CAD Tech News (#46)

▶ Autodesk Launches LIVE Service to Democratize Revit Visualization

New web service helps AEC professionals with no visualization expertise create immersive, interactive 3D visualizations from Revit models.

By Cadalyst Staff

Autodesk announced today the launch of Autodesk LIVE, a new service that enables users of Revit building information modeling (BIM) software to quickly create interactive visualizations of their designs. According to Autodesk Senior Vice-President Amar Hanspal, LIVE enables users to “take building information models and bring them to life, so people can experience things before they are real.”

Users can “walk through” LIVE visualizations at their own pace, viewing rooms and structures from any angle, examining objects, and exploring whichever elements are of interest to them. “It’s fully in control of the person who is reviewing this design,” said Hanspal. “They’re free to walk through anywhere.”

Nicolas Fonta, senior product manager, demonstrated the video game–like navigation of LIVE visualizations: “You just click where you want to go, and the engine takes you there automatically.”

Clicking on any object pulls up the BIM information related to that object. That data also means “we can be smart and make smart decisions,” said Fonta, explaining that LIVE automatically prevents users from walking into a swimming pool but allows them to walk through doors, because it has access to information about those objects and their function.

LIVE can be used on Windows- and iOS-based devices today, and “will start showing up on VR [virtual reality] devices at some point in the future,” said Fonta. Autodesk expects to support VR technologies including HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Google Cardboard. Read more »

▶ WHAT’S NEW

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