AEC Tech News #194

Reviews Have Architects Seeing Red

In the world of redlining and reviewing CAD drawings without CAD software, the choices abound.

This month I'm going to talk about redline/review software and tell you what some architects and engineers have to say about it. Electronic redlining and reviewing software for CAD has been around for a while, but it has not caught on as well as I would have expected. Well, until recently, anyway.

When I first saw someone pitch the marking up of a CAD file with something other than the native CAD program, I was intrigued. I saw how easy it was to add simple redline instructions to the drawing file. The concept is based on the use of inexpensive software to graphically communicate design revisions, i.e., create markups. These files could then be viewed with software available for free to anyone.

This was cool, I thought. Any designer without good CAD skills could use this tool. It would remove the tedium of faxing 8 1/2"X11" sheets or mailing full size markup drawings to CAD operators in inconvenient locations.
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Productivity Corner: Seeing the Light

By E.J. Stephens, C.J. Angus and J.A. Bryant

The rail industry now faces a fundamental challenge: how to make signaling systems more efficient. For a signaling system to work effectively, a number of different components must work together -- electrical and electronic systems, logical design and software, layout of signals and signal sighting and interaction between signals and drivers. Read more>>

Mark Your Calendar: AEC Events

Autodesk Building Systems Test Drives
April 6 and 27, 2007
Various U.S. Locations
Avatech Solutions invites CAD managers, IT managers and mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineers who currently use AutoCAD to experience the benefits and uses of Autodesk Building Systems. Read more

Autodesk Revit Test Drives
May 4 and 18, 2007
Various U.S. locations
Avatech Solutions invites architects, designers and CAD managers to take Autodesk Revit for a spin in a practical, hands-on session. These sessions will give participants an understanding of how the components of Autodesk Revit Building can help deliver everything from optimizing workflows and ensuring cross-platform interoperability to complete organizational transformation through building information modeling. Read more

Third Annual Synergis Technology Expo
June 19, 2007
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
At this third annual event, Synergis and Autodesk will host more than 30 classes featuring solution experts and Autodesk keynote speakers. Learn about industry trends from experts in manufacturing, building, infrastructure, government, data management and education, who will cover various topics relating to your Autodesk solutions. Read more

For Cadalyst's full calendar of events, click here.

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• Lining Up for Virtual Tours: One real estate company uses digital CAD floor plans and photographs to create online virtual tours for residential listings.