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It was back in April that Autodesk Map 3D 2005, the latest version of Autodesk Map officially began shipping. Simply put, this release can best be described as a powerful 2D and 3D precision mapping and GIS analysis tool to create, maintain, and produce maps, and to integrate data from various sources and formats, perform data analysis, and produce thematic maps.
The “3D” added to the “Map” product emphasizes the focus on 3D analysis. Simply put, it combines the proven capabilities, power, and productivity available in Map 2004 combined with enhanced 3D capabilities.
If you’d like a description of the big picture, the Autodesk 2005 mapping solution is a complete suite (and foundation technology) made up of several core products including: Autodesk Map(TM) 3D 2005, Autodesk(R) Raster Design 2005, and Autodesk MapGuide(R) 6.5. Together, these products make up the complete Autodesk mapping solution.
The Road to Map 3D
With Autodesk Map 3D, users can create, maintain, and produce maps; integrate data from various sources and formats; perform data analysis; and produce thematic maps. Users can work with multiple drawings, and multiple users can edit the same map simultaneously. Turning back the clock several months, when I had my first look at Map 3D at Autodesk University in Las Vegas, it was evident that the focus of the 2005 product release was going to target several key areas – Workflow, Publishing, and Drafting.
The direction of product development has been a lengthy and aggressive process determined by a number of methods. In taking the jump from 2004 to 2005, John Sanders, VP, Platform Technology Division, Autodesk informed us what was involved:
Customer visits
Usability testing
AUGI [user] group wish lists
Customer surveys
Customer council feedback
3rd party research
online discussion groups
Beta testing programs
Communication center feedback (think of the MS send error report)
Alpha Gold program results
Clearly the significance of Map 3D at 2005 comes out of the fact that surveys of Autodesk product users have revealed that more than 40% are regular users of 3D functionality and most of them have asked for more. Furthermore, a large portion of non-3D functionality users have recognized that they should or could be using 3D mapping and drafting tasks. Additionally, Autodesk has identified that clearly; many users have the need to come up with a “final” end product which is a booklet of drawings or map sheets. This has resulted in much attention in this release being paid to drawing set coordination.
Sanders has emphasized that a goal of the 2005 solution is to improve greatly on people using Windows Explorer as their preferred document management solution! Autocad has always been known for its drafting and customization abilities. At 2004, AutoCAD products saw a focus on publishing, presentation, drafting, and 3D. What the company saw, however, was that more than 40% of its customers used 3D and wanted more power and 3D functionality.
In a recent interview with AUGI (www.augi.com) David Salzberg, Customer Solution Manager, Communications & Utilities for Autodesk's Infrastructure Solutions Division was asked what he felt are the most compelling reasons for users to switch from using AutoCAD® for mapping and GIS-related activities to using Autodesk Map 3D. Salzberg's responds follows:
In addition to all the AutoCAD functionality, Autodesk Map 3D offers mapping and GIS professionals features that streamline their workflow and make their jobs easier, such as:
A multi-user environment that manages multiple GIS files or CAD drawings across a seamless spatial extent for data creation, editing, query, and analysis
Native support for several industry-standard GIS and CAD data formats Native support for hundreds of worldwide geographic data, projections, and coordinate systems
Native support for GIS data stored in a relational database like Oracle® Locator, Oracle® Spatial, and Autodesk® GIS Design Server
Flexible, user-definable attribute data embedding through object data GIS spatial analysis tools such as network tracing, buffer, and polygon overlay
Data management tools to coordinate data specific to your project"
View data in 2D or in 3D perspective using Map 3D
Product Features
A number of new enhancements are available in Map 3D, many of which have been developed to “automate the painful work”.
Installation of Map 3D is a relatively lengthy process... please be patient. The first time you load 2005 you’ll be presented with an option to view details of the new features workshop – a series of animations, tutorials, and descriptions to help you get up and running. Grab a coffee! Side by installs are no problem as I currently have Map 3D, LandXML 2004, Raster Design 2004, and DWF Composer surrently installed and all function without a problem.
Noteworthy updates included in the 2005 product series include enhancements to sheet sets – tools to help organize drawings as sheet sets for simple management, publishing, and archiving. The new sheet set manager enables users to organize multiple drawing files (DWGs) into a single sheet set. Sheet sets can optionally be output as an electronic version in Design Web Format (DWF). This is particularly useful as it enables virtually anyone who has access to the free DWF viewer to review and comment on your design files… very cool! The sheetset manager will definitely help users to have less of a desire to use Windows Explorer as their preferred file and data management system.
Sheetset Manager enables users to organize data in a logical view
Data import enhancements have been provided and there’s support for many popular GIS data formats (raster and vector). Supported vector data formats include ArcInfo coverages, E00, or SHP files, MapInfo MIF and TAB data, GML or XML files, SDTS data, Microstation DGN and others. Of particular interest is the spatial filter which limits the geographic extent of data that you are importing so you don’t waste precious time or disk space… very slick! Importing raster data...how about bringing in a MrSID image with relative ease? A convenient preview window pane will give you a snapshot view of the data before it’s brought in… very handy!
Notice the preview of the MrSID image prior to importing
Data downloaded as a NAD 83 SHP coverage is easily brought into Map 3D
Plotting and publishing tools – new “background” plotting enables users to continue working on a drawing while a file is being published.
The latest tool palette enhancements make creating a new tool as simple as dragging objects like dimensions, text, blocks etc… from the drawing area and onto a tool palette Many drafting tool enhancements like the ability to add background or symbols to multi-line text can be found. In the area of productivity tools – enhanced layer properties facilitate greater organization and management of data layers. (E.g. Sort layers by filter to display logically). Color ramping and other thematic display options are easily assigned to data. You can also import OLE objects into your drawing file and text is automatically scaled accordingly. Examples of this would be to bring in MS Excel, Word, or PowerPoint files. A number of popular enhancements based on user feedback have been incorporated into 2005. Of particular interest is support for enhanced security via digital signatures.
Using a simple GUI to assign a color ramp to data
Support for DWF is an integral part of this release. Given that on average, it’s believed that for every creator of data there are another 10 people that need to view the data. Map 3D supports import and export to DWF which has been designed to speed up business processes, simplify data distribution, and provide added security for your valuable data. DWF enables the typical “non GIS” user to view and query data while most importantly, keep your data digital. As of December 2004, Autodesk reported that in excess of 35% of their users are publishing in DWF.
Superior customization is enabled with enhanced APIs and a developer’s guide. These are available from the Autodesk Developer Network (AND).
What's New in Map 3D and AutoCAD 2005
The following information furnished by Autodesk provides a detailed review of what's new in AutoCAD 2005.
Sheet Set Manager The Sheet Set Manager supports the way you manage projects. It serves as a single organizational interface to the design data that you must assemble for project teams and clients. By grouping views from various drawings as sheets in a sheet set, you acquire the ability to process and package them as a unit.
Drawing Management • Tree-view organization of sheets. • Import layouts from existing drawings into a sheet set or create new sheets from scratch. • Use the View List tab to display all the sheet views in the sheet set. Sort views into categories • Insert view labels and callouts that reference other sheets in the set. • Automatic updates when organization or content changes. • Apply plot stamps to an entire sheet set • On a title sheet, insert a table that is automatically generated from the list of sheets in the set. • Create a compressed archive of the entire set of sheets.
Drawing Output • Named sheet selections. • Package an entire sheet set or a named selection of sheets for electronic transmittal.
Plot and Publish Tools • Background plotting. Plot an entire sheet set or a named selection of sheets while you continue to work. Monitor or cancel the plot job easily. • Simplified Plot dialog box. • Create and save page configurations for sheet sets as well as for individual drawings. • Enhanced DWF format. Plot to a Design Web Format (DWF) to share drawings, maps, and models while ensuring the integrity of the data. Anyone with the free Autodesk DWF Viewer (formerly Autodesk Express Viewer), can display the data.. • Publish one or more sheets without having to save them first. Include a plot stamp and preview the output before you start. Publish multisheet DWF files or multiple single-sheet DWF files. Apply password protection to ensure drawing security.
Other Enhancements • Clean screen. Hide everything except the drawing area, menu bar, and command line by pressing CTRL+0 (zero). • Multiple fillet and chamfer. • Hidden line settings. • Layout tab cycling. • Expanded pan and zoom area. In Windows XP, pan and zoom beyond the edge of the screen by dragging the cursor beyond the visible drawing area. • Polyline edit. • License timeout (network users). • Network deployment.
Installation Notes & Minimum System Requirements
CPU - 800MHz Intel Pentium III or compatible RAM - 256MB Drives - CD-ROM drive, and hard drive with minimum 300MB free space. Graphics board - 1024x768 True Color (16.7 million or 16-bit color) Pointing device - Mouse, trackball, or similar. Operating system - Windows 2000 Professional or XP (Professional, Home Edition, or Tablet PC Edition)
Of interest, Autodesk Map 3D 2005 can be installed side-by-side with earlier versions while Map 3D at 2005 is also described as being DWG 2004 and third party application compatible.
Summary
Using Map 3D the Integration of CAD and GIS data is very simple and enables the GIS user/planner to easily incorporate surveying, planning, and engineering data into a familiar environment. This latest product release from AutoCAD delivers on the company’s promise (and vision) to help keep data digital. Furthermore, Map 3D (and the Autodesk 2005 suite) serves to narrow the gap between the CAD and GIS user and provides a platform to integrate these two disciplines. Users can work more fully in 3D, have access to a much wider array of data management and manipulation tools, and keep data secure and digital.
According to Autodesk Strategic Product Manager Eric Stover, the notion that “AutoCAD will never support my feature” is a myth. Down the road, users can expect support for large datasets, even more support for the migration of custom applications, and more sophisticated error reporting. In an effort to deliver what the user wants and needs, users are encouraged to get involved with one or more of the following: online discussions, AUGI, a local User group, usability testing, and customer surveys.
Some Suggested Resources:
A new discussion forum has been created for DWF Composer. View the forum in your browser at discussion.autodesk.com/forum.jspa?forumID=140. Or subscribe to the autodesk.dwf.composer newsgroup on the disscussion.autodesk.com public news server.
If you’d like a description of the big picture, the Autodesk 2005 mapping solution is a complete suite (and foundation technology) made up of several core products including: Autodesk Map(TM) 3D 2005, Autodesk(R) Raster Design 2005, and Autodesk MapGuide(R) 6.5. Together, these products make up the complete Autodesk mapping solution.
