As a government user of Autodesk software, you may be aware that Autodesk is changing its licensing policy. Effective, January 31^st 2017, the previous government extension will end and users will no longer be able to purchase perpetual licenses. You can read more about the specifics of the changes here.

Keeping track of all the documents involved in any construction or infrastructure project can be quite a headache. RFIs, design changes, estimates, mark-ups, approvals, and more, not forgetting the many-to-many relationships involved in the process. Sub-contractors are on and off the construction site, changes, issues, and requests are sent back and forth, new document sets are created and versions are updated.

The world drone market is anticipated to reach $127 billion in 2020, suggests PricewaterhouseCoopers. From real estate surveying and image capture to Hollywood films to hobbyists, the use cases are vast. But drones are also predicted to become a preferred tool for construction sites.

Last fall saw some major updates to Autodesk’s flagship civil engineering software -  InfraWorks 360 and AutoCAD Civil 3D.

To give users an overview of what’s new, the Autodesk product team have come together for “The Dan and Dave Show” once more. What features will be added or updated? Why were these changes chosen over others? The on-demand video below includes answers to these questions and more from the guys who call the shots when it comes to the development of InfraWorks 360 and Civil 3D.

If you’re a government user of Autodesk software, hold on to your hats. Autodesk is about to make some significant changes to the way its software can be procured.

What’s Changing?

Effective January 31, 2017, Autodesk will no longer sell perpetual licenses for most of its products, including AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Inventor, Revit, and more. You can view the full list of products affected here.

As Autodesk software gets more sophisticated and purchasing models change, users are getting access to new features as they become available and experiencing more seamless interoperability between products.

Flooding is one of the deadliest natural disasters. Few places can escape the wrath of excessive rain, ruptured dams or levees, rapid ice melt, or storm surges. Even states that we’d consider “dry” are vulnerable to the effects of flooding.

Earlier this year we blogged about the disconnect between building owners and AEC firms who work in BIM. Most AEC firms work in BIM, but most owners don’t use BIM.

Improvements in surveying data collection processes and hardware have made it easier for surveyors to capture multiple attributes in the field for downstream surveying, engineering, and integrated GIS usage.

For end users, this translates to an enriched environment and new opportunities for transportation and civil engineers. However, in the past, these users have been restricted to using differing versions of the data, without a version of the full width and breadth of information captured – until now.

BIM, a process for creating and using a 3D intelligent model for planning, designing, building, and managing infrastructure, is used across multiple industries to get accessible and actionable insight throughout project lifecycles. BIM improves coordination, creates and delivers intelligent models, and reduces rework and material waste.

Since utilities drive some of the largest construction budgets, applying the principles of BIM as you update old and build new infrastructure can improve cost control and reduce construction waste below the typical 30% level. How?