What’s the Difference Between 3D Laser Scanning and Photogrammetry?

It’s hard to imagine a world without digital. But as you look around you, much of the physical world was designed and constructed using traditional 2D blueprints and is yet to be captured in a digital format. This creates a challenge for AEC professionals to incorporate these as-built designs into re-build or renovation projects.

Traditional imaging techniques like photogrammetry aided in this process by allowing engineers to piece together photographs of as-built conditions and weave in GPS coordinates to create interactive 3D models, see below:

Video: The Pitfalls of a Non-Digital Design Workflow

Whether you’re a civil engineer, CAD manager, or anyone working on a digital design project, one thing is certain – you’re never the sole collaborator in the process. Contractors, AEC firms, field personnel, even facilities managers, have their hands in the mix too. And that creates a problem for version control and the potential for incorrect information in the field. How do you know you’re working with the most current information? If you’re using traditional non-digital workflows, it’s a problem you likely encounter once too often.

Our 10 Most Popular CAD Blogs of 2014

Here we are again, another New Year, another opportunity to look back and plan ahead!

We’ve published over 100 articles this year, featuring insights, tips, best practices and commentary on all aspects of public sector digital design. A big thank you goes out to our stable of guest bloggers and partners, including Line//Shape//Space, Synergis Engineering Design Systems, CADD Microsystems and CADSoft Consulting.

Mastering Civil 3D's Intersection Wizard to Create a 4-Way Intersection

Civil 3D contains many engineering tools for roadway design. One of these tools is the Intersection wizard. The wizard walks the user step by step through the intersection design process and parametrically designs three or four way intersections. In addition to intersection design, the wizard defines widening for incoming, outgoing, or both lane types. This article describes the use of the intersection wizard to create a four way intersection that maintains each road’s crown elevation.

Five Secrets for a Smooth Transition for your Next Engineering Software Implementation

By Kevin Breslin, Director of Professional Services, Infrastructure Solutions, IMAGINiT Technologies. Is your organization considering the transition to a new engineering software platform or is your team ready for an upgrade? If so, read on to ensure a smooth transition. The following five key findings are extracted from experiences gathered over hundreds of design and engineering information modelling system implementations. Follow these five recommendations to save time and effort and avoid the pitfalls while keeping your live projects right on schedule. Step by step, let’s look at the best practices to planning a successful transition.

7 Do’s and Don’ts for a Realistic BIM Implementation

In a recent guest article, Bryan Cowles, an Applications Specialist at IMAGINiT Technologies, observed that while more and more government agencies are moving ahead and incorporating Building Information Modeling (BIM) into their workflows, “…some are yet to be convinced of the benefits that an intelligent model can provide.” In his article - Teardown or Retrofit: A BIM Evaluation Gives the Answer - Bryan goes on to provide an excellent example of the time and cost savings achieved by retrofitting two existing structures into one larger structure, as opposed to going the demolition route – thanks to a BIM-based feasibility study. A study which also won over a team of doubtful engineers who thought demolition was the best option.