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AEC

AEC Tech News (#256)

3 Sep, 2009 By: Cadalyst Staff

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ArchiCAD 13 Makes Ground-Breaking Leap in BIM File Sharing

The new version allows multiple users to work in the same model simultaneously, as well as share updates and communicate in real time.

By Nancy Spurling Johnson

"ArchiCAD v13 will be a game changer — not just for ArchiCAD but for the BIM industry," says Akos Pfemeter, director of global marketing at Graphisoft. New technology in the latest version of the building information modeling (BIM) solution will allow multiple users to work on a building model simultaneously and virtually in real time as well as communicate with one another within the application itself, eliminating common BIM workflow bottlenecks.

Announced on September 1 and shipping in the second half of September, ArchiCAD v13 introduces a client-server-based collaborative environment that has been years in development. The new GRAPHISOFT BIM Server is a major technology leap beyond current file-based team collaboration solutions, Pfemeter says. Optimized to minimize network traffic, it lets users model and collaborate in real time over standard Internet connections. Updates by other users can appear in the model in as little as a few seconds and work can be synchronized even across continents in real time.

ArchiCAD v13's new Teamwork environment provides live visual feedback about element reservation by users. If one user wants access to elements currently in use by another team member, he or she can request access via an instant message sent inside the application, which automatically displays the elements in question for the message recipient. "Any [model access] conflicts can be resolved in a matter of seconds with the exchange of just a few messages," Pfemeter explains. Read more »

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Nancy Spurling Johnson is editor-in-chief of Cadalyst.

   

What's the BIM Deal?

By Robert Green

If you're at all into CAD you've seen the acronym BIM, short for building information modeling, all over the place the past few years. If you're a CAD manager in an architectural environment you're probably starting to plan for, or even test, BIM technology. If you manage CAD in the construction or building engineering trades your senior management may be asking you how BIM is going to change your company's approach to modeling in the coming years. Even civil engineers are scratching their heads over how they'll integrate BIM models into their site planning databases. It seems only those who do machinery design are immune to the long tentacles of BIM.

So what is all the fuss about? How might BIM affect all of us who manage CAD in the AEC environment? Read more »

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Robert Green is Cadalyst's CAD management expert. You can subscribe to his CAD Manager's Newsletter here.

     

Mark Your Calendar: AEC Events

 

ESC Boston
September 21–24, 2009
Boston, Massachusetts
ESC Boston brings together system architects, design engineers, suppliers, analysts, and media from across the globe, including Asia and the Pacific Rim. Read more »

CISSE 2009
December 4–12, 2009
The International Joint Conferences on Computer, Information, and Systems Science and Engineering provides a virtual forum for the presentation and discussion of state-of the-art research on computers, information and systems sciences, and engineering.
Read more »

Ecobuild America 2009
December 7–10, 2009
Washington, D.C.
The Ecobuild America conference and exhibit educates design and construction professionals on how to improve our built environment. Read more »

For a complete list of CAD meetings, conferences, training sessions, and more, check out our calendar of events on Cadalyst.com. Are you hosting an event that you would like to include in our calendar? Submit details at least two weeks in advance to news@cadalyst.com.

       

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