AU on an Ipod

Did you know that you can subscribe to Autodesk University 2007 audio podcasts at the iTunes store? These podcasts can then be synchronized and listened to on any iPod at convenient times. (I can hear you now, and YES, I do have a life. I also spend a fair amount of time traveling... you get the point)

As a matter of fact you can find session from 5 different tracks. They are...

AutoCAD
Architectural
Geostatial
Civil
Manufacturing

Unfortunately, this list is in popularity order as listed by iTunes. Apparently, there have not been many subscribers to the Civil Sessions. Let's see if we can change that.

The first podcast that I had available was Dana Probert's "Using Civil 3D 2008 for Stormwater Management Tasks Part I". It was a 1 hour 23 minute session.

The second session was Ian McGregor's "Civil 3D Vault & Design Review: A Workflow". This session was co-presented by Jack Strongitharm, Nick Zeeben and Pete Kelsey (talk about an allstar line-up). It was 1 hour and 20 minutes long.

I mention this because I have been exploring methods of learning that may not be so obvious, but would be very convenient, such as YouTube. There are lots of ways to learn. If you have other ways that you find helpful, may I impose upon you to share them with me. One method to do so is to add them as comments. I would appreciate it.

Be Better... than the competition!

Help Select Autodesk University 2008 Classes!!

When I first read the following I thought this is awesome. What better way for Autodesk University attendees to benefit from AU than for them to have a hand in selecting the classes that will be presented.

Click on the title of this post to get to the Survey Monkey pages that list submitted classes for AU 2008. There we can select a track (Civil Engineering, of course) and then choose 15 from the approximately 185 classes submitted in this track that we would like to see.

Unfortunately, we only see the titles, application(s) covered, intended level of instruction, and the instructor's name. We may have to assume what some cleverly named classes will cover (makes me wonder if mine were clear enough). Either way, this is good.

Be Better... today than yesterday!

My AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 Top Five

Among the many enhancements, and new features of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 these are the five items that I think will have the most impact on users, procedures, or workflows...

1. Labeling objects through XRefs (some users will not even need to use shortcuts because of this)
2. Data Shortcuts in the Prospector (a cross between the vault interface and legacy shortcuts)
3. Memory Managed Surfaces (if over 2 million points, users get the option to save surface to .ssm file - external to drawing, freeing up memory)
4. Dynamic Feature Lines from Corridors (can be used as baselines for gradings, replacing daylight subassemblies in certain cases)
5. Criteria Based Design for Alignments and Profiles (displays warning markers if criterion is violated e.g. AASHTO values)

Deserving of honorable mention (due to southwestern US design requirements) is the "Stacked Profiles" or 3-Line Profiles (can actually stack upto 9 profiles). This has been a MUCH wanted ability around these here parts.

Honorable mention also goes to expansion and compaction factors in earthwork volume calculations and volume surfaces.

There are many other items, these are just what I think will rise to the top on user lists.

Be Better!