorToday

AutoCAD For Mac Available for Purchase

Autodesk Inc. earlier this month announced that AutoCAD for Mac is now available for purchase. This version of AutoCAD software, one of the most widely used applications for professional design and engineering, makes AutoCAD features and functionality available to customers who choose to work natively on the Mac.

"AutoCAD for Mac has an intuitive interface that will feel familiar to Mac users and takes full advantage of Mac OS X, including graphical browsing of design files with Cover Flow and use of Multi-Touch gestures for pan and zoom on Mac notebooks, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad," Autodesk stated. "With native creation and editing of files in the DWG file format, AutoCAD for Mac also supports easy collaboration with suppliers, customers, clients and partners regardless of platform. AutoCAD for Mac is also integrated with AutoCad WS, so users can also upload and manage designs in their online workspace directly from the desktop and easily edit and share those designs through a Web browser or Apple iOS devices using the free AutoCad WS mobile application." 

Ascent -- Center for Technical Knowledge Releases Training Guide for AutoDesk 2011

Framingham, Mass.-based Rand Worldwide, which provides technology solutions to organizations with engineering design and information technology requirements, announced today that its courseware division, Ascent -- Center for Technical Knowledge, released the following training guide for Autodesk 2011 software: AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 Fundamentals.

The AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 Fundamentals training guide is designed for civil engineers and surveyors who want to take advantage of AutoCAD Civil 3D's interactive design functionality. Ascent's 2011 training guide now includes more practice exercises, allowing students to take a single project through to completion. This training guide also provides techniques enabling users to organize project data, work with points, create and analyze surfaces, model road corridors, create parcel layouts, perform grading and volume calculation tasks, and lay out pipe networks.

Archibus Compliant with COBie Standards

Archibus, a developer worldwide of real estate, infrastructure, facilities and environmental management software, announces that it is compliant with Open Standards Consortium for Real Estate's (OSCRE) Space Classifications (SPCL V1.0) criteria as well as with Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) standards.

Working with these two organizations will allow Archibus to help establish common data exchange standards for real property and facilities management data that improves administrative and operational efficiency, particularly in the federal government sector.

Primavera P3 and SureTrak Sales To Cease December 31, 2010

It's official. Over the past two or three years, rumors have proffered the cessation of sales and/or support of Primavera P3 (Primavera Project Planner) and SureTrak; indeed, there have even been published dates, such as on Oracle's GSA schedule available on the Internet. Each year the rumors prove false or Oracle/Primavera has moved the published date back. This time, it appears to be official -- our sources at Oracle have confirmed Primavera P3 and SureTrak will no longer be sold after December 31, 2010. "Sustaining" support for P3 and SureTrak will continue indefinitely.

Condotte America Selects Prolog to Standardize Construction Management Processes

Condotte America has selected the Prolog solution to standardize construction management processes for its day-to-day construction activities. Condotte is working directly with Intuitive Systems, an authorized Meridian Systems Global reseller serving Florida and Latin America.

Condotte, a heavy and highway contractor specializing in bridge work, roadways, mass transit, and toll plazas, initially began using ProjectTalk, the on-demand version of Prolog software offered in a hosted environment. ProjectTalk allowed Condotte to better track change labor and materials, management issues, contract invoices, owner requisitions, email correspondence, and requests for information.

Tacoma Washington Becomes Newest Client of Projectmates Construction Management Software

Systemates July 15 announced the City of Tacoma, Wash., as the newest client of the company's construction management software, Projectmates.  After a comprehensive bidding process, the Environmental Services Science and Engineering Division in the city's Public Works Department chose Projectmates to manage the construction of its capital improvement projects.

Construction will begin in early August on the city's Solid Waste Recovery and Transfer Center at the Tacoma Landfill. The new center will provide space for separating and recovering recyclable materials from the waste stream. Lewis Griffith is the professional civil engineer and project manager for the center.

QA Graphics Expands Capabilities to Provide BIM Design

QA Graphics has expanded its capabilities to provide building information modeling (BIM) design for building product manufacturers.

QA Graphics provides various graphic outsourcing solutions for the building industry, including the creation of 3D models and animations for manufacturers' building products, designing control system graphics, and the development of energy education dashboards to provide education about a building's sustainable features. The company has worked with several manufacturers to provide 3D design and animation services to represent their heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment.

Construction Expert Offers Advice on Change-Management Issues Involving Construction Projects

Before developing a strategy for managing change in construction projects, it is imperative to understand why change occurs, Bruce Hallock, vice president of Marsh Risk Consulting, told attendees of a webinar that CPC/BIM sponsored June 22.

There are six primary causes of change in construction, Hallock said during the webinar, entitled "Change Management: Managing Change vs. Administering the Change Order Process." Such causes include the following: differing site conditions; design revisions; errors and omissions; performance errors; market conditions; and conscious decisions.

New Releases Announced for Two Reed Products

Reed Construction Data (RCD) earlier this month announced new releases for two of its building information modeling (BIM) products, SmartBIM Library 4.0 and SmartBIM QTO 2.0, which now include support for Revit 2011 from Autodesk.

The enhancements to SmartBIM Library make object content management easier by improving performance for publishing and filtering large catalogs of BIM family content, RCD stated. "These enhancements and the other features of SmartBIM Library can drastically reduce time spent managing and organizing Revit families."

World Market for Green Building Materials Expected to Reach $406 Billion by 2015

The world's market for green building materials is expected to reach $406 billion by 2015, according to a new report entitled "Green Building Materials: A Global Strategic Business Report."

In announcing the report's release, Global Industry Analysts Inc. (GIA) asserted that growth primarily will be driven by increased awareness of environmental concerns the world over, high energy costs, increasing awareness that green buildings enhance well-being and worker productivity, and decreasing costs of green building materials.