Autodesk Updates AutoCAD-Based Solutions for Architects, Civil and MEP Engineers
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12 / -- At its World Press Day event today, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) unveiled updates to its comprehensive portfolio of discipline-specific software solutions based on the AutoCAD software platform for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC). Autodesk also announced that several product names have been modified to reflect their sharing the AutoCAD 2008 platform for design and documentation productivity.
AutoCAD Architecture 2008 (formerly Autodesk Architectural Desktop), AutoCAD MEP (formerly Autodesk Building Systems) and AutoCAD Civil 3D software applications incorporate new features and functionality to help architects, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) and civil engineers improve productivity and increase efficiency. Enhancements in these AutoCAD-based applications also pave the way for architects, designers and engineers to streamline fundamental tasks and redefine traditional design process.
"From our vantage point as a driving force in design software, we can see tremendous opportunity for our customers to continue to improve design and documentation productivity for even the basic tasks of engineering and building design," said Jay Bhatt, vice president, Autodesk AEC Solutions. "The latest updates to our portfolio of 2D and 3D tools are improving established ways of working, and make meaningful enhancements to the functions that are integral to our customers' work."
Updates Raise the Standard for Core 2D and Modeling-based Activities
The latest application updates are built on the AutoCAD 2008 platform, also announced today (see "Autodesk Enhances Industry-leading AutoCAD Software," Feb. 13, 2007). Autodesk now offers customers state-of-the-art 2D and 3D model-based software solutions that bring innovations in conceptual design, dynamic modeling and usability to design workflow and core tasks. These features and functions boost the speed and coordination of drafting and modeling work.
AutoCAD Architecture 2008
AutoCAD Architecture provides the best AutoCAD-based design and documentation productivity for architects. AutoCAD Architecture 2008 makes it easier for users familiar with AutoCAD to automate tedious drafting tasks so design documentation can be completed more easily and more quickly.
New features and functionality in AutoCAD Architecture 2008 include:
o Automatic scaling of drawing production allows users to simply change the scale of the design, and the annotations including dimensions, tags and leaders are automatically updated.
o Changing building elements and components display (such as a door and its swing) is now as easy as modifying AutoCAD linework.
o New Drawing Compare feature, available through the Autodesk Subscription program, uses color-coded displays to show items on a drawing that have been changed, added or deleted by other members of the design team. Changes to items such as styles, fire ratings or other non-graphical properties also can be tracked.
AutoCAD MEP 2008
AutoCAD MEP 2008 is AutoCAD-based software for mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineers, designers and drafters. AutoCAD MEP 2008 software brings efficiency to AutoCAD-based workflows for greater productivity and accuracy, which also helps minimize coordination errors between architecture and engineering teams.
New features in AutoCAD MEP 2008 include:
o Automation of MEP systems design, layout and documentation, including single line plumbing, electrical layout and piping.
o Part wizard to speed creation of new parts with predefined parametric templates.
o International metric content, for documentation in global projects using international metric measurements.
o Improved display control for construction documentation and display.
AutoCAD Civil 3D
Autodesk provides civil engineers, designers, surveyors and drafters with a comprehensive AutoCAD-based package that uses a dynamic model to link design and production drafting for site development, road design and more. This capability enables changes to update across the project, so that all team members work from the same consistent, up-to-date design. AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008 is helping civil engineers redefine design by using proven technology to eliminate much of the tedious step-by-step development of plans. At the same time, Civil 3D helps speed execution of design changes and facilitates evaluation of multiple design scenarios.
Key features in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008 include:
o Enhanced multiuser environment for work on larger, more complex projects.
o Interactive design capabilities and feature automation for greater productivity, such as automatic generation and updates to roadway plan and profile sheets.
o Increased survey functionality to create base geometry faster and move data from and to the field.
o Interoperability and migration for multiple data formats, including Google Earth mapping functionality and the DWF file specification.
AEC Solutions Portfolio Consolidates Products, Services
In addition to updating industry-leading applications, Autodesk has consolidated its efforts across architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) to better serve the increasingly integrated teams and processes across the industry as well as the business needs of the individual disciplines within the industry. Autodesk AEC solutions include industry-leading civil engineering, building design and engineering, and building operation applications, as well as collaborative project management (CPM) tools for construction. In addition to AutoCAD-based applications, the portfolio features the latest Revit family of products for building information modeling (BIM), Autodesk FMDesktop software for facility management, and Autodesk Buzzsaw and Autodesk Constructware software and services for CPM.
Availability
Product availability will vary by country. Details on purchasing options will be available in the spring at: http://www.autodesk.com/purchaseoptions.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit http://www.autodesk.com/.
Contact: Elizabeth Bennett, (503) 348-7246
Email: elizabeth.bennett@edelman.com
Source: Autodesk, Inc.
Web site: http://www.autodesk.com/
