Beyond the Paper

List of Autodesk Products by Industry

Autodesk serves three industries:

• Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC)
• Product Design and Manufacturing (PD&M)
• Media and Entertainment (M&E)

More and more, we find that these industries are converging:

• Autodesk customers who make buildings (AEC) are starting to behave more like customers who make things (PD&M). Whereas buildings used to be one-offs, more and more, parts of buildings (e.g., trusses) are being constructed offsite in environmentally-controlled warehouses, brought to the construction site, and assembled into position. AEC customers are suddenly concerned with mass production and quality control.
• Autodesk customers who make things (PD&M) are starting to make more bespoke items. Instead of setting up huge factories to make thousands of identical items, manufacturers are becoming more agile, configuring microfactories to make small runs of personalized items, much like the traditional one-offs of AEC buildings.
• Both AEC and PD&M customers see the benefit in showcasing what they make via Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality that has been a mainstay of the M&E industry for years. To make the M&E experience more real, game companies are starting to use the same reality capture technology used for scanning construction as-builts — just like AEC general contractors.

So with this in mind, I was reluctant to sort the cheat sheet of products by industry. Recall that one of our summer interns, Courtney Yu, created a cheat sheet, a sort of Cliff's Notes, of Autodesk products. Although any customer from any industry may be able to reap the benefits from any product (which is even more likely due to convergence), I thought I'd take a crack at sorting Courtney's list by primary industry.

---

AEC

"As an architect you are a builder. You are of course more than a builder. You need to be a militant, you have to be a poet, you have to be a visionary, you have to be an artist. But certainly you have to be a builder. Everything starts from there."
— Renzo Piano, architect

• 3ds Max: 3D modeling/rendering for design visualization and animation
• A360: view/share files (including 2D and 3D designs) anywhere, cloud
• Advance Steel: 3D modeling for steel detailing, design, fabrication, and construction
• AEC Collection: set of integrated tools for Building Information Modeling (BIM) and CAD workflows
• Assemble Systems: web-based 3D solution for extracting metadata, adding code, collaborating, and connecting to allow project personnel to make better decisions and deliver projects on time and in budget
• AutoCAD: create 3D and 2D drawings; used by architects, engineers, construction professionals; can be used desktop (PC and Mac), mobile, or web
  • Architecture: design and draft architectural designs (renovations, walls/doors/windows, design/documentation, room documentation)
  • Electrical: create, modify, and document electrical controls systems with an industry-specific toolset for electrical design
  • LT: limited technology version of AutoCAD for 2D-only without ability to add plug-ins
  • LT for Mac: limited technology version of AutoCAD for MacOS
  • Map 3D: incorporates geographic information system and CAD data with industry-specific toolset for GIS and 3D mapping; has topographical data, analysis tools, can convert data to intelligent industry models, surfaces and point cloud tools
  • MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing): draft, design, and document building systems
  • Mobile app (formerly AutoCAD 360): can create, edit, view CAD drawings from non-desktop devices
  • OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): exclusively for those who develop (or want to develop) customized applications based on AutoCAD; Partner Program (Build, Bundle, and Integrate partnership agreements for third party solution developers or independent software vendors)
  • P&ID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram): create and edit P&IDs, 3D models, and extract piping orthographics and isometrics with industry-specific toolset for plant design
  • Plant 3D: design, model, and document process plants with the comprehensive AutoCAD plant design and layout toolset; 3d plant design for designers and engineers
  • Raster Design: raster design tools in specialized toolset to edit scanned drawings and convert raster images to DWG objects; image editing/cleanup, vectorization tools, image transformation functionality
  • Revit LT BIM (Building Information Modeling) Suite: helps produce high-quality 3D architectural designs and documentation; helps transition to BIM
• AutoCAD Civil 3D: civil infrastructure design and documentation, improve drafting, design, and construction documentation
• BIM (Building Information Modeling) 360: collaborative/cloud software
  • Coordinate (formerly Glue): BIM collaboration; conduct constructability review process on jobsite or in office; identify costly issues during preconstruction
  • Coordinate iPad app: tablet application for the Apple iPad
  • Design (formerly Team or Collaboration4Revit): create and update building information models using collaboration
  • Docs: construction document management; share/view/edit/etc. construction drawings, documents, and models
  • Field: construction project management; track field performance; create, assign, and manage issues, RFIs and submittals
  • Field iPad app: tablet application for the Apple iPad
  • Ops: mobile-first asset and maintenance management solution, enables general contractors and building owners to realize the value of BIM in building operations
  • Plan: construction production planning; mobile-first approach to production planning; build work plans using Lean Construction principles
  • Plan iPad app: tablet application for the Apple iPad
• BuildingConnected: cloud-based communication for builders to send invitations to bid, qualify vendors, and track opportunities during preconstruction
• Design Review: non-CAD users can view, mark up, print, and track changes to 2D and 3D DWF files for free without original design software
• Drive: CAD-aware storage for individuals and small teams
• DWG TrueView: view AutoCAD drawings (DWG files) and convert DWG file versions
• Dynamo Studio: computational BIM design, stand-alone programming environment that enables designers to create visual logic to explore parametric conceptual designs and automate tasks
• Fabrication: create Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) models, generate estimates, and drive fabrication; more accurate estimates for MEP building system projects through detailing, fabrication, and installation
  • CADmep: detailing software for MEP contractors
  • CAMduct: duct fabrication software for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) contractors
  • ESTmep: estimation software for MEP contractors
• Forge: cloud-based developer tools; connect teams, workflows, and build new services to address today's connected customer; helps companies build applications that tap into their design and engineering data
• FormIt Pro: architectural modeling; enables them to sketch, collaborate, analyze, and share early-stage design concepts
• InfraWorks: supports BIM processes; conceptualizes, optimizes, and visualizes infrastructure projects
• InfraWorks iPad app: tablet application for the Apple iPad
• Insight: architects and engineers can design more energy-efficient buildings with simulation engines and building performance analysis data integrated in Revit
• Navisworks: 3D model review for architecture, engineering, and construction
  • Freedom: viewer that allows integration and coordinate alignment of various file formats
  • Manage: 3D clash detection and advanced coordination, 5D (3D plus time and cost) analysis, and simulation tools
  • Simulate: review and communicate project details through 5D analysis and simulation
• ObjectARX: provides object-oriented C++, C#, and VB .NET application programming interfaces for developers to use, customize, and extend AutoCAD software and products
• PlanGrid: cloud-based construction management system (with an offline mode) that provides stakeholders with access to all project information from wherever they are
• Point Layout: point placement and construction site layout
• ReCap and ReCap Pro: create 3D models with reality capture, convert reality into 3D models or 2D drawing that's ready for further design
• Rendering as a Service: fast, high-resolution cloud rendering that takes advantage of virtually infinite computing power to create photorealistic and high-resolution images in less time
• Revit: multidisciplinary BIM for higher quality, coordinated designs; produce model-based building designs and documentation
• Revit LT: limited technology version of Revit
• Robot Structural Analysis Professional: BIM structural analysis for engineers
• Structural Bridge Design: integrated bridge analysis for architecture, engineering, and construction
• Vehicle Tracking: transportation analysis and design built for vehicle swept path analysis for architecture, engineering, and construction

PD&M

"Good design is obvious. Great design is transparent."
— Joe Sparano, designer

• 3ds Max: 3D modeling/rendering for product design visualization and animation
• Alias: industrial design and Class-A surfacing, includes sketching, concept modeling, surfacing, and visualization tools for industrial, product, and automotive design
  • AutoStudio: automotive fast design and styling; concept modeling, analysis, technical surfacing, visualization
  • Concept: automotive conceptual design; sketching, fast concept modeling, visualization tools
  • Design: develop/communicate 3D product designs from concept to final surfaces
  • SpeedForm: 2D sketches and curves to 3D design concepts
  • Surface: refine concept models into class-A surfaces for consumer and automotive designs
• AutoCAD: create 3D and 2D drawings; used by architects, engineers, construction professionals; can be used desktop (PC and Mac), mobile, or web
  • Inventor LT Suite: part-level 3D mechanical CAD, introduces 3D mechanical CAD into 2D workflows
  • Mechanical: mechanical engineering, 700,000+ intelligent parts and features (layer management, hidden lines, machinery generators and calculators, document 3D CAD models, detailing tools, etc.)
• CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics): computational fluid dynamics and thermal simulation tools to help predict product performance, optimize designs, and validate product behavior before manufacturing
• Configurator 360: cloud-based, enables engineers using Inventor to provide colleagues, sales reps, and end customers with web and mobile access to a 3D configuration of their products
• Drive: CAD-aware storage for individuals and small teams
• EAGLE: electronic design automation (EDA); enables printed circuit board (PCB) designers to seamlessly connect schematic diagrams, component placement, PCB routing, and comprehensive library content
• Fabrication: create Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) models, generate estimates, and drive fabrication; more accurate estimates for MEP building system projects through detailing, fabrication, and installation
  • CADmep: detailing software for MEP contractors
  • CAMduct: duct fabrication software for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) contractors
  • ESTmep: estimation software for MEP contractors
• Factory Design Utilities: plan, design, and install efficient factory layout; visualize and optimize factory designs; features: industrial machinery, facilities layout, engineering services, process analysis
• FeatureCAM: automates workflow from design to NC code; reduces programming time, and produces consistent results for CNC milling, turning, and wire applications
• Forge: cloud-based developer tools; connect teams, workflows, and build new services to address today's connected customer; helps companies build applications that tap into their design and engineering data
• Fusion: Integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE; entire workflow with one unified platform — including 3D Design and Modeling, Simulation, Generative Design, Documentation, Collaboration, Manufacturing
  • 360: cloud-based parametric and direct modeling
  • Lifecycle: Product Life Management (PLM), cloud operated
  • Team: collaboration for product design and manufacturing
• Helius: tools for working with composite materials
  • Composite: detailed info on composite material behavior without finite element analysis (FEA), integrate materials into designs
  • PFA: tools for enhanced FEA of composite structures, including progressive failure analysis
• Instructables: community of makers, typically amateurs and hobbyists, who share how-to documentation
• Inventor: 3D CAD for product design and engineering; mechanical design, documentation, and product simulation tools
  • CAM: integrated CAM for Inventor that simplifies CNC programming process
  • LT: a limited technology version of Inventor
  • Nastran: CAD-enabled finite element analysis for product design and manufacturing; simulation covers multiple analysis types including linear/nonlinear stress, dynamics, heat transfer
  • Nesting: CAD-embedded, true-shape nesting helps optimize yield from flat raw material for product design and manufacturing
  • Tolerance Analysis: CAD-embedded tolerance stackup analysis for product design and manufacturing
• Meshmixer: tool for working with triangle meshes (3D scanning, printing, design object, etc.)
• Moldflow: plastic injection and compression mold simulation
  • Adviser: plastic simulation tools for engineers and analysts to optimize part and mold designs to ensure molded part quality and manufacturability
  • Communicator: viewer to improve collaboration with an extended design team as well as stakeholders
  • Insight: complete set of advanced plastics engineering simulation tools for analysts to simulate the most advanced molding processes to avoid production delays
• Navisworks Manage: 3D clash detection and advanced coordination, 5D (3D plus time and cost) analysis, and simulation tools
• Netfabb: connected solution for additive manufacturing, design, and simulation
• PowerInspect: 3D measurement for range of hardware, inspecting complex-free surfaces
• PowerMill: expert high-speed and 5-axis machining, provides strategies for 3- and 5-axis subtractive and additive manufacturing
• PowerShape: prepares complex models for manufacture, combines surface, solid, and mesh modeling to help engineers prepare molds, dies, and other complex parts for manufacture
• PD&M Collection: complete set of tools to design, simulate, and make anything by integrating professional-grade CAD, CAM, and CAE technology
• ReCap and ReCap Pro: create 3D models with reality capture, convert reality into 3D models or 2D drawing that's ready for further design
• Rendering as a Service: fast, high-resolution cloud rendering that takes advantage of virtually infinite computing power to create photorealistic and high-resolution images in less time
• Tinkercad: free online collection of tools for students of all ages; introduction to Autodesk
• TruComposites: composite design, analysis, and manufacturing solution; provides comprehensive workflow for hand layup and automated fiber placement
• TruNest: fully integrated, automated nesting for various materials and machines; creates, optimizes, and manufactures nests on all standard machines
• Vault: manage data, track revisions, collaborate with PDM (product data management)
  • Basic: organize, manage, and track data creation and documentation for product design and manufacturing
  • Workgroup: integrate advanced functionality and features with business applications
  • Office: PDM for non-CAD users; works with Workgroup or Professional
  • Professional: scale multi-site business system integration
• VRED: 3D visualization; helps create product presentations, design reviews, and virtual prototypes
  • Design: review and evaluate automotive design ideas in real time
  • Professional: create high-end visualizations and virtual prototypes
  • Presenter: present product configurations in an interactive 3D environment
  • Server: render and stream 3D data on demand
• Within Medical: medical 3D printing and orthopedic implant design; create medical implants that are optimized for 3D printing

M&E

"Whoever controls the media — the images — controls the culture."
— Allen Ginsberg, American poet, philosopher, and writer

• 3ds Max: 3D modeling/rendering for games and animation
• Arnold: global illumination rendering, helps artists render complex scenes (3D visual effects)
• Character Generator: create custom and ready-to-animate 3D characters; control character's body, face, clothes, hair, etc.
• Creative Market: ready-to-use design assets from independent creators such as graphics, fonts, themes, photos, and more
• FBX: adaptable file format for 3D animation; data exchange technology; facilitates higher-fidelity data exchange between 3ds Max, Maya, MotionBuilder, Mudbox, etc.
• FBX Review and mobile app: cross-platform 3D model viewer
• Flame: 3D visual effects, finishing, and color grading; compositing, visual effects, and editorial finishing; faster composting, advanced graphics, color correction, etc.
• Flame Assist: timeline-centric, fully compatible assistant station for Flame
• Flare: compatible creative assistant station in collaborative VFX workflows
• Lustre: real-time color grading for creative look development
• Forge: cloud-based developer tools; connect teams, workflows, and build new services to address today's connected customer; helps companies build applications that tap into their design and engineering data
• Maya: computer animation; 3D animation modeling, simulation, and rendering
• Maya LT: limited technology version of Maya
• Media and Entertainment (M&E) Collection: complete set of tools to take 3D assets and environments from first draft to final frames by creating incredible animations, designing rich environments with flexible procedural modeling, and rendering beautiful final results
• Motion FX: create real-time video effects with computer camera
• MotionBuilder: capture, edit, and playback character animation
• Mudbox: 3D digital painting and sculpting
• ReCap and ReCap Pro: create 3D models with reality capture, convert reality into 3D models or 2D drawing that's ready for further design
• Rendering as a Service: fast, high-resolution cloud rendering that takes advantage of virtually infinite computing power to create photorealistic and high-resolution images in less time
• Screencast: screen recording, capture recordings that allows anyone to capture, share and learn from software workflows
• Shotgun: simplifies creative project management and unifies visual effects, animation, and games teams
• SketchBook: digital drawing and painting apps
• Smoke: video effects links editing and FX tools; combines editing workflows with node-based compositing tools in timeline-based environment, helping production studios increase productivity

---

Autodesk has always been an automation company. Today, more than ever, that means helping our customers automate their design and make processes. We help them embrace the future of making, where they can do more (e.g., efficiency, performance, quality), with less (e.g., energy, raw materials, timeframes, waste of human potential), and realize the opportunity for better (e.g., innovation, user experience, return on investment). Our set of software products provides our customers with the opportunity for better.

Robots As Assistants Will Garner Our Affections

Though there's hype that robots will take our jobs, many like me at Autodesk believe that robots will become our assistants. We see robots moving from the factory floor to the construction site as the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry and Product Design and Manufacturing industry converge. According to this TED Talk, we may even develop an affection for our robot assistants:

Watching this TED video last week reminded me of a blog post that I wrote after watching Life of Pi.

 

---

May 20, 2013

"I love my computer
 you make me feel alright
 every waking hour
 and every lonely night"
— Bad Religion

When I attended Design Night on robotics, there was a discussion as to whether or not robots would ever have emotions. The audience was split about 50-50 in terms of answering yes and no. Last night I watched the movie, Life of Pi, via Netflix. In my opinion, it contained a related conversation between a father, Sanosh, and his young son, Pi, who almost lost an arm while attempting to feed a tiger by hand:

Sanosh Patel: You think tiger is your friend. He is an animal, not a playmate.
Pi Patel: Animals have souls. I have seen it in their eyes.
Sanosh Patel: When you look into his eyes, you are seeing your own emotions reflected back at you.

And there it is — why robots will one day have emotions. Robots will mimic physical characteristics that we humans will interpret as emotions. They will make smiles or frowns with fake lips, have wide-open or droopy mechanical eyes, and perhaps even tears. In the same way Pi believed that animals have souls from what he perceived in the tiger's eyes, people will project emotions on to robots.

As was presented on Design Night, researchers discussed the following:

Panelist: How would you feel if someone took a baseball bat to your refrigerator?
Respondent: I would not like it, but not so bad.
Panelist: How would you feel if someone took a baseball bat to your robot?
Respondent: I think I would feel the same.
Panelist: Then explain this. We had people play with a robot dog. After a short while, we gave them a bat and asked them to destroy the dog. They could not do it.

They say communication is defined by the receiver, not the sender. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I guess it's the same with emotion. People will see physical characteristics that they associate with human emotions and believe that the sender has these emotions when in fact it is they who are projecting the emotions on to the sender. Whoa! In the Design Night example, people believed the mechanical dog had feelings because it acted like a dog even though it was the equivalent of a blender or toaster.

Let me guess. He's angry?
source: fxguide.com

At the start of the Design Night, Adviser to the CEO/CTO, Jonathan Knowles, introduced the panelists and also recognized Dr. Don Greenberg who was in the audience. Dr. Greenberg is a professor at Cornell University and pioneer in computer graphics. Back in the early days had anyone asked him, or anyone else for that matter, if we'd ever see computer graphics that were so good that one could not distinguish them from a photograph, the answers would not have been split 50-50, but 100% no. But just look at visually striking movies, such as Life of Pi, today. No tiger was harmed in the making of the movie because the tiger was computer-generated. Robots are indeed in their infancy, but just give them time. One day we'll say "They're Gr-r-reat!" One day we might not be able to distinguish them from people — much like computer renderings and photographs.

Getting emotional is alive in the lab.

---

 

Autodesk has always been an automation company, and today more than ever that means helping people make more things, better things, with less; more and better in terms of increasing efficiency, performance, quality, and innovation; less in terms of time, resources, and negative impacts (e.g., social, environmental). Robots are just one part of that automation that allows customers to do more and better with less.

The Autodesk Galery experience includes

Though there's hype that robots will take our jobs, many like me at Autodesk believe that robots will become our assistants. We see robots moving from the factory floor to the construction site as the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry and Product Design and Manufacturing industry converge. According to this TED Talk, we may even develop an affection for our robot assistants:

Watching this TED video last week reminded me of a blog post that I wrote after watching Life of Pi.

 

---

May 20, 2013

"I love my computer
 you make me feel alright
 every waking hour
 and every lonely night"
— Bad Religion

When I attended Design Night on robotics, there was a discussion as to whether or not robots would ever have emotions. The audience was split about 50-50 in terms of answering yes and no. Last night I watched the movie, Life of Pi, via Netflix. In my opinion, it contained a related conversation between a father, Sanosh, and his young son, Pi, who almost lost an arm while attempting to feed a tiger by hand:

Sanosh Patel: You think tiger is your friend. He is an animal, not a playmate.
Pi Patel: Animals have souls. I have seen it in their eyes.
Sanosh Patel: When you look into his eyes, you are seeing your own emotions reflected back at you.

And there it is — why robots will one day have emotions. Robots will mimic physical characteristics that we humans will interpret as emotions. They will make smiles or frowns with fake lips, have wide-open or droopy mechanical eyes, and perhaps even tears. In the same way Pi believed that animals have souls from what he perceived in the tiger's eyes, people will project emotions on to robots.

As was presented on Design Night, researchers discussed the following:

Panelist: How would you feel if someone took a baseball bat to your refrigerator?
Respondent: I would not like it, but not so bad.
Panelist: How would you feel if someone took a baseball bat to your robot?
Respondent: I think I would feel the same.
Panelist: Then explain this. We had people play with a robot dog. After a short while, we gave them a bat and asked them to destroy the dog. They could not do it.

They say communication is defined by the receiver, not the sender. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I guess it's the same with emotion. People will see physical characteristics that they associate with human emotions and believe that the sender has these emotions when in fact it is they who are projecting the emotions on to the sender. Whoa! In the Design Night example, people believed the mechanical dog had feelings because it acted like a dog even though it was the equivalent of a blender or toaster.

Let me guess. He's angry?
source: fxguide.com

At the start of the Design Night, Adviser to the CEO/CTO, Jonathan Knowles, introduced the panelists and also recognized Dr. Don Greenberg who was in the audience. Dr. Greenberg is a professor at Cornell University and pioneer in computer graphics. Back in the early days had anyone asked him, or anyone else for that matter, if we'd ever see computer graphics that were so good that one could not distinguish them from a photograph, the answers would not have been split 50-50, but 100% no. But just look at visually striking movies, such as Life of Pi, today. No tiger was harmed in the making of the movie because the tiger was computer-generated. Robots are indeed in their infancy, but just give them time. One day we'll say "They're Gr-r-reat!" One day we might not be able to distinguish them from people — much like computer renderings and photographs.

Getting emotional is alive in the lab.

---

 

Autodesk has always been an automation company, and today more than ever that means helping people make more things, better things, with less; more and better in terms of increasing efficiency, performance, quality, and innovation; less in terms of time, resources, and negative impacts (e.g., social, environmental). Robots are just one part of that automation that allows customers to do more and better with less.

Our automation efforts go beyond the paper.

The VueOps Facilities Management Solution is based on Autodesk Forge

image source: VueOps

Today's blog post story comes to us from the Forge team. Forge is our application program interface (API) platform and supporting materials (sample code, manuals) as well as a community of developers who uses those APIs. Although Forge is intended for our customers and 3rd party developers to be able to use our web services, we use Forge for our development of the cloud-based services that we offer.

VueOps helps customers maximize facility uptime by integrating their building information through via a platform that optimizes facilities and the teams that support them. VueOps improves the workflow of managed equipment to save valuable time looking for information and planning the work. The time savings helps customers increase resource allocation to preventative maintenance, higher equipment reliability, and profitability. The VueOps visual platform uses intelligent, 3D models to enhance how even the most complex buildings operate.

Owners came to VueOps looking for practical ways to take advantage of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in operations and maintenance. The 3D models used to construct the buildings contained a wealth of information, but they were difficult to link to operational data and enterprise systems. Plus, people without design experience had difficulty navigating the massive files. The VueOps team decided to develop a solution that provided model viewing, data management, and integration with enterprise solutions (such as work-order management systems). So it's no surprise that VueOps adopted the Forge platform to connect cloud-based facilities management with 3D models, equipment data, and enterprise systems.

Forge is defined by 7 groups of APIs:

• Authentication
• Design Automation API
• Reality Capture API
• Data Management API
• Model Derivative API
• Viewer
• Webhooks API

VueOps developers are making use of 4 of them:

Enlarge

• Authentication

  Authentication for Forge is based on the industry standard OAuth, specifically OAuth2, that provides for token-based authentication and authorization. The basic flow for using OAuth is:

  1. An app makes an HTTP call to an OAuth REST (REpresentational State Transfer) endpoint and provides its credentials.
  2. A token is returned to the app.
  3. In making subsequent HTTP calls to various APIs on the platform, the app includes the token in a request header.

  Since Forge authentication is based on industry standards, the VueOps developers were able to implement security for their solution in a straightforward way.

• Data Management API

  The Data Management API gives VueOps a unified and consistent way to access their data across BIM 360 Team, Fusion Team, BIM 360 Docs, A360 Personal, and its own Object Storage Service. The Object Storage Service allows an application to download and upload raw files (such as PDF, XLS, DWG, or RVT). Using the Forge Data Management API, VueOps manages data within the model.

• Model Derivative API

  The Model Derivative API lets VueOps represent and share your designs in different formats, as well as to extract valuable metadata into various object hierarchies. 60 different file input formats are supported. With this API, VueOps can translate your design into different formats, such as STL and OBJ, but the key one is that they can have it translate their designs into SVF for extracting data and for rendering files in the Viewer. The Forge Model Derivative API provides a way for the VueOps team to separate model construction data from operational data — accelerating end users' implementation process. How much time has Forge saved? Leaders at VueOps estimate that Forge has saved as much as 2 years of development time.

• Viewer

  The Viewer is a WebGL-based, JavaScript library that VueOps uses in 3D and 2D model rendering. The Viewer communicates natively with the Model Derivative API to fetch model data, complying with its authorization and security requirements. The Viewer requires a WebGL-canvas compatible browser:

  • Chrome 50+
  • Firefox 45+
  • Opera 37+
  • Safari 9+
  • Microsoft Edge 20+
  • Internet Explorer 11

  The Forge Viewer API makes building models in a variety of file formats viewable as lightweight, 3D visualizations. This is a hassle-free way for the VueOps team to share data without having to deal with all of the peculiarities of the various browsers.

VueOps has used the time savings gained with Forge to do more than just go to market sooner. The VueOps team has been able to devote more time to high-value functionality, such as search-driven model viewing — a plus that lets users navigate large models very quickly. And with less time spent on basic development, VueOps can apply more resources to customizing the solution to meet customer needs.

Autodesk has always been an automation company, and today more than ever that means helping people make more things, better things, with less; more and better in terms of increasing efficiency, performance, quality, and innovation; less in terms of time, resources, and negative impacts (e.g., social, environmental). Autodesk Forge is an integral part of our automation plans.

Facilities Management via Forge is done beyond the paper.

Autodesk Design Review 2012 Hotfix Available

In the last post we mentioned that Autodesk Design Review customers were reporting issues on the discussion group regarding uninstalling and installing the latest three versions of the software because of Microsoft Visual C++. In that post we provided some workarounds until we had a hotfix ready.

We're happy to report that the Hotfix - Autodesk Design Review 2012 is ready for downloading from the product's Services & Support website.

This hotfix solves the critical uninstall and install issues in Autodesk Design Review 2012.

• Autodesk Design Review 2012 uninstall fails when Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package KB2538424 is installed.
• Autodesk Design Review 2012 uninstall/install fails when Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86 Redistributable – 10.0.40219 is installed.

The current Autodesk Design Review 2012 downloads already includes this hotfix.

Recent Design Review Uninstall/Install Issues Related to Microsoft Visual C++

Autodesk Design Review customers are having trouble uninstalling and installing the latest three versions of our software because of Microsoft Visual C++.

Uninstall Issues

Some Autodesk Design Review uninstall issues are related to a recent Microsoft Windows fix (KB2538424 “Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update”). After applying that fix, customers report seeing these error messages when trying to remove Autodesk Design Review 2010, 2011, or 2012.

Additionally, customers are reporting that the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable is also triggering error messages when trying to uninstall Autodesk Design Review 2012.

Suggested Solutions

If you’re having difficulty uninstalling Autodesk Design Review 2010, 2011, or 2012 due to these Microsoft Visual C++ errors, the Design Review Software Development Team has developed an Autodesk Design Review Uninstall Tool that you can use. Download the Autodesk Design Review Uninstall Tool from this blog. When you run it, the tool will attempt to uninstall Autodesk Design Review 2010, 2011, and 2012 for you.

In cases where the Autodesk Design Review Uninstall Tool cannot uninstall the product, follow these manual steps.

When uninstalling Autodesk Design Review 2010, 2011, or 2012, and the error message shows “Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 redistributable is required…”:

1. Download the “Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)” file directly from the Microsoft website and install it.
2. Uninstall Autodesk Design Review.

When uninstalling Autodesk Design Review 2012, and the error message shows “Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 distributable is required…”:

1. Uninstall “Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86 Redistributable – 10.0.40219”.
2. Download the “Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86)” file directly from the Microsoft website and install it.
3. Uninstall Autodesk Design Review.
4. Optional: (Other programs may depend on this.) Download the “Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)” file directly from the Microsoft website and install it.

Install Issues

In some cases, Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 distributable is also preventing customers from installing Autodesk Design Review 2012.

Suggested Solution

1. Uninstall “Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86 Redistributable – 10.0.40219”.
2. Download the “Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86)” file directly from the Microsoft website and install it.
3. Install Autodesk Design Review 2012.
4. Optional: (Other programs may depend on this.) Download the “Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)” file directly from the Microsoft website and install it.

For more detailed information about installing and uninstalling Autodesk Design Review, please visit the Autodesk Design Review discussion group.

Can I Still Use Project Freewheel with Design Review 2012?

With the new version of Design Review released last week, several customers have asked whether or not the existing ShareNow add-in will continue to work with Project Freewheel--the Autodesk service that enables your team to collaborate on designs using just about any operating system or device that has Internet access.

The short answer is, yes! For more information, about how to start using the ShareNow add-in with Autodesk Design Review 2012, check out the video below.

Be sure to visit the Autodesk Labs Project Freewheel website to learn more about this terrific service.

Project Freewheel...just one more way Autodesk takes the design review process beyond the paper.

Introducing Autodesk Product Support e-Services

Vice President of Autodesk Product Support, Roberto Sigona, speaks about available options for self-help technical support; including Autodesk knowledgebase, blogs and community forums.

 

Video Link

Autodesk Design Review on the iPad?

Check out this article at Autodesk Labs and share your thoughts through the offered email channel, if you have an interest in this particular subject.

Thank you.

GPS + DWFx + Autodesk Design Review = Field Environment App?

"Rough n' ready feasibility testing of Autodesk Design Review's GPS [Global Positioning System] mode, out in the field. Hardware used was a consumer level netbook & GPS device with installation of Autodesk Design Review 2010. Transport was by bicycle!

Window of opportunity for gathering accurate GPS tracking was missed. Full tree foliage could cause inaccurate readings. However, tracking was surprisingly good given the conditions. A more polished follow-up video may be uploaded in future - intent being more accurate tracking synchronized with route video. This depends on improved netbook & camera mounts to the bicycle transport."

Video Link

This reiterates that Autodesk Design Review is a powerful FREE stream-lined review and mark-up application and can be seen as optimized for sharing of intelligent Design communication amongst Engineering Design Professionals and all downstream stake-holders.

The video was created  by one of our customers, Trevor Gallyot. Thank you, Trevor.

Other customers are also encouraged to share their story, tests or even videos. The broader user community loves to hear what is possible, beyond the paper.

Please send us any feedback, comments or suggestions you may have.

Thank you.

 

Beyond the Paper - Layout & Content Changes

Here's a heads up to our readers, that there are some changes in the pipeline as far as the "Beyond the Paper" blog is concerned.

Layout

I think it is time for a newer and fresher looking layout. Have been looking at some other, better outlined and presented contents and do have some ideas floating in brain-sphere as well as in a *.text file of Notepad.

I will try and introduce all changes at once but may have to bring them in step by step. We'll see..

Content

This blog will start to cover Navisworks product content going forward, to be precise Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage, Autodesk® Navisworks® Simulate, and Autodesk® Navisworks® Review - as well as the free Autodesk® Navisworks® Freedom viewer.

I am very happy about the addition and hope users are as excited.

There won't be any change as far as DWF, DWFx, Autodesk Design Review and DWF Writer content is concerned. We will continue to cover this here.

Here is a friendly welcome to the newly added products as well as the new readership.

-Volker