CAD News for Govies is a new feature on Acronym that scans thousands of industry articles to present you with a regular source of CAD and GIS news, information and ideas that impact the public sector. Here’s the latest round-up:

Many government agencies continue to drive innovation and achieve cost savings while adjusting to budget cuts and increased pressure for accountability from taxpayers. Here is [acronym] online’s pick of some of the more notable public sector projects that have achieved more with less through design, engineering, and process management innovation.

Earlier this year Autodesk declared it was turning the lights out on AutoCAD® Land Desktop with its 2009 version release. This news was not so surprising since Autodesk has been evangelizing the benefits of migrating users to AutoCAD® Civil 3D for some time. However, while Civil 3D is regarded as the creme-de-la-creme of civil design software, it has also been perceived as somewhat too heavy-handed for the needs of certain users. Cognizant of this, Autodesk has taken the step of looking beyond LDT to introduce technology solutions that better fits the needs of civil engineering organizations. We explore AutoCAD® Civil and explain the key differences between it and AutoCAD Civil 3D to help you make the right choice for your civil engineering needs.

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.

I think it is a fair statement to say that at long last the wall dividing the CAD and GIS communities has crumbled. You have probably noticed many of the trade magazines are devoting articles with titles like “Bridging the Gap between CAD and GIS,” “GIS for Surveyors,” and “Integrating CAD & GIS.” In this article I will endeavor to convince you that the dark ages, where only those early adopters who dwell out on the bleeding edge dare to tread, is over. It is not only perfectly safe to integrate the two technologies but it is relatively simple. If you don’t begin these efforts soon you may find that the folks who have are leaving you far behind.