AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 – New Analysis Tools!

With all the excitement about the new 2012 Autodesk products, don’t miss the new Analysis tools that have been added to Civil 3D. My name is Matt Miyamoto, Application Specialist for Ideate, Inc. Ideate has had a chance to take a look at some of the new features of the 2012 release, and here’s a sneak peek at one of them.

New pipe network editing tools allow you to automatically export Civil 3D Pipe Network objects for editing in both Storm Sewers and Storm and Sanitary Analysis.



Both commands are located in the Design panel of the Analyze tab of the 2012 release as well as in the Pipe Network contextual ribbon tab that appears when a pipe network object is selected. When used, these buttons automatically launch the application, export the pipe network data from Civil 3D, and import the model for editing. Once editing is complete. Users are able to export the data and re-import the changes back into their Civil 3D drawings.



Also included in the 2012 release are enhancements to Ground Data Analysis. Along with the original Water Drop and Catchment Area commands, new options have been added allowing users to create flow paths and catchment areas from surfaces and objects in the drawing.

These commands can be found in the Ground Data panel of the Analyze tab, under the Flow Paths and Catchments drop down lists.

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2012 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, AutoCAD, Navisworks and more: ideateinc.com/2012

Matt Miyamoto, P.E.
Infrastructure Solutions Application Specialist
Matt is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of Hawaii. Matt obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and has 7 years of private sector design experience which he applies in his role as an application specialist with Ideate, Inc. His project experience includes residential and commercial site development, private and public sewer, water and drainage systems, harbors improvements, and roadway improvements. While in Hawaii, Matt was involved in multidisciplinary projects for City and County agencies, State Departments, the Army COE and private developers.

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Revit MEP 2012 – Create-System/System Enhancements

Hear from LEED AP certified Ideate expert Lana Gochenauer on what she likes about Autodesk Revit MEP 2012 – looking first at some Create-System/System enhancements.



Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2012 releases for AutoCAD, Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, Navisworks and more: ideateinc.com/2012

Lana Gochenauer, LEED AP,
MEP Solutions Application Specialist
Lana has a wealth of real world experience, having used Autodesk products on projects from hospitals to universities, restaurants to corporate office headquarters, from strip malls to tenant fit-up. Most recently she focused on coordination drawings/models with MEP contractors, and fabrication from the model. Lana successfully ran her CAD business and worked as the CAD manager for an international MEP engineering firm in Seattle. Lana is a Certified Autodesk Trainer and NECA certified electrical estimator. Currently pursuing her MBA in Sustainability and based in the Ideate ATC in Seattle, Lana provides training and services for AutoCAD MEP, Autodesk Revit MEP and Autodesk Navisworks.

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Revit 2012 + Collaboration

Revit and Collaboration – what is new? My name is David Haynes, Director of Consulting Services at Ideate, Inc. Revit has always been about teams working together. In 2012, Revit Architecture 2012 (as part of platform-type improvements), has added new tools to team collaboration.



Revit Server and Project Bluestreak have been available through Autodesk Subscription Advantage Pack or Autodesk Labs for a while now. The exciting new tool is Citrix Ready Application. The benefits seem to include:

• Ability to have people work on independent hardware easier (MAC OS and Windows).
• Work remotely (this is great for co-located teams) or telecommuters. Many firms are now partnering in cities where there is only one person in that remote office.
• Less cost of hardware (since the computing power is elsewhere).
• Easier rollout of program applications to people who use software on a not regular basis.

Autodesk has used this technology before with Autodesk Map 3D.

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2012 releases for AutoCAD, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, Navisworks and more: ideateinc.com/2012

David Haynes, AIA, LEED AP
Director of AEC Services
David is a Registered Architect and a LEED accredited professional who previously had his own architectural practice and was President of a commercial design-build construction company for 15 years. A graduate of University of Arizona, he has worked as an Architect, contractor, developer and as a national construction manager for a national retailer. David currently develops and implements targeted AEC business solutions – including Revit Architecture, Revit Structure and Navisworks for clients across the United States involved in the design and building process. David is also Ideate’s resident Mac expert. Follow David on Twitter: @dhaynestech

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AutoCAD WS for AutoCAD 2012

Hi everyone, Derek Wielkopolski here. As the Support Manager and AutoCAD Application Specialist for Ideate, Inc. I see many of our customers in the AEC industry looking to utilize technology even more to further collaborate and stream line workflows. Mobile devices and web applications are key areas that have progressed rapidly in the last couple of years. Autodesk acknowledged this computing shift and as a result answered with AutoCAD WS for AutoCAD 2012. AutoCAD WS was first introduced with the release of AutoCAD for Mac 2011. Now it’s also included with AutoCAD 2012 and all AutoCAD based products, such as AutoCAD Architecture 2012 and AutoCAD MEP 2012.

AutoCAD WS is an online service that allows you to share and upload drawings online to other users without having to transfer or access the physical file. Once the file has been uploaded users can use the WS online application to view, modify the drawing, and download it. But WS doesn’t stop there. Autodesk also developed the AutoCAD WS iPhone and iPad apps so now your .dwg files are truly mobile and can go where you go. Both apps give you full editing and viewing capabilities through each device’s unique iOS multi touch environment.

Once a drawing is opened in AutoCAD 2012 it can be shared with other users by uploading it online by clicking on the Upload button on the new Online tab in the ribbon. Once the drawing has been uploaded it can be shared with other users. The invited users can then open the drawing in any web browser such as Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari; even if they don’t own a copy of AutoCAD.

The web application is amazingly fast and responsive. Zooming and panning feel as if you were actually working in AutoCAD. The tools are fully functional and included and in a similar ribbon like environment; keyboard shortcuts are even the same! Users are able to draw lines, arcs, copy mirror, dimension, add text, even modify layer settings and xrefs. Throughout the work session all users have the ability to save the drawing as a .dwg, .dxf, even as a .jpg or .png. And because WS is a web application all users working in the drawing see others’ edits and changes as they happen in real time. It even includes a communication tool for chatting taking collaboration even farther.

Drawings aren’t just accessed through the AutoCAD WS web application, but can also be opened using the AutoCAD WS iPhone and iPad apps. Now you can take your drawings virtually anywhere and use the same viewing and editing capabilities of the online service but in the unique and the easy to use iOS environment.

AutoCAD WS for AutoCAD 2012 brings project members even closer with its powerful collaboration abilities. Using the WS iPhone or iPad app unlocks your AutoCAD drawings from your computers and puts those files in the palm of your hand.

Try it out today. autocadws.com

You’ll be amazed at what it can do!

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2012 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, Navisworks and more: ideateinc.com/2012

Derek Wielkopolski
Technical Support Manager/Application Specialist
Derek holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Roger Williams University, Rhode Island. He is experienced working within the AEC industry from concept design through construction administration for both small and large scale projects. As Ideate’s Support Manager he ensures a timely and quality response to support requests and questions. Follow Derek on Twitter: @dwielk

Get it. Know it. Use it.