Just like what we expect from our customer we thought we would get ourselves out of our current blogging software and move on to something much better.

We have a new blog site to give us much more flexibility and ability to post more while we are traveling around the country as always! Also we look consistent to all the other Autodesk blogs out there.



So please click below and reset your RSS feeds to this new site

The original web link has also been repointed

www.autodesk.com/fromthegroundup

There are some new posts ready and waiting for you!!!

Jack Strongitharm

Hope you have all had a good Easter break and some of you lucky buggers are even still on holiday.

Well a great weekend for me as I went to see 'The Prodigy' in concert at the M.E.N. arena in Manchester.
Those that have been to my AU classes for the last couple of years normally get blasted to wake you up at the start.


image from MEN website

I have never seen so many grey heads raving! unfortunately that included me.

There was even parents taking their kids, I suppose if you have them early enough they may even follow the music you like. No chance for me I guess.

Also the sun broke out this weekend, which doesn't normally happen in northern England and got the barby out.
That is probably our summer for the year done.

Jack Strongitharm

A new forum for your attention.

AutoCAD is the platform to Civil 3D, so is a very important part of our technology.
The more you understand about it, the more you can actually apply into your Civil 3D designs.

Think of this, parametric and constraints are the new big thing in AutoCAD 2010. Well what about storing them as dynamic blocks to apply in Civil 3D? I am thinking turning heads, islands etc

So please take a look at this new site as it will be a valuable tool in advancing your Civil 3D capabilities.

http://autocad.autodesk.com/



Jack Strongitharm

It is March 24th and finally the AutoCAD family of products are officially launched.



This year is a huge release for AutoCAD Civil 3D.

3D Junction Design
Dynamic geometry offsets and widening
Quantity Take Off
Context Sensitive Design Workflow (UI)
Automatic linework processing in Survey and UI improvements
Plot/parcel design improvements

Also there are many other things

A number of country content pack kits are on the DVD
New cross section reports with coordinates
Within the UK Country Kit there are additional tools for 2D to 3D contours conversion, drawing frames and surface analysis from a file
Staggered labels in profiles and cross sections
AutoCAD graphical performance
Full object properties visible in Navisworks 2010 with the object enabler
Revit Building 2010 import
And many more...


I would like to publicly thank all the guys in Manchester, New Hampshire and the support guys around the world for pulling this together and also putting up with me bugging them this year!!
Also to all those who participated in the Beta testing for their comments and ensuring that this years release is a great quality product.

Jack Strongitharm

Hmmm, I think it is time to get a new nick name as I have been put out of work.

I have uploaded a new video (finally!) to the Youtube site of myself trying to design a junction (aka intersection) as quick as possible and then try the same design in 2010.



I had to speed up the 2009 quite a bit!!

Excited?

Its like having a mini me inside the box doing all the work for you!
For those who have learn't from first principles, you will appreciate what it is now doing, but also you can get into the design and make any required edits.

Official launch is next week, so we can start to get into the detail then while your lovely DVD's are on route to you on subscription next month.

Thanks to Dana Probert for also filling up the YouTube channel site also, so please have a look around if you haven't been for a while.

Have a great weekend, its amazing the sun is still out and it is dry!! (its normally grim up north!)

Jack Strongitharm

Take a look at what is new with this presentation from Terry Bennett, Senior Industry Manger for Civil and Construction at Autodesk.






Is this a big release or what!!


Lots more to come

Jack Strongitharm

For a little while we have had the ability to import GENIO files which are generally a file exchange for Bentley MX.

We have just released an updated tool on the subscription center which includes now Export functionality to convert your alignments, profiles, corridors and surfaces to be able to be read by MX and other software that support the format.

This will be very useful for those using Civil 3D to do parts of a project which has potentially already started on the other product.
Also for those who are required to supply a GENIO file as a deliverable.

Many of my clients in the UK and Ireland have been using Civil 3D as a complimentary product to support other project teams and also work out quick alternatives, volumes and drawing production aswell as using it as the complete solution for their projects as their skills increase.

For Import, I have included a layer table to assign 3D strings to some common layer names.




Export, will convert our potentially larger object names down to the four character names that MX can only support.



To get hold of the tool you need to log into the subscription center.

So you may need to contact your IT department and or reseller if you don't have your own access.

If you already have the previous Import tool, you will need to remove that first as this is a replacement for that.
This new tool is only available for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009.



Jack Strongitharm

Been flat out the last couple of weeks, with putting the finishing touches to the new Country Kit for 2010 release aswell as my normal job.

I am probably the last one to post, but Update 2.1 is now available to download.
This now include Map 3D Update 2, ability to add the Bonus Pack for AutoCAD that is on the subscription center and some little fixes that needed to be corrected

Update 2.1 link

Something else to have a watch over your lunch break is a new video to show an overview of Civil 3D which is worth spreading the word about within your company for those who have not seen the software before.


http://www.adskmedia.com/theroadahead/



Have a good weekend

Jack Strongitharm

You may have seen this one, but my colleague in the US, Dana Probert who is a Technical Marketing Manager for Civil 3D has got her new blog site up now.


BIM on the Rocks

Please give her your support also, as she has a wealth of knowledge and covering another flavour of the product for you.


On another subject, this past week we have been able to finally get some better stats on you our wonderful readers and where you are reading from.



Not too bad. Obviously we are not in the same league as the likes of Lynn Allen and Shaan Hurley.

We appreciate everyone of you.

Thanks


Jack Strongitharm

Our support colleagues from the 'Being Civil' blog have dropped a sneak peek video on 2010.

Take a look to start finding your feet

YouTube Video


To be honest it takes about five minutes to get used to this amazing enhancement and you will wonder how you ever worked without it.

Just remind yourself,

Would you be still on a drawing board or was the computer a good move,

AutoCAD in DOS or AutoCAD current day,

tablet digitiser and puck or a simple mouse.

I could go on but I won't bore you.

I know what I would choose.



Better get my finger our and make my next video for our YouTube site that a lot of you have already taken a look at and subscribed.

Jack Strongitharm

A guru colleague of mine living in Wales, Harold Alberto has now put up a blog also.

He was sending out tips and tricks in his company, so thought it would be better to share with our little global Civil 3D club.

How civil of him!

See how he takes on a 90degree corner in a corridor







http://civil3dexperience.blogspot.com

Jack Strongitharm

So last week on Friday was the press launch of the new Autodesk products including of course AutoCAD Civli 3D.

This will take some time to cover everything that is going on in the release and I am limited to what I can publish at this time. (so you will have to wait just a little longer)

However what I can say is OMG!

I will need to hang up my title as 'Junction Jack' as junctions (intersections) just got automated and dynamic in full glorious 3D



The user experience has been enhanced to make it easier to follow the design workflow through the design.

Need to report the quantities out of the project? Well now you can with an easier-to-use method for calculating
quantities using model data from AutoCAD Civil 3D software directly.
Quantity information can now be extracted from both corridor models and site features.




As we are still in Beta you can be the first on the block to test it out!

For those of you who aren’t aware, Autodesk has a formal beta program where people can begin testing new Autodesk technology. The hottest thing up there right now (at least in the opinion of this humble civil bloke) is the Tuckerman project!

If you’re curious about what’s in development and would like to test it out, you should join the Beta program. It’s easy to join. Just go up to the beta program portal and sign up:

http://myfeedback.autodesk.com

If you’re new to the beta program, you’ll need to sign up. Make sure you enter “Tuckerman” in the beta code field as this will ensure that you are added to the Tuckerman project. (note - if you’re already a Myfeedback member, you should edit your profile and add Tuckerman to the beta code).




You will be asked to sign to the terms and conditions of the Beta testing program which includes an Non Disclosure agreement, i.e means you cannot discuss or publish any information about the release.

There is however a great discussion forum on the site to talk to your fellow testers and there’s a vBook that you should review to get you up and running quickly.

As we get near actual shipping release we can divulge some more.

Should be a fun year!

Jack Strongitharm

Thank you to all of you that have subscribed to the You Tube channel already when there was not much up there.

I have posted a video with a run through of how you can use Navisworks for clash detection and construction sequencing of a road scheme designed in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
It also has my voice on there, so I hope you can understand my northern english accent!!


www.youtube.co.uk/CivilFromtheGroundUp


More videos to come!

Jack Strongitharm

Is it just me but I missed out on this one.

Using the 'Ctrl' Key held down and then hit the TAB key you can switch between drawings in AutoCAD.

Probably been there ever since AutoCAD could handle more than one drawing at a time in one session.

Nevermind, but I bet there are plenty of you that missed it also.

Jack Strongitharm

HA HA, I got your attention.

Revit Structure has now gained the ability to create bridge structures using data from AutoCAD Civil 3D.



It is available on the subscription center for those with Revit Structure
http://www.autodesk.com/subscriptioncenter

Bridge Toolkit for Revit Structure 2009

The Bridge Toolkit for Revit® Structure 2009 software provides information, tools, content, and datasets that will better enable structural engineers and drafters to address infrastructure build-out as it relates to bridges. Specific components include:

Box Girder Methodology and Datasets
Precast Girder Methodology and Datasets
Bridge Components .rfa Content
Bridge Modeling Using Revit Structure 2009 Software (Tips and Tricks)
Better design and model your bridge using this toolkit along with Revit Structure 2009, a powerful and parametric structural software solution from Autodesk, Inc.



You can also register for Webcast on January 27th to take a look at it.

Civil Structures with Revit Structure 2009
Date & Time: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

This webcast presentation will explore the versatility of Revit® Structure and how it is used throughout the industry for civil structures such as tanks, retaining walls, and bridges.

www.autodesk.com/structure-webcasts


Jack Strongitharm

Hi all,

Just a quick notice today on the fact that Update 2 for AutoCAD Civil 3D is out and available.

You can find it here:
http://updatesdl.autodesk.com/updates/files/c3d2009sp20.exe

What I also would like to mention at this stage is the fact that you, as a valued customer, is VERY important to us getting these Updates as good as possible.
Every time you spend a little extra time on filling in these "Error forms", and a little information on the issue, it get logged. If you also provide you email address at that time you will get, as I just got, an email when the Update is out.
That email also explains what issues has been solved and if your logged issues are among those.

Please see below, part of the email sent to my address, and that it has information on my logged issues.

-----------------


-----------------


Best regards / Ove Cervin

Those that are reading from the Benelux area maybe interested that a new AutoCAD Civil 3D User Group has been setup.



http://www.c3dbenelux.org/


It is in local languages with technical forums and blogs and will hold its first user event in March.
Most importantly it is run by users.

Please support the group and meet some like minded people.

Jack Strongitharm

My colleagues in support at Autodesk have started up a blog also.

These guys really know their stuff and are responsible from anything from installation to how to perform a design task.

So please give them your support and subscribe to their site as there is going to be some great posts from them.


http://beingcivil.typepad.com


Brian Kling


Justin Ziemba


Jason Hickey

Jack Strongitharm

AU Online is live and has the Autodesk University 2008 content including the recordings of the keynotes and some classes including the most valuable of all the HANDOUTS.

There is some really good materials on there for all the Civil 3D classes including yours truly.
(CV404-2 Junction Jack is Back)

It was great to see some familiar faces at my second AU. I am sure everyone who went really enjoyed this amazing immense event of over 9000 people where you can get served your lunch without queuing.


http://au.autodesk.com

Jack Strongitharm

To follow the official Autodesk Youtube Channel, we thought we would also join in.

So take a look and subscribe and we will start posting more videos up here as we will use this for some adhoc videos as sometimes it is easier to watch a video than understand a written document I think.

I have placed a little sample on there just to get started.


www.youtube.com/civilfromthegroundup


Also to view the Autodesk Channel click below


www.youtube.com/autodesk

Jack Strongitharm