AutoCAD WS on Kindle Fire

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Autodesk have to announce that AutoCAD WS is now also available for Kindle Fire through the Amazon App Store!

The Kindle Fire is now joining the huge family of Android and iOS devices running AutoCAD WS and allowing you to take your designs with you anywhere you go. Use your Kindle Fire to view your drawings, edit them and share them with your colleagues.

If you just got a Kindle Fire for the holidays, download the app and tell Autodesk what you think.

Christmas for Engineers

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Not my work, something that was emailed to me and I thought I would share...

Have a Great Christmas

eTransmit for Revit Update

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eTransmit for Revit is a free* technology preview of an add-in application for Autodesk^® Revit^® Architecture 2012, Autodesk^® Revit^® Structure 2012, and Autodesk^® Revit^® MEP 2012 software.
For best results, installing Revit 2012 Web Update 1 is recommended. With eTransmit for Revit, you can:

• Copy and detach a Revit model and associated files to a single folder for internet transmission. This removes the typical error messages when you copy central files using the operating system.
• Locate dependent files automatically and include them in the transmittal folder, helping to reduce the possibility of error. All dependent files are automatically converted to use relative paths so the dependent files can be located by the model.
• Choose to include related dependent files such as linked Revit models, CAD files, DWF™ markups, decal images, and external keynote files. You can transmit any Revit (.rvt) model that has been upgraded to be compatible with a 2012 Revit software product.
• Transmit models that are using file-based worksharing or server-based worksharing. eTransmit for Revit will also work with non-workshared Revit models.

Common uses for eTransmit

• Internal archiving
• Sending deliverables to clients
• Model exchange between consultants/partners
• Model cleanup
• Sharing models between disciplines

What's new in 1.1?

In July we conducted a user survey to gather feedback from users who had tried the technology preview. One of the things that we heard very clearly is that there were a number of people who were experiencing problems using the initial version. Based on this, our biggest focus for version 1.1 was fixing issues. For a complete list of what is in 1.1, you can review the release notes and known issues, but highlights include:

• eTransmit will no longer crash when you try to create a transmittal on a network drive.
• The progress bar now updates correctly when there are errors and warnings (previously it gave the impression that the transmittal had failed when there were only warnings).
• You can now use eTransmit even if you have one or more models open.
• Unfortunately, transmitted models still do not open correctly if you double-click on them from the operating system. To open a transmitted model correctly, use Revit's file open command.

Availability

The technology preview will operate until June 30, 2012.

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/revit_etransmit/.

Download

You will need your User ID and Password, pop over the the Labs Page to download

Help Autodesk out

See how well the eTransmit for Revit technology preview works for you, and be sure to tell Autodesk what you think by following the feedback link

You can also post comments on the Between the Lines or It's Alive in the Lab blog.
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Finding the Postcode and Location Plan

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Ok, I've had an email saying your maps articles are all well and good if you know the postcode. For some of the work I deal with for example Party Wall, it's kind of important to have the full address, especially for undertaking land registry searches to establish the Building Owners and Adjoining Owners details.

So I pop over to the Find a Postcode function on the Post Office web site at http://www.postoffice.co.uk/postcode-finder

There are Four little search filelds

OK I actually know the building number and the post code as this is my work address, but for this example assume I don't. So above I have only entered the building Name, Street and Town - then click on the Find Postcode and........

 The full postal address including post code and a nice little location plan to boot!

Enjoy.

Unlocking BIM Data - Echo

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Pop over to Revit ST and you will find a link to a white paper from Authors

Simon Taylor FRICS– Principal, Questant Inc., Project Controls and Risk Advisory Services

Christopher Bailey FRICS – Vice President, Chief Cost Planner, Lend Lease, New York

The introduction says

"A paper to introduce the concept of developing an industry standard coding structure for application to 3D design systems to create increased value from Building Information Modeling (BIM). It describes, by reference to the data that can be stored in the model, where the flow of data to ‘downstream’ management and analysis systems and databases is broken, and how the inclusion of standard coding will enable beneficial use of model information, and produce the value of BIM that is not currently available."

So a "thank you" to Glenn Jowett for finding this one
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Environmental Agency Maps

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Continuing on Information and Maps as a theme this posting is about the Environmental Agency web site and maps.

The Environment Agency is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body responsible to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and a Welsh Government Sponsored Body responsible to the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development.

Their principal aims are to protect and improve the environment, and to promote sustainable development. They play a central role in delivering the environmental priorities of central government and the Welsh Government through our functions and roles.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which came into force on 1 January 2005, anyone may request information from a public authority which has functions in England, Wales and/or Northern Ireland.

The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIRs) came into force at the same time as the Freedom of Information Act 2000. They clarify and extend previous rights to environmental information,

The example below is a postcode search looking at Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea

So if you are looking to buy a property near a river or the sea you can do your own research on this subject

CLICK HERE to visit the Environment Agency Map Resource

But its not only the Risk of flooding that can be researched, click the down arrow under “Other topics for this area…” and you get this interesting little list.

Here is a view of the same area with regards to Landfill

And here is the information re Pollution

So pop over to the web site and have a poke around you may be surprised just what’s on your doorstep ;0)

CLICK HERE to visit the Environment Agency Map Resource
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Geology of Britain Viewer

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I came across a website that might be of interest to you if you wish to find out the geology for any particular location in the UK.

Try clicking on following this link

All you need to do is type in the place name or postcode in the white box at the bottom Right Hand courner and click ‘Go’.

If you double click on any of the coloured area on the maps it tells you the bedrock formation and superficial deposits (if any).

Enjoy ;0)

I Blinked And I Missed AU Virtual 2011

I was kind of looking forward to this year, especially after last years fiasco, so those of you that managed to find the time to attend virtually, I hope it worked this year?

I had done my planning really early; I had downloaded all the class descriptions and highlighted those that looked to be of interest.

 I had highlighted the virtual stuff, looked for friends and people I know who were going to present, I’d searched the list for Revit Structure, Revit Structural Suite, Revit Architecture and Revit Architectural Suite.

There is always a lot more under Architecture, and a lot of it is relevant to Structures and MEP.



So due to being busy in both my personal and working life, I blinked  miss Autodesk University, and then I ended up feeling a little like Muttley from Wacky Races cursing to myself indistinctly.

So all I can do now go into squirrel mode, and use my list to harvest all those very useful Revit classes that are to be found on Autodesk University Online!

Click Here to go to AU Online

I may be a bit early with my harvesting because at the moment you can only get Session Handouts and Presentations, but very few Screencast and Podcast have made it to the download pages just yet.  

These normally start arriving a week or two after Autodesk University, so I will pop back in a couple of weeks and pick up the missing resources.