Blog: 3ds Max Design 2010

Green Design: Saving Streams

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Success Story: Grant PUD

Grant County Public Utility District (Grant PUD) has selected Autodesk's utility solutions to design and manage the utility's electric distribution and fiber telecommunications networks. A publicly owned utility in the Pacific Northwest, Grant PUD serves 44,000 retail electric customers, generating over 80% of electricity from hydropower, and nearly 4,400 fiber optic network subscribers. After a thorough evaluation process, Grant PUD chose Autodesk Utility Design (AUD) for its design work and Autodesk Topobase software for its infrastructure model management.

"We are long time users of Autodesk software -- we started using AutoCAD in 1985 -- and it was a natural progression for us to migrate to Autodesk utility solutions," said Tony Webb, Director of Customer Service at Grant County.

With Autodesk software, Grant PUD employees across all departments will be able to access and query an intelligent infrastructure model for information about their network. Once implemented, the new system will help the utility to increase control and interactivity among key operations, including customer service, engineering, right-of-way, warehouse and dispatch. The software will also provide interoperability with Grant PUD's new financial and work order systems.

IMAGINiT Technologies has implemented a rigorous certification program for IMAGINiT application specialists who take their clients through TakeAIM, IMAGINiT's four phased Assured Implementation Method program.

Read the full Press release here

IMAGINiT Technologies invites you to join our monthly informational webcasts.

April Schedule:

• Civil 3D Webinar - 04/03/2009
• IMAGINiT 2010 Virtual Event - 04/07/2009 - 04/09/2009
• Geospatial Webinar - 04/27/2009

May Schedule:

• Civil 3D Webinar - 05/01/2009
• AutoCAD Civil 3D Product Overview and Demonstration - 05/08/2009
• Geospatial Webinar - 05/25/2009

For more information and to register for the following webcasts click here.

Blog: Civil 3D Stage Storage Extension

IMAGINiT's Civil Blogger, Doug Benoit, shares his insight on Autodesk civil engineering software including AutoCAD, AutoCAD Land Desktop and AutoCAD Civil 3D. In this month's newsletter, Doug shares an excerpt of his blog:

Today I thought I'd show you the Stage Storage Extension and how easy it is to use. After you download it from the subscription website, and following the provided instructions to install it, ... simply right click on the Stage Storage report option, and "Execute it."

I don't know about you, but I always seem to smile, just a little, when uttering the command… just execute it. Once executed, the Stage Storage Volume Analysis window is displayed. here we enter project specific information, select the Volume Calculation Method, and the Basin Definition Options. After selecting the Define Basin button, the Define Basin from Entities window is opened.

To visit the rest of Doug's tutorial, visit his blog at: www.rand.com/imaginit/civilblog

Blog: 3ds Max Design 2010

IMAGINiT's Visualization Solutions Blogger, Mark Gerhard, shares his insight on Autodesk's visualization software including 2ds max, Maya and Alias. In this month's newsletter, Mark shares an excerpt of his blog:

Just when I thought I would explode from trying to keep it secret, Autodesk has lifted the veil and announced the release of 3ds Max Design 2010. It's not shipping yet, but the word is out.

There is a lot of exciting new things in this release. Ken Pimentel's Blog on the Area has all the details. Head there at once. The new stuff is all laid out for you there. There are videos and text. Be sure to check out the Features and Benefits PDF link at the bottom of his Blog.

Tip: Increasing the Number of Feature Labels
(Applies to: Civil 3D 2008, Land Desktop 2008, and Map 3D 2008)

You can increase the maximum number of feature labels that can be displayed in your map. By default, the maximum number is 2,000. You can configure the Windows Registry to specify a new value for the maximum. Changing this setting, however, can cause slow performance while the features are processed and the labels are generated.

Follow these steps:

(Warning! Problems caused by improperly editing the Windows registry could render your computer operating system unusable.)

1. Make sure that the product is not running.
2. Click Start menu (Windows) > Run.
3. In the Run dialog box, enter regedit. Click OK.
4. In the Registry Editor, locate the following subkey that applies to your product:

Map 3D 2008
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R17.1\ACAD-6002:xyz\GIS\AcadMAP
(xyz are numbers and characters that will vary depending on the installed language version of AutoCAD Map 3D 2008)

Civil 3D 2008
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R17.1\ACAD-6000:xyz\GIS\AcadMAP
(xyz are numbers and characters that will vary depending on the installed language version of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008)

Land Desktop 2008
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R17.1\ACAD-6008:409\GIS\AcadMAP

Land Desktop Companion 2008
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R17.1\ACAD-6018:409\GIS\AcadMAP

1. Right-click AcadMAP. On the shortcut menu, click New > Key.
2. For the key name, enter Label Parameters.
3. Select the new Label Parameters key.
4. On the Edit menu, click New > DWORD value.
5. For the key name, Enter MAX_LABELS.
6. Double-Click MAX_LABELS.
7. In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, under Base, select the Decimal option.
8. Under Value data, enter the maximum number of labels you want to display. Click OK.
9. Close the Registry Editor.

Green Design: Saving Streams

McKim & Creed provides engineering, surveying, and planning services from offices throughout the southeastern United States. The firm has a longstanding commitment to the environment and sustainable design.

"As a firm, we are committed to helping our clients use energy, water, and other natural resources wisely and efficiently," says Randall Mattingly, design applications manager. To help achieve that goal, the company adopted AutoCAD Civil 3D software. The software enables the firm’s stormwater group to dramatically improve productivity, accuracy, and communication on the Doctors Branch stream restoration project in Wilmington, North Carolina.

In the early 1960s, Doctors Branch was a healthy coastal stream that provided habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species. Over time, however, increased erosion resulting from nearby development carved out a canyon 12-feet deep and almost 20-feet wide—significantly degrading water quality.

The firm’s first step was to take field measurements in order to establish accurate width-to-depth ratios and other important baseline data. Then, using Civil 3D, McKim & Creed built subassemblies and corridors, generated an accurate 3D model of the existing stream, and began work on a series of what-if scenarios for the city and local homeowners’ association.

"We copied corridors from the original Civil 3D model and switched out or tweaked the parts we needed to change for each of the five design options," says Mattingly. "The entire process took half the time it would have taken us with our previous 2D software."

Design and engineering productivity is a key component to how well business thrives. That's why IMAGINiT Technologies provides ProductivityNOW, a resource and service for Autodesk®, AutoCAD®, and select CAD/Design software users. Our service is designed to get the answers you need for your program and IT challenges, when you need them. Whether your team needs assistance with an installation, access to technical tips, or simply an answer to a question, IMAGINiT's ProductivityNOW program is the ideal solution for you.

ProductivityNOW

Still designing in AutoCAD® Release 14, AutoCAD® 2000, AutoCAD® 2000i, AutoCAD® 2002, AutoCAD® 2004, AutoCAD® 2005, AutoCAD® 2006 or other retired Autodesk software? Keep your software current with the Autodesk Legacy Program, which gives loyal customers, like you, an easy way to keep your software up to date.

Autodesk Legacy Program

From July 8, 2008, through April 17, 2009, eligible AutoCAD Land Desktop software clients can crossgrade to AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Civil, or AutoCAD Civil 3D software for a special promotional price.

AutoCAD Land Desktop details