Got questions? We’ve got the answers. Each issue oOur team of experts weighs in on a variety of topical issues relevant to public sector digital design. The summer 2008 issueWe’ve asked our experts about what it takes to support “green” mandates in digital design. “What three things should I take into consideration before embarking on digital design initiatives in support of green / sustainability mandates and regulations?”

Autodesk® NavisWorks® software solutions help project design and building professionals to unite their contributions into a single synchronized building information model. [acronym] online investigates how this new software can bring public sector project stakeholders together.

Getting the support, learning and software enhancements you need to stay productive on the job really isn’t that difficult. [acronym] online explores the rich features of Autodesk’s Subscription service. Since I work in the business of information technology, I consider myself reasonably tech savvy. I can usually find my way around new software and applications fairly easily. But since I am not perfect, I must admit to needing help and support as much as the next person to do my job properly.

So you always wanted to be a forest ranger, but can’t imagine life without take-out food and lattes? One way to live out your fantasy is to care for an urban forest. Though it sounds like an oxymoron, urban forestry is a serious science. Urban foresters plant, maintain and care for street and median trees, making sure they survive and thrive. City trees must cope with a daily onslaught of car exhaust and dog visits, sidewalk encroachments and the occasional parking mishap. Through it all, urban trees deliver substantial economic, environmental and aesthetic benefits.

The Last Frontier State leads the way using 3D design technology to design, build and maintain transportation projects in the toughest of environments. Alaska’s rough terrain, cold weather and thousands of miles of coastline present a transportation management challenge that most state managers don’t have to face every day. What’s more, managers have to factor in the high cost of labor in Alaska and the lengthy environmental permitting process before they can kick off any state transportation project.

How do you train and support 1,500 designers on new civil engineering CAD design software without breaking the budget? The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service found the solution they needed with a scalable knowledge management and delivery system.

The adoption of CAD standards has grown exponentially with the increase in frequency of digital design data exchange between public sector agencies and outside firms. Establishing a CAD standard at an agency level is a worthy exercise, but ensuring that everyone adheres to enforced standards is often an afterthought. Caron Beesley explores the challenges and best practices for ensuring the successful implementation and enforcement of CAD standards.

Building information Modeling (BIM) adoption plays a significant part in supporting the creation and maintenance of green buildings. [acronym] shows how three examples highlight where BIM can help you design greener buildings today. For several reasons, not the least of which is global climate change, sustainable building has become a practice of critical interest. ‘Sustainable’ buildings minimize the use of resources such as energy, water, materials and land through optimal design. Green buildings are designed and operated to create healthier and more productive work and living environments through natural light and improved air quality. Sustainable buildings can also reduce long-term operations and maintenance expenses.

Making the transition from 2D to 3D to support engineering modeling and emergency preparedness, the City of Coppell, Texas, gained numerous cost savings and community benefits. The engineering department at the City of Coppell, Texas, is among the engineering departments in cities across North America discovering the benefits of 3D modeling. Under the guidance of Scott Latta, Engineering Technician, and with the help of Avatech Solutions, they made the transition from 2D AutoCAD® to engineering modeling using AutoCAD® Civil 3D®. Latta and the team of engineers undertake several projects per year. Designs are sent out to general bids to construction companies to build and complete projects.

4D and 5D modeling for the AEC industry is gaining momentum in the press and with software developers. In fact, applications that handle 4D and 5D modeling are rapidly becoming a reality. Read more about how these new dimensions bring time, space and cost savings for designers.