Whether you are an architect or a designer, it is likely that AutoCAD is a vital everyday design tool. But did you know that you can now add 3D visualization and animation to your repertoire – all within the familiar AutoCAD interface. Autodesk’s new AutoCAD Design Suites is a easy and cost-efficient way to extend your familiar AutoCAD work-flow. By integrating four of Autodesk’s premium design and visualization software, Autodesk Design Suite Premium (the Rolls Royce of suite offerings) –– is a great way to expand your design software portfolio and add high quality 3D visualization and illustration without hurting your department’s shrinking IT budget.

Autodesk recently announced the environmental impacts of Autodesk University (AU) 2010 – its popular annual user conference that attracts up to 30,000 participants each year. The results revealed that, even as the in-person attendance at the 2010 event in Las Vegas grew 16 percent from 2009, the carbon footprint was reduced by four percent over 2009.

From the many-layered benefits of cloud computing, building information modeling (BIM), and smart grids to simple acts like putting lighting controls in the hands of office workers, the federal government is already achieving specific gains in its sustainability and green efforts as mandated 2009’s Executive Order 13514. Not only this, but many are seeing the road to new sustainability standards as an exciting, once in a lifetime opportunity, that is quite literally changing the mindset of government leaders. This is the focus of the latest industry-sponsored “On the Frontlines” e-magazine “The Greening of Government”, which takes a sweeping look at what has been achieved to date in support of the green government imperative and what is on the cards for 2011.

As the number of uses for geospatial technology continues its ascent, so too will the technologies designed to help users capitalize on the vast amounts of data created. In a recent article in GISCafe, author Susan Smith examines some of these solutions among them are geospatial cloud computing, 3D cities, and mobile technology. I am sure you have seen the Windows 7 commercials where an everyday person is faced with a challenge that cannot be overcome with their current work flow. The solution? “To the Cloud” and magically all their problems go away. In the cloud, consumers can do everything from making their family picture look normal, to talking to grandpa while sending him a video of his grandson opening a Christmas gift. Now if only the cloud could make your life a work that much easier. Well if you work with a GIS system this might just be possible sooner than you think.

On January 12, 2011, the people of Haiti marked the one year anniversary of the 7.0 earthquake that devastated their country. It’s been a year since the disaster and signs of improvement dot the landscape. But 1.2 million people still make their homes in tent cities and the destruction can be seen from miles above Earth. The New York Times has created a sobering interactive feature using aerial photos from GeoEye and Google Maps to show Port-au-Prince before and after the earthquake in Haiti last January. Using the application it is possible to view aerial imagery from both before and after the earthquake, and includes shots of the tent cities that were created after the quake as well as the damaged structures in the city and the UN logistics relief operations base.

Back in December, our good friend Dave Lingebach over at CADD Centers of Florida wrote about Riviera Beach, Florida and how they improved their infrastructure on a budget. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear Dave discuss the case study as a speaker in the upcoming CE News Webcast Series for “A Case Study on Road Reconstruction” this Thursday, January 20th at 1 p.m. EST. Take a moment to register - I’m sure if you have a scheduling conflict they will be in contact with the archive information afterwards. Here’s the blurb from their website on the event if you still need convincing: In March 2010, the Department of Community Development of the city of Riviera Beach, Fla., began work on a $640,000 road reconstruction project of 1,340 linear feet. The project called for the replacement of all water lines, fire hydrants, sub grade, base rock, pavement, curbsides, and sidewalks in the area. This webcast will showcase how Riviera Beach city engineers, with the help of Autodesk Partner CADD Centers of Florida, used AutoCAD® Civil 3D® to simplify the design process — easily resolving conflicts between water, sanitary, and storm sewer lines before releasing construction documents, and expediting the permit process. Join us and learn how the city completed construction and bid plans 60 days ahead of schedule and saved $30,000 in design fees.

Once upon a time GIS sat in its own little bubble – mapping the world obliquely, orthogonally and with untold potential for data integration, location-based intelligence gathering and analysis, and so on. Today that little bubble has burst opening new windows of opportunity that couples the visual power of high resolution GIS imagery with the evolving needs and mandates that drive the AEC industry – sustainable design, an increasingly visually-oriented workforce and a utilities infrastructure system in desperate need of an overhaul. In light of these drivers, GIS and AEC folks are marrying up big time. Take for example a quiet little union that is happening at Autodesk. According to industry publication, GISCafé, in the past year Autodesk has quietly, yet deliberately, disbanded its GIS division and moved it under its AEC Solutions division, once the official headquarters of AEC flagship products such as Revit and Civil 3D.

Light Detection and Ranging, or LiDAR (lie-dar) - you’ve heard of it, right? Then you should know that LiDAR uses light waves to collect data and provide 3D information for an area of interest or a project area. It’s great to use for surface and vegetation mapping, transportation corridor mapping, transmission route mapping and 3D building mapping. If you’re not in the know, don’t sweat it. DLT Solutions and Autodesk teamed together once again to provide a valuable guide entitled, LiDAR for Dummies. This free e-book is an essential resource for surveyors and agencies who are interested in LiDAR but aren’t necessarily familiar with how it works. It’s also a great refresher for those more experienced with the technology, but may want to broaden their knowledge.

Google has just taken another step in making geospatial data more usable and actionable with the launch of Google Maps 5.0 for mobile devices. This new version of Google Maps comes with 3D imaging that allows the user to rotate, tilt and even re-route offline. Also available are compass mode and smoother zooming. Currently, Google Maps 5.0 is only available on Android mobile devices, but as with any new technology, I’m sure that’s going to change very quickly. So what does this mean for the public sector? The answers aren’t very clear; however, it’s likely that law enforcement agencies and military officials will benefit greatly from these enhancements.

The Beatles. The Washington Capitals’ 2010 14 game win streak. Autodesk University (AU) 2010. What do they have in common? Like all good things, they eventually came to an end. Luckily, the Beatles legacy continues to thrive through old recordings, the successful solo careers of band members and the entire catalog now available on iTunes. And fear not digital design fans. Much like the Beatles, Autodesk University 2010 will continue to thrive in the blogosphere, and through archived webcasts, audio interviews, videos, and more.