Autodesk has made some enhancements to the Cursor in AutoCAD 2015. A minor improvement was the crosshair lines that used to run through the pick box have been removed to make it easier to view what you are selecting. You can still use the PICKBOX system variable or the OPTIONS Dialog on the SELECTION tab to change the size of the pick box and the length of the crosshairs in the Display tab (or the CURSORSIZE system variable) to your personal preference.

Autodesk is working to deliver a better experience for discovering and applying updates to the products you own and manage.  Included in all 2015 Windows desktop products is a new cloud-based software delivery solution that ships with a client component called Autodesk Application Manager that helps you stay current with the latest updates for your installed Autodesk 2015 applications and suites.

Considered one of the greatest examples of the use of BIM for infrastructure, London’s Gatwick Airport is coming to the end of a $1.2 billion project to modernize its infrastructure.

Kick-started by the UK BIM Initiative (which has a goal to reduce the cost of government construction projects by 20% and to reduce the UK's carbon intensity in line with its EU carbon commitments), the project team used Autodesk technology to drive efficiencies and success.

Today’s architects and engineers can now analyze building performance early in the design stage thanks to 3D building performance simulation and finite element analysis.

Autodesk University (AU) 2014 is fast approaching and between now and October 19^th you can get a discount of $500 off conference passes. Sneak peek below!

If your training budget permits, this year’s passes are currently $1,675 each. With 650 classes for designers and engineers, plus special events, networking receptions, and more, this is a not-to-be-missed offer.

Don’t delay! The cost of a pass increases to $2,175 on October 20.

Autodesk Vehicle Tracking software allows designers to see how transportation will interact with their building and infrastructure designs before they are built.

Some of the benefits of Vehicle Tracking include:

1. Faster planning and design
2. Accurately predict movement
3. Reduce rework
4. Easily evaluate for safety factors
5. Optimize designs

Watch the video below for a quick overview of the interface and capabilities:

With federal fiscal year coming to an end on September 30^th, CAD managers may be wondering how to make the best use of those “use-it-or-lose-it” tax dollars.

What about upgrading that CAD hardware you use?

Cadalyst recently published a great article that guides CAD users through the various scenarios and use cases that impact any decision you make about choosing your next hardware. Should you focus on the speed of your next CPU? What about memory and storage? How will you be using the machine?

It’s likely that your agency’s procurement office requires proof of performance before even considering the purchase of a new software solution.  But government case studies are often hard to come by, after all agencies have a habit of keeping their projects and innovations quiet.

In recent years this has changed as more and more agencies are stepping forward to showcase their achievements. And, what better way to demonstrate that tax payer dollars are being used wisely and efficiently than case studies.

New York City’s Empire State Building – one of the Top 20 tallest buildings in the world. Completed in 1931, this iconic skyscraper was designed the old fashioned way, with pen to paper and physical tools. Of course, they weren’t constructing something like the Shanghai Tower or Dubai’s Burj Khalifa building.

Dorado County, CA, contains more than 1,100 miles of road. Nothing unusual about that, but when you consider that these roads stretch from the suburbs of Sacramento to the shores of Lake Tahoe, then you’re dealing with some interesting terrain.

It’s the job of the El Dorado County Department of Transportation (EDCDOT) to manage these roads and highways in line with California’s stringent safety and environmental standards.