Tools for managing, Tools for managing, learning, designinglearning, designing

Presented By:Presented By:

Basma SherinBasma Sherin

By: Deborah Snoonian, P.E.By: Deborah Snoonian, P.E.

Web Address:Web Address:http://archrecord.construction.com/features/digital/http://archrecord.construction.com/features/digital/

Topic Number: 59Topic Number: 59

Date: December 2003Date: December 2003

1.ArchiOffice1.ArchiOfficeBy: OrangeLoftBy: OrangeLoft

Web Site: Web Site: http://www.orangeloft.com/http://www.orangeloft.com/

• Designed by a group of practicing architects.

•Designed for:

Windows - Macintosh

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

1. It is a database that allows users to enter 1. It is a database that allows users to enter and manage information such as:and manage information such as:

ContactsContacts

Time and ExpensesTime and Expenses

ProjectsProjects

BillingBilling

SchedulesSchedules

2. Information can be entered just once then 2. Information can be entered just once then linked to other information.linked to other information.

3. It comes with several preformatted 3. It comes with several preformatted templates (ex. Invoices – address books)templates (ex. Invoices – address books)

4. The contacts database and calendar features can be synched with all the popular handheld organizers .

2. AEPlans2. AEPlansBy: AEPlansBy: AEPlans

Web Site: Web Site: http://www.aeplans.com/http://www.aeplans.com/

• The Air Force and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are among the 30,000 users of this online clearinghouse for plans and specifications.

•Designed for:

Windows only

* A portion of the proceeds from the * A portion of the proceeds from the software’s purchase goes to the local AIA software’s purchase goes to the local AIA chapter with whom the buyer is affiliated chapter with whom the buyer is affiliated

* * Developed by software maker MaxView Developed by software maker MaxView Corporation of Seattle Corporation of Seattle

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

1. 1. Creators of project documents can Creators of project documents can organize and upload their files (CAD organize and upload their files (CAD drawings, bids, specifications) to the Web drawings, bids, specifications) to the Web site,site,

2. A public area of the site showing basic 2. A public area of the site showing basic information on project bids is available to information on project bids is available to all registrants free of charge, while private all registrants free of charge, while private areas containing more information are areas containing more information are password-protected and available via password-protected and available via subscription.subscription.

3. 3. Contract DocumentsContract DocumentsBy: By: American Institute of ArchitectsAmerican Institute of Architects Web Site: Web Site: www.aia.org/documents/www.aia.org/documents/

• The system uses Microsoft Word as its editing platform.

•Designed for:

Windows only

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

1. 1. A new interface, navigation, and data-A new interface, navigation, and data-entry process are the important features for entry process are the important features for this overhaul of the AIA’s popular toolthis overhaul of the AIA’s popular tool ..

2. 2. The Contract Documents software has a The Contract Documents software has a form like entry process that make it less form like entry process that make it less error-prone and faster at tailoring the error-prone and faster at tailoring the standard documentation.standard documentation.

3. Users can also make PDFs of contracts to prevent further revisions.

4. 4. 3ds max 63ds max 6By: By: Discreet (an Autodesk company)Discreet (an Autodesk company)Web Site: Web Site: http://www.discreet.com/http://www.discreet.com/

Designed for:

Windows only

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

* The newest release of this high-end * The newest release of this high-end visualization software offers: visualization software offers:

An integrated ray-tracing rendering tool.An integrated ray-tracing rendering tool.

A new event-driven particle system.A new event-driven particle system.

Improved compatibility with Autodesk design Improved compatibility with Autodesk design software.software.

An integrated workflow with VIZ to share VIZ An integrated workflow with VIZ to share VIZ Render. Render.

5. 5. Pushbutton PDFPushbutton PDFBy: By: Bluebeam SoftwareBluebeam Software

Web Site: Web Site: http://www.bluebeam.com/http://www.bluebeam.com/

•Designed for:

Windows only

1. 1. This plug-in for AutoCAD allows users to This plug-in for AutoCAD allows users to save their design drawings as PDF files.save their design drawings as PDF files.

2. 2. The tool appears as a button on an The tool appears as a button on an AutoCAD toolbar, so that creation is as AutoCAD toolbar, so that creation is as simple as a single mouse click. simple as a single mouse click.

3. The plug-in also offers: 3. The plug-in also offers:

Batch processing of PDFs from large drawing sets. Batch processing of PDFs from large drawing sets.

Hyperlinking PDFs to other documents such as Hyperlinking PDFs to other documents such as schedules, RFIs, and Web sites.schedules, RFIs, and Web sites.

The Bluebeam PDF Printer driver , which lets The Bluebeam PDF Printer driver , which lets users create PDFs from files native to any users create PDFs from files native to any Windows application, like Word and Excel.Windows application, like Word and Excel.

6. 6. Building Systems 2004Building Systems 2004By: By: AutodeskAutodesk

Web Site: Web Site: http://www.autodesk.com/http://www.autodesk.com/

•Designed for:

Windows only

•Autodesk created this package to aid the design of complex MEP and fire-protection systems.

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

1. 1. Its tools help engineers route ducts and Its tools help engineers route ducts and pipes; they suggest layouts; and they pipes; they suggest layouts; and they generate 3D viewsgenerate 3D views ..

2. 2. Design is also automated via Design is also automated via incorporation of manufacturer catalogs of incorporation of manufacturer catalogs of standard and customizable partsstandard and customizable parts ..

3. Many other productivity features and tools are incorporated.

7. 7. BuildingGreen SuiteBuildingGreen SuiteBy: By: BuildingGreenBuildingGreen

Web Site: Web Site: http://www.buildinggreen.com/http://www.buildinggreen.com/

•Designed for:

Windows and Macintosh

•Publisher of the GreenSpec Product Directory and Environmental Building News (EBN), BuildingGreen has retooled its electronic resources to make them more comprehensive and user-friendly.

* Its new Web-based subscription * Its new Web-based subscription service includes:service includes:

Access to the GreenSpec Product Directory, Access to the GreenSpec Product Directory, current and all past issues of EBNcurrent and all past issues of EBN . .

A database of more than 60 case studiesA database of more than 60 case studies ..All the material is cross-referenced, so that users All the material is cross-referenced, so that users can, for example, see if a product in GreenSpec can, for example, see if a product in GreenSpec has been mentioned in an EBN article .has been mentioned in an EBN article .

* Users can navigate the site and search for * Users can navigate the site and search for content by content by ::

CSI section.CSI section.

LEED credit.LEED credit.

Topic.Topic.

Location.Location.

* The tool is aimed at mainstream architects who are seeking to become fluent in green building principles.

8. 8. Architectural ImageryArchitectural ImageryBy: By: BisazzaBisazza

Web Site: Web Site: http://www.bisazza.com/http://www.bisazza.com/

•Designed for:

Windows only

•Bisazza, an Italian glass-mosaic company, has developed specialized software that allows designers to transform any type of image into mosaic format.

* * Description:Description:

The software takes a digitized image and The software takes a digitized image and “pixelates” it into a mapping of mosaic tiles with “pixelates” it into a mapping of mosaic tiles with specific sizes and a color mapping, according to specific sizes and a color mapping, according to the dimensions specified by the designers.the dimensions specified by the designers.

Then Bisazza custom-produces the tiles to order. Then Bisazza custom-produces the tiles to order.

* * Applications:Applications:

Detroit’s Metro Wayne County Airport (pictured Detroit’s Metro Wayne County Airport (pictured below), where more than 800,000 tiles were used below), where more than 800,000 tiles were used for a large mural.for a large mural.