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Connected Design with the Autodesk Architecture Engineering and Construction Collection

The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection streamlines design, analysis, and visualization for architecture, engineering, construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing industries. The suite of software programs improves efficiency, reduces errors and rework, and increases cost-effectiveness.
Design Consulting Architecture Engineering and Construction Collection logo Moving at the Speed of Business

Connected Design with the Autodesk Architecture Engineering and Construction Collection

In today’s fast-paced world, the construction industry is continuously evolving with new technology advancements. As technology advances, it becomes essential to have an efficient and connected design process that incorporates design, analysis, and visualization. The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection is a comprehensive suite of software programs that facilitate this process. This blog post will discuss how the Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection can benefit various industries by connecting design, analysis, and visualization.

Connected Design Workflow: How Software Programs Work Together

The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection consists of multiple software programs that allow for a connected design workflow. The software programs in the collection work together seamlessly, allowing for efficient design, analysis, and visualization. The collection includes software programs such as AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, and more. Each software program is designed to perform a specific task, and when used together, they create a comprehensive design workflow.

Designing with Precision: AutoCAD and Revit in the AEC Collection

The first step in any construction project is design. The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection includes various software programs that aid in the design process. AutoCAD is a widely used software program that allows for 2D and 3D drafting. AutoCAD is used to create detailed drawings, and it is compatible with other software programs in the collection. Revit is another software program that is used in the design process. Revit allows for BIM (Building Information Modelling), which helps in creating a detailed 3D model of the building. By using Revit, the design process becomes more efficient, as the software program allows for collaboration between various stakeholders.

Revit and Civil 3D: Enhancing Infrastructure and Construction Projects with 3D Modeling and Efficient Design Collaboration

Revit and Civil 3D are commonly used in the AEC industry for infrastructure and construction projects. Revit creates 3D models of buildings, while Civil 3D designs infrastructure projects. Used together, they complement each other and improve the design process by identifying potential design issues in 3D models. Changes made in one software program are automatically updated in the other. This streamlines the design process and helps identify issues early in the design phase.

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How Revit and Advance Steel Work Together to Streamline Steel Design and Fabrication

Revit and Advance Steel are two software programs that can be used together in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Revit is a building information modeling (BIM) software that is used to create 3D models of buildings, while Advance Steel is a 3D modeling software that is used to design steel structures.

When used together, Revit and Advance Steel can improve the efficiency and accuracy of the design process. For example, an engineer can create a 3D model of a building in Revit and then export it to Advance Steel to design the steel structure. The engineer can then import the steel structure design back into Revit to ensure that it is compatible with the rest of the building design.

In addition, when changes are made in one software program, they are automatically updated in the other software program. This means that any changes made to the steel structure design in Advance Steel will be automatically reflected in the building design in Revit, and vice versa.

Using Revit and Advance Steel together can also help identify potential design issues early in the design phase. The 3D models created in Revit and Advance Steel can be used to identify clashes or conflicts that may have been missed in 2D design drawings. This can help save time and reduce the risk of errors and rework later in the project.

In conclusion, Revit and Advance Steel are powerful software programs that can be used together to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the design process in the AEC industry. The ability to export and import design elements between the two software programs and ensure that changes are automatically updated can streamline the design process and help identify potential issues early in the design phase.

Efficient Analysis with Navisworks and Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional

The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection includes software programs that aid in the analysis process. Navisworks is a software program that allows for coordination and simulation of construction projects. Navisworks helps in identifying clashes, reducing errors and rework, and creating more efficient designs. Additionally, Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional is used to perform structural analysis of buildings. The software program helps in identifying structural deficiencies and optimizes the design process.

Bringing GIS Mapping and Connected Design Together: A Comprehensive Approach with Autodesk's AEC Collection

In today’s world, design and construction projects require a more comprehensive approach than ever before. With the Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) Collection from Autodesk, architects, engineers, and construction professionals have access to a suite of powerful tools that can help them collaborate and work more efficiently. One of the most valuable features of the AEC Collection is its ability to integrate with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, providing a more accurate and detailed view of project sites and landscapes.

AutoCAD Map 3D is a powerful software tool for GIS mapping, which allows users to access, manage and analyse spatial data. With AutoCAD Map 3D, users can easily import and export data from various sources, such as aerial imagery, satellite imagery, and other GIS data. This software also provides a wide range of tools for data analysis, visualization and editing, making it an essential tool for GIS professionals. Some of the key features of AutoCAD Map 3D include 3D modelling and visualisation, data query and analysis, and advanced geospatial analysis tools. By leveraging these features, users can create accurate and comprehensive maps and spatial data sets for a wide range of applications.

GIS mapping is a critical component of many construction projects, particularly those that involve large-scale developments or infrastructure. By overlaying geographic data such as topography, hydrology, and geology onto a digital map, project teams can better understand the context of their projects and make more informed decisions. The AEC Collection’s integration with GIS mapping tools allows architects, engineers, and construction professionals to access this data within their design software, creating a more seamless and connected workflow.

With the AEC Collection, design professionals can also collaborate with each other in real-time using tools such as Navisworks and Docs. Navisworks allows teams to integrate and coordinate models from multiple disciplines, while Docs enables document management and sharing across teams. By using these tools in conjunction with GIS mapping, project teams can ensure that all stakeholders have access to the most up-to-date information, reducing errors and improving overall project efficiency.

Enhancing Oil and Gas Plant Design with the AEC Collection and Plant 3D

The Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) Collection is a powerful suite of software programs designed to facilitate connected design for the architecture industry. One of the key software programs in this collection is Plant 3D, which is specifically designed for oil and gas plant design.

Plant 3D is a comprehensive software program that enables users to design, model, and analyze piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&ID) for oil and gas plants. With its intuitive interface and advanced tools, Plant 3D allows users to create accurate and detailed 3D models of plant layouts, equipment, and piping systems.

One of the key advantages of using the AEC Collection and Plant 3D for oil and gas plant design is the ability to collaborate with other disciplines in the industry, such as civil engineering and structural design. By working together in a connected design environment, designers and engineers can ensure that all aspects of the plant design are integrated seamlessly, from the initial concept through to construction and operation.

In addition, the AEC Collection and Plant 3D offer a range of powerful tools for data management and analysis, enabling users to track and monitor plant performance, optimize plant layouts, and identify potential safety hazards or operational issues.

Some of the key features of Plant 3D include:

  • Intelligent P&ID design and management tools
  • Comprehensive 3D modeling capabilities
  • Advanced piping and instrumentation analysis tools
  • Integration with other AEC Collection software programs, such as Navisworks and Docs

By leveraging these features, designers and engineers in the oil and gas industry can streamline their design processes, improve collaboration, and ensure that their plant designs are optimized for safety, efficiency, and performance.

Enhancing Visualisation with 3DS Max and InfraWorks

Visualisation is an essential part of any construction project. The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection includes software programs that aid in the visualization process. 3DS Max is a software program that allows for rendering and animation of 3D models. 3DS Max helps in creating realistic visuals, which help in selling designs to clients. Autodesk InfraWorks is another software program that helps in creating visualizations of infrastructure projects. InfraWorks allows for collaboration between various stakeholders, and it helps in creating a more efficient design process.

Streamlining AEC Projects with Autodesk Docs

Autodesk Docs is a powerful document management tool that can help streamline AEC projects when used in conjunction with the Architecture Engineering and Construction Collection (AEC Collection) software. The AEC Collection includes several software programs that are essential for building design and construction, including Revit, Civil 3D, and Advance Steel.

By using Autodesk Docs to manage project documents, stakeholders can easily access and collaborate on project files from anywhere, at any time. This can improve project efficiency and communication, as all team members can stay up-to-date on project progress and changes.

Moreover, the AEC Collection software can be seamlessly integrated with Autodesk Docs, allowing users to store and manage their project files directly within Autodesk Docs. This integration makes it easier for teams to collaborate on project files and ensures that all project documentation is stored in one place, reducing the risk of lost or missing files.

For example, Revit models can be directly linked to Autodesk Docs, allowing team members to access and collaborate on the most up-to-date model at all times. Civil 3D designs can also be stored in Autodesk Docs, making it easy to share and collaborate on complex civil engineering projects.

Overall, by using Autodesk Docs in conjunction with the AEC Collection software, AEC professionals can streamline their project workflows, improve collaboration and communication, and ensure that project documentation is secure and easily accessible.

AEC Collection in Various Industries: Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Infrastructure, and Manufacturing

The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection is beneficial to various industries. Here are a few examples:

Architecture: The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection is used by architects to design and visualise buildings. The software programmes in the collection allow for efficient design, analysis, and visualisation.

Engineering: Engineers use the Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection to perform structural analysis and design. The software programmes in the collection help in identifying structural deficiencies, optimising designs, and creating efficient designs.

Construction: The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection is used in the construction industry to coordinate and simulate construction projects. The software programmes in the collection help in identifying clashes, reducing errors and rework, and creating more efficient designs.

Infrastructure: The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection is used in the infrastructure industry to design and visualise infrastructure projects. The software programmes in the collection, such as InfraWorks, help in creating visualisations of infrastructure projects. InfraWorks allows for collaboration between various stakeholders, including engineers, designers, and contractors. By using the Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection, infrastructure projects can be completed more efficiently and cost-effectively.

Manufacturing: The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection is also used in the manufacturing industry. The collection includes software programmes that aid in the design of manufacturing equipment and machinery. Autodesk Inventor, for example, is used to design and test products before they are manufactured, reducing errors and costs.

Architecture Engineering and Construction Collection Connected Design Matrix

SoftwareDescriptionFile TypeCommandImport/ExportLink
AutoCAD2D and 3D computer-aided design software used for creating blueprints, schematics, and modelsDWG, DXF, DWFDRAWING, MODEL, VIEW, PLOTImport: DWG, DXF, DWF, PDF, STEP, SAT, IGES, STLExport: DWG, DXF, DWF, PDF, STL, OBJ, FBX
RevitBuilding information modeling (BIM) software used for creating detailed 3D models of buildings and structuresRVT, RFA, RTEOPEN, VIEW, EXPORT, PRINTImport: DWG, DXF, IFC, SAT, SKP, 3DM, STL, OBJ, FBXExport: DWG, DXF, DWF, PDF, IFC, SAT, SKP, 3DM, STL, OBJ, FBX
Civil 3DCivil engineering design and documentation software used for designing, analyzing, and documenting civil engineering projectsDWGCIVIL3D, C3DImport: DWG, LandXML, RevitExport: DWG, LandXML, Revit
InfraWorksInfrastructure design and engineering software used for creating 3D models of infrastructure projectsIAMOPEN, MODEL, VIEW, EXPORT, PUBLISHImport: DWG, DGN, GIS, SHP, KML, FBXExport: DWG, DGN, FBX, COLLADA, OBJ, IFC, KMZ
3ds Max3D modeling, animation, and rendering software used for creating visualizations of buildings and environmentsMAXOPEN, MODEL, RENDERImport: DWG, FBX, DAE, OBJ, 3DS, STLExport: DWG, FBX, DAE, OBJ, 3DS, STL
NavisworksProject review software used for 3D coordination, model analysis, and clash detectionNWD, NWFOPEN, APPEND, EXPORT, PUBLISHImport: DWG, DWF, DGN, IFC, SKP, FBX, 3DS, OBJExport: DWF, DWFx, NWC, NWF, FBX, 3DS, OBJ
Advance SteelSteel detailing software used for creating structural steel models and fabrication drawingsDWG, DSTVOPEN, MODEL, EXPORTImport: DWG, CIS/2, SDNF, IFC, STEP, SAT, SKPExport: DWG, DSTV, CIS/2, SDNF, IFC, STEP, SAT, SKP
Robot Structural Analysis ProfessionalStructural analysis software used for simulating and analyzing building structuresRST, RSA  

AEC Collection: A Valuable Tool for Cost-Effective Design Processes.

In conclusion, the Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection is a comprehensive suite of software programs that facilitates a connected design workflow. The software programs in the collection work together seamlessly, allowing for efficient design, analysis, and visualization. By using the Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection, various industries can benefit from a more efficient and cost-effective design process. The collection is beneficial to architects, engineers, construction professionals, infrastructure designers, and manufacturers. The collection is continuously evolving to meet the needs of these industries, and it remains a valuable tool in the construction industry.

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Connected Design

The Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection streamlines design, analysis, and visualization for architecture, engineering, construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing industries. The suite of software programs improves efficiency, reduces errors and rework, and increases cost-effectiveness.

Connected Design with Architecture Engineering and Construction Collection

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Autodesk Portal Gets New Usage Reporting Features

Autodesk Portal New Usage Reports Side Bar Moving at the Speed of Business

NEW Autodesk Usage Report

Autodesk have announced that there are new usage reporting features within the Autodesk Account Management Portal for Autodesk accounts.

Coming soon, this new reporting tool will be found under Usage Report. Whether your users are on Autodesk subscriptions or Autodesk Flex licenses, you can now view the product usage details for all of your users on one single page with Usage Report. All admins on all Autodesk plans will have access to the new Usage Report.

Have a look in the reporting section of your account. When the new feature is activated, you will see a snapshot of important details for both subscriptions and Flex. The information available in the new reporting tool ncludes:

  • Total number of Autodesk subscriptions for your team(s)
  • The number of active or inactive users
  • The number of Flex tokens used and Flex tokens remaining
  • The monthly average Flex token usage

You now have easy access to all of this data at your fingertips with a single report showing usage across both Autodesk Flex and Autodesk Subscriptions.

Autodesk Portal New Usage Reports Moving at the Speed of Business

As you scroll down the report you will see a list of users with simple summaries showing:

  • Which Autodesk products they’re using
  • The average number of days they use each product per month
  • How many Flex tokens they’ve used.

You can use the report to differentiate between frequent and infrequent users to adjust and optimize licenses for your team.  For example, you can identify light users and assign them Flex licenses.

Clicking on a user, you can drill down for more detailed information on that particular user as shown below:

Autodesk Portal New Usage Reports User Moving at the Speed of Business

Additionally, you can use filters to arrange your data and identify specific information of interest. For example, you can filter by products, teams or access type. Any filters you apply will also be carried over to the export functionality if you choose to export your data for additional analysis and insights outside of Usage Report, in Microsoft Excel or a Google Sheet for example.

Autodesk Portal New Usage Reports Filter Moving at the Speed of Business

The new Usage Report provides a single view of how all of your Autodesk users are using their licenses. The new Usage Report will help you identify patterns and make better decisions.  For example, the new Usage Report can help you decide:

  • Which users might benefit from using Flex or subscription
  • When to buy more subscriptions or tokens,
  • Which inactive subscriptions you can reassign

Coming Soon

This new reporting feature is not available yet.  When it is launched, you will find it in the Reporting menu as shown below:

Autodesk Portal New Usage Reports Side Bar Moving at the Speed of Business

More Information

Contact us  on 1800 490 514, info@designconsulting.com.au, by live chat or fill out the form below to get more information on how to best manage your Autodesk licenses and tokens.  Our team of experts have saved our clients thousands of dollars by helping them make smart decisions around how to best structure their investment in technology for maximum return on investment.   We’d be happy to audit your existing license structure and recommend any changes that you could benefit from.

 

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End Construction Manufacturing Siloes with a Digital Fabrication Platform

CADmep - Detailed 3D modelling

End Construction Manufacturing Siloes with a Digital Fabrication Platform

Managing a construction project is challenging at the best of times, but manual and inefficient fabrication workflows can easily drag out any build.

With modern digital collaboration and workflow platforms now available, building and construction managers no longer need to play guesswork with their metal fabrication requirements.

In this blog we will look at the challenge of disparate workflows and how Design Consulting can integrate a number of tools to streamline fabrication to improve project management and overall building quality.

Fabrication Workflow Still Very Manual

Most construction projects use some amount of steel for structural members, perforated sheets for facades and tubing for balustrades.

This construction-level fabrication is a form of “construction manufacturing” and the fabrication requirements are generally unique to the project.

As a result of the unique requirements the industry is accustomed to fragmented processes with siloed technology.

For example, estimators might have their own way of requesting what is needed in a PDF or spreadsheet document; a design team might use CAD for design, but not with fabrication-level tools; and the machining team have their separate software and processes.

Then there are external stakeholders. Construction teams routinely have to send and receive designs from customers, consultants and regulators, who also might have something else to add.

Time and Quality Costs Add Up

What is all this manual work costing? Quite a lot in time and materials.

Construction industry leaders need to assess how they are doing fabrication workflow now and are the tools in use connected with team members and customers?

In the corporate world, people don’t print out a document and surface mail it to someone and then repeat the process over and over, but that’s how bad the manual processes can be with fabrication workflows.

The construction industry is overdue for a change.

Moving to Digital Fabrication Workflow

Moving to a digital fabrication workflow platform is a good example of digital transformation in the construction sector.

It is about taking the design from the start and going through to manufacture with the same data source, so there is no need to recreate anything in a different program that is disconnected.

With a modern digital collaboration platform, when a change happens it flows through to all stakeholders by connecting departments, end-users and software platforms

For example, with estimating most people use a spreadsheet and manually draw lines in PDFs. Why do that when you can extract data from a model and use design estimating tools?

The suite of Autodesk fabrication products work with its most popular CAD and analysis tools for a good level of integration.

For example, Autodesk Fabrication CADmep gives you the ability to create fabrication-intent models of piping, plumbing and ductwork systems. Construction companies can connect CADmep with ESTmep, CADduct and Revit for complete end-to-end workflows.

For more information on how fabrication workflow products integrate with each other please see the documentation on our Fabrication page

Get in Touch

DC is an authorised Autodesk Reseller providing products and services for the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Infrastructure and Manufacturing Sectors.

Feel free to contact us on 1800 490 514, info@designconsulting.com.au, by live chat or fill out the form below.

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