Use of Point Clouds for Revit Modeling

Here at CADspeed, we’ve touted the need for CAD hardware that will get the job done. We are equally intrigued by the growing use of building information modeling (BIM) in our industry, which requires even more hardware capacity and usage power than standard CAD programs. But could new technology expand the power of BIM to those of us with hardware budgets?

Longitude Media, publisher of Cadalyst, announced today that it will host a free webcast for Autodesk Revit users and managers to discuss the benefits of using 3D scanning and point cloud models in a Revit-based design workflow. The live presentation, titled “Optimize the Use of Point Clouds for Revit Modeling,” will be sponsored by Leica Geosystems, developer of the CloudWorx Revit plug-in tool for point-cloud processing.

Date: Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Time: 1 p.m. ET

To Register: http://bit.ly/ICWkvz

Building information modeling (BIM) offers tremendous advantages for today’s AEC firms, and using point cloud models of as-built structures is an ideal option for those who want to accelerate the design process for renovations and retrofits while increasing accuracy and cutting costs. Until now, however, the options for creating Revit BIM models from point clouds have been limited and inefficient. With the introduction of Leica CloudWorx for Revit, all that is changing. Leica CloudWorx for Revit allows users to quickly and easily create BIM deliverables of existing construction based on rich data collected by 3D laser scanners — all within the familiar Revit environment.

In “Optimize the Use of Point Clouds for Revit Modeling,” attendees will learn about the basics of 3D laser scanning of as-built structures, how to prepare point cloud models, and how to optimize the use of point clouds within a Revit workflow. A live demo of Leica CloudWorx for Revit will offer a first-hand look at the unique features and benefits of the plug-in, and a Q&A session will allow attendees to ask questions of the expert panel.

Moderator: CADspeed‘s own Curt Moreno, CAD manager and blogger, of Kung Fu Drafter

Panelist: Ben Bennett, Chief Technology Officer at Digital Digital Surveys Ltd and subsidiary service eBIM Ltd

Panelist: Jason Waddell, BIM manager at The Beck Group and a Leica CloudWorx for Revit customer

Panelist: David Langley, application engineer at Leica Geosystems and manager of development of Leica CloudWorx for Revit

Check it out! We’ll be there too. Register now at http://bit.ly/ICWkvz.

Hardware Requirements Released for AutoCAD 2013

Autodesk has released the platform and system requirements for AutoCAD 2013, which was launched on March 27, 2012. You can review the system requirements on the Autodesk website.

Below are a few frequently asked questions about AutoCAD 2013.

Does AutoCAD 2013 software support 64-bit operating systems?

Yes. (See the system requirements on the Autodesk website.)

Does AutoCAD 2013 software support Windows Vista?

No, AutoCAD 2013 does not support the Windows Vista® operating system.

Does AutoCAD 2013 software support Mac OS X?

AutoCAD 2013 for Mac supports some versions of Mac OS® X. (See the system requirements on the Autodesk website.)

What are the differences between AutoCAD 2013 and AutoCAD 2013 for Mac?

AutoCAD 2013 and AutoCAD 2013 for Mac are based on much of the same source code; however, AutoCAD for Mac 2013 has a look and feel that is familiar to users of other Mac software. (See the system requirements on the Autodesk website.)

Does AutoCAD 2013 software support multiple CPU systems?

Yes, AutoCAD 2013 software supports multiple CPUs. The performance of AutoCAD graphics and rendering systems benefits from multiple CPU systems.